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We get ticks EVERY DAY Terrible where we live. I do know the difference now between a cattle tick and a paralysis tick but it took a while. First time one of the dogs got a tick, I panicked, raced for the vet who nearly fell over laughing at me - not mean, just a bit of a pay out They are so common around here and the vet only ever sees dogs who are paralysed. Bottom line is, if they're not exhibiting symptoms, it's not worth wasting your money on a vet. Just pull off the tick. We use to squish them but now we just feed them straight back to the dogs (I just know that's going to freak you all out!!) Seems there's some sort of theory that it gives your dogs some immunity and the old farmers out here swear by it. Don't know if it's true or if there have been any studies about it but the farmers noticed that the dogs who were never affected by ticks, would pull the ticks off themselves and eat them. If you think about the way tick serum is made, it kind of makes sense. If your dog starts throwing up, especially the yellowish bile, if it seems disorientated, if there's any sign of any paralysis - straight to the vet. Incidently, the paralysis starts at the back legs first in 99% of cases. Don't panic. Just observe your dog and in future certainly don't leave it on the dog to watch it grow overnight

Yep, do this with the horses too Great doggy idea Ellz!! Also give doggy large pieces of food. Carcasses instead of mince, quarter of a pumpkin, big breed bikkies instead of lil' tacker food you know, think BIG I realise this dog is only little but give him/her something to chew on so it has to go slow. It will also probably slow down once it knows it is getting fed regularly but it might not ;) Good luck!

For a start, forget the Frontline and try something else - anything else!! I've had the same issue and been given the same advice as you've been given. Frontline is NOT working anymore. I changed to Advantage and the horrid fleas are gone. Apple Cider Vinegar is an oldie but a goodie - didn't know about the flea bit though.

Yukko!! Can't stand the smell of coconut.. Love the Aloveen though. MMMMM. My baby smells good enough to eat after a bath with that stuff but it's so expensive, I'm thinking of using it on my own hair!!! I know a perfumer who used to do doggy cologne before it was popular. Funny thing was, he has Bichons and when they cane back from his groomer, they never smelled like "his" products and he hated it! For around $500, you can have any scent in the world for your very own puppy or you can get a natural doggy version of most popular fragrances.

Poor lil bugger and poor YOU! :p Hope he's better soon. Thought are with you...

More snake stuff.... anecdotal - haven't had the opportunity to try it myself : if you get bitten by a poisonous snake (or - a SNAKE if you don't know what kind it is :p ) THROW YOURSELF INTO THE CLOSEST ELECTRIC FENCE!!!!!!!!!!!! ;) Sounds whacky but apparently the small shock will slow down the neurological responses and give you an extra half hour or so to get to medical attention. (Most of our really bad snakes are neurotoxic). Of course, this sagely advice will only help if you're in a country area Also read heaps on the net about Vitamin C for snake bite - sorry don't know how to post links, or do an avatar, or etcetc but I'll get there one day... We used an oral mixture of Vitamin C and Sulphur Powder for tick bites on our goats. I'm with Jed - don't know really if the goats would have recovered anyway but if we'd taken every goat to the vet, we'd be broke a long time ago. Never lost one single goat with that remedy. Have heard it works for doggies too but our dogs aren't expendable They can go to the vet..

Have you read the back of the Schmackos packet?? :rolleyes: It's no wonder dogs go whacko for Schmackos

How long have you had the dog? What (approx.) breed is he? (Assuming he might be XBred?) Does this happen after eating? Does he seem disorientated when he's running his circles? Sorry just reread and noticed you got Monday night so we won't want to know that again

