Erny

Keep it up, please. You are making me feel so much better. Housework comes in a very very very distant last to being out in the garden. Maybe between us we will convert some smelly fake grass proponents. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Erny taps fingers on desk ...... But I still don't get why the Purebreed show-line breeding people don't put up the "good" about what they breed and why, instead of being drawn in to a line of defence against those who do criticise. Working-line put up why their dogs are better (their point of view). Why not show-line simply take the same line? I'd be interested to hear. Personally and generally speaking, I like working-line bred dogs. But putting up reasons where show-line have advantages might be helpful to a cause to demonstrate to people reading an argument the "balanced" version of debate ??? Edited to add in the words "and generally speaking" above.

No Danny's Darling - I enjoy mowing the lawns and gardening as well. I often start out doing something housework related and somehow get distracted towards the outdoors and pulling a few weeds or so whilst the housework waits :D.

Aha! But you see, when you go mow, it means you can have sweets for dessert first :D :laugh:.

It's sad and shameful that something's gotta/goin'ta happen to a cat or two or three before people will start doing something that keeps their cats out of harms way, so to speak. Wish people would stand-up for and protect their animals first and foremost, rather than last and least.

Nooooooo !!! Ya can't beat nature - weeds or not. Hhhhhmmm, the smell of the earth when the first rain comes after a spell of dry. Yumm. And the feel of the grass (weeds or not - although bindii's excepted, lol) between your toes. And for that matter, between your dog's toes. And the fake grass tends to smell, whereas nature's wonder that is called "soil" filters things such as dog pee better than when it is covered with plastic. And we need grass and trees and such ..... it encourages the rain :D. Just my opinion. :) PS - collect pieces of kykuya (sp?) grass and plant it in patches to your yard. Protect it initially with a milk crate or something similar, until it gets going. My lawn was almost non-existent a couple of seasons ago. Then the rains came and so did the weeds. Bit by bit I've manually kept the weeds down and allowed the kykuya to take over. It isn't perfect but it is a lot better and is now pretty much all covered over :). Any bare spots that do occur (because of urine scold, for example) I just pull up a bit of the kykuya and plant it back in the bare spot - doesn't take long to take hold.

A wash with Calendula Tea. Don't rinse off - leave on. Apply as and as often as necessary. Results should be fairly quick. Soothes the skin from itchiness and irritation. Doesn't cure whatever is the cause of the problem, but eases the discomfort for the dog and buys some time whilst you're finding out what the root of the problem is.

As a general rule of thumb, I suggest giving 7-10 days after each puppy vaccination and then head on out to fill your pup's "critical period of development" with more carefully structured yet broad socialisation/habituation experiences. "Going out" doesn't necessarily mean "socialise with every tom, dick and harry dog" or "where every tom, dick or harry dog has been". Select with a good dose of common sense and avoid highly populated areas where the "tom, dick and harry" dogs congregate. The only reason I suggest keeping pup away/home for the suggested 7-10 day period is that his/her young body's immune system is going to be taxed with the job of zero-conversion as a result of the vaccine. Give the pup a chance to get over the affects of this before you tax him/her with the stress of excitement and copious learning. I don't believe in keeping pups "in" until after all vaccinations. There's too much valuable and irreplaceable learning of our world to be done in far too short a period of time. Positive learning experiences inside the critical period are absolutely invaluable.

You possibly know better..but to me, his coat/skin look a bit dry , and I would be inclined to hold well off on any chemicals which may dry out remaining oils ... This ^^^^ That and possibly an over-taxed immune system which isn't going to be helped by experimentation with a whole host of chemicals which might actually not be required in the first place. I agree with the other poster before me - I'm not an advocate of over-vaccinating and even more against vaccinating a dog who is exhibiting the signs of ill health in other areas.

Thyroid test is what I'd first opt for as well. And I'm inclined to arrange these through Dr Jean Dodds in the USA (not that difficult nor expensive than running them here, but more thorough and IMO a more accurate analysis). The point of the test would be to rule it in or rule it out. You could spend a lot of time and expense, not to mention a lot of drug/chemical-based trials trying to check other things, but if the thyroid is the culprit, you wouldn't get far unless that is targeted. If it is thyroid, it is generally pretty easy to treat and although usually life-long medication, is usually successful and not terribly expensive. A wash/rinse with Calendula Tea could prove beneficial but if there is a persisting cause it will only help, not cure.

