pebbles

The cheap Joint Guard is from - Greyhound Products Direct - I ordered over the 'net and the service was great.

The pet mince from the local butcher here, I wouldn't feed to a dog! Luckily I asked to see it before I bought it - it was the most revolting, slimey, smelly, runny muck I've ever seen! I know the 'roo meat from the pet meat shop here doesn't have preservatives.

I get my chicken mince from the 'Chicken Shop'. It's human grade frames etc. minced. 'Roo, diced, from the pet food shop - they only have dog/cat food, meat and no preservatives are used, been there when they are dicing, mincing, cutting up and it's a clean a place as you would find.

BenjiMom, that's what I have at the moment - a 5mth old Whippet and Miniature Pinschers! The two older Mins, 14 years and 11 years, no problem, they just put the pup in her place with a growl and she knows to leave them alone. The young Min Pin dog, 20months, and the Whippet have a great time under supervision. The Min chases the Whippet and that's fine, other way around and the poor Min tends to get run over and bowled along the ground so I stop the game then. When they play together it's OK for a start but if they get too excited the Whippet tends to lay on the Min then all you can see is little legs waving in the air! I separate them at this stage, the Whippet is only playing but at 3/4 times the size and weight I'm afraid the Min will accidently get hurt. They are great mates but as I said I supervise all the play times.

Gomez, there's probably a number of things which could cause those symptoms and sometimes you have to put a bit of pressure on the Vet. You know your dog and can tell when there's something not quite right. Don't panic it will most likely clear up, just one of those things but if it keeps up then get the Vet to run tests. My Vet ended up doing blood tests 3 times in a week and the red cell count was dropping each time. He did an exploratory op. and Jodie had cancer through her intestines so I didn't bring her home It was about a month from when I'd first taken her to the Vet. and she was still eating, coat like satin, got a bit lethargic but still ready for a walk, Vet couldn't believe she was sick. I was heartbroken losing her but she could have gone on for quite some time suffering if I hadn't insisted on tests. My dogs will ocassionally throw up bile, eating grass or some nasty, but after Jodie I'm always a bit on edge for a few days and track them around outside watching. Oh boy, these furry kids can be a worry!

No, never had one chewed up, they are inside pillow cases and while some will scratch the blankets around to their liking, the foam mattresses stay intact - maybe I'm just lucky lol.

If he doesn't improve perhaps it might be an idea to get the Vet to do some blood tests. I had a Gordon Setter who started doing the bile throw-up in the mornings and her faeces were dark. Her appetite was fine, coat shiny, but just not quite herself. After a few trips to the Vet and nothing really showing up but me insisting that something wasn't right, Vet did blood tests and her cell counts were all out of whack.

I've got various sized dogs and the same with their crates. I had an old foam mattress which I cut to size for which ever crate. In the summer they have a cotton pillow slip and winter, a flannelette pillow slip (purchased for 50c at the Op Shop.) For the bigger ones I get cotton sheets, flannelette sheets (again from the Op Shop) and make slips to fit then just a blanket or two on top. Foam can be bought from Clark Rubber etc in different sizes as well.

My 11yo Min Pin has a ruptured saliva gland on one side and while it looks a bit strange it doesn't worry him at all and due to his age wont be getting it operated on. My Vet. said it was a waste of time to drain it as it only fills again. Sometimes it's quite large and other times seems to go down.

Oh Mita how awful for you, I'm so sorry to hear this happening to your Gracie Don't know anything about that medication but it always is a worry when dosing the dogs wondering if it's going to cause more than it's worth.

There are a number of other antinflammitories available without having to use Rymadol - I wouldn't go near this product even if it was the last one on earth!!!!

Crates are useful for all sorts of times. If you can crate train your pup to sleep in it beside your bed and travel in the car in it then he will most probably be happy to sleep in the crate in the car when you are away and he'll be very safe. All of mine will settle anywhere if in their own beds. Worth a thought?

