Steve

The key word Steve, is "research". Internet forums tend to be a bit thin on that for some natural therapies recommended. You tend to get "my friend used it on Fido and it worked a treat". For example, I'd want to know about the impact of any natural oil if ingested (because you're going to be spaying it on dogs on a very long term basis) and on pregnant bitches. A cursory internet search says RG oil is best avoided during pregnancy because it can have a hormonal effect. I'd want to know that before using it on any breeding bitch, wouldn't you? The greatest evil of all from where I sit on the use of any chemical preparation (commercial or otherwise) on a dog is ignorance. Agreed but there are hundreds of research papers on Geranium oil [and others] used as a repellent - google scholar is packed with them and various other uses and ample methods for a dog owner to check the potential uses and side effects. Such precautions are usually included on packaging - they certainly are on anything that leaves here. Personally Id like everyone who ever considers using anything on themselves or their animals to do their own research first and make educated decisions but its difficult to follow why its O.K. for someone to recommend a manufactured chemical without being concerned that they haven't done their research but greater concern for a natural alternative.

I consider tick paralysis to be a pretty adverse side effect if it doesn't work. How would a drop of oil on a dog's collar deter ticks when most ticks are found attached forward of the dog's shoulders?? sigh... Sigh all you like. When you can produce some evidence that rose geranium oil provides an effective deterrent to paralysis ticks, you'll have my complete and undivided attention. People in the USA don't have their dogs' death as a side effect of using this oil as a tick preventative. The fact that something Is "natural" is no guarantee of safety or efficacy for veterinary use. Many naturally occuring substances are highly toxic and what is safe for human use is not necessarily safe for dogs. I'd not more trust RG oil for tick prevention that I'd trust garlic for hydatit tapeworm prevention, or nosodes for parvo prevention no matter how often someone suggests it on an internet forum. If There are numerous classes of compounds that make up essential oils. The two main groups of compounds are called hydrocarbons and oxygenated hydrocarbons. It is the sub-categories such as ketones, esters and phenols that really tell you the medicinal properties. So it's entirely possible to be able to determine which oils should or should not be used and what properties an oil has which can potentially predict its ability to do what it is renowned for and any possible potential side effects. Therapeutic oils have different chemical properties to other types of essential oil too. Many herbs and oils have had scientific studies done on them and many commercially produced products use essential oils and herbs for this reason. Scientifically we know that ticks choose their host by scent so changing the scent of the animal potentially changes its suitability to be chosen by the tick. Finding the scents which a particular parasite seems to prefer to avoid as long as they are not causing any harm and used as directed is reasonably potentially a viable option. Obviously no matter what product you use whether it be a herbal one or a manufactured chemical one you still need to keep an eye on it and be sure it's working. There may not be loads of scientific studies but everyone I know who has used this over the past 40 or so years tells me it works and does no harm to their animals. That's a better track record than commercial dog food or most other manufactured treatments. It's a personal choice some will rely on commercially prepared preparations some will prefer to research a natural alternative and decide if they want to go one way or the other. Some will consider manufactured chemicals as being the greater evil. Thank heaven we have free choice.

It depends on how healthy the dog is, how big the dog is, what kind of fur it has and what the dog does and where it goes. You can use it as a spritz or an all over oil or on a collar or bandanna etc My Link

