Dog_Horse_Girl

I'm not hoping for complete removal of fleas at this point in time, just some relief until I can get a job and therefore have the money to have the inside and outside of the house professionally treated. I know from experience that this is the most effective way to treat an infestation. And my next door neighbours have cats which roam...so they just keep bringing the fleas back into my yard... I'm looking for low-cost ideas just to help my dogs in the meantime because frontline (which I have a supply of already) is not working. I don't have a vet here. I can't afford a consult fee at the moment so I'm not able to shop around for a vet...and there's only two that I know of in town. There might be others, but I've only seen two in my travels. I was hoping that someone here on DOL would know whether Capstar is safe to administer to a dog with epilepsy. If I can find out that it is, it's cheap enough to get me through for a month or so for each dog. I know it only kills active adult fleas which are physically on the dog at the time, but that will help because every time the dogs go outside, they come back inside with more fleas. I can't keep them inside 24/7 either...but I have considered the possibility and I know it won't work. I'll keep looking for info on Capstar. I just don't have spare cash to do what I know will work...to get a professional in will cost me half a week's rent or more - money I don't have to spare just now. :D

Well, I've just proven that the fleas are coming from the yard. This afternoon I gave Molly a bath and combed her with the flea comb before and after. No fleas on her at all. I also flea combed the other two but didn't bathe them. I let Molly out after dinner and she came inside with a flea on her. So bombing the house won't effect the fleas outside. Sigh...that means I have to get a professional in to do the yard...which is money I don't have lying around. :D I'll keep using frontline in the meantime of course. But until I get work, I have to be so careful with the savings I have left. I'm also going to apply for income support next week. I have to get some money coming in...I hate this uncertainty.

Just looking at the product info, it can cause seizures...not good. :D I wouldn't risk inducing a seizure in my other two (non epileptic) dogs because I know how devastating it is already. ETA - I don't yet have a vet here...it's on my to-do list...as soon as I get work.

Yeah, I keep looking at the flea bomb products BUT I don't like having to leave the house for at least 2 hours. I'd have to take the dogs somewhere...and all three together for 2 hours or more would be interesting at best. :D How safe are these things really? Does anyone know? Why do you have to leave the house at all? That's my real worry, that there is a real problem with toxicity that they don't advertise?

So when I moved my dogs here there were fleas...property manager and landlady won't spray and it's been so wet that I've been unable to get someone in. I was hoping to avoid this due to the cost. BUT my dogs all have fleas and despite using frontline spot-on and daily flea combing, plus baths, the dogs still have fleas. I've also washed their bedding and vacuumed the house (I have a Dyson) without making any real dent in the flea population to date. I'm happy to buy Capstar and give it a try. BUT with Molly being epileptic I don't know if it's safe with her condition or the medication she's on (phenobarb 30 mg which is dosed at 1/4 tablet twice daily). I've searched here and have looked at the Capstar product info, but can't find anything specifically about epilepsy and Capstar. Anyone? I've also bought an inexpensive flea collar and am going to try it on either Ruby or Lilly...it's suposed to work for 5 mths on fleas and ticks. I am guessing I wouldn't use frontline in that time? But the collar doesn't work against paralysis tick and the packaging indicates it only "aids" in the control of ticks which would be brown dog/cattle tick. Help! I'm a bit confused, can you tell? :D I've never had a flea problem this bad...frontline has finally let me down. Oh, I also don't have a vet here yet. It's on my to-do list.

You're lucky you and your dogs got out okay...so sorry to hear that your property didn't escape unharmed. What a terrible thing to go through.

My old boy Aussie (now at the Bridge...nine years ago he passed), when I lived alone in Darwin in my early 20's, would protect me when necessary. One night I had just gone to bed, probably about 11 pm or so, with Aussie beside me, neither of us was sleeping at that stage. I thought I heard someone in my garden but assumed it was either a possum or cat. Then it went quiet so I assumed whatever it was went away. About an hour later, Aussie stood up on the bed, hackles up. He didn't make a sound...which frightened me, he just stood there really stiff and alert. I couldn't get him to relax...and when I listened closely I could hear something scratching on my back door. At the point I realised I wasn't imaginging things, Aussie leapt off my bed and dashed into the hallway, growling and snarling, barking and snapping. I got out of bed and put my head around the hallway corner in time to see someone dashing over the back fence. Aussie's noise had scared the burglar off. After my heart slowed to normal, I rang the Police and they came out pretty much straight away. They fingerprinted the door and other spots...and while they were doing that another Police unit had been driving the streets and they found the culprit trying to get into another place about 2 kms down the road. Same MO and everything. He was using a flat-blade screwdriver to try to force open sliding door locks. I will always be grateful to my dogs which have protected me, and I hope they continue to do so.