Hey Dotty, I'll have to try the soap trick - reckon it would be less messy than the flour storm

Dab some flour on the end of the nail. Might have to do it a couple of times but this should stop the bleeding. Keep the dog confined, crate/pen or your knee if small enough lol. otherwise there'll be blood spots everywhere and it also gives the flour a chance to harden a bit. There's a number of products you can buy but I use the flour trick - always got some of that! Don't worry it happens to us all!

In the Miniature Pinscher breed good teeth can be hereditary - the line my old girl, 14 years, is from have all had terrific teeth right to very old age. My boy, 11 years, has lost a few and had one removed which is consistant with his breed lines. The girl doesn't get bones as she inhales them, even giving her a big bone the second she can get a mouth sized piece off, down it goes with much choking etc. She has had her teeth cleaned by the Vet twice in her life.

I know a number of breeders do this but I'm afraid I value my flesh

Have PM'd you.

OK, so if a pup is confined to a run etc. and howls, it's the recommendation that pup shouldn't be let out until quiet. What happens if there is no quiet? Not talking 5/10/15 minutes either!

All my guys have chicken mince raw, kangaroo mince with veges, lightly cooked, dry food, various brands, yoghurt, fish oil, sardines, My Dog tin occasionally, (the tin food is given very seldom when I'm home but if I'm camping then might be 2/3 nights with dry food). Don't think is an infection as she doesn't go to the loo after the first trip in the am's. I've been going out with her to check - just wanders around then sits and looks at the scenery! I think it's just an age thing - this morning she went out for her toilet at 6.45am. came in on the bed with me then after a couple of minutes she went to get off again so I held her there and she settled down and didn't move until I got up at about 8.30am. Geeze I wish they could talk! ETA - they don't get all the above every night - mix of some things on different nights.

Thanks for the links. I'm not seeing any drastic medical type changes just the change in some of her habits she's had forever. I'll just keep an eye on her but they're a worry when they get old, guess you're allways looking for things.

Pebs. nearly 14 years, Miniature Pinscher, has been acting so differently from her usual self. I've been reading about dementia but she doesn't seem to have the usual signs. Her eyesight and hearing aren't the best but she gets around OK. She's eating and drinking fine. No toilet problems. Will hold on for 10 hours overnight. Slowed down a bit but can still run when there's something to run for. Everything else is as usual except for a couple of things. Quick rundown of what is happening:- Usual mornings for years - let her out (sleeps crated in the lounge) about 6.30am, toilets, then back to bed with me until maybe 8.30am. Lately - let her out, toilets, comes back to bed for few minutes then she's off outside again, comes back for another few minutes, then out again. This can be repeated 5/6 times and getting much more frequent as in each of the last 3 mornings. She has always hated the cold and wet, other am. she was sitting in the yard in an inch of white frost. She has never been a girl to cuddle, She would come for a pat then off again. Last week every evening she sits on my knee for about an hour. I'm assuming it's just age and if she wasn't an inside dog it's probably not something you would notice. Anyone else had an oldie change years of habit? Apart from the distance I can't see any use in taking her to the Vet. not exactly symptoms indicating anything and there's a new Vet who I really haven't much faith in as yet.

What Miranda said :D I've got Miniature Pinschers and haven't had much trouble to train them although some can be a little slower (stubborn) to catch on. You may have to start from the beginning again but keep at it, it will come! I'd get rid of the pad.

For drinking - I've used hot water poared over raw mince, allowed to draw the blood, juice and then strained and the liquid served warm. If the mince is too strong, perhaps using chicken mince may be better. Haven't had a dog knock this back yet. Could be worth a try!

I agree with Poodlefan. Only had fleas once in the 15 years I've been here and those were coming from the ground under the house where feral cats had been before I moved in and while it cost a bit to get them eradicated by a professional it was cheaper and safer than putting stuff into my dogs systems. I always have a faeces test done every so often to check for worms in the older dogs so also avoid the regular worming bit. Haven't had to worm the gang for a couple of years now.

I have the same "swallow 'em whole" problem with chicken necks, actually with any bone, once there's a piece big enough to fit in the mouth, down it goes! I tried a smoked bone and while there was more chewing time I found that they tend to break off in sharp splintery pieces which would IMO be even worse if swallowed, so no bones of any type here ;)