t-time

Thanks Archie - never heard of this product - where do you get it?

Behaviour-wise, this is a tough one because even going out in the night to correct him is going to be *reward* and certainly, letting him out is just *ideal* in his mind! My suggestions is to continue trying to block with the puppy pen, do fix the gate with a few more brackets and ..... pick up some old carpet to throw over the whole gate area so if he scratches it doesn't make the noise That will certainly make it easier to ignore him during the night as long as he doesn't get too frustrated and start barking. :D

Thanks Becks - always interesting to hear breed specific info But would ACV really be a huge issue with this? ACV neutralises PH (as does colloidal silver) so balances alkaline/acidity. :D I've had staining issues with a few of my dogs - feet and mouth started staining up but it *was* ear problems - dog scratches yeasty ears with back feet, licks back feet which transfers to mouth and then front feet. A pain to clear up. The drooling does sound suspect....

Jed - the ending is the easiest with M&B!! Don't they just "kiss passionately with the violent outback hues framing the image of their intertwined shadows" :love:

Does she scratch her ears? This is important! Try adding some apple cider vinegar to the food and drinking water in an attempt to neutralise the PH. Saliva staining - the dog drools and it's bacteria which stains the fur. So, there are several reasons for staining - perhaps all connected - or not - any which way, the staining will NOT wash out!

While I agree Oakway, I think you're getting very confused! OP's friend has a Chihuahua X Pomeranian with a litter...... My avatar thingo says "HAV2HAVATT" because I have both breeds. The only thing said in this thread about Havanese is my piccy! Back to the OP - hope your friend is getting her bitch to eat but if not please encourage her to take her bitch to the vet for a check-up.

Interesting Becks....she definitely said Minnie was placed on a Low Fat diet - they were seeing if it made a difference. Vets are trying to treat her for Pancreatitis (sp?) as they've run out of ideas about the liver. I will see if they can focus on the diet a little more. Chicken soup for Minnie contains, steamed Chicken breast only - no skin - veges and water - no salt or stock but I've said she can add some rice and/or mashed pumpkin to bulk it up a little. Dogbesotted - thanks for the milk thistle tip - guess it can't hurt to try at this stage and that is exactly the kind of "tonic" I was looking for. Turmeric is another one FYI

Thanks stitch I actually told her this very recipe just prior to posting LOL! So at least we are all on the same page.

My SIL 9 yr old small X bred dog has been diagnosed with an enlarged liver and there doesn't seem to be any reason. She's had an ultrasound (I thought it may have been a shunt) but nothing showed up except for the size of the liver. No baits or poisons around directly obvious, although my SIL can't be positive that the dog hasn't gotten into something. She spent 2 nights in vet hospital on fluids and has been sent home with no-fat diet instructions, watch her water intake and antibiotics. The dog hasn't improved in the 2 days she's been back home, won't eat (not regular and she is a chunky, slightly overweight dog), totally lethargic - normally bouncy and happy - seems to be in pain according to SIL. So, any ideas about causes or suggestions on diet or special liver cleansing tonics?? Any help much appreciated ETA: bloods and urine apparently normal.

My friend lives in W'Gong and walks her dogs daily at the beach.....one of her dogs actually got a paralysis tick and did get sick but not paralysed - vomiting etc. He had Advantix applied and the tick was dead when they found it. So, there are para ticks at W'Gong but I would imagine they are just not as prolific as other areas. If you are moving somewhere more "bushy" I would suggest the ticks would be worse there - not better. I live in a HIGH para tick area. What you have to remember is that even in areas such as mine, there are "low season" times during the year (particularly when it's colder) and "high season" (summer and following rain) for tick explosion. You could talk to your vet about the mostly likely few months of the year for ticks in your area - use the fortnightly Advantix during those periods and then use tick collars the rest of the time. Should be better on your wallet.

HUGE litter for a Chihuahua! One day off her food - I wouldn't be concerned but if it goes on any longer - vet visit. At 5-6 days with 5 pups, I would expect a steady bountiful milk supply so the pups are getting a proper feed and therefore a decent amount of POO which could explain why she is not interested in food today - lots of cleaning up to do!

Yep - dogs eat poo - even their own! Don't panic that there's anything wrong - it's quite normal - just happens. Pick up the poo regularly, you can add some tinned pineapple to food as this tends to make the poo taste less appealing....and NO KISSES!

