caffiend42

We take the boys to the beach at least 4 times a week, and it never ceases to amaze me that as wet and sandy they get, after a good shake they're just damp, and most of the sand has come off too. If they're still a bit sandy they get a hose down before the obligatory zoomies. Seeing that they sleep with us there's no way we'd tolerate sand or stinkiness in the bed. They've had a bath this morning already as a dead lizard was found that is oh so great to roll in. I'm sure their grins were bigger , but not after they tolerated the bath, but now they smell all bootiful again

ann21 - with the paddle pool you don't have to empty it every day, just when it shows signs of getting gunky. Interestingly, I'm finding with the warmer weather the first signs of algal growth are more black - they were greenish, but that might have something to do with the green tree frogs spawning in it Sonic, I don't use a "dose" per se - I think a slurp is the correct terminology Probably as much as the dogs will stand, but if you put it in all their water they don't have a choice ;)

Oh it's top shelf stuff, good gear! It's slightly anti-bacterial so is good to help prevent urinary tract infections. We put a splash in the boys' water bowls, so they get a bit every time they have a drink, and in their paddle pool - this keeps the mozzie larvae away too. Also ok to put on (diluted) any tummy rashes (because of the anti-bac). Use it diluted as a final rinse after shampooing - it will get rid of the suds. I did a thread on this a while back - something like "101 uses for ACV"

awwww...Busta looks like she needs a nice big, but gentle! hug

I don't have any advice I'm afraid Heidi, but she's at the best place she can be - at the vet's. Sending good vibes your way for Busta. The waiting is the worst thing, but having her back with you will do wonders for the sick feeling in your stomach you probably have. Thinking of you and Busta.

Hope it's just a one-off isaviz, and the night is trouble free. Let us know tomorrow how he is after the vet. Good vibes for Oliver tonight.

Steve you just gave me a nasty visual of Greentea lighting up a big stogie and sipping on nasty enzyme juice ;) Ahem...I got this stuff from Healthy Life, and it also comes laced with honey for the wusses. I'm still frightened...

Yep, it's wronger than a wrong thing by itself! OH takes sadistic pleasure watching me take fish oil tabs, Vit B and other nasties - I think adding raw chicken juice to the aloe would make it taste better Best to make a game of it and take it together, and the one to last the longest without heaving is the winner :D

Yes! :D

OH tricked me yesterday by putting it in my berrocca - if it's good enough for the pups, it's good enough for us :D He would have been slapped if he put it in our coffee, but he's not that silly!

Oh yeah, just for that the photo in his singlet is being publicly broadcast. I just won't tell OH! :D 11.30 on a school night is NOT the time to make your bed - TWICE! If I mix the aloe in with chicken juice he laps it up, so no need for the syringe.

Good news! The little guy has stopped scratching! Don't know what may have stopped it, but a combination of no kibble, lots of aloe on the tummy, starting the aloe juice and the singlet seems to have done the trick! One thing that was evident was his that he was a lot less active whilst he had the singlet on - maybe it acted like a pressure bandage, and there was less opportunity to lick all the aloe off? Just a theory. Doesn't matter - it's worked! I won't presume to think we're fully out of the woods yet, but it's a bit start. Greentea - I've got a little ripper of a photo of him in his little white singlet (before he went and rolled in the garden) fast asleep on OH's chest, who is also asleep. Goldielover, hope your girl improves soon. What I do feel now is that Science Diet is a crock, maybe taking that out might make a difference?

Thinking of you, pesh. Be kind to yourself this weekend.

Don't know Greentea, I haven't given it to him before, but he does like his yoghurt :D I want to give the chicken and aloe only for two weeks as an immune system kick start, and then build him slowly back into other BARF. Vet had suggested 6 weeks of Hills z/d allergy free kibble ONLY - which seems to me to be the other end of the spectrum to clear up his rash. Timing-wise, it's looking more like a vaccination reaction than environmental, especially since Indy is not affected.

Thanks Yvonne, I'll try the latter for the next fortnight (didn't think of that! :D ), and once we slowly get him back to the barf patties I can add a splash in the mix. Shame it's as expensive as it is, but seeing that it seems to be liquid gold, I'd buy it even if it was at those prices.

