*Avanti*

I'm so sorry for your loss. She was a very special girl indeed. My thoughts with you and your family. RIP Cordelia

I'm sorry for your loss Marleah, of such a beautiful old girl. RIP Narla, run free at the bridge.

I'm sorry to hear this. RIP Stella.

Keep him warm, which I'm sure you would do. On reading your post the symptoms have some similarity to when my dog came down with pancreatitis. They took X-rays for blockages at first but after more tests discovered it was her pancreas. That was 3 years ago. She's ok now, but cannot have any fatty foods. I hope it isn't that but it’s good you have the vet appt in the morning. Wishing he is back to his old self soon.

I'm sorry for your loss of your special little boy. RIP Mozart

I'm sorry for your loss. RIP Bazzy

I'm sorry for your loss of Carlin, indeed a handsome old boy. RIP Carlin.

I hope you are much better soon Luke.

Sorry for your loss Puppy Sniffer. RIP Miss Ricky

I'm sorry to hear this and wish I could offer a few words of comfort. RIP Jay Jay

Would Calendula cream be as effective do you know?

Thanks for all the replies and for the video link Anne. I got some Advance Light for now but will have to spend more time reading up on the various brands ingredients and see what the vet has to say as well. I do give them pumpkin a couple of times a week, even grew my own this year for them. I came across this site that might help and thought to share the info here. There are so many brands it gets a bit daunting. I was happy the Advance, to the best of my knowledge, is Australian Made which is always a plus for me with consumer choices. http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/

My dogs have a grass allergy that we mostly manage. Being Labradors they tend to put the weight on easily so I trialed them on Eukanuba Weight Loss. That worked well for taking some weight off. Then I got the Weight Management formula, because the other was not available (and I’m not sure it will be again). Anyway, slowly in the last two months both my dogs paws have become red and sore with some swelling. They always were a little red from the allergy but it has become much worse (vet visit booked for Friday and using Ilium Neocort on them for now). I can only suspect the Eukanuba might be aggravating this and wish to try something else. Various questions/considerations: One of the dogs, Heidi has allergy issues and has had pancreatitis, and kidney failure. She was on Waltham renal dry food for over a year but now the vet said her tests show she no longer needs it. I’m a bit confused but now I stick to a permanent low fat diet with her due to the pancreatitis. The other dog also has the grass allergy (they are mother and daughter) but is otherwise ok. Her feet have also come up since the Eukanuba weight management formula. It could be a co-incidence but the diet is the first thing I will change. As for the grass allergy they are fenced away from the grass but I cannot avoid some contact as when the lawns are mowed some clipping blow in to their area. I was considering trying ProPlan Salmon dry food and wonder if anyone has tried this and/or could suggest a good low fat dry food. The budget is tight but my dogs get priority in my household. Does Eukanuba have beef in it? I have been told it has and that it hasn’t by the same pet food store. Others I was considering are Science Diet Light but a search here suggests it may have too much grain: http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/215887-opinions-on-hills-science-diet/page__p__5171543__hl__proplan__fromsearch__1#entry5171543 and Artemis Weight Loss which are also available to me locally. .

If I was in your situation I would keep them separated now. I hope you can get foster care for her and/or some more help from the owner in rehoming her. (Sorry have not read entire thread.) Best wishes for a happy outcome.

My condolences persephone, her link with your mum was very special and she looks a lovely girl. RIP Tiy

I've only heard panadol was not safe for dogs. http://www.vetinfo.com/how-safe-is-panadol-for-dogs.html http://www.fitzroyvet.com.au/panadol-warning-for-pet-owners Hang in there Ollie.

I'm sorry for your loss. That beautiful poem brought tears to my eyes. RIP Bonnie

