Her Majesty Dogmad

So glad you had him for the last few years, he was obviously cherished and loved and would have appreciated every minute of his new life.

Herbie was one of those “boomerang” dogs – he was adopted and returned twice during his year at Doggie Rescue's kennels. He was an older Jack Russell cross, seemingly a good fit for my household so I took him home as a foster to see if I could work out what would be the right home for him. It wasn’t hard to see why he had been returned – he spent the first 3 weeks on my sofa, baring his teeth at me. Originally, he had been found with life threatening injuries, most likely caused by being kicked. He just didn’t trust people very easily. After 3 weeks of me giving him space so that he could watch me with my own dogs, he finally started to thaw. Under his bravado, he was such a loving and happy dog. He would make his own fun, throwing toys in the air, rolling around in his bed and making funny noises. He loved his walks and his food, he was enthusiastic about everything in his life, especially me. With my newfound understanding of his personality, I felt confident that I’d found just the right home for him when a very nice couple came to meet him. He’d been with me a few weeks by then and I spent 2 hours with them, discussing his needs and what to do and what not to do and they assured me they understood. Next morning I received a call to say they were returning him. They had done exactly what I’d asked them not to do until Herbie trusted them and in his fear he’d nipped the husband. And so Herbie lived with me for many more months. One of my other dogs, was always jealous, Herbie had a strong attachment to me and I couldn’t help but adore him although I didn’t favour him. Herbie had the adorable habit of smiling at me when I got home from work, when it was walkies or dinner was due and made such funny noises you couldn’t help but laugh. He regularly jumped onto my lap (he was about 10 kilos) for a cuddle. After a year, a retired lady offered Herbie a home with a female companion so I let him go. At the time it was the best thing for my own dog but I was inconsolable, I wept for weeks and for the next 2 years, Herbie was always on my mind although I believed he was lost to me forever. Early in 2007, my own dog that didn't like Herbie sadly died and then a few months later, I heard that Herbie’s new owner was unable to care for him any more. Fate has a funny way of working sometimes. I rushed to pick him up and Herbie came home and it was as if he’d never been away. He was a couple of years older and his smile was more gappy but I was overjoyed to have him back for the last 18 months. Every day was a blessing and then last week he collapsed in great pain and I had to make the awful decision to let him cross the Rainbow Bridge. Rest in peace my darling boy. I’ll never stop missing your smile.

I fed my dog on Ultra Z/D by Hills, for years it was biscuits only and then they brought out the canned version here which he much preferred! I also gave him sweet potato

That is a very sad story, how can people be so thick and/or so cold?

I always keep my dogs quiet after a vaccination, it is a procedure and some of them are extra tired/stressed afterwards - particularly delicate IGs!! If something isn't right the day after though, I'd be back to the vet.

I've had a dog with IBD, he was finally diagnosed with an endoscopy. Once he was on the right diet, he was fine most of the time. Maybe you could just try the diet first? I'd always avoid the steroids option - i thought I'd have to put my dog down because he was impossible to live with whilst on steroids - I tried for 2 years but it was very hard. A new vet said there were 2 other options and we tried "Salazapyrin", it worked for him and he was on it for the next 5 years.

Had this with one of my dogs after a stressful situation, no other symptoms but a stinky almost fishy smell!! It's anal glands for sure.

You really do need to go to a professional groomer, I was having hair issues of a different kind so went to a groomer and the problem was my dog's undercoat. Groomer fixed it, I was clueless but I'm not used to woolly coats either. Small dogs are not expensive to get groomed and you'll be a lot happier I'm sure. Also, with a Pom type coat, I discovered with a previous dog that you do need to brush every day. Groomers are used to dealing with difficult dogs and are set up to cope. I do adoptions for Doggie Rescue - many people come in wanting the magical non-shedding dog that doesn't require any work or expenditure whatsoever from them! Many people change their mind when I explain the maintenance that's required. We also get dogs that have never been groomed but our groomer is very experienced and always does a great job. I think you also need a different brush - I use a wire brush. Check with your groomer.

Best wishes for Sweep's speedy recovery, he's only young so has strength to get through this. Hugs to you, it's always tough when this happens to our babies. I clean and do lots of things to keep me busy, go to the pounds and help other dogs etc or I'd just sit and cry at these times.

Came home today to find my neighbour's large dog in my house. This is a young, working breed who is kept outside 24/7. She is never walked and although the kids do spend some time in the yard, this is usually on sunny weekend days. She's obviously been missing for a few hours, judging by the state of my house but noone notices simply because she's in the backyard. Husband does go outside for a smoke and sits with her but if she has a chance, she gets into my house and they can stand outside and call her and she won't budge. I don't encourage her or reward her for this behaviour and drag her back home when I find her. In fact for me , it is a real nuisance, but I do grieve for her situation, that she is so miserable she would rather sit in a strangers house with my little dogs than her own backyard ....

I've just been to the vets with a dog with digestive problems. She's only 4.5 kilos and pooping 4 or 5 times a day, mostly inside (she has other issues unfortunately). It's been very loose and/or runny and she leaves a pile and then loads of smaller bits and blobs. I've tried a few changes in diet such as more dried food but she seems to get an attack for a week or two and then recover on the same diet. In the last 2 days, I had some improvement when I added half a teaspoon of slippery elm powder to her dinner and she produced a firm poo (outside !). I lost a dog with IBD in February, his condition was managed with diet and medication. When it flared up he'd spend a week in the vet on a drip. To be honest, I'm dreading having the same problem to deal with again and this dog is young as well so it would be for many years. My vet recommended trying the IBD diet, Ultra ZD, like my old boy had and some medication for colitis. Hoping something works because it's hard to cope with.

