Jed

If you are happy for her to sleep on your bed, let her. She will expect to sleep there all her life. Of you could give her a bed of her own in your room A couple of mine sleep on the bed. I don't have a problem. Very handy footwarmers in winter. If she sleeps outside, she may need a dog coat at night, if she is an APBt - very short hair

Most pups of that age need 2 meals per day The time to change to one is when he is ignoring, or only nibbling at one of his meals. If he never does that continue giving him 2 meals a day. That is how you decide when to reduce from 4 and from 3 etc - when there is a meal they basically dont eat, and that's the one you drop. Let them tell you when they don't need it any more.

IMHO, at that age, a toy breed should have 3 or 4 small meals per day. Their stomachs can't hold enough for 24 hours. Check her teeth, and have her tonsils checked, these two things are often the cause of inappetance. You might also find that the dry food is too difficult for her to chew - jaws on toy breed pups are not over strong, and the physical strain of trying to chew dry food is too much, so they stop eating. Ditto chicken wings. Try her with a little mince, warmed in the microwave. Scramble an egg in the microwave, with a little milk, and offer that. Also try one of those tiny tins of Dine or whatever it is called - small tin, big price - all different flavours. What was the breeder feeding her? You can try putting her food down and staying with her, and see what happens or you can try putting her food down, and leaving the room

Whatever you say Diva, it was all too long and boring for me to read, so I didn't bother, so I'll just agree. I'm sure you're right.

Maybe you should re-read your post, Diva not castigate me for being unable to read. 33.3% of your audience "interpreted" your comments, 66.6% thought you were telling people not to go to a registered breeder. So I'm not the only one confused about your message. Isn't this what you said? You are usually telling people not to go to registered breeders, or they will get ripped off, but it's confusing when you tell them not to go to a puppy farm or a byb either. I wouldn't go somewhere wher "it isn't certain". You can't expect people to do what you don't recommend.

Diva Diva Now, this is very confusing. On one hand, you are warning people not to go to a puppy farm or back yard breeder, but you are also saying don't go to a registered breeder, because they are paying for a companion who may not have been fed, vaccinated, wormed and cared for, vet checked and given a clean bill of health. They may not get a puppy whose parents have been screened for genetic disease and probably hasn't been carefully bred to produce the healthiest of pups. You are paying not for the kennels 'name' or reputation but for life-long support from a breeder who wants the best possible homes for each and every puppy they breed which there is a fair possibility they wont get What exactly are you advising prospective puppy buyers to do? Where should they go? None of the choices seem acceptable to you. Maybe they should just go to the pet shop, they could get one from a shonky registered breeder there, or from a horrible puppy farm, or be tempted by one from a back yard breeder. And the buyer wont know, so they can simply take their chances, if each choice is as bad as the other.

I've had a few with ticks. My vets say the ticks in my area are very nasty, and I can't argue with that. According to the vet, they need to be attached for a "couple of days" but it does depend on where they attach. One girl was paralysed in the am, but the evening before, a tick check revealed nothing. The tick was attached to the edge of her ear, and was quite tiny **runs off to get ruler to see how big 1mm is** - about 1.5mm, I've had others of varying sizes, I don't get many. What it Ledum, and where can I get it? I think anything is worth a go, as you rush to the vet. Those signs sound like tick poisoning - except for the green froth, but I've had them drooling, so green froth is not out of the question.

I've had 2 dogs with it, both under physical stress, both really bad. Both recovered. Both were bred from. One was 20 years ago, and her grandson was a famous dog exported to US. I checked on some of his progeny and g/progeny, No problems. Her daughters and sons didn't have problems either. The vac could have lowered the dogs immunity, particulary with that reaction.

Proban is very effective, but used long term, it does cause liver damage. Permoxin is cheap and works well, but it will wash off if the dogs are swimming. I use it, and am happy with it.

