Leenie

Flexicose is a good choice and $24 AUD is great! I've been trying to find an Australian distributor for a while but by ordering through the www.oznathealth.com site you can get free shipping to Australia. $29.95 USD. Alternatively: Glucosamine 50ml with chondroitin sulphate is $24 and is available from Richard Stenlake based in Bondi Junction NSW - 02 9387 3205 - [email protected] I really like TechnyFlex (was Lyproflex) so that is usually what I recommend for dogs and cats. Powdered Glucosamine usually goes further for horses and livestock. I'm not sure of the content of vitamin C in Flexicose but if you find out please let me know so I can tell you if it is enough. There are a lot of articles and published "experiments" by vets in this area (using vit. C for CHD) so have a look around the world wide web. I know some vets that see HD and say "vitamin C!" and others that say "mumbo jumbo, jujitsu, hocus pocus". Each to their own but I think it works and it isn't like it will do any harm to try despite some drugs on the market. She is a three year old and I'm not sure of her grading (I can find out) but it was very noticable in her left leg and the owners had been told she would need an operation fairly soon if things continued the way they were. She has been on the treatments I mentioned for nearly a year and there has been no further degeneration. Her limp is hardly noticeable now and she runs around like a mad thing without concern.

Ideally females - 6mths; males - 10mths. Helps to ensure correct urethra formation amongst other things.

LuvBug - this is like deja vu! Everything you have written is what I did a consultation for about a few months ago. Black Lab, ear probs, prescription after prescription of antibiotics, ear drops, cultures, swabs, under anaesthetic ear clean, etc. etc. This is what has 99.9% fixed it. - we removed beef from his diet - owner crushed 2-3 cloves of garlic and let them soak in olive oil over night - drain garlic from oil, use oil to clean the ear, allowing some of it to dribble right down into the ear canal, give a good rub, stand back and let doggie shake his head - after a detailed description of ear colour, smell, temperature, etc. I prescribed Hepar Sulph homeopathic remedy You don't need to change your vet if you are otherwise happy with them... the owner of the black lab had been to 3 or 4 different clinics and they all did the same things.

Good sources of glucosamine are available here. For hip dysplasia I highly recommend Vitamin C. There is a lot of evidence to support the use of this vitamin on animals with HD. One of my patients is a Rotti with HD in the left back hip joint and she is on a very natural diet, vitamin C supplementation, and TechnyFlex Canine - cold processed marine extract (green lipped mussel extract), which contains a number of omega-3 essential fatty acids and Glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin sulfates). Includes ETA's (polyunsaturated fatty acids). She is doing wonderfully and hardly limps! She also sees a veterinary chiropractor. Hip Dysplasia and Vitamin C Hip Dysplasia Let me know if I can be of anymore help.

Border collies aren't the only breeds sensitive to vaccines. ALL breeds are, as well as cats and horses and anything else you care to vaccinate. (Including humans!) I think all pet owners should be given a lot more information about the pros and cons of vaccinating and we should be given a choice as to how often we vaccinate. Guilt tactics shouldn't come into it. The propaganda vet's hand out is ridiculous and the main advantage is to the drug companies pockets...

>>For all those people who wanted to see the fact sheet after she did it I found this on her website: http://www.naturalanimalcare.com/factsheet...20Nutrition.htm And thanks for all the info in the thread, I'm going to now steal some of your ideas for diets for my pup!!<< LOL that isn't actually the factsheet! I'm still in the process of writing my factsheet on BARF.... it will be much longer and contain more detail than any of the factsheets currently on my website. Thanks for visiting though!! :-)

Regarding the avocado issue - I know of someone that gave her bird (think it was a cockatiel) avocado and it died a few hours later of toxicity poisoning. The vet said it was the avocado. So there must be some truth in the theory that it isn't good for dogs and cats either - though I imagine being a bird it just hit him a lot faster. Will be an interesting issue to research further - I'll let you know what I find. Thanks again to everyone that has helped me with this BARF project. Later - yep they are toxic to doggies and other animals: http://kgkat.tripod.com/avocado.html http://petplace.netscape.com/Articles/artShow.asp?artID=4773 Department of Clinical Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya. Two dogs were seen at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya, both having histories of dyspnoea, progressively enlarging abdomens, anasarca, ascites, pleural and pericardial effusion, and pulmonary oedema. One of the dogs had a mild neutrophilic leucocytosis, elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and proteinuria. Histopathological examination of the myocardium revealed some damage to myocytes and a mononuclear cellular infiltration involving the myocardium, liver and kidneys. The two dogs had a fondness for avocado fruits and, as the presenting syndrome is identical to that seen in goats, sheep and horses poisoned by avocados, a comparison is made and the probable manifestation of this poisoning presented.