My thoughts are that I cannot see the point of getting a dog and keeping it outside 100% of the time. People will say that there will be "plenty of interaction" but let's be honest here, when it is p---ing down like it did in Sydney the other week, how many hours will you be spending outside? Probably zero, or like me just a few minutes whilst I pick up the poop. Few people are prepared to walk in the rain so the dog goes without exercise - for any outside dog, this is just pure misery. And in Sydney, it can rain for weeks at a time but to a dog, even one day with no company feels like a lifetime. Just plain wrong in my view.

I've had many dogs come through my household in need of a dental, some have been changed dogs afterwards. I don't think Sarge's teeth look as bad as many that I've seen but the thing is, when the vet gets in there properly, they can find it is worse than it looks. The problem with not doing a dental is that it is detrimental to the dog's health in other ways - same for people too. It can affect heart etc. Sometimes no matter how good a diet is, some dogs are prone to bad teeth - maltese often are. I had an old dog that had to have a dental every year! These days there are "light" anaesthetics that are much safer and used for dentals - just check with your vet! Good luck!

It's when they are no longer enjoying life unless it is a medical emergency. As humans, we are unable to do this for our friends and relatives when they are suffering but we can do this for our pets and ensure they are not in needless pain. I have had to make the decision 3 times within 6 months. My first little girl had Cushings, a tumour on her pituitary and she started having constant panic attacks which the vet said meant the tumour was pressing on part of her brain. The second girl was very elderly too but her back legs went on her and she could no longer even make it to the corner and my neighbour heard her screaming and stuck in the back yard while I was at work so that was it. I put my Italian Greyhound to sleep in February when he suddenly became ill in the middle of the night, screaming every half an hour or so. By the time morning came, he couldn't walk. He'd always had a neuro problem but nothing could be done but I just knew it was time, he was getting worse and worse. It is never easy, a terrible agony that responsible owners face - the parting is very hard no matter what. Those who are wicked, desert their dogs by turning them loose or putting them in the pound. Happens all the time. Be brave and don't waver, listen to your vet's advice and your own inner voice, you will know. Sending hugs to you.

I had a foster dog like this and it was believed to be a fungus growing in her nose. I would come home to find strings of mucous hanging round off furniture, the walls etc. At first she was treated for kennel cough for some time, then antibiotics. Nothing worked. Finally, she went to Sydney Uni Vet for the scraping (under anaesthetic). The fungus would have been terrible, requiring awful treatment which could have been fatal. It ended up being allergies so I rehomed her to the city where her new owner found the mucous was not much of a problem, must have been living near the bush that affected her.

I've experienced this with a couple of foster dogs, no matter what I tried, it didn't work. Had to rehome both to homes where they weren't taken out in the car very often at all. Things I tried over a few months with one dog were: sitting in the front seat, lavender oil, motion sickness tabs, making car a very positive place with treats etc in case it was nerves.

Mags is right, these vets get all the tests from my vets and converse with them as well about the dog so you get the all round view.

Here you go: www.naturalvet.com.au I prefer to see "Karen". Good luck!

I've been there with quite a few of my dogs and had phone consults about one who was very nervous about going in vets but he'd also been there previously anyhow. They are fantastic, I've had good results esp with the use of CHinese herbs for kidney problems and my Italian Greyhound's dementia. I also had a dog who had a total collapse and we went there and got herbs, acupuncture and chiro work done, we went twice a week for a while and then gradually over 3 months, it got less and less. My dog was walking by then! Had good results from the chiro work with several dogs. It is expensive but one dog lived a year longer than expected in great health and my dog who collapsed, has been running round for months, thanks to them. It isn't cheap but sometimes it can be a last resort, it has saved 3 of mine from being euthanased. Can't recommend them highly enough!

I'd recommend a morning and and afternoon walk for a young dog and not necessarily in the dog park. I've just tried Supercoat for the first time and I'm not sure about it. I've just bought the food from pricelesspets and am sure that's better for my dogs.

I think some of the food you've mentioned is pretty rich and I know that quite a few of my oldies are affected by different things, some can't tolerate the liver treats without getting upset tums. Until you get to the vet, I'd try a 24 hr fast if you can, doesn't sound like she's very keen on her food at the moment. I would try food that isn't quite so fatty. After fasting, I'd try a little Basmatic Rice with some veggies and tuna (in springwater only), and see how you go. That's what my sensitive oldies do best on. Then you can add a few different things and see how you go. I like the dried food from www.pricelesspets.com.au, it's very good quality and value and they all love it.

I go to the All Natural Vet at Russell Lea with my dogs, one of who had a total collapse. With chiro work and acupuncture, she finally got mobile again.

You do need some sort of system to prevent this, I've had a dog like this and appreciate how hard it is, esp when you have children but there'd be nothing worse than her having a terrible accident or causing one. WOuld it be possible to install a baby gate in a hall way cutting off her access to the front door? Is your front yard fenced/gated?

Is your puppy only eating dried food? This sort of thing can be caused by a few things, I've had some dogs here with similar looks and after a few weeks on a good diet, living inside etc they are much better.

have you thought of contacting his breeder to discuss his condition (perhaps you are the breeder?)? I thought that lip licking was usually a sign of anxiety.