Honestly, anything you can do to get your dogs off a highly processed diet is a good thing as long as you approach it sensibly. Because there are lots of approaches and different philosophies, it can be confusing. Some people are adament that their chosen method is the only one which works...and that shows their passion. Nothing wrong with that as long as the dog isn't harmed. You'll find we who feed raw/non commerical can be passionate...I certainly am! My eyes were opened to the potential for long-term health problems caused by processed foods as soon as I stopped feeding them to my dogs at the time. I've tried Molly on raw and she does fine on it BUT she does somewhat better on Royal Canin. With her being epileptic I just do what's best for her now and if that's a processed diet with the occasional meaty bone and other treats (offal that she rarely eats!) then that's what we do. She's my heart dog and I hope for her to live a very long life despite her epilepsy...she's just turned 7 so I hope to have her around until she's about 16 which is possible. Get reading, ask questions, keep an open mind. They are the things which helped me when I started looking into a viable alternative to commercially made foods.

Yes, Ruby has protected me a number of times. She's got a loud voice for such a small dog (staffy x) and she's amazing to see with hackles up and teeth bared. Had a bloke ring the doorbell once looking for someone who I assume doesn't exist, to complete a job at my house which was actually provided by my ex's employer so definitely the wrong house to choose. Ruby came bolting down the stairs, in full voice (her alert bark is something to behold!) and hackles up. Ex spoke to the bloke while I wrote down rego and vehicle description and got a look at the bloke too. Turns out this drongo had been door-knocking in order to find out who had dogs, where keys were kept, and what portable valuables were lying around (eg handbags, mobile phones, CDs etc). Some of our neighbours had their cars stolen with their own keys!!! Police got him. Molly is also a barker. She really goes off at people she doesn't like (which seems to be most men, a lot of women, and some kids). I always trust her judgements when it comes to her barking at men...and she's never been wrong yet. Lilly could care less, but then she's a greyhound.

Golden Retriever? Why not phone your vet for advice? Better to hear it from an expert than overdose your dog or give it something that's dangerous.

Many of us started off with Dr Ian Billinghurst; his book entitled "The BARF Diet" is an excellent first look at the world of raw feeding. You can also look at anything by Tom Lonsdale for an idea of why raw meaty bones are so important and a look at the prey model of raw feeding. There are as many opinions as there are experts. Be guided by your own abilities to source and prepare raw meals and how much you're comfortable doing yourself and what you'd prefer to buy which is 'ready to eat'. It's not enough to throw a chicken carcass to your dog twice a day!

It's not quite that simple. Can I suggest you read a few books before embarking on a raw diet? You can buy ready-made foods such as BARF patties by a number of manufacturers. You can add raw meaty bones to the patties to make a complete meal and you can use the patties alone as a meal. However, raw meaty bones are a huge health bonus of feeding raw and you need to get the balance right between bones and the other components of raw feeding. Also search the nutrition forum as there is excellent info there. But read a few books to get an idea of types of foods and other ingredients and how much to feed your dog and what you should supplement.

It's ridiculously wet here in Maryborough. No real rain for the past 24 hours (very light showers only) and the ground is waterlogged. My yard is swampy and I don't expect it to dry out soon. There has been no sunshine either. They've closed the bridge on Ferry St over the Mary River to car traffic. Not sure if it's been re-opened but you can see some pics of the river in the "rain" thread in OT. There is so much water around...and it's still coming into the area from elsewhere.

I'm still confused by it as well. I'm not sure what the issue was...but followed my vet's advice to reduce Molly's weight which should also lead to a reduction in her cholesterol level (which seems to have worked). I think I need to do more research on this...at the time I was just trying to absorb the fact that Molly was a bit heavier than she should be and that a lower-fat diet was important. Being such a small thing, my vet was concerned that she was half a kilo heavier than she should have been. Hmmm, will definitely look into this further.

I would hope to evacuate by car...in the event of any emergency situation. I would NOT leave my dogs home to fend for themselves as this amounts to abandoning them and I will not do that under any circumstances. IMO there are local government assets that should be used for emergencies where people are forced to evacuate, leaving their pets behind. That includes shelter facilities, vehicles, crates, vet assistance, and so on. And what really is the problem with people evacuating who bring crates for their dogs or cats? Surely in this day and age we can and must accept pets in public shelters as long as the pets can be safely and adequately contained for the duration of the emergency? I have airline crates for Ruby and Molly, but not yet for Lilly - I do have a giant folding metal crate in which all three could be safely housed BUT it's heavy and I don't think it would fit in my car. Heck, I'd sleep with the dogs in my car for that matter. This whole thing has me re-thinking my choice of vehicle as well. But I'm in position to replace it with something more suitable and that won't change any time soon.

Never give a dog or cat cooked bones of any description. Ruby and Lilly are raw-fed while Molly is now on Royal Canin because she had a few problems with cholesterol and weight-gain on raw. Molly gets some raw from time to time but the RC is great for her and she's lost the weight she didn't need. Her cholesterol has come down too. I'm trying to find a less expensive dog food supplier - Woolies and BiLo are pretty dear for dog food.

