Her Majesty Dogmad

I agree with this. I don't know why you are looking for a "submit" from either ... The GSD is going to be far too powerful for a poor old Springer Spaniel. What you are proposing is like leaving a toddler with a 75 yr old, it's not going to work for long and not fair on either dog. You'll need another solution for the holiday care.

I'm very scared for any dogs that get caught up in the middle of this or have the misfortune to be "rescued" by ferals. It's simply not good enough and will perhaps ensure that in some quarters, rescuers are tarred with a filthy brush.

Makes me sick when people who have previously loved their dog and included them as part of their life suddenly shunt the dog outside because their new partner says so. I wouldn't have a partner that asked or told me to do that to my dogs .... not that desperate. Same goes for people once they have a baby and put their dogs outside and no longer have "time for them". Far too easy for some peoples' preferences, likes, dislikes and so on to be swayed by someone else which leads to an animal's suffering.

My dog brought up a small amount of blood in a vomit the other day, he'd recently eaten one of those hard chews and I suspect it was that although the chew didn't come up it may have made his gums bleed a little - he's only got 3 teeth but is determined to enjoy whatever food he can.

God love him!

How very sad, hugs to you. RIP little Bean with the heart of a lion.

Thanks for the feedback, I've now started adding an Omega Flaxseed supplement to his meals. He's had another bath this morning and is still itching from time to time, his paws certainly do itch but not too badly. He did have fleas when he arrived - his list of things would shock anyone, in fact my vet thought he was would to have to be euthanased but luckily, it turned out not to be as bad as first thought when the specialists did tests etc. He is getting better slowly. I think I have had another dog that was almost bald from fleas, itch like this in the beginning, It's like everything is coming out through the skin or something. After a while on flea prevention, Malaseb baths and good diet, she came good and grew a brilliant coat but I do recall it took a while. She didn't have Mange though. Hopefully in a week or so, I'll see more of an improvement.

Sorry to hear this Clyde. We recently lost an Iggy for 5 days, turns out someone had taken him in and decided to keep him ... His collar had been removed for a bath by the carers and then there was a massive storm and he got out. We put up posters etc (he was on medication at the time) and the person who had him saw the posters and was concerned about the need for meds so called us. I'm sure your little boy is with someone, many people have them for quite a wihle before they do anything unfortunately.

At Christmas I took on a very sickly little boy who was diagnosed with Demodectic Manage - not through scrapings but biopsies. He has it on his 4 feet and possibly a touch on his nose. He was in a very poor condition when surrendered, a cruelty case of neglect but that's another story. He's on treatment of Ivomectin plus antibiotics for the mange but I was told to bath him once a week in Malaseb and then do a short treatment in between. I know it is likely to be a few months but was just wondering what other rescuers had done and if there were any other recommendations. He's itching from head to toe, can't be fleas as I treated him with Advocate on 1st Jan. He's on a good quality dried biscuit (for skin) plus meat etc. I don't know if all the itching is due to perhaps a food allergy. Any thoughts/experience would be appreciated as this is my first experience with mange.

Ellie sounds very happy in her new home, she's been helping with the gardening and other chores and can be found snoring so loudly on her beanbag in the loungeroom at night that the TV volume has to be increased. Hoping to visit Ellie in a week or two. :)

PAWS needs two homechecks doing for 2 of their small dogs. Parramatta and East Hills are the destinations. If anyone can help, please let me know! Thanks in advance.

I was told you couldn't get the cyclosporine drops any more due to the risk of infection, not sure if that goes for all places that mix it. The thing about dry eye is that you need a regime to manage the condition. With my own Malt boy, simply using Optimmune once a day followed by Systane eye drops about 10 mins later is fine. For two other dogs I've rescued with much more severe cases that regime was not enough. One required daily cleansing with a saline solution and two lots of Optimmune per day. The other needs two lots of Optimmune per day. Both required regular Systane eye drops through the day which is very difficult if you work full time. One dog wasn't going to be suitable in my house long term due to it's needs. When you've got the cnodition under control, you won't get the green/yellow eye discharge etc and the management varies from dog to dog, depending on the severity of the condition but make no mistake - dry eye is unpleasant and uncomfortable so it does need to be managed properly.

Thanks Ams, sending you a PM!