They are EXACTLY the same. The manufacturer is touting them as "different" because they think that is the easiest way to promote the "new" vaccination protocol. First vaccination at 6 to 8 weeks - C3, C4 or C5 - I prefer C3, safer, and it does cover the 3 main diseases pups are prone to Second vaccination at 10 to 12 weeks - see above. No more until the pup is 12 months + auto Yep, you are wrong. The C3 contains 3 modified viruses - parvo, hepatitis and distempter. The C4 and C5 contains the aforementioned plus vac. for kennel cough. C7 contains the ones in the C5, plus lepto and corona virus. Lepto rarely occurs outside of the tropics (north of Mackay) and corona is a puppy disease. If the pup has a C3 at 6 - 8 weeks, he needs another (C3, C4 or whatever) at 10 - 12 weeks. He doesn't need another at 16 weeks. The only difference is the number of modified live vaccines in the injections - the number - ie, 3 or 4 or 5 designates the number of virus vaccinated against. Hope this makes sense, if not ask again. Here is W Jean Dodds protocol, which is accepted world wide

I had a cavalier who did not like bones. He had some decayed teeth, and closer inspection revealed that more teeth than previously thought were decayed, so he had most of them out. He took to bones with a will - just ordinary bones - and really enjoyed himself. Rib bones, Lamb flaps, and those big leg bones cut either lengthwise or across, so he could suck the marrow out. He could gum a bone to death like you wouldn't believe.

I hope when you got to the Bridge, Poppy, your old friend Nancy and your lovely dughter Trixie were there to show you the way. I worry because your passing was so unexpected, but I am sure they knew and were there for you. You had what we thought were small cerebral haemorrhages last night, and it was obvious that you weren't going to have any quality of life. You had a great 12 1/2 years - running around the property, helping with the horses, notching up mouse numbers on your little belt, running through the grass and showing those other dogs how to bark at thunder and lightning. You weren't the most obedient dog. You thought "come" was a suggestion, and you saw walks as an exercise in social skills - everyone you met needed to be properly greeted and inspected. You made new friends every time you went anywhere. You were wonderful off the lead though, and food would always bring instant compliance. But you were the easiest little girl to live with, and that was the most important thing. If you are always in the right place at the right time, it doesn't matter if you please yourself, right? If you are in the right place before someone calls, you don't need to come when called. I remember my long quest for a black and tan, and phoning your breeder. Do you breed Cavaliers Yairs Do you have any pups? Yairs You wouldn't have a black and tan female, would you? Yairs Can I come and see her? Yairs I thought your breeder was probably retarded, after that conversation. Turned out that she had been told it would be nearly impossible to sell the black and tan, and she was in shock that someone was interested. She thought maybe I was retarded!! I first saw you at 4 weeks old. You were so cute and friendly and self assured for such a baby. You came home at 8 weeks, and promptly organised the household so it ran to your standards. Lead training was easy - you simply did as you liked! Baths were something which you endured with sighs and groans, pandering to the whims of your silly owner. But you had a lovely coat, and you shone like silk after your bath. Then I decided to breed - you had lovely pups, and while you weren't a Crufts winner, you have given me a lovely line through your daughter, two grand-daughters and one great grand-daughter. Your pedigree wasn't to die for, but you had a lovely mouth, your patellas were excellent, and your little heart was a clear as bell up to the end. And you've passed those attributes on. And your beautiful, fearless, even nature, and unfailng good humour. I never heard you growl, or saw you be cross or cranky with anyone. In middle age, you happily moved onto small acreage, and traded your runs around the paddock for rides in the car, visits to friends, walks off leash along the creek, and running on the beach. Your cleaned up all the mice within a week or your arrival. You slowed down a bit around 10, but you were still pretty lively. Age related dry eye in one eye was a bit of a problem, but soon solved, and I think that's the only time you went to the vet, you were such a healthy girl. You never seemed to be getting any older. And I guess, that maybe you would have preferred it to end like this, rather than be very old and grey, and tottery, because you never were always so healthy and happy. But I thought I'd have you for a few more years yet. I'll sure miss you, little mate, with your little black face and big eyes with those cute tan eyebrows. I'll miss the way you rushed inside to clean up the cats' dinner, and the sight of your little black bum with the tan trousers waving, as you busily trotted into the kitchen, cats' dinner on your mind. I'll miss you meeting me at the gate when I get home from work, I'll miss you running up the drive to help when I put out the bin, or check the horses' water. I'll even miss your snoring. I wont be able to shout "shut up Poppy" and hope I fell asleep before you start again!! I hope there are plenty of slow mice over the bridge, plenty of new people to meet and charm, and I hope you enjoyed your life with me as much as I enjoyed being your owner. I sure got lucky when I wanted a black and tan Cavalier.