GIANT breeds have age restrictions (18 months?) but for everyone else, bitches can whelp once they are 12 months and males can start breeding at 9 months. In some breeds certain health tests are required before breeding so those tests often can't be performed at an early age. I can find the direct rule if you want

I was told to give calcium to my pregnant bitch by a number of breeder friends and a vet. I'd never done it with previous litters but figured I was being given "better" advice so I should take it. With the Friday night emergency rush to the vet with seizures and full-blown eclampsia, the first thing the vet said was "Who told you to give the bitch calcium during pregnancy? They are WRONG! NEVER give Calcium to a pregnant bitch". My girl survived but I then had to wean the babiesand dry her up which was horrible as she was a great mother with a ton of milk. Essentially, my bitch was already being fed a lot of natural calcium during her pregnancy - natural calcium is PERFECT - add extra which I did and I was asking for trouble. ;)

Do NOT give pregnant bitches Calcium Sandoz! Once the first puppy is delivered - GO FOR IT! Essentially you are changing the levels of calcium which with babies growing inside, laying down bone etc - you don't want to muck around with it. NOT DURING PREGNANCY! Once puppies are being born and feeding the calcium is being taken away from the bitch and a calcium supplement really helps. I found this out the hard way with my bitch developing eclampsia 11 days after whelping. That's layman's terms for you.

We just went with basic pine. For the length of time that puppies need a whelping box, they don't really have the inclination to go chewing on the wood but I guess that might be different for larger breeds I painted mine before my last litter and stuffed up the front panel 'cos now it won't slide so easily ;) So keep that in mind when your OH builds the box

And it's also toxic so make sure that you rinse feet after a little "soaking" time and keep it well away from the dawgies when not in use :nahnah:

My Dad made mine for me. It has rails and the front panel slides out completely for when the puppies are older - cost $90 in materials and 2 other friends have used it for several litters when I'm not using it. Photos to come when I dig it out of the shed :nahnah:

Arki Buttercup Marina Tait Tashi I don't know how to add them into the existing list :nahnah: ETA: Panda and Pagan - my other 2 girls' names - are already there.

:nahnah: High value to you will be different high value to Kei If you don't feed cheese, it will be HUGE value...ditto with sardines Maybe try the dried fishies if Kei likes the fish so much? Or straight Parmesan balls (not dried cheese but grated fresh stuff screwed up)?? Just chuck a few meatballs in with the regular feed to get them gone - you know they're healthy even if they didn't work out as high value treats!

Yep - unfortunately, you've got a hatching of eggs :nahnah: Any fleas on the dogs should die pretty quickly due to the Advantix and bedding can be rewashed. You could also try making up a dilute mixture of Fido's Flea & Tick Concentrate (or buy the already dilute) and spray the bedding and carpets, leave for 4 hours and then vacuum. Place a bit of flea collar in the vacuum to kill any live fleas you may suck up. Keep on it and you will hopefully soon be flea-free.

Jed - thankyou for re-posting the Lithuanian Goat Catching Retriever - it's been a while and I don't reckon you can improve on the breed standard :nahnah:

Geezus - LGs would break your knees!! :nahnah:

If they are just going to be for training treats, why so many ingredients? Egg is a good binder but even a little will make the mix sticky. Next time you have some roo mince, why not mix a little with grated cheese and egg into small treat-size balls and microwave so the cheese melts to bind the ball and the egg cooks a little, also to firm up. Place it on some paper towel to soak up any extra moisture and once cool, balls should be firm. :nahnah: And yummy And just cooked a little bit. You do want it to be special right? :p Alternatively you could make the balls raw with some cheese and roll in wheatgerm or oatmeal. I personally wouldn't add sardines 'cos then you really can't put a ball in your pocket or pouch and your hands will stink to high heaven when training! You can buy lil' dried fishies for cats - just plain dried with no added stuff and I've found these to be quite good as training treats.

Personally, NO - I make sure vaccs are up to date prior to season and then worm as soon as the bitch comes into season. I worm Mum & pups at 2-3 weeks of age but do not worm during pregnancy. If you didn't realise until now that vaccs and worming are not up to date - once again, personally, I would leave it. Just what I do - sure there will be others who do things differently.