Staranais

True. I don't know how bad the injuries are, but if the dog really is covered in gashes & is in pain, and the owners don't take it to the vet for pain relief & wound care, I'd think that they could be done on animal cruelty charges themselves?

How about somthing like nose work? Like, you take things off the audience, and having him run up, identify then and then go & return them to the right people? Or is that way off base?

In my mind the issue really hinges on whether the dog was in any pain or fear during the handling procedure. If the dog was hurt or scared by the handling, then that's not on, and the handling was inappropriate. But if the dog wasn't hurt or scared by the handling, then I'd say that the vet is merely guilty of offending the owner. That was silly of him, and was bad for business, but doesn't necessarily make him a bad or unkind vet.

I'd say you need photographic evidence, and preferably a veterinary report on the injuries too. However even then, if the owner of the dog doesn't want to make a complaint, I don't know how far you'll get making one, since if you complain it's just hearsay.

Has it definitely been tested as strychnine? If so...surely that is a substance that could only be purchased through limited outlets and you would need a permit to buy it? No idea, the article just says that police believe it is strychnine, didn't say why they thought that. The symptoms of strychinine poisoning are not usually particularly similar to the symptoms of ethylene glycol toxicity, though. Strychnine is excitatory & causes convulsions, ethylene glycol is a CNS depressant & causes kidney damage. They use strychnine here in rodent control on conservation land sometimes I believe, but I'm pretty sure that private individuals can't purchase it any more. Not sure about the situation in Aussie.

Thanks, that's so helpful! I did a search of the boards, but must have used the wrong key words since nothing much turned up.

So it's strychnine. What a bastard.

OooooOoooh, is it a baby Evil Beagle? LOL Rach! Not this time (I can't deal with the shedding anymore). I'm looking at a field ESS Oooh, exciting!

I do have VIN - but haven't found the Sophia Yin things on VIN yet! Will go have a look, sounds just like what I'm after. Thanks very much!

OooooOoooh, is it a baby Evil Beagle?

Hey that's really cool, who is doing the trial? Hopefully it keeps working for you.

Apparently this happened in June but it's news to me & I haven't seen it reported here. Press release: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/media/10-06...de-welfare-dogs Code itself: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/animal-welfare/codes/dogs Apparently prong collars are now illegal in NZ. Guess they didn't like my submission. "114. NAWAC discussed the issue of pinch and prong collars with the New Zealand Kennel Club, following some complaints being made by members of the public about the use of these devices, after the Code had been closed to public submissions. These devices are new to the country and are only used by a very small number of dog owners (if any). They are open to misuse, causing pain and distress, and there are recognised alternatives that do not carry the same risks to animal welfare. NAWAC therefore considered that they should be disallowed by means of a minimum standard, on the grounds that the Animal Welfare Act provides for codes of welfare to address the equipment used in the management or care of animals." Also may be of interest to any NZ breeders, as it discusses both recommended breeding practices, & the rules about tail docking in NZ.

Saying something at the time is always the best way, IMO. Just a simple "hey, no need to be so rough, I'll do that thanks!" might have been enough to show the vet your feelings on the matter. But I can sympathise with the OP too. The vet is a professional and is supposed to know best how to handle your dog, it can be easy to look back and think "I should have stepped in" but just have been too shy or shocked to do so at the time. Of course, if the vet's standard of care is slipping, then perhaps it's time to move vets. And also perhaps time to mention it to his boss, or even ask him directly if he's OK. Sorry to be morbid, but veterinary science as a profession has a really high depression & suicide rate, I'd personally be worried about a vet who used to be great but who suddenly doesn't seem to care about his clients & business.

Greyhound is a great idea I think, except that off leash walks can be out (except in enclosed spaces), and you'll need to specify that you need a cat friendly one. ETA, how about a beagle? Or a keeshond, or cocker spaniel?

Some vets are rougher than others. I think some vets are rougher than others as they are more used to large animals, or not used to handling timid dogs. Others probably think they're just being firm and no-nonsense and getting the job done efficiently. Without being there, I guess none of us can say if the vet was unreasonably rough on your dog, or if he was just not as soft as you usually are (no offence intended to you - I'm generally very soft when I handle my own dog too). It's also true that from what I've seen, many vet staff are firmer with pets behind the scenes than they are in front of the owner. Not unkind and certainly not abusive, just handling them in a firmer and more "no-nonsense" way. If you're upset with the way your dog was handled, I say email or call to let him or the practice know, whether or not you choose to return. That way they can fix it. ETA - although it is a bit strange he didn't know the weight after operating on your dog? Perhaps he decided it was quicker to weigh him again than look up his in case notes for the dog's weight.

