indigirl

I just bought a bag from Black Dog to take stuff to dog shows and its brilliant!

Hi Indigirl...was it the 'Carry All Bag' ( http://www.blackdog.net.au/index.php?page=...rt&Itemid=5 )?

Yep and it rocks! its perfect for what i need to take to a show. I groom my dog beforehand and just do a tidy up at the actual show.

I just bought a bag from Black Dog to take stuff to dog shows and its brilliant!

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with lead poisoning in dogs?

My questions - can lead poisoning in dogs be a gradual poisoning from low levels ingested over a long period of time? And can it have behavioural effects without any of the gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and diarrheoa being present?

We took our dog to the vet yesterday to discuss some behavioural issues and after a general health check and questions about any recent environmental or diet changes they suggested it is probably not health related. BUT I hadn't even thought of lead poisoning until this morning. Her behaviour has gradually gone downhill over the last 3-4 years, becoming more agressive, anxious and destructive are the main things we have noticed. When I moved into an old house about 5 years ago she started scratching and chewing the front door when left at home. When we started renovating we did a lead chceck on the windows and doors and it was positive but still didn't twig that it could cause problems for our dog. I'm sorry to say that as I was pregnant we took all the precautions necessary to keep me safe but poisoning our dog didn't even cross our minds and she continued to scratch and chew the door (as well as probably walking through a fair bit of dust over the months of renovating). We moved about 10 months ago and she started doing the same thing here but progressed to eating the timber window frames aswell. I have just tested the door and frames and the test was positive. About 3 months after we moved in she collapsed but it was a hot day and she had been running around like a madman so it was just put down to heat and exhaustion. But it has happened 3 more times since then - still after running but not in hot weather. She's had her heart checked and apart from being "noisy" the vet didn't think it was the problem. I have also noticed she has muscle spasms (not frequently though) and trouble jumping onto high things (which I had assumed was just her getting older - she is 10yo)

Hi I live in Broken Hill, lead poisoning capital of australia! They first discovered the lead 'problem' when local dogs began dying from lead poisoning. Dogs with lead poisoning fit, and sometimes die after a fit. So when i moved here i got my soil tested, it was well within what was considered safe here (200-300mgs) but I wasnt convinced so i had a landscape guy dig out all the soil in my yard for about 1 foot down, then had new loam trucked in. What part of the country are you in? have you had your soil tested? You can get your dogs lead levels tested thru a blood test. I know children with high lead levels are slow, or sluggish and it can affect thier development. If you dog is lead affected he must be picking it up from somewhere.. are you on a route to a lead smelter? near a lead mine? Port Pirie andn Port Augusta also have high lead levels I belive, as do houses along thier regular truck routes. If you have a child under 5 yrs old here you can get the lead levels in your yard checked fro free, not sure of the cost elsewhere.

Got a 5 month old kelpiex foster boy desexed 2 days ago, he had a retained testicle and vet had to hunt for it. he also had to have a tetanus shot because of this and he has stitches in his belly like a desexed female does. Total cost $200, I thought this was fair considering his missing ball!

ETA: normally males <20kg cost $125, and males >20kgs cost $140

Hi, I paid $1200 for a show quality bitch puppy 2 yrs ago.. this is a little higher than average I believe but I wanted a pup from this particular kennel. A friend who breeds goldens in S.A charges $800 for a pet puppy on limited register.

Just looking for something i can apply to a hot spot that my staffyx has developed on her head.

She gets them occasionally and they usually disappear without help, but she is having a bit of trouble with fleas so is scratching at it and it looks sore now.

I will be getting some fish oil capsules but are there any topical creams that people swear by?

Can I use olive oil or vitamin E or rosehip oil (all good for human skin)?

Thanks.

I used talcum powder on my golden's hotspot. Worked like a charm

To be honest I would have thought you could get the same model but double tank for that price second hand. Although you probably don't actually need the twin tank - I'm just pointing out that I think $1100 is a bit exy for a 2 yr old single tank. Although in fairness I haven't looked around. Have you checked out Hydrobaths Australia's web site for the price of one new? Just to get a picture...

Just a thought - in all honesty I would look at one of those freestanding bath tub type tubs - the dogs ones that are on long legs. You could hook up your own hoses for warm water as you already have that set up... it would save you a packet! While hydrobaths are great to some degree I think they are more work than they need to be for the pet owner.

I can't think of the name for the tubs... sorry! Anyone? I've just seen random pics about of them. You wouldnt have to bend over to reach your dogs. Even in the hydrobath you have to bend right over for the littlies - back breaking - but then you can buy the raised thingo but they arent cheap either.

I'm waffling, lol, but hopefully someone else will know what I mean about those basic tubs.

Do you mean Fido's Booster Bath?

Snake bite or spider bite maybe? Im in far western NSW and Im always a bit wary. One of my dogs got bitten by something in my backyard on friday night, we couldnt find what had bitten her but within 20 mins she was bright and i mean BRIGHT red, she was practically glowing! Rushed her to the emergency vet for anti histamine and a cortizone injection. She was fine by the next morning. She had an allergic reaction to something that bit her. Maybe this dog had an allergic reaction too but no one saw it?

Fingers crossed the dog is ok!

My dog has had both his cruciates ruptured. the first when he was about 3 yrs old. Symptoms are lameness, limping, trouble getting up and an inability to bend his knee. Solution is knee reconstructive surgery, costs about $1000 or so. Definatly not something to look forward to! The worst thing is the long slow recovery period, for at least 6 weeks after surgury they have to be kept very quiet, no steps and as litle walking as possible. After his 2nd cruciate was done he also needed weekly shots of a quartizone to aid healing, this went on for i think 8 weeks at $40 a shot. All in all very costly and tedious excersize... however he is now 10 yrs old and still going strong. he does have mild arthritis in his knees but it doesnt bother him too much. The vet told me that its quite common for large dogs to rupture thier cruciate ligaments. My dog weighs over 50 kgs so he was a prime candidate. Also, it can reoccur so you have to be mindful of your dogs weight and excersize regime for the remaidner of thier life. Fingers crossed your dog hasnt done its cruciate!