ShesaLikeableBiBear

Hi Pixel The best "brushes" to use on a short caot would be either a zzom groom, grooming glove or rubber massage brush. Witht the rubber "tools" and short coat you dont have to brush in the direction of the coat as you do say with Shelties. Give your dog a good going over with the brush first, and then if you can a hydrobath and that also helps loosen up the coat, Have a search on the net for "Shed Lite " made by Ring 5 in the USA.

Hi Sheltielover Hey I am into shelties!! They come from am International Sheltie list to which I belong, pm or email me if you would like some more.

This is a poem written for Shelties, but I am sure you will all enjoy it and can relate to Doggy Heaven Welcome. I am Laddie Braveheart, Second Year Resident of the Rainbow Bridge. This is your introduction to the Rainbow Bridge. I have been a resident here for a little over a year and am now a member of the Welcome and Orientation Committee, Shetland Sheepdg and Scottish Breed Division. I have the extreme honor of escorting you to the Scottish Ancrestral Sectionof the Rainbow Bridge where those of our kind wait. You have already received your Silver Harness, and it looks so good on you. Now, let us begin our journey. As you see there are fields of sheep and cows for the herding dogs, and over there are the lakes, marshes and fields for the hounds and sporting dogs to play. And here are Beau and Sam, the Goldens I lived with -- we visit often, after all we have loved and are waiting for the same Humons. {See ya later, me mates) Oh, look! The agility games are going on. This is one of the newer areas at the Bridge and they have just finished the Rally-O field--this time with the directions for each station written in Dog. All the areas at The Bridge are for all the animals here and we have a lot of fun together. I have even seen some of the cats at the swimming ponds. See that area over there? Where the sun shines bright and warm all the time, and there is a gentle mist for a few hours each day? That is where all the reptiles and amphibians are. They all have nice tree limbs and warm rocks to lounge on. But let's continue onwards. Oh, check out those hedges and trees - that is where the bunnies and the mice, rats, gerbils and ferrets are. I like to come down and watch them play they just have so much fun -the flurry of activity and squeaking for joy when one of their Humes is coming is a treasure. Now watch your step, this is the Large Animal area. Occasionally all the horses, mules, donkeys, even the cows and goats get a little carried away with the Herd Running Game and can give a smaller critter like us quite a surprise as they break the hill at full gallop. Even the pigs and chickens take part. Here, the hills get a little steeper and woods a little thicker. It is so much fun to run full speed, up and down the hills dodging the trees. Here you will see the 'exotic' animals. The tigers and lions and bears and wolves, all the animals thought of as wild but have hearts shared with humans. They, too will cross the Rainbow Bridge with their special person. But our journey carries us still further. You feel the air getting crisper? And look, your coat is fuller and your Silver Harness shines brighter. We are getting close. Now, step carefully we are crossing the Crystal Bridge. Here, the weather is always clear, the snow just the right depth and the tracks are, perfect. Since we have arrived during the afternoon, I can show you some of the activities we have. The Scottish Breeds have many interests and enjoy many different games. I know you are used to having your Humon hook your harness to the car or the lead but your Silver Harness has magic and will hitch to what ever you want. Over here are the sheep right next to the croft which has to be guarded and over there is on the far side of the isle, are the fields of joy, where you can run and play with your friends and share a ball or just laze away the sunny afternoon. And yes, there are a lot of other breeds up here all doing what they do best, even though the Humes arnt there to see you, we all gather around to watch you and enjoy your times as though they were ours. The Sammies are over there herding reindeer, and there are open streams for the Inuits and Greenlands to fish for salmon. The Shelties came up with a great idea that has now become a tradition with all the breeds. Each year during the National Breed Specialty there is a Rainbow Bridge Specialty Show. All the dogs who had show careers and those who just wanted to be a show dog go into the show ring and go around one more time. The Shelties have gotten permission to have visitors from Heaven during that time. Humes who have no dog with them are allowed to come visit and watch the show. Judges and Stewards come and take part. And the old breeders come to see how the breeds are developing and visit with their great-great grandpuppies. All the dogs participating the first time get their Silver Rosette. You see, every dog here is perfect. If you look around you see not only are there warm straw beds to rest on, but houses with soft sofas and fireplaces to just lounge on and swap stories. Many of the residents wait here for the night. That is the time all of the Scottish Breed dogs assemble. Each night a shelties team is formed and they run and play and herd the sheep and the cattle. They can be seen from earth as the Southern Lights and now we are getting members from the Northern, Eastern and Western Hemispheres, and they also run and play sometimes as far as the North Pole of earth, to give them lights too. Each March is a special run. That is when the Iditarod is run on earth and all the dogs who have raced and played and worked together, team up for a special display. Many of them are cheering on their Humes who are racing. Many of them have family members in the fields. It seems the Collies and the Borders work their hardest to make the most spectacular light display. Well, I think you are pretty well acquainted with the Rainbow Bridge both North and South, East and West. There are just a couple of other things you should know. You are able to see your Humes when you miss them most. They may have gotten a new puppy. That is good. It means they have started to heal from the loss they felt when you left. But remember, a part of your heart remained with th em to replace the part of their heart they gave to you. Now, occasionally, your Human may be particularly sad and missing you. You are able to send your love to them any time. They will feel your love. It may be as a shadow in the corner of their sight, or the soft sound of your voice, or a gentle breeze caressing their cheek. And it will bring them comfort. And there is one special night, Christmas Eve. All the animals waiting for a special person gather together and send their gift of love to that person. That night we are able to see into that person's home and if the person looks, there is a star shining particularly bright. Just for them from us. Oh, I see the sun is setting and you are looking at all the dogs gathering together. Go, and run, play, run and jump, . It is your night.

