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It’s good for people who may forget to dose their dog, which is more than you might think. Vets saw heartworm cases plummet after they were brought out. @Kazm Malcolm never had side effects with Proheart but together with his vet we decided to switch to oral meds (Milbemax) when he became more medically fragile because they trusted me to remember to give them. I hope Molly feels better soon.

Rebanne can I ask a question? Why do you stop heartworm meds when your dogs reaches 10 years of age?

Schnauzer max, I do realise that now and I do wonder after using it for so long whether they eventually get a build up of it in their system and then react. I admit initially when I went down that track it sounded so easy and because vets suggest/ recommend such products I guess you just trust them. And probably too naive and never asked questions. After reading about the product I was literally horrified. Absolutely terrible drug. I feel like she’s been poisoned all this time. Thankfully though I can say she is now feeling so much better. Acting very normal. Thanks for being concerned.

Kazam, the heartworm injection is a version of the drug engineered to stay in the body for about 12 months after injection, which is precisely the reason I don’t / will not use it for any of my dogs. You can’t remove it. Once the dog has had the injection, you have to wait for the drug to be eliminated by the body over the 12 months. I hope Molly is feeling better and back to normal soon.

Rebanne, I think I’ll be using the monthly tabs after this next 12 months go by or maybe I’ll look into not using it all. She definitely won’t be getting the injection ever again. Seriously considering the vaccine one too. Sandgrubber, Good idea stopping during the colder months. Hadn’t thought of that. Thanks Persephone, she is much better today. Not totally 100% but close. The Pro- Kolin must be working. She’s been to the toilet and I’m happy to say it’s firm again. Mairead, nobody mentioned gastro. And yes, we’ve been there, done that many years ago and this was very different. After last years reaction it all points to the proheart injection and after what I read myself it definitely points to it. It’s either that or stress colitis. And I know everyone can draw their own conclusions and have their own opinions, and yes, every dog is different but after what I read about the product itself I’m really sorry I ever used it and will never ever use it on any future dog I may own.

It may not have had anything to do with the injection, just happened around the same time. Did anyone mention haemorrhagic gastroenteritis? 5 -Minute Veterinary Consult: Breed Predilection "incidence is greater in small breed dogs. Breeds most represented include miniature Schnauzers, dachshunds, Yorkshire terriers and miniature poodles."

poor little Molly I have never used the injection .Hopefully now she will recover quickly .

Never saw the value of the 12 mo jab. Oral every couple months, stop when it's too cold for mozzies. Cheap, safe and easy.

Sorry Molly had a bad time of it. I must admit I have never used any heartworm injection just monthly tabs which I actually give 6 weekly and have done so for years. I read up on the lifecycle of mozzies etc before coming to this decision. Once my dogs turn 10 I stop the heartworm meds. I rarely vaccinate either once past puppy shots and their first adult booster.