Great Danz - I have read this thread and I feel you're being extremely overzealous (I hope this term doesn't come over as being offensive to you.) Someone said something about "the minister preaching to the choir" - can't be bothered to go back and find the quote. YOU ARE PRETTY MUCH PREACHING TO THE CONVERTED! And certainly, this topic has been covered many times before on DOL. So many people here on DOL already feed their dogs RAW food. In fact, a lot of contributors to this thread DO feed their dogs Raw Meaty Bones. For some people it might not be all meat - perhaps BARF but obviously they have decided what is good for their own dogs. It's great that feeding only raw meat to your dogs has worked you and your dogs. Can you accept that this diet might be "best" but not ideal in other cases? For other people? You just seem to be preaching. Yes, maybe that's an "electronic" thing but now that you've been made aware that people ARE uncomfortable and feel threatened about it - whether they feed their dogs like you or not - why don't you try and change the "tone" a little bit? I'm not being nasty, cynical, sarcastic,mean or anything - just making an observation about how heated this thread has gotten and making a suggestion about how MAYBE the "tone" could lighten up. Personally, I've already taken your "challenge" years ago and I wouldn't have it any other way. So I don't need to take you up on it and heaps of people who have responded to your topic, don't need to "take up" your challenge. I feed my dogs raw meaty bones but they rarely touch offal despite it being offered at regular intervals. I have to offer supplements, often in the form of kibble but more often Missing Link or Sasha's blend as a result, as the meat alone without the offal is not going to sustain their nutritional needs. For the record,at least once a week, they raid my vege patch and especially love pumpkins. They also eat every cow pat/horse poo/possum dropping/chicken poop in sight and would probably eat the animal who did it if they were allowed!! Would love it if someone would throw dead roos over my fence but I source most of my meat from home-kill. I live in a rural area too. No - I'm not a scientist here, wouldn't have clue about calcium ratios/kilojoules/cellulose levels. But I have read nutrition books to enable me to bettter understand what's good for my dog to eat. My Grandparents had Great Danes 20 years ago and one of them had such bad allergies that eventually all he got was Raw Meaty Bones. So, the idea about this type of feeding for GDs has been around at least since then and obviously longer...this is what led to me, as an adult, exploring food for my dogs. The best book I've found FOR ME is "Give A Dog A Bone". Have you read that too? :rolleyes:

Why pay a fortune to a company for a mobile wash business when all you have to do is buy your own and send out flyers, advertise and have a mobile?? Very easy when you think about it like that. The only thing they really "offer" which you can't do yourself straight away, is a very small client list and a central phone number. Really, you will end up working in your own area anyway, so why not try to do it for yourself? I've heard that groomers friend course is excellent - if you've got enough to pay for it. Pretty expensive but apparently worth every penny. There are a couple of TAFE's that offer grooming course and I haven't heard any bad reports about those either. And a lot cheaper too :rolleyes: Hands on experience is always a great way to go. Why not approach a local groomer to see if you can do some work experience to see if you really like it? Good luck and have fun. Satisafaction is a fantastic reward in a career. :cool:

My boy is on Metacam for inoperable deformed bones in one of his back legs (luxates his patella when he tries to straighten his leg ;) ) Very painful on most days and then I give him a tablet, so he doesn't have one every day. Severe arthritic changes in his other hip at the back. Metacam or equivalent works WONDERS. Non-steroidal (spelling?). Kind of like us taking a Neurofen for a back ache. I saw that new Exelpet product for doggy arthritis and decided to give it a go. It's Green Lipped Mussels in a dog chew and my boy just loves them I noticed that I haven't had to give him the painkillers quite so often and I spoke to my vet about it. Said that quite a few of their clients had been using Green Lipped Mussel extracts/chews and were having great success with it - no judgements which was good as I felt they might have thought I was being a bit "airy-fairy" about the herbal side of things :p Also not so keen about the idea of permanent medication but not stupid enough to ignore it altogether People have been using it for ages for arthritis, so why not dogs?