For all those who have recently had a loss in your family you may appreciate this poem. A Living Love > > If you ever love an animal, there are three days in your life you will > always remember.... > > The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your > young new friend. > You may have spent weeks deciding on a breed. You may have asked > numerous opinions of many vets, or done long research in finding a > breeder. Or, perhaps in a fleeting moment, you may have just chosen > that silly looking mutt in a shelter--simply because something in its > eyes reached your heart. But when you bring that chosen pet home, and > watch it explore, and claim its special place in your hall or front > room--and when you feel it brush against you for the first time--it > instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through the > many years to come. > > The second day will occur eight or nine or ten years later. > It will be a day like any other. > Routine and unexceptional. But, for a surprising instant, you will > look at your longtime friend and see age where you once saw youth. You > will see slow deliberate steps where you once saw energy. And you will > see sleep when you once saw activity. So you will begin to adjust your > friend's diet--and you may add a pill or two to her food. And you may > feel a growing fear deep within yourself, which bodes of a coming > emptiness. And you will feel this uneasy feeling, on and off, until > the third day finally arrives. > > And on this day--if your friend and God have not decided for you, then > you will be faced with making a decision of your own--on behalf of > your lifelong friend, and with the guidance of your own deepest > Spirit. But whichever way your friend eventually leaves you--you will > feel as alone as a single star in the dark night. > > If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as > they must. And if you are typical, you will find that not many in your > circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or > comfort you. > > But if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished through the > many joy-filled years, you may find that a soul--a bit smaller in size > than your own--seems to walk with you, at times, during the lonely > days to come. > > And at moments when you least expect anything out of the ordinary to > happen, you may feel something brush against your leg--very very > lightly. > > And looking down at the place where your dear, perhaps dearest, friend > used to lay--you will remember those three significant days. The > memory will most likely to be painful, and leave an ache in your > heart--As time passes the ache will come and go as if it has a life of > its own. > You will both reject it and embrace it, and it may confuse you. If you > reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you. > Either way, it will still be an ache. > > But there will be, I assure you, a fourth day when--along with the > memory of your pet--and piercing through the heaviness in your > heart--there will come a realization that belongs only to you. It will > be as unique and strong as our relationship with each animal we have > loved, and lost. This realization takes the form of a Living > Love--like the heavenly scent of a rose that remains after the petals > have wilted, this Love will remain and grow--and be there for us to > remember. It is a love we have earned. It is the legacy our pets leave > us when they go. And it is a gift we may keep with us as long as we > live. It is a Love which is ours alone. And until we ourselves leave, > perhaps to join our Beloved Pets--it is a Love we will always possess. > > (by Martin Scot Kosins)

Re Gastric Bugs in Humans Several gastrointestinal bacteris can be transmitted form dogs to humans, but all are rare. The most common is Campylobacter jejuni, which causes fever, headache, abdominal cramps, and watery to bloody diarrohea. The most common source of this bacterium is contaminated meat, especially chicken and unpasteurised nilk, but a few instances of this infection can be traced back to dogs with diarrhoea. Most cases of Salmonella infection come from contaminated food, but here, too, a small number of cases can be traced back to pets. Salmonella causes nausea, vomiting, cramps and watery diarrohea. If any one in your family has been diagnosed with either of these gastric infections, it is sensible to have your pet examined to see if it is a carrier. Dr Bruce Fogle What do you want to know about parvo?.