Just curious if any of you give your dogs the 12 month proheart heartworm injection and if any of your dogs have ever had any side effects. We’ve had quite he worrying week with Molly. She was due for her vaccinations and the heartworm injection which we’ve been doing for years now. Last year however she was also at her itchy best so we decided to give her the cytopoint injection also. The vet assured me they do it with others. Well, within a few hours we were back at the vets. Molly reacted badly and her temp was sky high and she was just not good so it was noted on her file and in my head that we’d never do that again. Fast forward to this year and when I made the appointment it was decided we’d separate the vaccine and the heartworm. She didn’t need the cytopoint. She’s not itchy at present. But the vet was concerned enough to still separate the other 2 as nobody knows what caused the reaction. So last week I took her and she had the vaccine. All good. Molly was fine. No reaction at all. This Monday I took her back for the heartworm injection. All seemed good, although I did think she was a little quiet. That afternoon her poop was a little soft, nothing to worry me. Tuesday she was quiet but I had a quiet day so hard to judge although her poop was still soft. Wednesday, Molly and I was at a friends place and she just sat with me as usual so didn’t pick up on anything, however by the afternoon she went downhill. She tried to vomit but nothing came up and she was just really unwell. She then rushed out to toilet and it was just liquid tinged with blood. I immediately rang the vet but could not get into see them as they were totally booked out. I did speak on the phone for quite a while and he assured me if she was eating and drinking it wasn’t an emergency. Wasn’t happy but she did eat a little chicken for dinner and was drinking. She did go rushing out once more which was still very runny and still tinged with blood. But she settled down for the night and slept ok. Unlike me. The next morning she seemed brighter and was wanting her breakfast and seemed pretty good. I kept her quiet and I thought she was ok. Didn’t go to the toilet until much later that day and even though it was still runny there was no blood. She was ravenous for dinner so we assumed she was coming good. However yesterday she was not interested in her breakfast and also tried to vomit again. Tail was down and I knew she was not well. I managed to get a morning vet appointment where they did a urine and blood test. Her belly was tender to touch too. Which is totally understandable. The tests came back all good which was a relief so the outcome was she either had stress colitis or a reaction to the heartworm. And they are leaning towards that. I actually read up on the product and in black and white it described symptoms that she had last year and just now. She will never get one again and the vet recommended that also. She personally doesn’t give it to her 2 dogs either. I’m so upset I put Molly through this but obviously as they get older their little bodies change just like ours. The vet gave us Pro-Kolin + to help her gut and firm up her poop. She was super hungry last night ( giving her small amounts at intervals and she’s on a chicken and rice diet for now) She slept well and has eaten breakfast as normal and seems so much happier. She hasn’t been to the toilet yet but she probably doesn’t have much in her at present. Think we are all fine now but what an experience. Id be very happy to hear everyone’s experiences or opinions.

Breeders with puppies are not going to chase after you Lloyd, it's up to you to do the searching and showing you will be a good owner, maybe go to some shows and chat with Sheltie breeders and get yourself known, breeders want to get their puppies into the best of homes so introducing yourself is a step in the right direction. and... wait until you get to know the breeder before asking how much the pup costs (and don't ask what is their 'best price' ) There is a show today and tomorrow: Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th July 2024, Dogs West, Southern River. 12 Shelties being shown https://www.dogzonline.com.au/event-diary/list.asp?state=WA

Vaccination is the only decent prevention .

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-26/what-to-consider-if-you-need-to-leave-your-pet-alone-overnight/104078760

one puppy here in Perth https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/member.asp?name=nightwoodshelties and a 6y/o in Qld though transport can be arranged. https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/mature/shetland-sheepdog.asp

Unless your going to disinfect EVERY item you took out its a waste of time . Taking shoes off okay maybe BUT never done it in near 40 yrs of owning dogs. You would then need to dunk your bags,car tyres etc etc . Preventation vaccinate or titer test . Most people wait too long to seek a vet for parvo so dog dies before treatment or it has progressed to far . The smell alone is enough for parvo when you have experienced it . I can safely tell the difference between parvo & say colitis but parvo is its own special thing . Coomon sense but you cant bubble wrap everything

looking to get a sheltie sheep dog not a puppy like to get a older dog as mine has passed over the rainbow so would need to be in western Australia PLEASE if one does become available could u contact me please 0428100051 or [email protected] thank u

Some more: this time from previous buyers about the dogs' health problems Labradoodles from Tasmanian breeder costing families hundreds of thousands in vet bills https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-25/tasmanian-labradoodles-vet-bills-defective-animals/104135504

Not all ethical breeders will want strangers traipsing all over their property to "see the parents and the conditions they live in"... but in this day and age of video calling, you can have a breeder do a tour of their place via facetime or similar method in real time. I wouldn't buy any dog from someone who wants to do the handover of the "goods" in a public carpark... in what universe is that ever going to be kosher? During the last NSW parliamentary inquiry into puppy farming, there were witnesses who inherently knew they were buying their pup from a puppy farm, but considered that they were "saving" is, so went ahead with the transaction... and one lady even went so far as to state on record that she wanted a puppy right then and didn't want to wait for one from elsewhere, so she bought a pup she knew was from a puppy farmer. Then there was the witness who didn't have any actual experience with buying from a puppy farmer, but she had seen stories about how evil they were on TV, which had formed her opinion... wtf?? T.

