Poodle wrangler

Advantix (spot-on) preventative covers fleas, paralysis ticks AND mozzies. Worth a try? Try pricelesspets.com.au.

I've used a slicker brush on my sister's short-haired dog and got a fair bit of fur off (had it anyway as I use it on the poodles). He liked the feel of it- slightly scratchy massage . If you get one make sure it's labelled SOFT or they're too harsh. Look like this:.... . Hydrobath and force dry can help get rid of excess coat, but you need the professional gear. Regular brushing- boring, but effective. Don't waste money on bristle-type brushes or cheapies in the supermarket. I learned this the hard way.

Some vets do 3 vaccs, others 2. New thinking is first vac. at 8 weeks, then only one more- sorry, not sure at how many weeks. My vet did the 3, but my pup had the first vac at 6 weeks. I just took vet's advice. Do a search- there are many threads on the vaccination topic and not everyone agrees.

A good vet is as important to most of us as a good doctor for ourselves. Some vets better than others and none perfect (they're only human). Glad your boy's on the mend.

C3. Most people suggest going out and about about 10-14 days after the second vaccination. Socialising your pup is also important. Lesser risk if it's at home among fully vaccinated dogs.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?articleid=727 Sounds like pup needs to be on antibiotics for a while. I'd take the pup, but would want the course of antibiotics to be completed and the dog's faeces clear. Otherwise, you may have additional vet bills- you know how they can add up . The article above says the antibiotics don't kill the organism, only interrupt the reproductive cycle, so dog will still be a carrier until the cycle's over - not sure how long that is?

Whether or not I vaccinated to C5 would depend on what was required by kennels (just in case) and obedience club. I'd be happy with C3, but most kennels require C5.

As poodlemum said- keep ears dry. Avoid pouring any water in there during a bath.

Yep, must separate dog and washing. If you have a garage, can you set up a line in there for a while? Dryer's not very environmentally friendly, but perhaps cheaper than new sheets ?

It sounds like you've done the right thing. As to a refund . If you add up the amount of damage a pup does around the house in it's first few months with you, it's often over $650, plus vaccs, vet care, preventatives for fleas/tick/ heartworm etc. so even if you get no money back, you'll be ahead financially. You've done the right thing for yourself, kids and puppy, so can feel good about that, regardless of what happens with the $ side of things .

I disagree with the above statement. 30-60 minutes of full on work and than 23 hours alone (in solitary confindenent) versus 10 hours alone when owners are at work and the rest with the human pack. I know what Id preffer... and what is giving more pack time. Note - this is not to say that eveyone that has the dogs inside gives them proper attention. Took the words out of my mouth. My dogs could not care less what we're doing, but prefer to be with us. THey both sleep outside, however. Older dog is 6 1/2 and has slept outside alone for most of that time (before dog no.2). No carry-on. It's not unreasonable to suggest addressing all the basics- adequate exercise, time spent with dog, training etc. Triangle of Temptation (see pinned to top of this subforum) helped get my young dog out of barking/ carry-on on tie out. MAke sure she isn't rewarding the howling with attention. Can she try a walk at night and then a raw bone/ stuffed kong for dog to take outside at bedtime?

ALL drugs have potential side effects. A good vet will tell you about the more common ones and aims for benefit outweighing risks. You shouldn't need it long term if for pain related to an ear infection.

My littler poodle gets a grass allergy with clearish-grey goop in his eye regularly, getting worse with allergy season. I just clean his eyes with a tissue each day, no problems. I took him to vet initially, though- she tested that the ducts were working- a coloured dye goes into the eye and all those basics were fine. Good luck.

Malaseb (antifungal-antibacterial shampoo) diluted 1:50 with water is a good ear cleaner. Cheap when made up. YOu should clipper the fur really short at the entry to the ear- I shave the dog's with a #30. Oscar tends to get smelly ears if not cleaned for more than a week, so I clip him in an "ears off" style. I pluck the hair, so there's good airflow. For first time smelly ears, I'd go to the vet to make sure it's not mites and they can also show you how to clean them properly. Cleaning followed by prescription drops will clear them up quickly.

Hobby engravers are probably good for smaller breeds, but I find I need a higher power setting on a 25kg dog vs. an 8 kg one. My Dremel was on sale for about $80, cordless. A packet of sanding bands is about $8 (lasts about 6 months). Other brands like Ozito are cheaper and I think they're probably more reliable. Dremel's American, made in Mexico.

No. Ditch that advice. Dogs need a high protein sort of diet- think what a dog might eat in the wild and you get some idea. Rice is just a filler food. Veges tend to come out undigested with my dogs. Pet mince can be OK, but some is very dodgy. I give dry food (convenience) and raw, meaty bones e.g. brisket/ chicken necks/ chicken carcasses etc. Probably 60:40 with more dry. Keep your BC nice and lean as it's healthier.

Coal tar is for itchy scalps/ dermatitis. I had some for humans. Malaseb is antifungal/ antibacterial- can be harsh if used regularly over a long period of time.

Naughty bl!

I saw a rough collie clipped and it looked very strange! Hydrobath, followed by force dryer should certainly help blast off excess coat. For grooming, the right brush, comb etc. really helps. Cheap gear is usually not muh good. What are you using now? What does the breeder suggest?

:p Gotta love 'em. Bit like kids having more fun with the cardboard box? I'm sure she'll come to like it, especially when she's needing something to chew.

How old is your dog/ pup? 500m might be enough of a walk if <12 months old. Long walks can = "overexercising". Most breeders believe overexercising is bad for the joints of medium-large size growing pups. A short walk is still great for your dog- lots of sights, smells etc. so both brain and body get some exercise.

Your vet should give you some advice. All the anti inflammatory drugs e.g. Voltaren can have serious side effects (e.g. bleeding stomach ulcers) so need to be given with food and given in the right doggy dosage. I'm not sure if paracetmol is OK for dogs. My vet's good and will suggest cheaper human meds, but only if suitable and safe. If a dog needs drugs, they need rest. Slower, controlled, short, on-lead walking might be OK- but watch your dog for pain- they can have a lot of pain without showing it much. Chew toys, raw meaty bones (deduct off food rations) etc. and human company for entertainment.

I dremel, too. Oscar's nails are black. Even if you go a little too far with a dremel, it bleeds only a tiny bit vs. a lot more with clippers. Ozito is another brand of the same tool. If you go to the hardware shop, ask for a "rotary tool". MAke sure you buy the fine sandpaper bands or you get a really rough result.

My dogs like the Nature's Gift canned food as well as treats for training, but I still hate the smell of all canned dog food (have smelt worse, tho.). I keep some in the cupboard in case I run out of usual dry food and raw stuff. Was on special.

I think the problem is that you can't do all the necessary ones DIY. Some are by prescription, so you need to see the vet, anyway.