If you add apple cider vinegar to his water or food, the urine will smell slightly better. Either wash, rinse or spray his urine-y bits with white vinegar or ACV to neutralise the odor. NilOdor always makes me think of public toilets :p

Prior to kibble/processed dog food, ours ate meat offcuts from the butcher, bones, offal (heart, liver, kidney occasionall) ox cheek, milk, eggs, and table scraps, which were a minor portion of the ration, but did provide veges. They lived long and healthy lives with good skin, teeth etc. And none had problems with it. There was little or no chicken fed, as there were no processed chickens (except a delicatessens at high prices). The meat offcuts were exactly that - trimmings from various cuts, with some fat attached, from where the meat was cut for display and sale. Trimmings could be bought in quite bit bags very reasonably. Topside was made into mince. Over time the meat trimmings were made into "steak" mince, or just mince, and were no longer available at a reasonable price. Vets recommend dry food because it is balanced, which lot of "at home" diets aren't. If a vet gets "shirty" with me about dry food, I ask, in an extremely polite way, about the canine nutrition course they did , as I would be interested in attending :p GBP, it may be a long time since dogs were wild, but their jaw, tooth, and stomach structure, and digestive organs are essentially the same as they were when they were "wild". Evolution has not changed the dog from what he was in the essential ways.

If you are referring to International Tich, unfortunately, it was removed from the market last year. I understand the manufacturers said it was not an economical product. Quite sad really for all it's fans. There are other good supplements available though.

Quickasyoucan Sounded like his dog just bit him.

EVERYONE recommends something bland for unsettled stomachs, including vets - and chicken and rice is as good as anything, and better than most. And the rice certainly wont do any harm - and will settle the stomach. puggy_puggy Maybe you should do some research of your own before you begin beating people up for agreeing with an universally accepted diet for SICK dogs. All grains are different, and rice is very different. Leadandfeather, if the dog is a very picky eater, and you feel she is putting on weight on chicken and rice, and is keen to eat it, you could make it one daily meal, and make the second more balanced. Raw chicken is better, dogs have more trouble digesting cooked meat. However, if she will readily eat cooked chicken and rice, if she was my fussy eater, I'd let her have it. She may also be putting on weight because rice is a carb. Of course, she may be eating the c&r because it is not upsetting her stomach, and she feels better and therefore eats better. Once she has recovered, she may be easier to feed. Sometimes stomach problems persist in a minor form for a long time, and once they are cured, the dog eats better. There may have been soy or corn in the dry food (I don't know what she was eating). Soy is not well digested by dogs, and although corn is a little better, it, with soy, can cause stomach upsets. Once she is recovered, if she is still picky, change the white rice to whole grain brown rice which is an excellent source of energy, minerals and vitamins - particularly B vitamins. You could maybe feed quality kibble for the second meal, or bones, or BARF, or you could add a full vitamin/mineral supplement. Or, you could begin with cooked chicken and rice as a base - and add small amounts of things to balance the diet - meat, potatoes (Vit C), fruit and veges, cottage cheese etc. That wont be 100% balanced, but it will be more balanced, and if she will eat bones too, you're nearly there!! The main thing is to keep her on what the vet suggested until the problem abates.

I use newspaper - they do chew up puppy pads, and newspaper is cheaper!! You can use vet bed or something similar, but imho, that encourages them to go to the toilet on carpet, or clothes on the floor later!! Frustrating, eh?

