matilda1

Thank you. we are currently going through the delicate process of introducing her to Katie our Blue Heeler. My husband has taken the day off work tomorrow to help settle her in. I love my husband. Katie is a very shy and not very confident dog, so thus far we have taken them outside onto neutral grounds to see if katie would be brave enough to greet Skye, but we are not getting close enough to each other to really tell what will happen. So Skye is in her crate in the lounge room and katie is just roaming around getting used to her smells and sounds and can wander up to meet her when she is ready. She seems to be quite content just ignoring the fact Skye is there at the moment. And Skye is quite happy in her crate. i think she feels safe in there...and she keeps nodding off.

Well, today the day finally arrived that Skye came home to us from Mildura pound. My husband drove to the airport just a few hours ago to collect her. She's absolutely BEAUTIFUL. She's very frightened, sore, jetlagged and tired right now. She's coping well with the cats in the house and just fell asleep standing up leaning against the couch We're giving her a few hours peace and quiet brfore we introduce her to the other dogs, but I am sure they will be fine. these photo's don't really do her justice. She's a beautiful rich colour. Once she gains a little weight and gains confidence you will be bmbarded with photo's. Right now I just want to let her rest. Here are a couple I took 5 minutes after her arrival.

Apologies...posted in the incorrect area

I'd be inclined to bandage only for the fact of it being stood on constantly and exposure to dirt being on the pad. it doesn't look deep or particulary nasty but would do this simply to keep it clean. I think it will heal quite nicely either way though. :D

I used to own Clydesdales and used a lot of Sulphur/oil mix for feather mites. I remember making the solution a little too potent once and burning the skin quite badly. And that's a clydesdale foot...pretty tough. be careful please :D

it doesn't take much to make the difference does it. it's nice to see some clinics take the time to make follow up phone calls. unfortunately in Emergency we don't have the luxury of this time, but in general practice I believe it should happen more often. good on your clinic for making the effort and for genuinely caring :D

definately seek veterinary advice. Giving human medications (unless specified by your vet) can have some serious implications.

Katie and I dropped out of our Puppy school. We BOTH found it boring. her training was too advanced for the classes so we went for the socialising of it, but then dropped out as even Katie sat there and yawned. We have other dogs and she plays well with other dogs and is socialised through other avenues though, i think if you do not have access to friends with dogs to teach your pup manners around others then it's a MUST !!

what about heart worm?

How do you get to see (being a vet nurse in an emergency centre) if an insurance company pays out or not? I don't know of any insurance company that pays a vet directly. In my experience, a client pays for all treatment up front and claims from the insurance company (which then takes a week or two for payment to be processed). When a claim is not paid out usually the client will come back and ask for a more detailed history and we will try and help them with their claim. this has only ever happened with other companies, never with petplan.

Good luck for your appointment Kimzy. And keep us posted. Glad your dog is feeling better in the meantime

nawwwwwwwwwwww....so very cute. I wish my Jrt's did this. Admittedly they are probably smart enough, if I spent the time training them.

Paw pads take for ever to heal. Like mentioned above restrict movement and make sure the pad/bandage stay dry and clean at all times. Have it re-checked if you are worried. is the dog on anti-biotics as well?

Thanks for the feedback Sonia, like I said, the whole RAW diet is a learning experience for me. I feed dry food and it works for my dogs very well, so i am not about to change, but I always appreciate learning from those who know about other options.

It's a HEART guess from me !! Good luck. I hope it turns out to be nothing serious

I have tried all sorts of things with mine. raw food gives them sloppy stools and really bad flatulance. I used to feed hills Science diet but have just switched over to Advance. it's a great product and they need nothing else. All dogs are doing well on this. I noticed how many of you are feeding raw eggs and some other food which worry me as a vet nurse: Raw Eggs: Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella Avocado: The leaves, seeds, fruit, and bark contain persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Some nuts: Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle Also with the people who feed raw I was just wondering if you have adapted your worming routine to suit? This not a critcism, I am really just wondering. Sometimes i wish i could feed mine more raw, but as it turns out it is not something my dogs do well on Raw meat: May contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea. A very interesting topic, I would love to learn more about the nutritional benefits of feeding raw. I have done a lot of study on Commercial foods and a balanced diet but not from the raw aspect. I am open to all well researched material

I am with petPlan and I am also a nurse in an Emergency Centre. I see lots of claims being processed from emergency surgeries and treatments. petplan consistenly pay out where-as some other insurance companies give owners some grief. And I am talking about some 5-8k bills. Just my experience in Emergency.

Problem solved !!!!!! Skye (the new dog) will be boarding at my work (Vet clinic) over night safe and sound in her own kennel surrounded by wonderful staff for the weekend and katie will be staying at my mum's place :p

Oh, and mine love nothing better than to curl up in front of the heater and sleep a day away too........................

Well said KB

have you caught your dog yet or is husband still out there? I hear your frustration. I would just shut the door and put an end to the game. Let the dog come back 'asking' to be let in, and don't let her in on the first ask. make her earn her way back into the herd. Good luck and i would love an update

A foreign body can also produce these signs=pain. get her to your vet asap.

60KLM a day yeah. like THAT's going to happen at my place. I have had working dogs most of my life in all different circumstances and in my opinion (and my opinion only) as long as you keep them stimulated and work with their natural instincts they do well even in a back yard. But YES...they DO need more than your avarage white fluffy. Mine go sheep herding and hiking etc, but certainly not each and every single day. I work you know........that pays their feed bills. If I am stuck at home for consecutive days and I feel they are not getting enough exercise then we just get inventive. Ball in the backyard, treasure hunts, making up new games with toys or some mental stimulation rather than physical. they adapt well. but like I said....they DO go sheep herding every chance we get and we are getting our own sheep very soon so we can do this more often.

ETA on Skye is Tuesday

I echo the post above. I was concerned when I read about using the antiseptic wipes. Either way I am very pleased he is doing much better now. Sending healing vibes your way