tdierikx

Ummm... has anyone seen the latest RSPCA Approved ads doing the rounds? Watch closely to the ones with piglets in them... I can see ringworm lesions on a few piggies... lol! Not that ringworm in pigs is anything out of the ordinary, but if you are "visited" by the RSPCA and you have a pig(let) with ringworm, it will be siezed... T.

Toilet training can be frustrating... but he will get it eventually... lol! Puppies are a bit like children sometimes... and they don't always have great bladder control when they are little. If they feel the need to go, and something else is more interesting at the time, they will just wee where they are and then continue playing. Tuffy is smart, and I'm sure he'll work it out just fine as he gets a bit older and has more control in holding his need until he gets to the pad. 70% accuracy is really good for his age already, so keep doing what you are doing there... it's working! Puppies also have the attention span of a gnat... so training sessions should be very short to start with... like 5-10 minutes at a time. If he wants longer, he'll let you know by looking for more cues to do things for you. Being cheeky or naughty should be ignored, and then when he does do what you are asking, lots of praise or a food reward (very small pieces) will do wonders for his attention... T.

@Sunny1979.... sounds like Tuffy is doing really well in your care... keep up the great work, OK? Looks like the vet on 2nd Jan gave him a 7 in 1 vaccination - which covers all the nasties needed plus a few types of Leptosorosis (and possibly coronavirus - which has similar sytmptoms to Parvo). Ordinarily, I wouldn't give a 7 in 1 to a pup under 10-12 weeks, but Tuffy has handled it just fine by the sound of things... sweet! Just to note... if you have another Parvo test now, he WILL show positive for Parvo, as the vaccine has a modified (not deadly) version of Parvo in it. This does NOT mean he actually has Parvo, just that his body is producing antibodies to protect him from it (which is GOOD). I would say that Tuffy probably just felt a little bit overwhelmed by leaving his Mum and littermates, having a change in diet and routine, and most likely a lot of undivided attention from his new loving family... not that it is bad for him, but can sometimes overstimulate little ones and they can feel unwell for a few days. Also, he eats very fast because he most likely had to share dinners with many other pups for a while, and he learned to gobble up as much as he could so he didn't miss out. You could try slowing him down by maybe putting very small amounts of food spaced a distance apart so he has time to swallow each mouthful before gobbling down the next one... over time he will learn that he doesn't have to share, and should eat a bit slower. Eating too fast can make their tummies upset too... and might have been why he vomited that day, and then associated eating dinner with feeling unwell for a couple of days. Eventually they get hungry enough to chance eating properly, and never look back... *grin* I agree with everyone else here who is advising you to not take Tuffy out in public places until after his 3rd vaccination has had time to kick in (about 5 days after the actual vaccination)... you are doing everything else just right to ensure he has a long and healthy life, so a little bit more patience before you share him with the rest of the world will just be the icing on the cake, OK? What a smart little man bringing his bowl to you when he wants food! He is obviously learning and growing up smart... maybe you could try teaching him basic obedience at home while you wait for when he can go outside safely. Things like sit, stay, drop, walking nicely on the lead, are good to start with... and who knows, you might find a few other cool tricks for him to learn as well... Keep up the great work... Tuffy is doing awesomely well with you so far! T.

If Tuffy had/has Parvo, then Tuffy would be extremely sick or dead by now wthout hospital treatment... so we can safely say he didn't/doesn't have it. In the video he looks active and alert... pretty normal to me. You say he was wormed on the 31st? Is it after that when he felt unwell? Some puppies can feel poorly after worming - I have even seen puppies die after worming because their tummies didn't take the assault from the worming drugs very well. If you can use worming tablets like Canex or Fenpral, they are easier on puppies, but work well against worms. I would steer clear of tablets like Drontal until he is much older/bigger. Are his poops solid or runny? Solid is good, runny is not so good, but depending on other symptoms and diet, not necessarily a huge issue in a young pup. At 6-7 weeks of age, I would expect Tuffy to sleep a lot more than we humans normally think is enough... he will be growing and needs the sleep to do so. As long as between naps, he is acting normally (read active and alert), then more sleep may just be normal for him at this stage of his development. Has Tuffy had any vaccinations at all yet? If not, I suggest that a C3 ASAP is required at the very least - I would not do a C5 until his 3rd and final vaccination when he's a bit bigger, OK? If your vet is still insisting that Tuffy should be put to sleep when he appears to be doing just fine, then you need to find another vet... I wouldn't bother with another Parvo test at this stage... I'd be making sure Tuffy gets his C3 vaccination NOW. T.

