tdierikx

The ones that take a piece of our soul when they go... it hurts forever... but the love also shines forever, so the pain is bearable... Massive hugs Rach... it's been 14 years for me and my beloved Woosie... T.

OMG!!! They really are bonding nicely, aren't they? She has the most patient and kind big brother... I hope she realises that sometimes... lol! T.

Massive hugs @grumpette.... T.

I hate to think what might be inside my Pickles... what comes out the rear is scary enough... she eats EVERYTHING! T.

Those things ARE an instrument of torture perse... I've tried them! Definitely not for MY feet... T.

The last time I fronted up to a group training club with my dog sporting a correctly fitted check chain was an interesting experience... *grin* And the fact that my Labrador was expelled from the same club because the only thing she learned with 100% accuracy was that bumbags contain tasty treats... after I'd explained that she would be working for praise not food, and the stupid "trainers" thought they knew better and fed her from their bumbags at every opportunity. THEY caused the issue, then expelled us because the dog ended up fixated on bumbags... *sigh* The one thing I've learned from owning and training many dogs is that each dog is different in their training requirements... some need correction, and some are more malleable and will work for praise or treats... and some are just bloody nightmares to handle on a flat collar. I've never used a prong collar, but would be open to learning how to use one effectively if I had a dog that needed that level of control. Just as it's imperative to learn how to properly use a clicker, treats, praise, etc... the same applies to correction methods we may need to use in training some dogs. I learned how to properly use a check chain (it's not a "choke" chain), and that has seen me use them effectively on quite a few of my own dogs - the chain is never tight, and all I need to do is use my little finger on the loose lead to make the chain click and the dogs come back into line quickly. T.

Adorable... lol! T.

Picture me walking into a vet clinic with an adult sheep on a lead... the vet nurses went gaga over the tame sheepie... lol! All our animals at the farm are lead trained... not uncommon to have a couple of sheep and a handful of goats all on a lead at once... oh, and a calf too... Once I fronted the clinic with a neonate goat kid, a chicken, and a rabbit... funny how the nurses went loopy for the goat kid... everyone had to have a cuddle... not so much the rabbit or the chook... lol! The vet who looks after our farm animals is a bit partial to the baby goats too... *grin* I love goats best of all animals... but they are tricky to raise... and the buggers are naughty too! Best to remember that goats are browsers, whereas sheep are grazers - goats will eat grass as a last resort generally. As you can see from above, a vet may be called upon to diagnose issues in multiple species (sometimes at the same consult)... no mean feat! T.

Nawww.... all those ears and eyes... gorgeous! T.

I can be the nightmare or the perfect vet client... depends on the interactivity of the vet. I am the person who is intensely interested in what's happening with the health and wellbeing of my own pets, and the other animals that are in my care (I work on a farm with lots of young animals of all sorts of species). I like to learn about ailments and illnesses and how to treat... or preferably prevent them happening... so I'm going to ask questions, pose theories, and generally do my research into anything and everything. Over the years, I have amassed a rather veritable knowledge base of all things animal health... and young vets can be a bit intimidated by clients like myself... *grin* My boss has put me in charge of all things animal health and welfare related at the farm precisely because I'm good at what I do, much to the consternation of some of our ather staff who are vet science (or worse animal science) students... lets just say that textbooks do not trump actual hands on experience. Case in point, a goat with a runny bum has presented with a tiny amount of fresh red blood in its stool... staff member just finishing her Masters in Animal Science panicks and starts demanding emergency vet care (on a Sunday night). I pose the question "did you notice him straining a little when pooping?", to which the answer is "yes"... to which I reply that when he strained, he's made a tiny tear in his anal passage, and that's where the tiny amount of blood has come from. I give the goat a dose of Scourban to ease the squirts and advise that if there is still blood in his stool in the morning, he will go to the vet. Needless to say, said goat was perfectly fine in the morning. Had the blood been dark or copious, for sure he'd have seen a vet, but as the issue was a very common and minor issue, my actions were correct... which were backed up by our treating vet on his weekly farm visit. The one thing I'll give the staff member full credit for is actually noticing the issue and bringing it to my attention... most of our staff aren't as observant... *sigh* Oh... and diarrhoea in goats is not necessarily an indicator of something serious... as the buggers are always eating stuff they shouldn't, and it's a natural bodily response to get rid of the irritant... T.

Slipping patella? A few hops might get it back in for a while... I'd get him checked by a vet in any case... better safe than sorry... T.

Siezing healthy animals, making them sick, then racking up unnecessary vet costs for the original owners... and that's just the tip of the iceberg. God help you if you actually manage to beat them on any trumped up charge they might hit you with... they then REALLY come after you (and anyone brave enough to suuprt your case)... It's the accountability that is nonexistent that allows them to keep perpetually targetting people until they finally give in or are run into bankruptcy trying to fight the bullsh!t charges is what really irks... T.

It was because of myopixia that I finally got off my butt and changed careers to be working with animals... pay is crap, but satisfaction level is incredible... I'm finally doing something that is hard work, but so rewarding on so many levels, and I love it to bits! Myo so loved to hear my tales of cuddling emus, cleaning facial abscesses on possums, smooching kangaroos, and being attacked by recalcitrant cockatoos... lol! My fave memory of her was near the end when I managed to pull a few strings at one of the zoos to get her some personal time with their little monkeys... usually the public get around 15 mins, but she got to spend an entire hour being mobbed by a large group of common marmosets... the look of pure joy on her face was something I'll always remember... and I have photos... LOTS of photos! Some people change you for the better when you meet them... myo was one of those people for me. T.

Griz... your insights into the Monarto troop bring back fond memories of being quizzed by the much missed myopixia about the ins and outs of the Taronga troop... both of you have/had an enthusiasm for all the individuals in each troop that is highly infectious... I hope I'm not hijacking by posting this link, but myo's comments on all of her photos are extremely insightful... especially if you want to know more about Taronga's primates... https://www.flickr.com/photos/55369298@N00/ T.

I'm seeing the father's side genetic influence in Enzi and Zuri... *grin*... there are a lot of similarities between them and their Taronga cousins... T.

Anyone else notice that the breeds she notes are predominately deep chested breeds? T.

Fluid filled stomach says liver issues to me... but without a necropsy you'll never know exactly what the cause was unfortunately... The other thing that springs to mind is some sort of toxin she may have ingested? Toxic plants in the new yard? Some sort of fertiliser or snail baits... slugs... could be any number of things really... Sorry I'm not much help... Hugs to you and your family in any case... losing a fur family member is never easy... T.

Haha... Puck looks like "why you pointing that at me Mum?"... *giggle* Such a handsome lad he is... and beautiful brown eyes that draw you right in... *sigh* T.

I so love the looks Secret and Neko give the camera... with those gorgeous eyes that drill into your soul... *sigh* T.

Thanks @asal... I'll go through them tomorrow and get some gorgeous puppy loves happening here, OK? T.

I'll probably have time to edit and show asal on wednesday, OK? Then she'll let me know if I can post them... T.

Been slack and haven't edited them yet @crazydoglady99... then I'll need permission from pups' owner to post... T.

Good boy Smokey!!! T.

Ummm... bottom right... funny looking dog... lol! T.

More puppies named today... a very outgoing girl is "Trouble and Strife" (already have a "Mischief"), her brother is "Candyman", and the littlest one is "Mighty Mouse"... *grin* T.