frufru

If you buy the Wahl KM clippers they come with a good little DVD. Since your dog is a poodle x - the Kalstone book is probably overkill but is does have very good general info too. I tend to give any poodle x that comes to me for grooming a Teddy Bear clip - do a search on this and you will get the idea. Good Luck

Hi, our standard poodle went on heart meds at around 9 years and we lost her last year at 13 and a half. Good luck with Bow Wow.

Just to add - we picked up our girls lymphoma because of behavioural changes - she developed anxiety and phobias - when I researched I found this was a not uncommon symptom. Good luck with the dog.

Unless you actually paid for a grooming session I would not expect the dog to have been brushed.

FranCQ, hope your friend will be happy with her puppy and good on you for talking her out of a pet shop puppy. Breeder that sold a puppy as a gift :)

I might agree - but it puts many people off becasue they think that is how poodles look - when poodles don't look froo-froo in their natural state. The whole DD thing has really taken off because people want a poodle that doesn't look like a poodle I'm sorry but if ones decision to purchase a particular breed of dog is based entirely on the fact that is has a particular haircut in a very specialised environment like the show ring - then you really shouldn't be buying any dog. You should be looking for a breed of dog that meets your requirements in terms of, temperament, grooming, exercise, need for training and socialbility with people and or other dogs. Personally - I think the poodle that escapes being part of such a shallow family is a lucky poodle. A poodle left in "its natural state" would quickly become matted and in this climate probably suffer from fly strike. Yes you can let a poodles hair grow but it has to be groomed often as does any low shedding dog. Going off to take Mr Frou Frou for a walk!!!!

Its a haircut people - get over it!!!!

Gammawash (active ingredient diazinon) ceased to be available in 2003 as diazinon was found to be detrimental to aquatic life. When I was a child the lantana on our farm was aerial sprayed with what was basically "agent orange" - very effective but healthy - don't think so. DDT was also widely used in agriculture. Our dogs - went through the cattle dip and dipping programmes were widespread - certainly no ticks or fleas but then they were swimming through a very toxic substance. Personally, I find that todays chemicals are less toxic than those used in the past and information about them is more readily available. However, I only treat my dogs for fleas when I find one - but then I check them every day. I do use a tick collar over the summer but I also live on the far north coast where paralysis ticks are rampant. I used Proban (an organophosphate) on my standard poodles when they were in show coat because I would rather a dog protected from paralysis ticks than a dead dog. This was an informed decision on my part weighing up the possible long term side effects. I find the average pet owner very ignorant about the chemicals they apply to their pets ( I don't count DOLers as average LOL) Don't you just love the people who think it is "natural" for dogs to have fleas - ever heard of a flea comb. There are lots of options available to us as pet owners and we just need to make sure that we inform ourselves and take care of our dogs health. JMO

Les Pooch

Actually it is possible to maintain a poodles coat - what do you think owners of show dogs do????? It is called brushing and combing. Shave the dog off. It is the kindest answer and as someone else pointed out the result achieved from dematting will be very ordinary.

We live in a tick hot spot and some of the vets here advise using a topspot and tick collar. I have used both types of tick collar and found they worked well. We have had up to 4 dogs wearing the collars in our bedroom with no probs - they are only really strong smelling for the first couple of days.

When my lot did this several years ago I took them straight to the vet and she gave them an injection to cause vomiting - 2 of the 3 had eaten the stuff. Didn't want to take the risk of blockages. The 2 who had eaten it didn't give a damm but the other one felt very sorry for herself all day.

Bit of a stretch but Omega fish oils are recommended for kids with ADHD - perhaps worth a try - they are very beneficial for brain function.

When you look at natural flea control just remember that some substances like tea tree oil, eucalyptus etc can also act as triggers for seizures- lady down the road nearly killed her jrt by putting tea tree oil on it - toxic Why did your vet suggest a ct scan at this point? - sorry have not been following previous posts. Diagnostically what has been done to date?

Another hijack here. Poodlefan, can you post a link for the leg blades you are taliking about, thanks.

I am on to my second pair of Wahls and nearly always use high speed regardless of what I am doing - but that is just a habit. I have read people in similar threads say they always use the slower speed LOL. It could possible take longer for the blades to heat up on the slower setting

If you were using a 30 or 40 they would certainly heat up in that time - I also find they heat up faster in hot weather (or am I imagining it). As poodlefan said you need several blades so that you can change them. You need to feel your blades regularly to make sure they are not too hot or you may burn poochie!!! ouch!!!

This was done recently on a dog I was fostering (7 mths old and weight about 5kgs) The difference for the dog was amazing - pain obviously gone and now (2 mths later) he is running around using the leg normally - I was amazed at his recovery!!!! The operation was done by our local vet and the cost was significantly lower than your specialist quote.

Tramal (3 times a day) for first couple of days and metacam daily. No physio in our neck of the woods - the vet is happy but I was interesed in others experiences - more info the better. As he is a foster dog I want to give him the best start I can before he goes to his new home.

Definitely no crating - my vet advised that they needed to start using it as soon as possible so there is no muscle wastage - the difficult thing is having enough pain relief so that they are confident to try to use the leg. In the US they actually do physio as soon as possible (often needs a muzzle) so I was actually wondering if anyone on here had been given physio type exercises to do. The sooner they start using it the better the long term result. Patches is actually attempting to put weight on his leg today sometimes so that is great - we are going for short walks on the lead - very slowly - when he sees something interesting he uses the leg LOL

Thanks Kosti, he is a foster so will only be staying for about 3 weeks to make sure he is on the road to recovery. Do you remember how long Arnie was on pain killers for and how did you assess his pain levels. This little guy has bounced back but I know he must be in pain even though he is on meds.

My latest foster dog (maltxshih 7 mths old) had a femoral head ostectomy yesterday and I was just wondering if anyone has any advice or experiences to relate.

Erny made a key observation - You had trained your dog that if he asked he could get on the bed - the retraining means that he only gets on the bed when you "ask" - ignore his begging - wear ear plugs if you have to and if he is really painful do as others have suggested and use his crate and even put it outside the bedroom if you have to. I retrained my male dog in a couple of days not to beg to get on the bed and he now sleeps in his comfy bed on the floor ALL night. Bliss!!

love puppies!

Hi all, Saw this product (Petzlife oral care gel) recommended on another forum and just wondered if anyone here had used it?