If Tuffy was vaccinated within 10 days of the Parvo test, I would expect him to show a positive result... as the vaccination would have given him a tiny modified dose to stimulate his immune response. This does not mean he had Parvo. Another possibility could be vaccinosis - if he'd been vaccinated just prior to you taking him home. Little immune systems can react adversely on occasion, and little ones can feel unwell for a few days. I would expect a poor outcome, even with immediate treatment, in a 6-7 week old pup - if it did actually have Parvo. At the very least, he would have required hospital treatment on a drip... I have seen pups go down with Parvo within 2 days of exposure... and they usually die within 3-4 days of the onset of symptoms, even with hospital care. It is an extremely nasty disease. I have lots of experience with illnesses in puppies, as I used to foster them for rescue... have had well over 200 pups over the years. Feel free to ask any questions you need help with, OK? T.

More likely indicative of the number of complaints actually investigated... getting them to attend a complaint is near on impossible, unless it's likely to be an easy target IMHO. My work's most recent contact with the RSPCA was when they turned up at a job saying that they'd had a complaint a month earlier about us using dirty carriers to transport our animals... funnily enough this coincided with a staff member leaving under circumstances not of her own choosing... and the RSPCA inspectors found that our carriers were perfectly clean and of the correct sizes for all animals being transported... *sigh* I wonder how many real cruelty/neglect cases weren't followed up on in order to try to find something on us? T.

Next time you are in Sydney, I'd be happy to introduce you to all my babies @crazydoglady99

*love* T.

Molly is the sweetest little thing... she really enjoyed her snuggles with Santa... Here she is being led to meet him... She was really interested in getting to him for cuddles... lol! Molly is 5 weeks old. T.

Looks like Dags is gonna be tall like his daddy... all the better for loping along with the Boss's team... *grin* T.

I have a copy of the RSPCA "temperament test"... and can safely say that I've never owned a dog that would pass it. The test seems designed so that dogs will fail it... and then RSPCA are "justified" in killing said dog... *sigh* And I've had many dogs that were perfectly fine canine citizens, fully capable of being around children and small animals, and well behaved in public places. T.

This is a 5 month old Lab pup, yes? I wouldn't be overthinking any behaviours or body condition scores at this age personally... everything changes on a daily basis at that age... *sigh* He is still growing, and that will have impact on behaviours at times. Sometimes he might just have some growing pains (yes, dogs get them too) and that has coincided with your decision to reduce food intake... therefore NOT related to each other at all. Seriously, just chill and enjoy your puppy...they grow up WAY too fast to be fussing over every aspect of their growth patterns... if you continue your fussing, you're gonna end up with a bloody neurotic mess of a dog, and no-one wants that, right? Having fostered well over 200 pups in my time, I learned long ago not to make too much of changes in behaviour, food intake, energy levels... funnily enough, pups go through so many ups and downs in the first 12 months, that if you start fussing about them, you will actually do more harm than good.... let the poor little mite be himself and enjoy every moment of it, OK? T.

That dark one comes running to me every time I go near the coops... she thinks I'm going to smash an egg for her... little cannibal... lol! Most of our chooks will happily sit on shoulders or heads... so tame... T.

I just found a puppy photo of Trubs... for some strange reason it's coming up sideways... grrr! ... and another with Zeddy in their younger years... Trubs must have been around 3 or 4 there.. Weren't they gorgeous? T.