I hope this one is ok to post here. No-one knows why the deer is staying but they think it is guarding the nesting goose. http://au.news.yahoo.com/odd/a/-/odd/91650...st-in-cemetery/ BUFFALO, New York (Reuters) - A deer has been standing watch for several days over a female goose nesting in a city cemetery, a scene normally reserved for a children's movie. "People always want to turn it into a Disney story and in this case it's not far off," said Gina Browning, director of the Erie County SPCA. For at least four days, the buck stood guard near the nest of a Canada goose as she sits on her eggs inside a large urn at Forest Lawn cemetery, home to the remains of President Millard Fillmore and rock icon Rick James. "He does appear to be guarding the goose, as it were," Erie County SPCA Wildlife Administrator Joel Thomas said. "He's within touching distance of her -- there's no doubt what's going on." The deer, which he said looks like a buck that has shed its antlers, has not strayed from his post. Employees at the cemetery were alerted to the situation after the animal positioned itself between the bird and an employee of a company that traps and relocates geese, which Thomas said have become a messy problem in large numbers. "When he approached the bird with a net, the deer puts itself between him and the bird, and he's repeated that behavior for some time," he said. Typically positioning himself broadside to any car or passerby who comes near the nest, the deer stares intently until the potential aggressor moves on, he said. Why exactly the deer has chosen to champion a bird of a different feather is a complicated question, Thomas said. While interdependence among species in the wild is not unheard of, Thomas said whatever is causing this animal kingdom alliance is anybody's guess. "From a human standpoint we can fill in a lot of blanks but it doesn't mean we're right," he said. "Does he know she's nesting? I don't know. Is he going to leave when the chicks hatch? I don't know." One thing is clear: It could go on for some time. The gestation period for a Canada goose is up to 31 days, Thomas said, with the nesting season only just beginning. While normally both the male and female share the task of keeping the eggs warm, the expectant mother at Forest Lawn appears not to have that luxury. "If the deer is determined, he's going to be on the job for at least three weeks," Thomas said. Devotion rather than emotion seems to be driving the buck. "The deer and the goose are not in love," Thomas said.

I'm donating to an appeal by wspa, I hope it's ok to post this here; https://donate.wspa.org.uk/form.asp?id=1932...=12627526&e

I'm sorry to hear about your mum sumosmum.

I just don't get it! Here's hoping for the survival of male swan and the egg/s. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news...2-1226035937661 FOUR teens are set to be charged over the brutal killing of a swan as experts take her eggs for hatching. The boys, all aged in their mid-teens, are all from the Moonee Ponds and Essendon areas. A police spokeswoman said the teenagers were identified by witnesses and are in the process of being interviewed by police. The swan was tortured and pelted with rocks in the shocking incident on Wednesday afternoon. The nesting animal was found on a lake bank with an open wound to the head, before succumbing to its injuries. A woman who arrived soon after the attack desperately tried to save the bird. She held the bird's head above water, but the swan died in her arms. News of the swan's suffering has caused outrage in the community and among animal activists. The Melbourne Zoo has stepped in to house the swan's eggs, as the remaining black male swan has barely moved from the nest since his mate was killed at Moonee Pond's Queen's Park and it is feared he will starve himself to protect the eggs. Moonee Valley City Council made the decision to transport the swan egg after consulting zoo experts. Melbourne Zoo natural fauna curator Peter Courtney said the zoo has set up an incubator to house the egg to help the struggling male. “It will try and ensure the survival of the young and we will raise it and we will release it back there once it is large enough to look after itself,” Mr Courtney said. He said looking after the nest is normally a role shared by the two swans and the male on his own may not leave the nest for up to a week for fear the eggs could be in danger. “The solitary animal needs to get off and feed … the longer they have to be away, the more chance there is of the eggs becoming chilled and the embryo dying,” Mr Courtney said. Executive Manager Environment and Lifestyle, Scott Widdicombe, said the swan will be monitored as it attends the nest. “At this stage we are not sure how long it will take for the swan to leave the nest,” Mr Widdicombe said. “Council is extremely concerned that it may be detrimental to the male swan to try and take the egg prematurely.” Mayor of Moonee Valley, Cr John Sipek, said he was pleased the zoo had offered their assistance for the delicate case. “The amount of community support for the plight of this swan and its egg has been heart-warming,” Cr Sipek said. “If the egg is still in condition and viable we are hopeful that the zoo will do all it can to help achieve a good outcome.”Cr Sipek said he still couldn't understand the attack.

Brought a tear!

Very sad, for all concerned. They were calling it a Golden Retriever Labrador. I wonder if they mean it is a x breed or they just made an error.

Reading your tribute brought tears to my eyes. I'm sorry for your loss. Indeed a beautiful tribute to a very special old man. RIP Kuga.

What a beautiful girl. I'm so sorry for your loss. RIP Zara :rolleyes: