BarbedWire

That is so sad BDJ. I have seen rescues do similar though. If someone can't afford the veterinary bills they take the dog to the pound or even leave it at the vet, then a rescue saves the dog, has the vet work done, and then the dog is adopted by someone else. The original owner must feel so terrible. The price of poverty isn't only money, it is also a poor person's self-esteem. And what about the dog. Some of these dogs are also elderly. What's wrong with helping the poor? Are we in some way encouraging people to stay poor? Is that the problem? And is that the no no?

I also had a dog, a boxer, that was attacked by a cat (jumped on his back and dug in its claws when I walking him on a lead) and when I spoke to people about it afterwards someone suggested that maybe the cat had been attacked or harassed by dogs or maybe it had a litter it was protecting. I hadn't thought about that and it does make sense because most domestic cats do not attack dogs by jumping on their backs and the ones that scratch at a dog's face usually do so in self defence. I don't mind cats although I am not prepared to have a cat that has to be contained all the time and I am very anxious about what unnameable cruelty those cat haters in our society might do to my cat so I choose not to have one. I worry too much and owning a cat is such a liability these days although I do feel sorry for all those cats in rescue that don't make it because no-one wants them. There are so many. Cats should be desexed. I thought this thread was about barking dogs Sorry having trouble posting. This post belongs to the previous page. Before Rebanne's and Perse's

Some of the anti cat posts on this thread are quite unpleasant. Some people love their cats just as much as we love our dogs. My neighbour had two cats which she was going to keep inside. When they got to be about twelve months old it wasn't working so they were allowed outside during the day. Now one has gone missing and the whole family, including two small children, are very upset. I feel very sorry for them. Where I live the currawongs seem to take care of most of the small birds. I have just put a bird bath in my backyard and two currawongs have decided it is their property and they either sit in the nearby tree or in the birdbath. I haven't seen or heard a small bird for days, and I don't think cats are responsible.

whipitgood I think

I do think that some rescues spend their limited funds inappropriately and rescue the wrong dogs. Sometimes an old or crippled dog makes people want to save it because it is clearly in need. Sometimes it is also the very frightened dog that doesn't trust anyone that appeals to people because 'Poor thing. It is so scared. It must have been ill-treated.' I hate it when a healthy young, but maybe ugly?? dog doesn't make it. But I am not in a position to comment really because I can't help anything.

A heart murmur is just a noise in the heart and it can sometimes be totally harmless and can go away all by itself. Othertimes it may be an indication of a leaky heart valve which can sometimes (not always) go on to become heart failure which is of course serious. I know because I had a heart murmur and I have been one of the unlucky ones who needed surgery to replace my mitral valve. People who have a leaky valve can mostly lead normal lives. They just need to take penicillin when they have dental work done because any germs from tooth decay once they enter the blood stream go straight to the heart valves where they can cause infection. I would imagine that for a dog with a murmur dental care would be very important. I would love to know what Rappie said.

Yep, I am definitely going to insist that my small dog stop jumping up when I come home. It's so easy to ignore because she is little but it can scare small children and I need to make sure that she is A1 rehomeable in case anything should happen to me.

Frenzied's boy is totally gorgeous but there is definitely some mastiffy breed in there, Dane or something.. Juice is basically seeking a wire haired sighthound. :) I am not suggesting Frenzied's puppy because she is keeping it. I am just saying that there are many others where it came from. Yass Cootamundra Wagga I was actually thinking something like the first dog on this site which is not available because it has been stolen http://www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/city-of-wagga-wagga/community/animals/find-a-pet#.WGInPRt96M8 eta What I am saying is that these pounds regularly have wolfie crosses available and that ARF rescue from these pounds and Frenzied is with ARF

Maybe something like Frenzied 1s new pup http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/267325-who-wants-to-play-guess-the-mutt-mix/ post 20. Wolfhound crosses come up all the time in country NSW near Canberra and maybe Frenzied1's rescue group (ARF) could help you out.

I am so sorry your little white girl has gone.

My girl has a similar problem and I wash her with QV shampoo (sometimes only underneath) and give her a polaramine tablet (available from chemist). Within 24 hours itching will stop and wounds will have healed. Polaramine comes in 2 and 6mg tablets. The dosage is dogs <10kg give 2 mg. 10.1 - 30kg give 4mg. Dogs over 30 kg give 6mg. Hope this helps.

My dog has just started doing this too and I have found it is because she has picked up a burr between her pads or some sort of plant material is stuck in her coat and she feels uncomfortable. Once I remove whatever is upsetting her she is happy to continue walking. You have probably already tried this but just thought I would mention.

It's to do with the marketing. Initially it was poodle crosses which were marketed as being low shedding and good for allergy sufferers and then it was the cav crosses. There was a TV programme a few years back about dogs who won at Crufts and who had major health issues, especially cavs, and it had a huge impact on the general population. People believe that purebred dogs (especially cavs, pugs, and Frenchies who are popular because of their temperaments) are inbred and have health issues and that by crossing two breeds it is supposed to bring out the healthiest in both breeds. It is called hybrid vigour. That is the way it started. Now it is fashionable to have an oodle or a cav cross or whatever and people speak about their cross breed dogs, especially the cavalier x poodles, as if they are pure breed dogs. They will even go to great lengths to tell you all about their dog's breed and how wonderful it is. There are now even third or fourth generations of these crosses being sold. I am not sure if I am allowed to say this but I think that once a purebred dog becomes popular it is overbred to satisfy the market and many poor examples of the breed (ones that have never been near a show ring and often don't have papers) are produced and then bred from and that gives the breed a bad name. Purebreed dog breeders need to up their marketing.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I was concerned that the scissor type would squeeze rather than slice but I will try them.