Those VIP rolls can't be TOO bad, friend showed her dog to about 1300 points on them!! I was waiting for Chewbacca to come back and quality her statement, but she seems to have disappeared. The reason for not feeding dry with fresh meat is that dry is digested more slowly than fresh. One of the reasons dogs aren't as subject to food poisoning as people is because meat etc. is in the stomach for a short time. Dry food is digested slowly, so if the meat is off, or contains organisms which may upset the dog, because it is being digested more slowly with the dry, the meal is more likely to cause upsets. poochmad, if my dog didn't like his food - as yours appears not to - and he was the typical "if it stays still, eat it" spaniel, I would be re-considering what I fed him. He might prefer another brand?

It does depend on the dog and how bad the pancreatitis is. My own experience with my dog is to feed him a light, low fat dry food (not Hills) no fat, just a little low fat meat, and veges. Hardly any bones, and then only hard rib ones with no marrow. Digestive enzymes can help too. A friend whose dog suffers badly cooks veges, rice and feeds low fat kibble, with pills from the vet and digestive enzymes.

And most of the dogs which have bitten and are added to the stats are, in fact, crossbreds. I went through the stats from some years ago, and cross referenced them, where possible with reports of bites. The ones I could find were x breds, and I found 80% of the dogs in some breeds. However, we are at the mercy of the media and the government. In light of recent developments on breed bans both here and o/s, one hopes that Governments may change legislation or at least not enact further breed specific legislation. Which not only costs innocent dogs' lives, causes endless grief to their owners and needless public expense, but does not reduce dog attacks. If existing legislation had been enforced, dog attacks would have fallen over the past 10 years. Instead, BSL was introduced, and council resources were used to eradicate pit bulls, instead of working with existing legislation to actually do something about savage dogs.

One of mine had a few teeth out. I put some veges through the food processer to mince them, and stewed them with mince. Added cottage cheese, acidopholous (sp?) yoghurt, sardines on various nights, as she was eating this for about 10 days - and she positively inhaled it!! I think she was disappointed when her mouth healed and she was back on normal rations. She was given no bones, and no dry food at all, to allow her gum to heal.

I bought Razor Clippers from Clipper Blade Sharpening Service last year. Cost under $100 posted, and came with a #10 and #7 blade. One speed which is all I need. He does sell other brands, and the prices are competitive with other suppliers such as Clipper World etc. I clip one Cocker Spaniel off completely, trim another one, and do the occasional tidy up on some Cavaliers. The clippers have done a great job so far, and the advice and help I got from Clipper Blade Sharpening was probably worth the $100 without the clippers!! They would be fine for a full body clip on a Brittany, I think. I've had other clippers in the past, and they have worn out or died, and I figured that at $100, if the Razors only went for a year or two I'd still be winnng, as they were about half the price of Andis, Wahl, Oster etc. They are going to go longer than that obviously and they don't get particularly hot. Here's the web address - click on "clippers" or send him an e-mail http://clipperbladesharpening.webs.com/

Hi Goldens and welcome to the forum. I am so sorry to hear about Hunter, such a tragic and hurtful thing to have happen. Thank you so much for coming and sharing your story with us. It helps people to do the best thing for their dogs, and these days, what we believe is the best thing is not always so, and we are relying on anecdotal evidence, such as yours, to make choices. I haven't vaccinated my dogs past the puppy shots for 10 years, because of the problems you write of. I had a friend lose a cocker spaniel from AIHA. Problem is proving that it was the vaccination that was responsible. I'm a breeder, and a couple of young dogs I've bred died from very odd things, not hereditary or congenital, which seemed to occur within a couple of months of a booster vaccination. Makes you wonder and makes you worry. And I know for sure that not all deaths which are probably from reactions to vaccines are published, and I know for sure that some of the deaths notified to the manufacturers of the vaccines never make it to the website. We were fortunate enough to have Dr W Jean Dodds DVM visit Australia last year to give a serious of lectures in each capital city on vaccines and vaccinosis. So good that there is some research going on out there. Hope you will stick around

Older dogs seem to have sufficient protection, and there seems to be evidence that vaccinating older dogs can cause problems. Many dogs seem to develop lymphomas soon after vacs. If you are concerned, have the titre test done, rather than vaccinate. Quite a lot of vets will now take bloods, and send it away to be tested. Just check around for prices, as some are quite expensive. I would rather spend the money on the test, to ensure the dog was protected, than simply vaccinate. Too many risks.