Thanks to everyone who has helped out so far! I really appreciate it...

Thanks Fifi and Toohey. I really appreciate your warmth. I look forward to chatting more in the future.

Hi. First of all, I hope no one minds me posting this here.... It should be pretty interesting information for everyone to read. I'm writing a factsheet on the BARF diet including information about what is it, how to feed, what to feed, etc. I'm also hoping to recommend really good feeding schedules from people that feed their dogs this kind of diet. If you feed your dog bones and raw food (biologically appropriate raw food) and would like to answer the following questions for me, that would be fabulous: 1. what do you feed? 2. how often? 3. how much? 4. what breed, age, sex and weight is your pet? 5. where do you purchase your ingredients from? 6. have you always fed your dog this diet, or did you change over to it gradually? if yes, how did your dog react? 7. what have been the advantages and disadvantages? 8. have you seen changes in your dog, ie. coat, energy levels? Thank you very much. You will be credited (name, location) unless you wish to be anon. Either reply here or you can email me at: [email protected] with barf in the subject line. Thanks again!!!

Hi. Julie - I had a look at your website - how great! Where did you study and how long have you been doing animal massage for? Fifi - Thanks for asking about what I do. It's very nice of you to take an interest. Basically I was a veterinary nurse for about 5 years, with a personal interest in natural therapies and nutrition. I became really frustrated with a number of aspects of the veterinary and pet industry such as: 1. giving drugs for any little thing ie. for skin conditions when a change of diet would have fixed 80% of the problem, 2. absolutely disgusting pressure on clients to buy certain products (won't name) because if said vet sold x amount of product by the end of the year he would get a trip for two to Sydney (yes! very common), 3. poor nutritional information - personally I don't think vets, vet nurses, pet shop owners, etc. get enough information about nutrition. It's "we make a nutritional balanced premium (cough) dry food so sell it" - vet, vet nurse, pet shop owner "okay". My first surgery was great, the vet had studied animal chiropractor courses and was open to alternatives to some degree but another clinic I worked at - very closed minded. I had clients quite often ask about alternatives and I felt unable to recommend anything in case I was "told off" but my boss. I felt that sales were being put before animal health.... so I opted to focus on natural healthcare. I started Natural Animal Care in 2003 and specialise in Animal Massage. I've studied Veterinary Homeopathy, Animal Massage and other therapies. I also have completed detailed Nutrition courses and received high marks. I focus on teaching pet owners about good nutrition for their animals and promote natural shampoos, supplements and alternatives to toxic flea treatments, etc. I also believe over vaccination is a major problem.... and recommend 3 yrly immunisation, titers and homeopathic immunisation. And that's what I do.... I love working in conjunction with vets and believe that holistic health should be used complementary to conventional vet medicine as necessary. It's all about education... >>how much proffesional credibility does ACNAM have? I forgot to answer this question. All I know is that the courses were designed by veterinarians and naturopaths, and the lady who is the president (?), Kathleen Griffin is registered with the HATAA (holistic animal therapy assoc. of Aust) which is recognised by the AVA.

I do Animal Massage for dogs and cats in Brisbane and surrounding suburbs. Michael Fox's books are great.... and is an excellent guide for learning technique. The Australian College of Natural Animal Medicine offers basic home study courses in animal massage - www.acnam.com.au

>>as Scottie's testicles haven't dropped completely yet That is a completely fine reason to give the breeder if she does check up on you. :-) Pets are fun aren't they? lol

I usually recommend 6-7 mths for females, 10 mths for males. This gives time for correct hormone and urethra production.

Bonzawani - have you been to www.naturesvariety.com - Prarie pet food, or www.naturapet.com - Innova and California Natural? I've been doing a LOT of research lately on natural pet foods for my work and I've been writing comparisons for publication on all variety of pet foods including the more popular brands - we all know who I'm talking about. It's a very disturbing but highly educational project.

>>As my vet stated a C3 is sufficient as all other diseases are curable, unlike parvo,distemper, and hepatitis.<< Ah, Good Vet... Stay.