Well... long past due an update... *slaps wrist* Trubs is still kicking along... still lumpy, but still enjoying life. She chews her food well before swallowing now, which is a sign she's now aware that something's going on in there, but she'll be darned if she's gonna miss out on her chicken frames and the like... lol! She snores like a freight train... but I'm a good sleeper, so it doesn't bother me... good thing too, as her head shares my pillow! Looks like the DOL 'hang in there' vibes are working really well, as we originally didn't expect to see out Winter, but here we are at Christmas... keep those vibes coming peeps... Trubs' 13th birthday is on 9th February - let's see her get there, yes? As she's determined to keep eating just fine, our main concern is the large tumour interfering with major veins/arteries in the neck and possibly causing a stroke... fingers crossed that doesn't happen... Trubs sends Christmas woo-woos and slobbery kisses to all her DOL aunties and uncles... and super special ones for aunty @crazydoglady99 T.

Jody sounds like a Welsh Mountain Pony I had the misfortune to trust while riding... lol! Face first into the bottom of a tree... grrr! She was soooo naughty! At least the trip to the ground was a short one... and I was wearing a crash hat that took most of the impact with the tree... T.

Staff and animals had a great time... T.

The problem I have with RSPCA NSW is that getting them to investigate/attend actual cruelty cases is virtually impossible. Either they don't have enough staff to cover the number of calls they get, or they are too busy going after the "easy" targets - ie. animal businesses/breeders who have a whole raft of extra criteria to cover to remain "safe" from RSPCA actions compared to the regular Joe Public. I work for an animal business, and we asked the RSPCA if we could have a liason officer appointed so that we could work together for a common goal of compliance, etc... nope... not happening. Why would they not want to work together with animal businesses rather than against them? Our business has regular DPI audits in order to keep our license... and every audit finds that we are operating well above all animal welfare standards as set out by law. We are highly aware of all standards (and monitor them regularly, as they can change without notice). We comply with POCTAA and its various regulations also. Yet, if the RSPCA turn up and find an animal with a small amount of discharge from nose or eyes, or a bit of diarrhoea, that is grounds for seizure. Not withstanding that our animals are young farm animals - goats, sheep, cows, etc. - and they will stick their noses in chaff and loose hay, which inevitably causes a bit of irritation now and then... and goats are notorious for eating things they shouldn't and diarrhoea is their natural bodily function to rid itself of such things. Simple to treat mucky eyes, noses, and bums without having to run off to a vet for each and every case, but if you haven't done so when the RSPCA turns up, those animals can and will be seized and you will be charged and taken to court... then the real nightmare begins... The RSPCA will lay a number of charges relating to any seized animals... and drag you through a long and expensive legal process... and usually just before you are all due in court to fight same charges, they will "magnanimousy" offer to drop most of those charges in order to get you to plead guilty to at least one. This way they are guaranteed a "win", and you will cop a hefty fine for that charge (which the RSPCA pockets), and a conviction will be recorded against you... along with a nice little newspaper article confirming your guilt on animal cruelty charges (and no mention of any dropped charges). Funny how anyone who has had dealings with the RSPCA NSW seems to have a fairly low opinion of them in general. T.

She doesn't leak urine when she's asleep, does she? If she does, then I'd be looking at an internal issue like a shunt of some sort... T.

But the percentage will be fairly low... so nowhere near purity, and less characteristics would be coming through... T.

My Lab has a particular Dingo trait... she can turn her wrists... she can open round door handles! She came from Moree, so could be a possibility of a Dingo somewhere in her lines I suppose... but she looks exactly like a yellow Lab. If you want to be 100% certain of any Dingo in your dog, then go to the university or Dingo conservation types, and offer to pay for a DNA test... no other way really. T.

I'll bring the vitamin thing up with our vet next week when he visits... he's actually an Alpaca specialist, so he will be able to give Cadbury a good going over. Cardigan tends to just lie down and makes the exchange take as little time as possible... but I've noticed that Cadbury is actually humping him less lately. Cadbury is a single desexed male. T.

What is it about alpacas lying around like they are dead... Cadbury, the one at my work does it all the time too... lol! When he's not humping Cardigan the sheep anyways... errr! I bet the Boss is really chuffed with these 2 boys perse... hopefully they'll turn into really productive workers for his team. T.

Even 10% of that money would make a huge difference to the recue that did all the work for none of the recognition... T.