Her Majesty Dogmad

Not quite clear on this - can she get out of the covered area into the garden to wee? If she can then you need to put some more work in on training her to go there plus remove the smell in your undercover area (you cannot just use disinfectant for this, it needs to be something that will properly take the smell out such as vinegar etc). This is a common complaint actually, a lot of people don't want the dog going on the paved areas of a garden, what I normally suggest with that is to sprinkle some citronella oil (sparingly) around the edge or the area they are going in, most dogs will avoid that smell. If she cannot access the garden then she maybe cannot wait all day. Have you seen my posts on toilet training in the other threads? Try teaching her a command and then you can take her into the garden and give the command, she should get the idea.

One of my dogs has been on chemo for 4 years, I have only just discovered that there is no point vaccinating whilst they are on such meds, the vet didn't tell me but when I asked, they confirmed this was the case.

I use the Colby in the yellow wrap as it doesn't crumble (I have to give up to 6 tabs a day amongst my dogs). After a lunch a week ago, we had left over Brie which I'm not too keen on but Luigi lived like a king for a few days ....

My friends use a kennel cleaner for theirs and find it works well.

My IG used to get a lot of these sort of things, I had them all removed surgically and tested as to me they looked like skin cancers - brown moles spreading across his skin (IGs have almost no hair on their bellies and that's where these things all came). Did this over 2 years and he hasn't had any more, I bought him a UV coat from a place in QLD as he does love to sunbake. None of them were cancerous (he's also had numerous other weird lumps) but I often wonder if they'd have kept on spreading or turned cancerous. I've stopped having the other lumps removed due to the traumas of regular surgeries for him (never mind in the old bank balance), he's around 13 now and covered in lumps and bumps, none of which worry the vet or have been tested and found to be fatty lumps.

I should also say that in one particular case - a 1 yr old female very abused dog that was probably locked in somewhere like a shed or something for most of her young life, it did take me 2 months to finally turn the corner. I actually thought it would never happen but I just kept following the method described above - great patience was required. One of the other techniques I added in which I think really helped in the end, was to wait until one of my female dogs was going and I took the young girl and put her face close to what was happening so she could tell what they were doing when I was asking them to "do wees", this was after a month of trying the method alone and not having success. She was not awfully bright unfortunately, I generally foster terrier types and they are so smart!

Poor puppy is a bit confused. Here's the method I've used for around 40 foster dogs at my place (spaced over several years!!!), I also pass this on to anyone having probs - you can start this at any age. HOUSETRAINING TIPS Ok - first thing to do is decide on the command (I call it “do wees”) you will repeat over and over. You have to really focus on the dog for about 2-3 days to be successful. You have a pocketful of special treats on hand all the time for the first 2-3 days. Walk the dog several times a day and every time the dog wees, you get very excited and keep saying “Good boy/girl, do wees, do wees” – give the dog treats every time. First thing in the morning, last thing at night and every time you see the dog eat or drink (both precursors to weeing) whisk the dog into the garden and repeat the command “do wees”. Get very excited and present treats every time dog goes. The dog’s aim in life is to please you. If the dog should have an accident inside the house – say NOTHING at all. The dog soon gets the idea that when he/she goes outside you are really, really pleased and he/she gets rewarded. NB: Please note that the smell of urine must be properly removed for any housetraining to be successful. There are products on the market such as “Urine Off” but they are very expensive. A mix of white vinegar and water is a much cheaper alternative and should work for tiles and other surfaces although you should always take care with wood etc. For carpet/rugs, I use either a mixture of Napisan/water or bicarb of soda and water. I completely soak the stain using a dab on technique with a cloth. When it is very wet, I use an old towel to soak up the excess moisture. Again, be careful on any expensive carpet/rug, I have never had any problems but I cannot guarantee any method here.

Life is so unfair sometimes, sorry you are going thru so much grief right now and sorry that beautiful Zuri didn't make it to a new home. RIP Zuri.

Yes, I had a flea prob at one time, did the bomb and I also bought the flea powder and sprinkled it all over the car and in the garden. Added some garlic to the dogs food as well and changed my spot-on flea treatment to Advantage and all of that fixed the problem.

Rest easy darlings. I will never forget Tinka from Sutherland Pound, broke my heart even though I never met her. Some will always touch us more than others but all the lives lost because they are not loved is truly a tragedy.

Unfortunately the Xrays have shown that my Merlin has to have a knee reconstruction! We can manage without doing it immediately providing he has no off leash exercise as he limps very badly after for a day or two. When I do get the op done, it will cost around $1,000 but the worst part is that there is a 2 month recovery period with 2-3 weeks of that where he will have to be very confined, as I work, this will be very difficult to manage. Because he and one of my foster dogs romp and play so actively, the vet recommends she will have to go elsewhere for the whole 2 months (I don't think she'll ever be rehomed due to a serious health problem). There will be no off leash exercise obviously and then after 2 months, hopefully, he will be able to run again at some point. What a worry ...

