Poppy's mum

I saw a vet flyer recently where someone had used the human shampoo on a staffy - it had burnt a large mark down its back. The people were naturally distraught - poor dog. So I think a lot safer not to. A peke breeder told mum it was what she did but they have a thick coat unlike a staffy.

mine won't touch supercoat. Have just done the Purina 30 day challenge (free food for a month, it's on their website) and they have done very well on it and like the taste but I also feed brisket, wings, carrots, 4 legs, rice and some Nature's Gift tins etc so not entirely dry food. Not too impressed with Iams, Eukanuba or Hills but they have the Hills teeth cleaning biscuits and like them. I'd keep feeding the puppy what it's used to if you get good results.

Thius is where I said "horrific" or something like that when I was describoing Mimi's post-op scar. It made me want to weep and the leg was so swollen. So, from what I've seen, looks normal. Swelling comes down with time and it doesn't look so bad in a week or so. It's a pretty major op though.

As no-one has replied, I'll add what I can. My old chi, Mimi, had a back leg done. I was horrified when she came home with a hugely swollen leg straining against some fairly heavy duty looking stitches. It went down over a few days. I kept her caged at night and mum supervised her during the day because she did occasionally have a go at the stitches. An elizabethan collar would help if this is a possibility (the vets sell them). After a few days she was walking pretty ok. Stitches came out - I was prepared to cry if she had squeaked because they looked knitted in but the vet was very deft and she hardly noticed at all. Tooks a few seconds. First time she jumped up the back of the car (something I never encouraged but assume a previous owner did) I almost died of shock. When I asked the vet when she'd start jumping again, he said she'd know when she was able and evidently she did. She was well with no after effects and a nice strong leg for the rest of her life (another 6 years or so). After the op, just rest and quiet to the extent possible. My vet always gives us painkillers and antibiotics after an op - depending, they may just need the painkilling shot before they leave the surgery. We have had other dogs with patellas but unless they cause pain or a real problem, my vet's policy is not to interfere. I am told some vets operate regardless but this is probably malicious. Hope this helps.

I have always avoided roo etc because I understood they had worms/hydatids ??

I hope you're on commission!

This thread bought back memories of NZ 30 years ago (don't know what they do now). Everyone who had a registered dog got a notice (once a year I think) and had to take their dogs to be wormed for hydatids I think, to a nature strip somewhere woop woop. Must have been potent stuff that was administered because pet dogs regularly died horrible deaths on the nature strip while their distraught owners watched on helplessly. I remember mum getting an exemption from the vets for our old dogs. I guess it was something to do with the farm product culture. Just horrible.

Go with someone you have complete confidence in - ask around, check them out if possible. I have been to one at Bondi Junction (even though not near to me) and am 100% happy. He has done slipping patellas, eye operations, desexing etc and I am impressed with the care and the prices are always reasonable. He even gives my elderly mum a seniors discount. I guess he just sighs when we take our next hopeless case/adoptee in and feels sorry for us! We have been going to the same practice for 20 years. I sometimes have gone to the closer vet and had very mixed experiences - certainly the vaccinations are $15 dearer (bizarre); once they overclipped my old dogs toes (charged a consult fee) and they bled - she was a bit shocked and we could never clip them again without a muzzle. He seemed to think he'd done me a favour clipping extra short. In an emergency or for anything major, I'd always go the my usual vet. Don't trust the others and I know they are competent at surgery.

Devon works a treat but cannot be good in any significant quantity. I second the tiny pieces suggestion. - ONE BIG WARNING all good stuff smells. Last time I was down the park half a dozen dogs followed me and wouldn't leave me alone 'cos they could smell the devon. :D

You might think about some homepathic stuff - someone posted this website under the "hotspots - natural remedy" thread and I 've just ordered some of their nervous dog formula. http://herbal-treatments.com.au/index.html I only suggest this because I have colitis (long gone thank goodness) and I found the slippery elm and herbal stuff helped. Not a quick cure - takes a few months but gradual improvement over time depends on how long he/she's been sick. There is a homeopathic vet at Balmain Village who I've seen mentioned on here, too. Hope this helps. Good luck - it must be distressing for you and your dog.