I have very limited experience but Caboolture/Burpengary falls under Moreton Bay Regional Council. Brisbane City Council was fantastic and easy to deal with when I obtained the permit to keep more than 2 dogs (I have 3). There was a minimum block size of 400 square metres but that was the only restriction other than the dogs being desexed.

I can attest to the love a Spinone will bring to anyone's house. Roisin is JUST GORGEOUS!!! The mud shots - classic! They seem large if you're not used to that size of dog but they're gentle...unless you're a stuffed toy. I love the "I didn't do it" pic as well. :D I met a few at a dog show in Canberra years ago...very nice the way they move. Just so graceful and fluid in the ring. I'm sure Monah would say they also have a great sense of humour, and are happy just to be with people, other dogs, other creatures...they just don't like to be all alone but will cope if they must, just have toys around so they're not completely "alone". I'd love a Spinone one day, but I have so many breeds on my list...I won't live long enough to have them all. I must also start a new list!

My suggestions: I've seen this work very well but you have to be vigilant and check daily. Plumbing pipe off-cuts snail trap: Place pipe off-cuts on the garden beds in question. They make great places for snails to gather. Every day, get into the garden and tap the pipes above something solid such as a concrete path so the snails fall out. Squash snails using preferred method...mine is a heavy boot directly above the snails. Beer traps also work. BUT you must bury them so the top of the trap is level with the soil. A tiny amount of beer in the bottom is all that's needed. Simple traps are used margarine containers. But you can also buy proper snail traps which have a cover/lid on them which allows the snails in and nothing else, and they're cheap... Don't use snail baits. It's cruel because birds, dogs, cats, lizards, etc are also attracted to these poisons. If you have room, get a few ducks...ducks love to eat snails and it's a natural way to get rid of a pest and have fresh eggs too.

What do you think is problematic in pork? I feed my girls pork mince and pork bones when I can get them...trotters are great when fed raw as long as (with all things) it's fed in moderation. BTW - it's not "cruel" to stop feeding your dog until it eats what you offer it. A dog will NOT starve itself. The dog appears to have you very well-trained because you're caving into what the dog wants...when it should be the other way around.

Any news? BTW - my ex insists he misses the dogs...yet he won't take Ruby (his dog) even though he's living in a place which (with permission from the landlord) he could keep her. I think as much as they protest about dogs belonging with a particular person, generally they give them up pretty quickly and without a fuss. I was stunned that he didn't want his own dog...but she's adjusting well, as are the other two. My Brissy vet reckons that a lot of the time, the woman keeps the pets because she's always been the care-taker. I think that's fairly accurate.

I'm renting a high-set timber house with a back stairway and a front stairway. My bedroom is at the front of the house. Presumably I and the dogs would escape through the front, get into the car, and get the heck out, all in about 30 seconds! In reality, it may take a little longer than that. I keep dog tether straps in the car and their harnesses near the front door but I'm re-thinking this. I may just keep it all in the car, that way I can bundle us all in and tether them once I've gotten out of the driveway? Don't know...but it bears thinking about as anyone can find themselves in an emergency situation. On a side note, I'm preparing an emergency kit for floods and other potential evacuation/emergency scenarios. I just can't seem to find my two (original and old) candle stick holders...oh, and I must remember to put a lighter in the kit so I can actually light the candles if I need them.

Gee aren't some crims dumb? Good dog!

I agree, but sometimes not understanding the context in which the law is written and applied can mean it takes some people a lot longer to grasp the real meaning of the law. For someone who is genuinely afraid of dogs because of their cultural background, I think it would take a lot more work in helping them to understand the roles that assistance dogs fulfill to their handlers and also the importance of providing them with access to places where "ordinary" dogs are prohibited. Sometimes the subtle meaning behind what we see clearly can be difficult for others to understand. What I mean is that "most dogs" are not allowed in food establishments so people who work in or operate those types of businesses are conditioned to refuse entry to "dogs" regardless of whether some of those dogs are assistance dogs and therefore have a legal right to be present. Imagine how hard it must be to move to a new country, with a new language that is very confusing, with different currency (that's a whole set of obstacles in itself), and the only thing you know is how to cook and serve food because your university education is not recognised here. So you open a small business because it's using your next-best skill and nobody else offered you a job or you work for someone in your ethnic community who tells you not to allow anyone in with an animal. I'm just saying it's not as easy as being provided with the rules and being able to implement them that easily when there are other barriers to understanding. I wouldn't want to migrate to another country and have to learn a new language, never mind learn new cultural norms and interpret rules that have no meaning to me because I've never experienced the context in which they operate.

How do you know this, lillysmum? I sent you a PM...this is not for general info on the board. I have PM'd you sandgrubber. I hope you understand.