The chiro said he had his sciatic nerve trapped, the treatments certainly seemed to help. He had to rest for 2 days after each one, eg no off leash etc. He is crated at night because he's very naughty and likely to be barking at all hours of the night otherwise. He still barks occasionally from within his crate but at least he doesn't wake the neighbours - little turd. Westie types like to bark!!

hmh - be grateful for small mercies!!! My foster dog Mabel (she is very beautiful and I thought very rehomable) has been diagnosed with a condition called "mega oesophagus". It is incurable and she spews up a lot. There is a dip in her oesophagus and food/water/saliva collects in there and comes up - silently, on a regular basis. You turn round and there it is. Luckily I have tiles everywhere, the two potential adopters both had carpet but even if you have tiles, it is heaps of work. She doesn't always vomit on the tiles, she vomits on me with regularity, the sofa, and the other night at 4 am I heard scrabbling about and found she'd vomited on my shoes and was thoughtfully trying to clear it up ....

I'd go to the vet and check it out, sounds like bile which wouldn't be good.

I have just been goign through this with my westie x. He has suddenly developed this problem. The vet said it wasn't his knee but higher up. 3 weeks of anti inflammatories didn't make any difference. I then tried a doggie chiro but after 2 treatments he still has the limp. If he is allowed off leash and actually runs, he ends up on 3 legs for a day or so. He is certainly in quite a bit of pain then. He is now in the vet having X Rays today and I'm awaiting the results.

Last night, I held sweet little Pippa in my arms at the vets, her kidneys finally gave out. I adopted her 16 months ago from Sutherland Pound where she'd languished for months. No-one wanted the little old dog who'd been found with little hair on the street, obviously very neglected. I'd directed a few enquirers towards her but they didn't want such an old dog either. When I found out she was only 2 kilos, aided by my dear friend Toots, I decided to adopt her. My vet said her whole mouth was ulcerated and she needed emergency surgery on her rotten old teeth, during that process it was found that she had kidney problems. She was put on a special diet and I also took her to the natural vet where she was prescribed Chinese herbs for her kidneys and oil for her poor coat. My vet warned me I may not have her for long but 16 months was pretty good. She was thought to be anywhere between 13-16 years of age. For the last 16 months, Pippa loved her life with her assorted brothers and sisters. She frequently cuddled up to my wonderful Gloria who weighed about 17 kilos more than her. She ran across the park with a spring in her step that you'd expect of a much younger dog. She ate her boring kidney food each night with enthusiasm, until the last week. She loved raw carrot especially and used to walk 40 mins with the others with no problem. Recently she slowed down on that and had to be carried a bit more often. She was the sweetest little munchkin, a really wonderful companion. Pippy-pants, I will always miss your sweet little face. Give Gloria and the Wonderdog a kiss from mum.

Choppa Chop - I'm sorry you had to face this, it is a terrible decision and one I had to make myself not so long ago. It is the most awful thing to do, no matter what the circumstances. I just wish the people who send nasty pms had any idea of the mental anguish this causes someone. You tried, just as I and others have, which is more than most people would do. Sending you best wishes, be kind to yourself.

So sorry Sue, thinking of you xx

So young, life is so unfair sometimes. What a beautiful girl. Sending hugs to you.

so sad for you all, poor little mites

Hugs to you and your family.

Juice - I am so sorry to hear this, even if you know it is inevitable nothing helps with the pain. I hope Girl dog is running with my beloved Gloria. 6 months is just not long enough when we love them so much. Thinking of you.

is he desexed???

I lost my darling rescued Gloria (from Renbury) to ovarian cancer. She originally went to to rescue SA in April last year, got rehomed and then taken to the pound due to a relationship break up. She had obviously had many pups but was about 13 so I hoped she was desexed. I brought her back from SA and had only had her a week when she came on heat. It was awful, even though my own males are desexed, 2 of them were quite interested - I had no idea this could happen. The season when on for 3 weeks and showed no sign of stopping so my vet decided to operate on her to investigate and desex at the same time. Gloria's insides were quite messy, probably due to years of producing puppies, my vet found a tumour and thought she'd removed it all, along with the desexing. Gloria started bleeding again 2 weeks later and my vet operated, removed some more tissue and the bleeding stopped. 6 months later, bleeding started again and Gloria acted like she was on heat but it was far worse. After 10 days or so, my vet decided to operate again and found that a huge tumour had grown and spread everywhere so we let her go. I was devastated. This probably would not have occurred if her owners had been responsible (the first owners, not the second) and desexed her as a younger dog. Having said that, I treasure the 6 months we had, my dogs and I simply adored this wonderful old dog that still got so much out of life in spite of all that had happened to her.

What a terrible and needless loss - so very sorry to hear this, your poor son. I hope that something can be done to prevent someone else's pet from suffering the same fate, it is a truly horrific way to lose a loved pet and I believe, something you will never truly get over.