Queen Maeby Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 My first 2 border collies mainly ate supercoat & natures gift. They were always vaccinated. They both got to 15. My first cat only ate Whiskers cat food and passed away at 20! I feel like the more I have fussed the more stuff has gone wrong! I agree - our family dog was never fussed over and lived on Go Cat biscuits her whole life (didn't like dog biscuits) and lived to 18! I know people who spend so much time and money taking their dogs to holistic people, specialists, only the finest raw diets etc and these dogs seem to have the most health issues - I wonder if it's just that they aren't picked up in the dogs where care is more 'relaxed'? I think you have to find the balance between being neurotic and spending your whole life freaking out about things that could happen, and preparing specialised meals for your dog and wrapping them in cotton wool - or you can relax and just make the most of the time you have with your dog and face the fact that shit happens Oh thank you for saying that! I p*ssed myself laughing when I realised how neurotic I'm being. I'm just such a perfectionist... I even do crazy things like mop the floor twice. I feel so much more relaxed now :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loving my Oldies Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Maybe I'm just being a control freak and I'm still feeling guilty about Grover's death... I guess you just have to enjoy them while you have them. Wanting to learn how to treat your dogs so they live a happy and healthy life is not, in my opinion, being a control freak. Having a mini break down because someone offers your dog a treat at the dog park (something I strongly disapprove of BTW LOL) would be. :laugh: You are still grieving for Grover, but you could perhaps be a little kinder to yourself and stop beating yourself up about it :). Slowly and surely, you will get there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Maeby Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 Maybe I'm just being a control freak and I'm still feeling guilty about Grover's death... I guess you just have to enjoy them while you have them. Wanting to learn how to treat your dogs so they live a happy and healthy life is not, in my opinion, being a control freak. Having a mini break down because someone offers your dog a treat at the dog park (something I strongly disapprove of BTW LOL) would be. :laugh: You are still grieving for Grover, but you could perhaps be a little kinder to yourself and stop beating yourself up about it :). Slowly and surely, you will get there Thanks, that's so nice of you :) I don't allow people to give my dogs treats. I am pretty neurotic about that :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Maybe I'm just being a control freak and I'm still feeling guilty about Grover's death... I guess you just have to enjoy them while you have them. Wanting to learn how to treat your dogs so they live a happy and healthy life is not, in my opinion, being a control freak. Having a mini break down because someone offers your dog a treat at the dog park (something I strongly disapprove of BTW LOL) would be. :laugh: You are still grieving for Grover, but you could perhaps be a little kinder to yourself and stop beating yourself up about it :). Slowly and surely, you will get there Agree. There is nothing wrong with having these thoughts. It is totally normal. You should see the hysterics I have if I see the dogs eating something in a park because I lost a dog to bait. It wasn't even in a park. Like your experience with Grover I was there when my dog died and it wasn't pleasant. Not that any of the deaths have been. Even my 20yo cat passing in her sleep was horrible. One of the local postmen gives the dogs Good-o. Not something I would buy and not something Amber is supposed to eat but for some reason the dogs frigging love getting those Good-os. I give them homemade gourmet biscuits. They are also really naughty when they see the postman, they even pull on the leads But they love it and the postman loves it, so I relax my standards for this interaction. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCresties Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Here is a tip that my vet gave me, which I thought was quite good... If you live in a low-risk heartworm area near the beach, and you choose not to treat for heartworm, take your dog for a walk on the beach first thing in the morning, before heaps of other people and their dogs walk there, after the tide has gone out and washed the beach clean. Make sure you walk your dog along the shore line and don't go anywhere near the dunes where they can catch some fox-related disease (I can't remember what it's called). And stay away from the beach at high peak tourist times like Christmas. That's when all the tourist dogs come to visit. I thought heart worm was transmitted via mosquitos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Maeby Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 Maybe I'm just being a control freak and I'm still feeling guilty about Grover's death... I guess you just have to enjoy them while you have them. Wanting to learn how to treat your dogs so they live a happy and healthy life is not, in my opinion, being a control freak. Having a mini break down because someone offers your dog a treat at the dog park (something I strongly disapprove of BTW LOL) would be. :laugh: You are still grieving for Grover, but you could perhaps be a little kinder to yourself and stop beating yourself up about it :). Slowly and surely, you will get there Agree. There is nothing wrong with having these thoughts. It is totally normal. You should see the hysterics I have if I see the dogs eating something in a park because I lost a dog to bait. It wasn't even in a park. Like your experience with Grover I was there when my dog died and it wasn't pleasant. Not that any of the deaths have been. Even my 20yo cat passing in her sleep was horrible. One of the local postmen gives the dogs Good-o. Not something I would buy and not something Amber is supposed to eat but for some reason the dogs frigging love getting those Good-os. I give them homemade gourmet biscuits. They are also really naughty when they see the postman, they even pull on the leads But they love it and the postman loves it, so I relax my standards for this interaction. :laugh: Thank you for sharing that. I feel so much better :) My dad used to give Grover Good-o's and it drove me nuts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Maeby Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 Here is a tip that my vet gave me, which I thought was quite good... If you live in a low-risk heartworm area near the beach, and you choose not to treat for heartworm, take your dog for a walk on the beach first thing in the morning, before heaps of other people and their dogs walk there, after the tide has gone out and washed the beach