I admit I tend to enjoy the look of the dogs of 'olde' . What would be good, interesting and informative, however, would be the comments and information that would tell us what benefits the modern day bred dogs have over the 'olde worldy' dogs of same breed.

.... My big *tough* RR boy limps, stops, holds foot up and looks up at me with a "what are you going to do about it? you going to save me?" look on his face. When the bindi is out, he's back off again hunting down lions.

Pay a little bit of attention to the direction in which the clip is snapped on. Sometimes, if the clip faces the collar, it can get caught as you move the lead, causing the clip to open. Having it face the outside helps.

We have a staffy at our classes who suffers what appears to be grass contact allergy as well. The owners informed me the use of Calendula Tea wash helped him a lot with regards to easing the itch and soothing the skin, but of course if the cause of the problem remains it will return, and it does. I have used "The Transfer Factor" with a reasonably good degree of success - although of course my dog's issues are more complex and I had to work through a lot of other things as well, including diet etc etc. The Transfer Factor is reported to help balance the immune system (as opposed to boost the immune system) and perhaps this is something you might like to look into further for your pup. Also, how long has your staffy actually been on the diet you say has not changed? One can eat something over a decent period of time and eventually build up to the symptoms of allergy. Maybe a change in diet would assist? One thing I have found is that trying ONE thing at a time for a decent trial period is the best way to go, otherwise you change and try all sorts of things and you end up not know what did what. Save of course, to put something on the skin to sooth it and stop it developing to a secondary skin infection (eg Calendula Tea as aforementioned). I'm not a Vet though - can only comment as a result of my own experiences. Others will have suggestions as well - allergies in dogs are extraordinarily common and seemingly becoming more and more so.

Actually, it (the highlighted part) adds up to some of what I read up about the frangipani -vs- dogs.

Two feeds (or more, I tend to vary according to whether I need to really up his weight) and usually at either ends of the day. No specific times - this varies as well - although during the warmer months I tend to feed earlier for the morning and later in the evening, when it's cooler. Don't know why. Instinct? Or maybe I'm too flaked from working in the heat during the day myself to manage to haul myself up sooner for the evening feed, lol. .... No, actually I think it is because Mandela's usually more enthusiastic for his meals when the weather is more comfortable, although since feeding the Augustine's SuperFood, appetite loss isn't so much of an issue *touch wood*. ETA: I ticked the "night and morning" option; the "there is no set time" option and the "it depends on what we are doing" option.

From what I read, yes they are. I've read they can cause skin rashes; stomach irritation. I guess how severely your dog would be affected would relate also to the amount ingested.

Erny thanks for the reminder - I need to stock up again . :) Even us humans wash far too frequently with shampoo based products that dry out our skin and sends it into overdrive trying to make up for it. Lol ..... but I continue to wash with my shampoos and soaps. Care more for my dog, :laugh: .

So pleased to hear the good news on account of both these dogs. What a relief. Good work, both of you, for your care :D.

I avoid shampoo for the sake of avoiding skin pH imbalance. Wash over with a rinse of Calendula Tea does it great for my boy.

Dear Helen (DBS) and dianed. So sorry to hear of this wretched thing happening to each of your dogs . Thinking of you both and sincerely hoping and sending wishes for a full recovery for each of your dogs. Hang in there, both of you ..... must be harrowing for you to go through this. Rotten horrible blighters those ticks. What I don't get is why nature would have it that the very host that feeds them would be killed rather than unhindered so that the dog could continue to help feed ticks into the future. Bloody ingratiates . Fingers crossed for you both.

This.

Yes, it certainly is promising. Mandela receives lots of comments on how healthy he looks - often more healthy than dogs not suffering any afflicting condition :D. I'm monitoring the gum ulcers. Too soon to proclaim they are looking better as they can sometimes do that and then flair up again. I will add that Mandela's behaviour noticeably settled/calmed by comparison to previous, soon after and since having him on the Augustine's. Although even at 4.5yo, he still has a goodly amount of fun loving puppy brain, lol.