They do that everywhere... the rescue I'm with has worked with RSPCA NSW more than once for puppy farmed animals... the most recent being an intake of over 20 oodles. And we weren't the only rescue who took in such numbers, as the farm in question has to remove around 400 dogs as part of their deal with RSPCA to avoid prosecution and fines. 2 of my recent foster mums and bubs also came to us via RSPCA seizures, and my current lot came from AWL, although AWL supplied us with a whole pile of stuff when we took her and the babies in (including that Alice had been desexed when she had her caesarian, she was also vaccinated and chipped by AWL, so we have no actual medical costs to pay for her before rehoming) - RSPCA just hands over the dogs and all the costs relating to their rehab and rehoming fall on the rescues. In the grand scheme of things it's probably better that independent rescues take in animals that RSPCA cannot adequately care for, as at least their chances of survival and responsible rehoming are higher. It would be fair that if RSPCA receives donations for the animals it no longer has, that those donations should be forwarded to those actually incurring the costs, but that is never going to happen... *sigh* This is my concern too... too many animals are rehomed from various sources (including RSPCA) with behavioural issues, which are fobbed off as "it's a rescue and had a hard life before we saved it", rather than making some attempt to rectify the issue... grrr! T.

Warning... do not search for the story that contains footage of this incident... it is highly disturbing. Also note that articles describing the incident are also disturbing. That said, the footage actually shows that the child accompanying the woman also hits the dog at least once, yet that is not mentioned in the articles, just that she was accompanied by a child. There is a special place in hell for people who commit this kind of act on animals... T.

I'm with @Rebanne- initial puppy vaccinations and first adult booster, then no more unless needing to go into boarding kennels, and only then as most kennels demand it and won't accept titre test results showing immunity. Studies have shown that the C3 vaccine can have immunity results for all 3 diseases covered for up to 7 years, longer if the dog is exposed to small doses of the diseases at intervals during their life (such as would be encountered on daily walks, etc). Note that the kennel cough strains covered with the C5 vaccine only actually have good immunity effect for up to 6 months post vaccination. Instead of annual or triannual vaccinations, you can titre test for immunity levels once the initial puppy course and first adult booster have established some immunity if you are concerned, and then vaccinate if those levels are below what is required for continued immunity. As Rebanne says, the symptoms of parvo also can apply to other diseases, such as canine coronavirus, which is kind of a poor cousin of parvo, but can usually be treated more successfully, and the virus doesn't stay in the environment as long. Parvovirus spores can live in the environment for up to 2 years even in extremes of hot or cold temperatures, which is why it is imperative to vaccinate at least for initial immunity to get established. A single parvo laden dog turd has the potential to infect over 10,000 (and possibly double that number) animals... it is that potent... T.

And they hadn't done a simple blood test in all that time that would have shown that the dog was suffering from both conditions? Not to mention that the liver mass was most likely a haemangiosarcoma which is not caused by overfeeding. As for the claims of overgrown nails and conjunctivitis... his eyes look clear and normal in the seizure photos... and his nails look longish, but not markedly overgrown. In fact, apart from his immense girth, the dog looks pretty well kept. T.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350353716/morbidly-obese-dog-dies-owner-charge An Auckland woman has been prosecuted by the SPCA after failing to meet her dog Nuggi’s physical, health and behavioural needs which led to his death. Nuggi, who weighed in at 53.7kg, was found when police carried out a search warrant at his owner’s Manurewa home in 2021 and was taken in by the SPCA. A number of other dogs removed from the property were taken to an Auckland City Council animal shelter. She got a 2 month sentence.

vaccinate I mean you can have a tray of disinfectant at your door that you can walk through and strip off clothes before coming in but it's all a bit extreme. I don't vaccinate after the basic puppy shots and the 15 month old booster unless I suspect the dogs were going into kennels. Then they get vaccinated. One of my 10 yo's last vaccination was nearly 4 years ago. She won't be getting another one. Those symptoms also apply to a lot of other things.