clean. Make sure you walk your dog along the shore line and don't go anywhere near the dunes where they can catch some fox-related disease (I can't remember what it's called). And stay away from the beach at high peak tourist times like Christmas. That's when all the tourist dogs come to visit. I thought heart worm was transmitted via mosquitos? Oh is it? I don't know why my vet said that then. Sorry :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Maeby Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 *Going to the shops to buy chocolate* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Is this the same vet who told you to wash sutures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Maeby Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 (edited) Is this the same vet who told you to wash sutures? No, it was a different one - a guy. And I went back and talked to my vet about the sutures and I had misunderstood her. She meant it was alright for me to clean Grover's wound/sutures that one time but not to do it all the time. eta I will go back to the guy vet and ask him what he meant. It was something about catching diseases at the beach where other dogs go. I thought he was talking about heartworm because we had just been talking about it, but maybe he meant something else? Edited June 20, 2014 by Queen Maeby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Sometimes avoiding medicine leads to more problems though.... Regarding wormers, I would always worm because hyatids (sp) can be fatal to humans and can be dormant for 10+ years. I vaccinate every three years at the moment because this is required for our sports. I think the value of sport and training outweighs the vacs. Dogs would need some carbs surely? I'm not talking grain, but all veges contain some carbs. A carrot is a nice low cal treat. My advice is: - healthy diet (whatever the dog does well on. My boy doesn't cope well with 100% raw and I'm not going to make him suffer do that I can feel "superior"). - exercise (both aerobic and strength building) walking is not enough to build core strength - hind leg awareness exercises, balance balls etc - mental exercise - mandatory for health. Lots if games (scent detection, find the target hidden in the house, free shaping ) just 5 mins of this every day or two makes a huge difference. - sport - we do agility. My boy will compete but my girl never will. I still do it with her as it keep her fit and we both enjoy it. - visit the vet when things aren't right. - physio if they do sport and when they get older. Relax and enjoy them. A stressed person leads to a stressed dog. Have fun, laugh "with" them and remember they'd much rather muck around with you than have the latest gadget/collar/toy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Maeby Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 Sometimes avoiding medicine leads to more problems though.... Regarding wormers, I would always worm because hyatids (sp) can be fatal to humans and can be dormant for 10+ years. I vaccinate every three years at the moment because this is required for our sports. I think the value of sport and training outweighs the vacs. Dogs would need some carbs surely? I'm not talking grain, but all veges contain some carbs. A carrot is a nice low cal treat. My advice is: - healthy diet (whatever the dog does well on. My boy doesn't cope well with 100% raw and I'm not going to make him suffer do that I can feel "superior"). - exercise (both aerobic and strength building) walking is not enough to build core strength - hind leg awareness exercises, balance balls etc - mental exercise - mandatory for health. Lots if games (scent detection, find the target hidden in the house, free shaping ) just 5 mins of this every day or two makes a huge difference. - sport - we do agility. My boy will compete but my girl never will. I still do it with her as it keep her fit and we both enjoy it. - visit the vet when things aren't right. - physio if they do sport and when they get older. Relax and enjoy them. A stressed person leads to a stressed dog. Have fun, laugh "with" them and remember they'd much rather muck around with you than have the latest gadget/collar/toy. Yes, I leant that after spending hundreds of dollars on toys for Grover: he just wants to be with me. And his favourite toy was the cardboard from the inside of a toilet roll :laugh: I thought hydatids only came from raw pet-grade offal and lamb? That's what my butcher said. Thank you, that's very good advice. And I will have a think about the vaccinating versus obedience training thing :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 It can also be found in wild animals. Given that you can get it from dog hair, I err on the safe side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Maeby Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 It can also be found in wild animals. Given that you can get it from dog hair, I err on the safe side. What do you mean "in wild animals"? Do you mean their organs? I can't imagine my Pugs eating the organs of wild animals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiskered Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Info on hydatid lifecycle and spread :) LINK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Maeby Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 Info on hydatid lifecycle and spread :) LINK Thanks for that :) Yeah, the dog would have to eat the organs. I can't see my Pugs doing that and they will be tested for worms regularly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 I was under the impression it could be spread via poop too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Maeby Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 I was under the impression it could be spread via poop too? Oh okay, thanks :) I might have to take the herbal wormer as well, just in case then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiskered Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Info on hydatid lifecycle and spread :) LINK Thanks for that :) Yeah, the dog would have to eat the organs. I can't see my Pugs doing that and they will be tested for worms regularly. You're welcome! Keep in mind the infective stage for people is passed out through the GI tract and the eggs are sticky to assist spread so if you or puggie has contact with potential sources ie. eggs adherent to the coat/bedding of an infected dog or pug rolling in fox poo or something you are still at risk. And pet grade meat may be contaminated by a cyst during slaughter so feeding raw pet grade meat even if not feeding organs specifically is a potential source of puggie infection. Which is a moot point if you've got a parasite control protocol in mind anyway! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiskered Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 I was under the impression it could be spread via poop too? Yes, snap megan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now