Have only just read this thread Complimentary Treatments: Silicea 30c (silicone dioxide) can be helpful: one dose of two whole pellets or three pellets crushed to a powder on the tongue. Allow no food one hour before or after. Wait for a month, then reassess the condition. many owners also find acupuncture useful for controlling epilepsy in dogs. Taken from Natrually Healthy Dogs

Its more likely we get something from a dog rather than the other way around, if you want details on the ones posted above please advise.

"Zoonotic diseases are conditions that are passed from one species to another. Although Zoonoses are always a matter for concern, almost all of them are rare. With uncommon exceptions, dogs do not get cat diseases, cats do not get human diseases, and humans do not get dog or cat diseases. The great exceptions are diseases caused by microbes that are passed through bites. Rabies, a viral infection, is the most serious. Other microbes may paas to us through dog faeces or may use parasites, such as ticks, as their method of spreading to us. Rabies; Dog Bites; Worm Infestations; Hydatid Disease; Tapeworm; Ringworm and Gastrotestinal Diseases are among those which can be transmitted" Taken from Dr Bruce Fogle Caring for Your Dog

I would be very hesitant at this time of the year feeding fresh chicken mince, as you have found out Miny had a gastric bug, which they can pick up just as easily as we can from food which hasnt been refreigerated properly. (I'm not syaing your but possible where you bought it) For a bland diet you can use plain cottage cheese and rice, or a little fish which you can cook in the microwave in a little water, keep her on this for two days, and remember to feed her a small amount every four hours. www.specialfriendsdogcare.com.au

So I am new to Aust and use Advantix as advised by our vet and Aristopets All wormer as 2 breeders I know use their products. Suggest that you try vetproductsdirect as one supplier of all items doggy, I didnt know about them until after I had bought at Aristopet!!

Hi there I use Advantix for flea and tick control and Aristopets All Wormer for control of Gastrointestinal worms, and then the heartworm injection, I have four shelties and they seem to do the trick.

Just to recap on dried dog foods, this is from a chart given to me by Nutro, and is comparisons based on tests conducted by an independent lab: Science Diet Maintenance: Ground Corn, Poultry By Products; Animal Fat (preserved with BHA, propyl Gallate & Citric Acid), Vegetable Oil and Soybean Meal, Iodized salt. Eukanuba Maintenance Adult: Chicken By Product Meal, Ground Corn, Ground Grain Sorghum, Fish Meal and Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid). Chicken digest salt ProPlan Lamb Meal and Rice: Poultry By Product meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Wheat, beef tallow (preserved with mixed Tocop[herols), Ground yellow Corn and Lamb. Dried Animal Digest Salt NUTRO: Lamb meal, Ground Rice, Rice Bran, Sunflower Oil, Rice Gluten, Dried Egg Product, No Salt, No Soy, No Ground Corn, No internal organs. No Chemical preservatives The above information may be of help when deciding whether or not to use a dried dog food.

I agree with Loki, stay with a premium dog food, my dogs (shelties) are fed Nutro Natural Choice High Energy, a complete dog food with no other feeding required.

Could be either diet or grass/wandering jew problems. I have recently moved to QLD from NZ and the chewing of feet is driving us insane. Heard about this recently: www.justgreyhounds.com/hairanalysis/ and have sent away hair samples for my dogs to be tested. For diet I would suggest that depending on where you live you try Nutro Natural Choice Dog and Cat food, only avail unfortunatley in QLD and NSW but no chemical preservatives, no by products and no corn. Only chicken and lamb are used. www.specialfriendsdogcare.com.au

There are many other options available other than Rimadyl. I have a sheltie who has been on Rimadyl to no effect, Metacam and (sorry I cant remember the name here) Pentosan (Im recently arrived from NZ). Pentosan has done wonders for her, mind you the better climate in QLD probably help as well. You may also consider a senior food such as Nutro Natural Choice which has the additives of both glucosamine and chrondoitin, both of which are for joint problems. www.specialfriendsdogcare.com.au

A G.S. Puppy should be on a Large Breed Puppy formula such as NUTRO, to ensure that it gets all the correct nutrition required for puppies that will weigh more than 20 kilos as an adult, and no it should not be paper thin. Two things spring to mind- one it is not getting the required amount of food with the correct balance and two has it been wormed?. www.specialfriendsdogcare.com.au

Sasha's Blend and Metacam are great products BUT have you tried a senior dog food such as Nutro which has all the necessary ingredients for dogs with cartilage problems, including glucosamine and chrondoitin. www.specialfriendsdogcare.com.au

There are a huge range of shampoos available, your choice will also depend on whether or not your dog has a skin condition. One of the best for non specific skin conditions is vetadine which you dont have to wash out. www.specialfriendsdogcare.com.au