Poodlefan: yep, even though it's already got ACV? It all gets mixed up inside anyway, so i wouldn't think mixing it externally would hurt? The only thing is that the bottle says refrigerate after opening (unlike ACV), and it's 33deg+ here consistently, so I'm not all that keen on leaving it out all day. Mooper, the AVJ is 100% stuff, no additives. Steve's advice is 100ml twice daily. So far, he's had a little lap at it, and if he could screw his face up in disgust I think he would have. But we've dunked his chicken wings in it, so he'll get some that way, but not like 100ml. He probably injests a fair bit of the jel we're slathering all over his tummy too, so I guess I shouldn't worry any more than I already am! hehehe I wanted to get the little bubsta Chesty Bonds in dark blue, but they only had yellow. That's not right! So he's got little white and baby blue singlets. :D

Had a search, lots of threads on putting 100% aloe vera juice into your doggies' diets, but nothing I've found about getting them to accept it, other than adding a splash to barf patties. I've got Keg on chicken wings ONLY for the next two weeks to see if that will clear up his nasty tummy and chest rash, before going back to 100% BARF. No more kibble in the mornings. How do I get him to drink the stuff? BTW he looks ever so unimpressed in his size 0 singlet to reduce his scratching, which, incidentally seems to work! It's early days, but this is a good start.

Hmmm. I've enver added it up, as their food is bought at the same time as hooman food, so it's not really important to me how much it is, but I'm curious now! Big bag of Science Diet puppy (15 or 20kg - not sure) for $67 - this is breakfast. 12kg of chicken wings from Lenards - $30 bones at about $2kg 6 pack of sardines/pilchards/tuna/mackerel whatever - about $1.50-$2 a can home made barf patties - who knows? Ah, it's all too hard! Actually I don't want to know now - everything is more expensive here

So ZA, are you saying that "ticklish" skin (not using the word sensitive in this instance) could indicate a predisposition to allergies, but not necessarily mean an allergic reaction is present? Can Aloveen and other similar products be a preventative? Clearly they wouldn't hurt if no actualy allergy is present.

Maybe point out what a healthy heeler should weigh? And the pictures of what underweight, healthy weight and overweight dogs look like from above? Would she be amenable to having prepackaged meals prepared to reduce the weight over time, provided she doesn't supplement with treats? Talk about killing him with kindness...

We've noticed in that Keg is a bit more scratchy than Indy, but they've never had fleas and their ears are fine. Keg generally scratches behind the ears around the collar and up around his "armpit". No sign of hotspots, and feeding is fine - they both get the same food. OH has a theory that I quite like, don't know if it's true, but reckons Keg has "tickle skin". He is much more ticklish than Indy when it comes to tummy/chest rubs - could it be as simple as this?

JW - get the Easiyo kit from the supermarket, costs about $20 for the starter kit and then the powder packets are around $3 ea. So simple even I don't have to read the destructions Truth be told, you don't really need the kit, but a 1L jar and a thermos that can hold it. It's suggested to let the culture mature for about 8-9 hours, but I do mine for about 24 to make it really thick set. Yumbo. 90% of the yoghurts you can buy now are diet or low fat and that gives me the irrits - they don't taste nearly as good. I reckon the best ever bought yoghurt is the Greek Style (Paul's or Peters?) and the Bornhoffen Acidophilus from Caboolture. Can't get it here

I make my own yoghurt (Greek style and natural) - heaps cheaper and yummy. They boys get it maybe twice a week if I haven't used it all up As for tuna, either in springwater or oil, or salmon, or mackerel - doesnt' really matter. I put a tin when I make up their barf patties, and they get one each a day for their little lunch. I don't hear them complaining!

Tried it this morning with Keg as he's a little Hoover with kibble and ALWAYS finishes before Indy, and will then do anything to get to his bowl. Indy just doesn't tell him not to the big softie! Bloody brilliant trick, works a treat

Johnson's baby shampoo works for us. Cheap, easy to get, smells like a puppy trying to be a bubba. Have had no dramas with it. OMG! I am no longer gripped by the Haiku!