Is this up to each rescue to decide or is there a recommended temp test that needs to be done? The rest is great and can live by them just wondering about this bit here. Hmm, not sure! They do have courses available but I haven't seen if there is temp test stuff. I'll email Julie, she can pop in and explain further. Honesty about temperament and/or special needs is a must but then again we all have different skills and knowledge. There's certain breeds or traits I have zero rehoming experience with (for example aussie working breeds) so wouldn't just take a rough guess, rather I would seek advice from those with expertise to help me assess a suitable home. Yup I agree with you there it would be great to have a group dedicated to helping each other with breed traits and advice, I am sure there already is one but if not would be great where rescue people can ask honest advice and get some good suggestions. I generally ask a breed specific rescue to take a dog if it needs rescue and I dont know about them for instance if a silky came to me I would ask you if you could take it seems better that way for the dogs. The MDBA doesn't dictate which temp test to use or how to do so though this is covered in some of our courses. How you temp test as well as many other things is one of the things we want to know when you apply for membership. If you need help or advice on the best ways of doing this then that information is freely available to our members . If when you apply we think you need to tighten up in some areas we make suggestions of what you need to address and after you have done that come back and re apply. Once you are in we trust that you will do what is required to participate in the highest of ethical standards from the day you agree to the codes and agree to be held accountable. There are several methods we use to monitor this including offering free smart dog owner membership to everyone you place a dog with. This enables us to build relationships with these people so that if something goes wrong and there is a complaint that they know they can come to us for investigation before the crap hits the net and things get messy so we can help sort it out . Sometimes the owner has made unfair accusations and has un realistic expectations so we can help them to see things they havent considered other times the rescue has mucked it up. If the rescue is at fault depending on what that is we offer warnings and counselling - so far in 3 years we have cancelled the membership of 2 rescue groups for serious breaches. We place a high value on the rescue membership and wont tolerate anything that will impact on our other members or rescue in general. Basic human nature says that some people will bend the rules or change things when they think no one is watching and they are not being held accountable by a third party - we provide the support for the rescue and the owner and the promotion with lots of member benefits but we also provide the voluntary third party accountability. We don't believe any of this is possible by way of introduction of laws because dodgy stays dodgey while ever they think they can get away with it and just gets smarter because no new laws ever come with allowances for anyone to police them effectively and no laws will ever be as strict as our code and criteria for membership. We also dont believe that it works as well if people have no choice but to become members in order to be able to operate or do other things - such as the breeder's system in Victoria where membership of Dogs Vic allows breeders to have special exemptions because there is a greater risk that people will join without adhering to the codes to get what they need to stay under the radar with the laws. Hope this answered your questions

Everything is chemical including air and water - some occur naturally others are manufactured.

Lots of them are hippy mumbo jumbo and loads of people run off and buy them - rescue remedy is a prime example.

Yes agreed you need to be careful and the major thing you need to be aware of is that therapeutic 100% pure oils can be used differently to those which are not and they have to be used as directed. They are not all equal and some can have adverse side affects if not used correctly. Some will aggravate disorders such as epilepsy and some cant be used on pregnant women or dogs. The skin is a huge organ and transdermal issues where the skin absorbs both good and bad things into the bloodstream always need to be considered. Essential oils are chemicals even though they occur naturally - some of the most effective poisons also occur naturally and they have to be treated with respect . Tea tree oil is toxic to humans and pets if taken internally and is considered safe for dogs at 1% externally which is why you still see it in some dog shampoos etc. More than a single drop after you remove a tick would be foolish but I would hope anyone who has tea tree oil has some which is marked with these kind of warnings. Better still use a drop of 100% Augustifolia Lavender oil you can even drink that in tea or eat it in baked goods and it does about the same job. To be clear Im not saying ordinarily use any oil including Augustifolia Lavender neat but it is good for a single drop when you remove the tick.

I consider tick paralysis to be a pretty adverse side effect if it doesn't work. How would a drop of oil on a dog's collar deter ticks when most ticks are found attached forward of the dog's shoulders?? A spot on applied to the back of the neck works for tick and flea protection so its not such a hard leap to consider that a naturally occurring chemical could do the same and reports from those using it are that it does work . If its used as a spritz or rubbed over the dogs with a carrier oil with hands it has the potential to do the job but wont last as long as the chemical spot ons. Lots depends on where you live and type of coat and whether you want to avoid chemicals I guess.