I saw you - too shy to come over - I was so happy for you!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! It makes such a difference knowing about "that" dog in the the group...my heart was in my mouth for you!! I thought he really deserved to win - he is lovely (and didn't look to skinny - just young!) You'll do a lot more winning with him. I actually really enjoyed the Group yesterday as the Gordon Setter got it FYI folks. R/Up was an English Setter. Both rare choices in Group 3 and needless to say, quite an upset! All those Cocker people left out this time...no offence...made for something a bit different !!! Congrats again.

yep, drooly,drooly - lucky your puppy didn't puke as it's the next step! 3 of my 4 dogs suffered terribly with carsickness. They have all grown out of it by 7 months of age or earlier. The worst case of carsickness I've ever seen was in the litter sister of my girl. She would start drooling as soon as she realised she was going to the car!! Ginger. Raw ginger, grated into the food at least a tablespoon full (my dogs still like it!) - or a tablet but raw is more powerful. Ginger is suggested to all pregnant women with morning sickness as well. Very short and pleasurable car trips for your puppy. You might have to bite the bullet for your first few weeks at preschool and lay towels down on the back seat. Don't forget it's nausea and your pup probably won't be feeling too crash hot by the time you get to your destination. If it's too bad, you may have to delay the preschool for a while or just give yourself heaps of extra time to get there well before the class starts so your pup has time to feel a bit better and learn. Sorry Lappie_girl, it's awful but your puppy will grow out of it eventually. Just be patient.

Thanks for the compliment Erny. I don't want a medal. Seeing him come bounding up to the gate wagging his tail was enough reward. He's so much happier. As for the owners, I have been to-ing and fro-ing about my feelings and the opinions of others. There have been a lot of shocking side threads to this situation but then other positives I can't fault the owners for: 1. Getting an extra person to clean his ears during their absence because they realised his ears needed special attention. 2. They have taken the dog to the vet 5 times in 8 weeks (before I took him to the second vet). 3. They did get him from a rescue society and he is an older Dane. 4. They have put weight on the dog since getting him. 5. They have cleared up his skin condition quite well. 6. They did agree to have the second vet see him when I suggested it. 7. With all the problems they were having with him, they did contact the rescue person again, found the original breeder and went online when the vet advice didn't seem to be working. I can't help but think they have done a lot for the dog but have just had poor advice and vet treatment. On the negative side: I don't really agree with the euthanasia vs money vs rescue dog philosophy but other people aren't the same as "us". This was further compounded when the house-sitter confirmed that the owner is a real tight wad. I believe the dog should go back to rescue if they intend to euthanase him and I will say that to the owners if that's what it comes to when they return (end of the month). No reason why that can't happen and in fact, even though I can't have another dog I will get him fixed up and find him a new home MYSELF if it comes to that! (Watch the rescue threads guys - I can't see them paying for the op for his eyes) Also, he's getting pretty crap food - Scotty's rolls (200grams! - not enough!) and dry bikkies the variety of which, I'm not certain. The house-sitter has been ordered by the vet and by me to increase the amount of food he is getting at least until he hits target weight. I remember my Grandma's Danes used to get like a kilo of meat each day!! I don't know really how much a Dane is supposed to get normally but let's not forget he is severely underweight. They don't give their dogs bones :D . Apparently, the last Dane got bitten by a snake and that was because the bones are bloody and attract snakes - what sort of crap is that!!!??? Anyway, fixed that up quick smart and the house-sitter bought them bones from the butchers - they relished them of course - and I just told the house sitter that if that's what the owners are concerned about, pick the bones up after an hour or 3 and put them back in the fridge until the next day. Can't believe some of the shite people believe!!! Also both the dogs are in desperate need of a BATH. I will rectify that this week as soon as I can get access to some warm water - it's pretty cold up here on the mountain and there is a major water shortage and a lot of people aren't bathing their dogs BUT - too bad....