Could you live with a toothache? I certainly couldn't. 11 is not that old. I rescue dogs and have rescued quite a few old dogs of 10+. Last Easter I rescued a 14.5 yr old who hadn't seen a vet since she was born. She needed almost all of her teeth out, she has a heart problem caused by being left with bad teeth (and is on lots of meds now) - they can affect all their organs. In October she had another tooth or two out and lumps removed - she feels so much better for it. The vets use a light anaesthetic. Dogs will still eat, it's a survival instinct although I just picked up another surrendered dog with a mouth full of bad teeth, he wouldn't even eat the meatballs you buy in the supermarket, could only manage a tiny bit of soft meat. He had his surgery a few days later and lost 7 teeth. A few days of soft food and he's eating biscuits with great enthusiasm. So unless there is a defined medical reason that your vet tells you it can't be done (and there rarely is), ALWAYS get a bad tooth/teeth out.

One of my dogs had violent diarrhea after drinking salt water!

Def. Gordon Park, just checked on a map and it does exist!

Poor little chap, hope he makes it, he's probably very dehydrated after such a hot day yesterday.

We've had an application for one of our Iggies from someone in Brisbane - Gordon Park - and need someone to pop round and check fencing etc. Please pm me if you can help. Thanks in advance.

There are some black greys at Blacktown, sometimes a chip could be missed so it might be worth checking up on. Hope he's found soon, he might be entertaining a family during school holidays hopefully.

I've had more than one dog with dry eye and Optimmune is brilliant - sometimes, after a while of twice daily (depends on how dry the eyes are) and a good regime with drops etc, it can be retested and go down to once a day. Use only a small amount - the size of a rice grain - per eye. It is very expensive that's for sure. Try buying Optimmune from overseas, have a look and you will find it much cheaper online in the US for instance. The in between drops I use are Systane, i've had great results on the Optimmune plus Systane regime.

Oh and definitely desex her, I've rescued several older females with pyometra happening - it was discovered quickly as I always desex every dog I rescue asap unless there is a good reason why. I won't rehome any undesexed dog. One of the loveliest older female dogs I ever rescued (a German Shephered cross) was only with me for 6 months during which time she had 3 surgeries and was euthanased in the last one. The first, the desexing surgery, discovered ovarian cancer and attempted to cut it out. Second and third surgeries were undertaken when the symptoms had returned. It was the owner's fault for breeding with her all her life, leaving her undesexed and then dumping her at the pound. RIP Gloria.

Well done for rescuing an old dog! Some older dogs can't hold their bladder but if she's going in the same place then put a mat down. I have rescued, fostered and adopted many littlies, female malts included. Some cock a leg, some don't but the strangest female Malt I had used to do handstands, very funny and the people who adopted her had lost one that did the same thing! I have a housetraining method you can use, make sure you take her out last thing at night but put some wee pads or towels down in the area she seems to use and hopefully she'll go on there. I rescued a 14 yr old female chi cross at Easter. Never been in a house. She's now housetrained but can't cope with the dog door, if I'm here she'll go there and I let her out but for when I'm at work, she goes on towels/pads I leave near the dog door - it works well for us. Lots of washing but I don't care, she's a dear little thing that deserves a happier life for whatever time she's got left. If you would like my housetraining method, please send me a pm.

Ellie's first week has shown her going from strength to strength in her happiness levels! She has learned to be inside the house, sleep on her bed in the laundry - even during the middle of the horrendous storm we had this week! She has also been playing as the week has gone on, she was a bit mystified to begin with which is hardly surprising. The on lead walking has been a bit of a challenge so the PAWS behaviouralist has been out for a visit and provided lots of valuable tips etc. A different harness will be very helpful and more training. I had another enquiry on her yesterday but the behaviouralist recommends 2-3 more weeks of allowing her to adjust from her life on the rope, it will take a while. The enquirer is willing to wait - they are actually right near Juice!

When we lost our female Iggy from foster care, I rang loads of vets and all the pounds in the surrounding areas. We also put posters up and walked the streets in the surrounding area (it was terrible weather to be lost in, freezing and wet). She was found 3 days later, not far from where she was lost, by a garbage truck - eating things she shouldn't! She was taken to the pound that I'd called the day before. I hope that you are as lucky, quite often people have taken the dog in and don't want to ring a pound etc. Posters are really great. Fingers crossed he is found soon, it's a terrible feeling.

I know someone in need and will pm you!