Sorry of your loss. I hear about these kinds of stories all the time and it's so disturbing. A common thing, unfortunately is that, someone will come to me with a dog who has a bad ear infection and skin allergies. We'll change the diet, give remedies and offer only natural shampoos for use. The owners will ring a while later and say, Thank you! "Dog" is much better. We can't believe it. Then a few months later they'll phone and say - Oh he's gone down hill. His skin allergies are back only worse! His hair is falling out and his ears are red and smelly!!!! I'll ask did you change his food? No. Have you used any different flea treatments or anything like that? No.... but we did vaccinate him last week. ARGH!!!! so each to their own but really research before you make decisions for your pets.

Thanks for sharing the cons against Greenies. I'd only heard good things until now. Appreciate it.

I use Cinnamon and Tea Tree toothpaste for dogs. It's a natural product for cleaning your pet’s teeth and gums to keep their mouth fresh and healthy. Contains tea tree oil and blended with cinnamon spice. It's usually about $16 for 100g and lasts a long time because you only need a small amount. It's made by Aristopet and is part of the St. Francis Aromatherapy range.

Greenies! Greenies are really good because they have been proven effective in preventing buildup of dental tartar, they help smelly breath by treating any bacteria in the mouth and they strengthen gums. They are all natural except for the palatabilty enhancer (I'm not sure what it is but it's an artifical flavour I assume). The company has a website www.greenies.com and they are available in a lot of vet clinics (all three I work in or go to regularly have them) and most pet stores will stock them or be able to get them in for you.

If she's rubbing her eyes they are more than likely causing her some kind of irritation. Is the eye pinky-red where it should be white? If so she might need a quick check at the vet as it might be inflammed (uvetitis). Not suggesting anything of the sort for your maltese but my Himalayan Persian gets watery eyes causing stains due to it being a breed-trait but it recently got worse and her eye was very inflammed. I had an instinctive feeling that she might be getting a cataract too so I took her to a veterinary opthomologist and I was right. Slight uvetitis and early stages of cataract. I treated the eye with eye drops for the uvetitis provided by the vet, and now I just wash around the eye everyday with the alt PETS pooch face wash I mentioned early. She's doing really well. Even though your dog doesn't like having her eyes cleaned you should do it daily. Make it a fun thing with treats, a game, or a brush afterwards.

>>Get a cotton bud dip in weak cold tea clean the eye from the inside out. Use a different side for each eye. Then another ball to rub on the stains don't know why but it works. Take a while but it works, and it is natural. << Yeah lukewarm black tea does work really well! I also really like alt PETS Pooch Face Wash: "a soothing, highly effective chemical-free cleansing solution for grubby muzzles and tear stained faces" It contains chamomile water, additive-free sea salt, sodium bicarbonate. It's great for cats too and I use it on my Himalayan.

>>The recommendations are that all dogs and cats should receive at least the initial course and first yearly booster of the core vaccines (ie. C3). >>Best to make the decision on further vaccines after discussion with your vet. I think this is pretty good advice! I usually recommend C3 at 12 weeks and again one year later and that's it. If there is concern get your vet to do a titer test to check antibodies to ensure the vaccine is still in the system (and it usually is!) I believe that lots of animals are seriously over vaccinated and in many ways I feel that taking your dog to the vet for 5 vaccines at once (eg. C5) every year is like taking your child to the doctor every year for a combination vaccine of chicken pox, measles, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis and meningococcal. No one in their RIGHT MIND would do that. Imagine rocking up to your GP and saying "we're here for our H6". Not going to happen so why do it to your pet? Just my opinion. I know it's a controversal topic and hope I don't offend anyone but I think it's the way to go.

>>I hope they decide to sell their dry food in actual bags (re: Nature's Gift) I really like Nature's Gift. I'm pretty fussy about what I feed my animals because there is a LOT of dodgy stuff that goes into pet foods. I mean why would they put good quality meats into pet foods when they can sell it to humans for our own consumption? Anyway regarding Nature's Gift selling larger quantities one of their reps told me there isn't enough demand for it - so get emailing and phoning them! The more people who contact them, the more likely we are to get it. They have a feedback / comments section on their website. http://www.naturesgift.com.au/contact/ Also TOP has been discontinued, not sure about Principal, so I assumed Optimum was the new TOP. PS. new here so nice to meet you all.