Another update: Been to the vet on Sat. Major ear infections in both ears and mild "cross-over" infection to his eyes. Cleaned out his ears and it took 3 of us to hold him still, poor baby. Vet decided with me in agreeance that his ears definitely needed syringing. He could not put the dog under GA as advised by the owners. Must of hurt but his growls turned to pleasurable whines as his ears were unblocked and soothed by the local the vet put in. Vet and vet nurse were appalled by the stench as I brought him in to be weighed - he is still 15 kg underweight (56kg approx.) Don't forget,he's a 6 yr old entire male Managed to spray blood and pus up the walls of the consultation room after he shook his head pre-cleaning. Worst case of Entropian the vet has ever seen and recommends the owner take him to an eye surgeon for surgical correction- yeah, RIGHT. Like that's going to happen... must tell the breeder too. Eye problems mainly due to Entropian rather than infection but the vet has provided some antibiotics to improve the pus-eye situation as some cross-infection may be present. Vet felt that systemic antibiotics were preferable but given the owners' stance on money vs euthanasia he opted for a hopeful topical antibiotic treatment (still expensive but cheaper than systemic). Tried to get hold of the owners all weekend on their mobile to no avail. Dog is supposed to have treatment twice daily and despite discussing it with the "house sitter" she won't do it. I am only paid for a visit every second day. Sucker me thinks "I'll just do it twice a day until I can contact the tight-wad neighbours to see if they will pay me for 2 visits a day". Shock HORROR - nearly fell over today when they returned my call and said they'll pay whatever it takes as far as my visits are concerned. Isn't that great??!!! Today, we are looking at a different dog. He is happy to see me, quite content to let me clean his ears and best of all - no green PUS!!!! Will write another update soon. Thanks for all your concern and advice DOLers.

How much is a "Dremel" machine? I don't have any problems cutting my dogs' nails (with guillotine type) but I'm fascinated by the idea of nail technicians for doggies! Is the dremel kind of like a grinder? How long does it take with the engraver thing?

An update on the poor fellow: Went to clean out his ears on Thursday and they were leaking greenish pus which was sticking to his hair down his face - I nearly cried when I saw him. It was soooo disgusting and smelly and I gagged often. The new stuff arrived and it is called Toppi Toppi - a by product of the ti-tree industry and used as wound treatment for small animals. Apparently worked wonders for several other GD breeders. However, as it's ti-tree I was sure it would sting like crazy. I used some of it to wipe up all the muck around his ears and face and his ear flaps. The one ear flap is now so injured from him shaking his head that it will probably need to be stitched up by the vet. I cleaned his ears enough to see inside and I could SEE ulcers. I used water to wipe the rest of the gunk out as well as I could as I didn't want to hurt him and it was obvious that as gentle as I was being, it still hurt him. Can't believe how bad this is. Feel so sorry for the poor boy. Went home and called the owners in NZ (on their MOBILE!! Yikes, how much is that going to cost?!!) and talked them into letting me take him to the good vet. He is booked in tomorrow. BUT they said they would only pay for consultation and medication - they won't pay for him to be put under anaesthetic or have any operations. As he's 6 years old and a rescue dog and has already cost them about $700, they will euthanise him when they return if the vet thinks an operation is needed. Will have another update tomorrow....

Why don't you try giving him the whole chicken frame to chew on? If he gutses smaller parts or his minced up frames... That way he gets plenty of bone and cartilage as well as some meaty bits. That's what all my dogs get and even the little ones go for it. Takes them ages but it keeps them occupied and happy. And they have bewdiful toothy-pegs! I've also always fed some lamb each week but have become wary recently when my 5 month old TT got her jaws stuck on a lamb chop. It wasn't down her throat, just her teeth, top and bottom were in the flesh and she couldn't open her little mouth again! Felt very sorry for her. But god she was relishing it! I do watch the little ones with lamb bones. Think BIG, I reckon. That way it makes him chew his food.

Koe'Vu, I do know the vet the owners have been taking him to and as mentioned earlier in my posts, he's not a good dog vet - great with cats! We live in a rural area (the cat vet is the closest) and my personal vet who's almost an idiot savant when it comes to dogs, is 40 minutes away - but worth it. I have discussed taking the GD to my vet with the owners and they said they would take him when they get back from NZ as they really wanted to get his ears sorted out. Their heart is in the right place but the timing is shocking. They have had an unsatisfying time with the cat vet (who didn't even check the GD over properly as he was obviously terrified of him!! The GD is a lamb as are most GDs IMO). Ellz: I am going to PM you for that formula - God I'd like broadband!