As for service dogs, many of our civilian SAR dogs do come from shelters, and many more come from unregistered breeders. Our police breed their own service dogs, pretty sure they don't register with the kennel club. Not sure about the guide dogs. The demise of the purebred dog might be sad for any number of reasons, but I don't see it leaving service dogs in the lurch.

Yes exactly- I wonder how many of those wet patches that I assumed were from Honey's post drinking drool were actually her leaking. She doesn't always leave a big mess either, she has a big fluffy butt and occasionally I had noticed it was damp- I had just assumed she'd sat in water. Since her diagnosis I can see that she has just leaked a little. ETA: Just had a call from hubby, wet floor and dog. Bloody meds will have to be upped- twice a week not cutting it. I imagine this is not a good sign... I wonder why there isnt a once a year hormonal implant for this if its so common? I've actually heard something about some vets around here trialling Suprelorin implants for this before we became unable to get them in NZ. But that's off label use, & I'm not sure of the results of the trial. Suprelorin is a hormone blocker, not a hormone itself per se, so I'm not sure if it would have any impact on mammary tumours.

I'm not in Brisbane so don't know prices, but personally I'd just call around some local clinics and ask for prices. Most vet receptionists won't bite. Remember, too, that all desexing operations aren't equal - a "higher" price might be higher because it includes an IV catheter placed (for venous access in an emergency), IV fluids, pre-anaesthetic blood testing, better anaesthetic monitoring, and/or post anaesthetic pain relief. The most expensive clinic isn't necessarily the best either, of course. For a relatively major surgery like a spay, I'd personally also want to book the appointment with a vet I really trusted and that had a good reputation.

I think it's a nice idea.

To be honest, I do not (and will not) specifically seek permission from the owner to give suitable treats or interaction to any of our hospitalised patients. I suspect few if any veterinary staff would. What and when to feed a hospitalised patient is generally a medical decision, and making patients as comfortable as possible is simply part of good nursing care. The dogs are learning every time veterinary staff interact with them, whether or not we deliberately teach them. I'd rather they learned to be a little more relaxed and happy with the situation, so far as possible, especially if we're going to have them here for weeks or months. On the rare occasions that owners tell us that they have specific dietary or training or grooming instructions they wanted followed for hospitalised patients, staff here of course comply so far as it is practical & doesn't interfere with patient wellbeing. However, my default is fast becoming to attempt to teach my hospitalised cases a positive association with myself and with the procedures I do to them, when I can spare the time to do so. From the results I've seen, I suspect I'll keep doing this when I graduate, if I end up in smallies practice.

I've turned up nothing so far, Rappie. Either no one out there is doing systematic training or counterconditioning for medical procedures in their long term hospitalised patients, or they're not writing about it. I guess manhandling and muzzling patients every time they're "difficult" is both easier and quicker for staff to do.

Do you have any idea of how many off lead dog parks and onlead parks are around the Inner West? That would be an impossible task. I have no idea....but if there is poison bread around shouldnt someone be looking? Have the posioned dogs all been in the same park? The thread title does say Earlwood. For all we know someone is, but if there is any long grass or vegetation in the park I think you'd have to do a shoulder to shoulder line search to be really sure, even if the bread is blue. That's a lot of manhours if it's a large park, probably too much for anyone to spare unless they think human life is at risk. Maybe the regular dog walkers could organise it themselves, but even then someone could drop a new piece straight after. I think I'd be avoiding letting a dog off-lead at that park for a very long time. Or if this baiting becomes a regular thing, then perhaps organising a 24 hour watch to find out who is dropping the bread and then having a quiet "word" with them might be the way to go... I'd be running my dog muzzled in those areas until it's all sorted out, anyway.

Thanks Shazza! Perhaps my girl is just "special" then. I'll keep an eye on it & investigate further if it starts to look at all nasty or infected.

Can you use photos off the internet? That's what I usually do for my assignments if I want a photo - where I study they're OK so long as you give credit to the photographer & site.

No I haven't! I've heard great things about it on another forum, but it's a little bit $$$ for me at the moment. Have you read it? Would you recommend it? I bought it about a month ago but haven't had time to read it yet. I have had a quick look through and it has a lot about scent theory, equipment, reading the dog, and includes hard surface tracking. Will let you know what I think once I've read it which will be soon. :D Awesome, thanks! Look forward to it.