Rose geranium oil is good for repelling ticks on dogs - problem is that it attracts bees. These are the oils known to repel ticks that you can use for human, dog or horse tick prevention. Rose Geranium Essential Oil Juniper Essential Oil Rosewood Essential Oil Thyme Essential Oil Grapefruit Essential Oil Oregano Essential Oil Myrrh Essential Oil Palo Santo Essential Oil These are the oils that you can use for removing ticks from humans horses or dogs.Use a single drop neat. Palo Santo Essential Oil Peppermint Essential Oil Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil Oregano Essential Oil Thyme Essential Oil After the tick is removed you can apply a single drop of tea tree oil or Lavender oil – neat. If you want to make a good Spritz 1 cup of Distilled water 2 Drops Rose Geranium Essential Oil 2 Drops Palo Santo Essential Oil 1 Drop Myrrh Essential Oil 4 Drops Grapefruit Essential Oil 1 Drop Peppermint Essential Oil 1 Drop of Castile Soap I have a blend of these oils so its ready to add the water and soap or to add to a carrier oil. Place in a spray bottle and shake. Spray when needed. You can use this recipe for you , your dog or your horse and you can use it to spray around your home and dogs bedding etc. There is also a similar blend that covers fleas and another that covers both. The soap mixes the oils and water and some of the oils act as preservatives. You can take out the water and the soap and use it for the collar etc or even use it to make a collar. Essential oils are widely used in aroma therapy and any oil you can apply neat on a human can be applied neat on a dog or horse as long as its therapeutic grade. You can also use a carrier oil too if you want to apply it as an oil directly to the skin. It is true that some oils cant be used on cats – mainly citrus and those which contain certain other chemicals that cats cant metobolise but there is a long list of oils which can be used on cats as long as they are therapeutic oils and geranium oil is one of them - usually but not always for cats oils are diluted with a carrier oil @ 50 drops of carrier oil to 1 drop of therapeutic essential oil - that's another topic.

It is lovely! I think i am going to have to buy the shampoo and cologne. Smells so nice :) Also, when making the tea as a rinse, what do you make it in? Ive just been using it as an ear cleaner on a cotton ball so only make tiny amounts in a mini plunger. Just a larger plunger? Considering i have three dogs I dont know how easy it would be to make up a bulk batch haha You need about 1 - 2 heaped teaspoons per cup of water. I just make mine up in a jug and strain it - then feed the slops to the dogs. Better if ist not aluminium or plastic.

That smell - sort of coconut vanillary is how the vital skin shampoo and the tropical cologne smell too - beautiful isn't it? I use the cologne as an air freshener.

Oh yes like this filthy beast who thought she could wallow in all of the beautiful new mud and come into my lounge room like that .I can just see her in a bow - not. Or maybe this one from last week - self bathing dog

Why injection or tablets at all?

Hell no wonder Ive never had a clue what to do with them

You can see how much I dont know about grooming a dog - sorry.

No - sorry looks like Ive got different ones - mine have like a file on both blades and they are pointy - Not sure Ill be able to get the detail in a photo but will give it a go.

Yep pretty sure I have some when I get home I'll go looking for you give me a couple of hours - at the hospital for a while yet

Show me what you are looking for -photo

Got a photo - I think I may have some you can have for free - never used Julie

http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/herx.html http://ottawavalleydogwhisperer.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/does-your-dog-really-need-to-be-on.html

But is it worth it - does it work?

Dog's Country Club is nominated this year for Boarding Kennel of the Year and has just become an MDBA member.

Microchip details are not able to be given out just because people ask - its a big deal with privacy laws. At best dogs NSW may contact the breeder and give them your details but they are not able to give that info out to you.

Rejection is one thing, a bitch that kills pups is another. Maybe I've just learned from people who put stricter parameters on what they find acceptable in a breeding bitch. I had a beagle bitch many years ago who had a C section and when we showed her the first pup when she woke up she snapped and ate its head off - right there in a heart beat right out of my hand. Taught me heaps real quick and its never happened before or since and she went on to raise her litter. i dont think any of us find it acceptable but when you have certain conditions it happens and is not always unforgiveable.