SkySoaringMagpie

Yes, it's one of the crappy things about the disease. I don't like to be a little black cloud when this disease shows up in DOL dogs but I wish that when we went through it we knew ahead of time how serious it was and how likely it was that our dog would die. The vets said things like "he's a very sick boy", what I'd wished they said is "there is a good chance your dog will die" because perhaps then we might have been better prepared for the harsh reality. Atlas.

It's interesting they put it down to the weakness in the restaurant arm of the business. I would have thought it would be hard for them to compete against the big superstores like Petstock and Petbarn who don't (at least where I live) sell live puppies or kittens - that combined with increasing distaste in the GP for buying animals in pet shops might have had an impact?

Maybe so, but the "what is more likely" test applies to this stuff and that isn't a Sloughi, as you say. Speaking generally, this is far from the first instance of "I've got a rare sighthound breed from the shelter/shop" here on DOL. If people want a beautiful exotic sighthound, there are lots of lovely options available through breed rescue or quality breeders. I don't know why there seems to be this fad for identifying frequently occurring Australian rescues as rare breeds. If you want a rare and beautiful sighthound, research the options and then get one from a reputable breeder or breed rescue. I am not bagging the poor buggers who end up in the pounds after failing at the track or at pigging or at sitting and looking tough on the owners ute. I feel for them, and they deserve a chance just like every other dog. However, if what your heart really wants is a beautiful well bred sighthound, then go and get one - this whacky business of dismissing the advice of people who have made a long term study of the breeds while coveting what they work to preserve is just, well, weird.

This. Having had a dog die overnight alone at a vet with this, I don't recommend it Teebs I'm so sorry, every time I see someone post about this disease on DOL my heart sinks, because while some survive, many don't. You followed the treatment, you were with him, even if you'd got to the vet earlier there still may have been nothing that would turn the tide. Go easy on yourself, it's a shitful disease that many have battled hard and lost. RIP Atlas.

True this will happen and I do not think they have taken into consideration the amount of problems it will cause with all livestock having to be airfreighted into the one place, but it is going to be a revenue raiser no doubt! On this point, if I lived in WA or QLD I might point out that what this means practically speaking is flying the dog again when quarantine is over - the rest of us could drive. And those of us who fly dogs know that there is limited space on domestic aircraft for them. If they build a large facility, I think they will need to bear in mind the carrying capacity to move the dogs out once their quarantine period is finished.

I think something has gotten lost in the translation with that trainer advice. I'm pretty sure what they are saying is "don't recall the dog to do unpleasant things" - and an example of something unpleasant for many dogs is having a pill rammed down their throat. Avoiding using your recall for unpleasant things is wise advice, especially with a puppy. It's no big deal to walk up to the puppy with the pill rather than calling them to you. However, also agree with Espinay and others that I wouldn't be putting a pup on heartworm preventative in winter, unless I lived somewhere super tropical up north where mosquitoes were an issue all year round.

I recently followed a friend with a Saluki who had this and it was a combination of the medication and keeping the dog very quiet and very secure at home that won the day. The point was made that with their blood stream so compromised, any effort feels like climbing Everest for the dog. It's for that reason that if I were faced with it again, I'd try and reduce shunting the dog around. If Atlas is comfy and happy at your vet and staying there, that is great. With our dog, he was being shunted between the vet and the emergency vet and I'm sure that, combined with a difference of opinion between the two vets about treatment, including transfusions, contributed to his death.

That's the bummer of it tho', it just looks like a bit of an upset tummy - pale gums, off their food etc. So while I can understand feeling guilty, there's no way you could have known it was this serious. These days if I saw it again I'd hope I'd recognise it early, but there's always that expensive first lesson with lots of diseases. Hope you get better soon too.

There are some previous threads on this disease. I'm afraid it's a "hope for the best but prepare for the worst" thing. I assume the vet has put him on the steroids already? If you have the option, I would keep him home with you at nights rather than in an emergency vet and if it were me I would not authorise blood transfusions unless things are completely desperate - they can cause the reaction to "bloom" I'm so sorry Teebs, I hope he pulls through, many dogs do.

Yeah but how much does he eat mate? Anyway, my sister's friend's next door neighbour's brother in law had one that was bigger than that.

This coming weekend there is one at Temora, and I think the weekend after one at Harden. So roughly the same area!

:D

No, Slew-ghee

I hope so too, but it is not a mix for the inexperienced. Like Diva I feel very sad about this, he is not the only dog from this litter looking for a home at the moment either.

This dog is an Afghan/Pharaoh cross, we know which BYB litter he came from. There are no Sloughis in Australia.

This is my preferred answer. My breed can be great with kids, but a lot depends on the kids being well trained and managed themselves. As a general rule my breed isn't good with shrieking, sudden movements, rough-housing etc. I feel very sorry for breeds that have a rep as being "good with kids" because some people expect them to put up with all sorts of stuff from the kids in lieu of proper supervision. For the dog's sake I don't push the "great with kids" angle, even tho' most are.

Thanks everyone. There is no power out to the area so I would have to go for something battery operated (one way or another). I could run an extension lead on a fine day I suppose, as I want it for a specific purpose, not continuous monitoring. This is the most suitable battery operated thing I can find - we're on top of a hill and conditions can be pretty heavy weather wise - but is a bit more than I want to spend. Will have to do some more research: http://www.swann.com/s/products/view/?product=1063

I'd like to set up a video camera to take footage of a dog while I am absent - it would be outdoors, and trained on a run. The dog is a rescue and I want to establish better what her reactions are to being left alone. Has anyone done this before? What did you use and any tips or traps? Is this something you could set up a webcam for?

We paid about 15K 3 years ago for a bit over 330m of 6 foot cyclone fencing fully installed with 3 gates (two double). It was properly installed too, with the posts in concrete and strainers etc plus standoffs around the outside to keep livestock off it. It was expensive, and we've only just finished paying the personal loan off we took out to fund it, but the peace of mind has been worth its weight in gold. We've never had a dog get out and it's still in really good condition. Agree with Sir WJ re doing it thoroughly the first time.

I feel compelled to address the very serious question of the sausage. It wasn't on her plate, and she knew the routine with the dog, so it says to me she was testing the point. Even setting aside the probably spoiled dog, the usual routine with the last [whatever] left is to ask if anyone wants it first before sticking your fork in it. Wouldn't have been hard to hop up and cook a few more sausages herself.

:rofl:

She lost me at the sausage - there's a good argument to be made there about dogs in society but she wasn't making it.

Is alternative accommodation where you can have Baxter out of the question?

I disagree, my dogs are on a strict flea control spot on treatment and have never had a flea. It's all about the level of care you provide. I suspect dogmad is also talking about flies and mosquitos. They are easier to control indoors than outdoors.

With the Beagles it would depend. It's not ideal but as they are a pack animal and often sleep all over each other, I'd consider other things as well - are they in the shade, are any of them in distress, etc. That said, at all shows, but particularly at shows were there are members of the public, I think it's a better idea to bring two crates or a bigger crate anyway. Recently at a show in Canberra some members of the public came around to where we were set up with friends. It was cold, so the Whippets and Salukis were in coats, all the dogs were in their crates, and the comment was "wow, look how well set up they are in there". That's the impression I want people to go away with, not dogs packed into a tiny pen. An option if you're not sure and/or you don't want to confront the exhibitor is to talk to the show manager. Ask who the show manager is at the office window/tent if you're not sure. Then you've transferred the responsibility for assessing the situation to them by alerting them to it. If they think it's no biggie, then that's their call.