OK Kids! Capitals and punctuation aside - I did try to get onto the blue power website but the info was in PDF format and was going to take 17 minutes to download!!! I'll get to it soon but in the meantime, I'll see about getting him to the vet. Incidently, the owners had been in touch with his original breeder who has a friend etc etc The owners are expecting some new "wonder" drops in the post via the breeder and I'm actually wondering if this could be Blue Power. Apparently what they are getting is not available from the chemists in Qld but is available in NSW. Maybe you can't buy Gentian Violet over the counter in QLD any more? My mother is a hoarding ex-nurse so it is highly likely she still has some in the cupboard from when I was born!!! Just kidding - of course I wouldn't use that even if she did have it! Anyway, will keep you updated as I have my first visit with the GD tomorrow. I am going to stick to the routine they have given me for starters. Don't get cross with me - like I said, these other drops may have arrived and maybe exactly what you are talking about. If the new drops do contain any alcohol, I will get a vet appointment asap - and hope they will let me pay at the end of the month... Trying to do the right thing ;)

Thanks all. His ears are done with malaseb which the owners have said has improved but not cured the situation...IMHO it's done nothing becasue I am still looking at pus But if you are going to be cleaning them out anyway, malaseb is as good as any. There were cultures done - to a point...like I said, the vet isn't great. He apparently looked at the muck on a slide under a microscope and pronounced that the dog had ULCERS in his ears - I mean - no sh%# sherlock - I could have told you that!!! I'm in agreeance that I should perhaps take him to another vet but as they only left yesterday, I don't want them to think I am being underhanded - they are trusting me with this dog after all - another vet visit is probably in order and maybe he will be better by the time they get back.... There are a lot of very useful suggestions offered here but I think you are right Anne, nothing else should go in his ears until a good vet (mine :rolleyes: ) can tell what it actually is. I'll keep you updated.

I am about to "housesit" a Great Dane with terrible ear problems. A lovely rescue boy and the owners have only had him a short time but they have to go to NZ for a month. I am going over to their place every third day to properly clean out his ears (there is a proper house sitter there to look after the animals, I'm only doing his ears) They've had vet treatment for his ears several types of drops antibiotic ones included but none have worked so far. His poor ears stink and are so sore and when I looked inside - they are full of pus - ugh - that's what I'm cleaning out every third day. He's currently got new drops, can't remember what right now. As he also has a weepy, pus eye my thoughts are that he should in fact be on a systemic antibiotic rather than just having his ears cleaned out with cleaner. Also rather than putting liquid in his ears, maybe something to dry them out instead? Poor darling keeps shaking his head so his ear flaps are damaged and bleeding too. I'm not in a position to take him to another vet (I know the vet they take him to and not much of a dog vet unfortunately). It'll have to wait until they return from NZ. Just wondering if anyone else had any thoughts/ideas on this problem. Oh yeah, the owners have been in touch with the original breeder (she's thrilled to know where he is now - 6 years on!) and also Great Dane Rescue (obviously) as well as other breeders. So I just want you all to know he is in a very kind and loving home with people who have no qualms about spending money on vets for him. I just think they need a new vet...

Whoah! That's weird Greentea. Thought when I first read your post, it might've just been Henry being a clown, but it sounds a little more serious. Is there sugar in Drontal - does anyone know? Maybe the colour/preservative is making him hyperactive? I mean - that colour can't be normal... Have you had a look at his poo to see if it did have worms? Maybe it was giving him a huge tummy ache or something and that was Henry's reaction to pain... Is his wee a normal colour? Sorry I can't help you but the preservative/allergy thing is the first thing that popped into my head too. Hope he's alright. Maybe no more Drontal - and I can't figure out why the vet says extra worming if Advocate already does worms. Hope you get some answers from someone...

Frozen carrot is a fantastic idea - now, why didn't I think of that??? We do give our doggies frozen bones in Summer - a big boney iceblock!

Hi Ishtar - glad you found us! Sounds like you and Erny have really done some homework of benefit to all of us - thanks My little puppy was eating her own poo a few weeks ago. Coincidently, I gave her some ox heart (I got a couple of Tawny Frogmouths in care - it's not something I usually feed my dogs) and the poo-eating stopped. So the theories definitely ring true for me. Don't find myself in need of pineapple!