No one? I would also like to know more about this too. I have a fear of cutting my dogs nails since once years ago I did cut one too close and it was traumatic for both of us. I now avoid the issue and I just walk my dogs regularly over rough surfaces hoping it will wear them down naturally or ask the vet or groomer to do them. A dremel sounds scary and I don't think I could do it but I would like to know more about the guillotine versus scissors type of clippers. Any recommendations or advice welcome.

I have been thinking about this and sometimes I think that people allow their dogs to be off lead because they can't control them on lead because they are such strong pullers and they let them go off lead because it is easier and doesn't look so embarrassing. At the offlead dog park I often see people just drive up open their back door to let Fido out who then charges down to the offlead park gate and hopefully waits there for the owner to catch up.

Because people are of low socio-economic background does not mean they act irresponsibly and if it did it is not excusable. The guide dog owner and his dog have rights too and they should be able to walk around the bus exchange area safely. As for people with mental issues shame on a society which does not care for them. Because someone cannot pay a fine does not mean they should not be charged or be allowed to break the law. Perhaps community service might be more appropriate in this case although it would mean less revenue for the government. As for the dog I hope it is unscarred by the experience and does not become reactive. Poor dog, just doing its job and other dogs attack it. It would have been in harness and its ability to defend itself would have been limited.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-03/guide-dog-attacked-by-off-lead-dogs-in-the-centre-of-canberra/7993314 My bolding. This is sickening especially the bolded parts

JayGee and mita thanks for your replies. It's reassuring to know that others are in the same boat and are managing well.

Thanks animallover for that. There is little doubt in my mind but that cold, especially a sudden change in temperature, is a major cause of my asthma. I have just done my shopping and when I opened a freezer door to get my broccoli the gust of cold air when straight to my lungs and my chest tightened and I started coughing. JayGee I am now on prednisilone and I feel a little high. Does it have that effect on you? (Yes Jules, I have been making a fool of myself elsewhere. :) Such is life :) )

Thank you all for your advice. I have seen my doctor and I will be having allergy testing done but my doctor thinks it is unlikely to be my dogs because it would have been bad earlier. It is more likely to be seasonal. The dogs will stay in my room with me but never on my bed. (Funny how sometimes when you wake up in the morning one of them has snuck up on to the bed so I hope they are listening!!) and I will wash one of them once a week and the other the following week. I will also try to vacuum more often although I do find it very tiring. I will also be getting a smaller spacer. Thanks everyone.

Wonderful news! Well I think it is anyway.

Mita and Jules I do use a spacer. It was given to me after I had a lung function test done. I also thought they were for children but I use it too when I am at home and it helps, but it is too bulky to carry in my handbag so I just take a puffer with me when I go out.

Thanks for your advice. I will try to wash them more often. I do have a good vacuum and I know from my children having asthma not to sweep but to vacuum. I also dust with a wet cloth. You are right Pers. Not having my dogs in my room with me at night will make me anxious. I will leave them with me tonight and tomorrow when I see the doctor I will ask to have allergy tests done to see if it is the dogs causing my asthma. Sorry to hear of this, sars. I had some nocturnal (only at night) asthma when very young. But it disappeared. Then I also had open heart surgery & one night in the days after, I got an asthma attack. But it stopped there for a couple of years, until I got a bacterial chest infection...& then followed the asthma from hell. It was like being smothered with a pillow. for a couple of months. But again only at night. Weird thing when I'd go to the doctor's office in the day, nothing would show. Finally went to emergency at the hospital. Doctors told me, lungs get hypersensitive from coughing & irritation after a virus or infection is long gone & that triggers asthma. She said the more coughing can be controlled, the less this cycle rolls on. I was lucky, some emergency prednisone & valium beat it within 36 hours. Followed by the full morning/evening dose of flixotide. Which takes care of prevention. Have you been tried with some emergency, short-term prednisone?I found winter worse, too, because the cold air seems to irritate the lungs. Kept wishing there was a mask that would just allow breathing in warm air! Also like you, a certain time was worse...me middle of the night & you early morning. I honestly don't think my tibbies' hair is a major cause in my case. They weren't with me in hospital! If mine hadn't been controlled, the next step was a respiratory specialist. I agree with Diva, it would help tremendously to suss out your particular triggers.Best wishes, I know what it's like. Your post is interesting Mita. When I told the cardiologist recently that I had had asthma since my surgery he laughed (that doctor patronising laugh which I felt was suggesting that I was a silly woman) and said that he had never heard of that one before. You are right too that it may not be the hair. I just know though that the first thing a doctor will ask is if I have any pets and I remember another specialist I consulted for my balance problems saying that the first thing I should do was to get rid of my dogs so I guess I am pre-empting them. I will ask for allergy testing tomorrow. (Sorry for overusing 'thing'. My brain is a bit stressed. We have just had a power outage and I am worried that it might go again so I am hurrying my post.) I actually have one of these which I have had for some years and I did not know what it is called. The one I have is on page 3 of that website. They seem to me to cut the hair away and I don't want to make her bald, but I will think about using it again although her coat is not as thick as it once was.

Thanks Jules for the suggestion but I have a hearing loss. My dogs mostly hear for me.