We are becoming a neurotic and fat society. The irony is that this makes people hyper conscious of it. Is your dog a supermodel? no? in that case, she looks perfect to me. A lot seems to be in the perception. I was at a dog day out at Leichhardt standing behind a woman with a lab. The lab was rolly polly (and only 3) and she was asking the vet whether it was overweight... weell...it was pretty ** obvious. I have had people look at photos of mine and say "she's a bit fat" (Lucy had had many many litters before I adopted her and her skin was never returning to 'tight' mode. She was in nice condition like your dog (other than a bit of excess skin). What is it with people??? I wouldn't say to someone "you're a bit fat aren't you?" I think next time someone makes a remark like that I'm going to say "And you're an expert, are you?" unless I can think of something better

I do not regret to say that Lucy lived on sausages, BBQ chicken, casserole and whatever took her fancy in the last few months of her life (admittedly the vet told us she had weeks only).

My old Lucy had 3 good months on prednisone when she was dying with her throat tumour. Restored her appetite and gave her GOOD quality of life - she was running around wagging her tail on the day she was PTS (tumour had got too big for her to put her head down to go to sleep/couldn't breathe when she did). So although people damn the prednisone, it has its uses.

I have been cooking rice and adding flaxseed, mince and vets all natural (seed and grain mix). They love it. When I find them flagging bcause quite frankly, they seem to get sick of the same thing all the time, I grate cheese over the top OR add some of that liver sprinkle treat stuff from the supermarket - they love both those. Sometimes I mix in canned food (OMG!!!!) for variety. They also get wings and greenies.

You have all my sympathy. We had a toy poodle who succumbed to bone cancer in a front leg. Initially treated with radiotherapy at the hospital (years ago and we knew the radiotherapist); it bought her 3 extra months then returned with a vengeance and we had her put down before she suffered too much discomfort. She was 14 and our first family dog who we got at age 6 from the rspca. You just never know. It is the hardest thing however they go. I don't know if it helps to know this but I hope you at least get a feeling of solidarity and support from people who know what it's like.

*adds dehydrator to Christmas present list* I always wondered how the liver got so dry - thought it was the stove. Any idea on price?? then I can sit it on the bench next to the rice cooker, deep fryer, popcorn machine, blender, juicer, fairy floss machine, breadmaker, sandwich maker and pie maker [just joking]

The paws4fun people introduced me to devon (from the deli section) it's cheap and you only use a little and boy do they love it. It has to be an extra good treat for motivation. Anything smelly works well but in small or very small quantities. Mine go ape over the double smoked ham as well but I wouldn't use that for training or regular feeding...I was told it's just having a taste that matters - not the amount. And that seems true too.

Alawys owning a mixed bag of dogs, my experience is that the littlest rules the roost (when you are talking chi.s and others). Get to steal off everyone's plates, choose the best bed and tell people not to play too rough... anecdotal only I know.

I saw a photo recently of a staffie they had used human shampoo on - burned a big trail down its back...maybe it was the vet's newsletter? can't recall. I use aloveen too - did the sniff test in pet warehouse and it was the nicest smell, and like Jacqueline says, it endures for a while.

where do you get rescue remedy from? a health food store?

I always put it down to insecurity with my rescue dogs. Take 'em down the park and they trot a few feet in front and keep looking round to make sure you're still there... I have had 2 like this. I had one who wouldn't have come back ever to save her life (JRT cross) but I didn't let her off once I discovered this. Fred gets about 20 metres away on occasion, then scurries back. Some just don't like letting you out of their sight. So I guess I'm saying - some are naturals but it depends on their conditioning and disposition. None of mine had had any prior obedience (or so it seemed).

Katie, it was strange - the vet said 1, once a week but I found I needed to use more...ie twice or three times a week. So I'm impressed with 1 a week. My dog was a JRT cross chi so much smaller, too!!

I used stilboestral with my old girl and they worked like magic. Am not sure if this is the same. They are a hormone related thing (and not good to take for pregnant women as was lately in the press).

For what it's worth - a friend whose a vet student said vaccinations last 2 years or more but the vet likes to get you in annually to check teeth and general wellbeing. In the States they vaccinate 2 yearly. So he said. When Ginger came to me with kennel cough, Fred never got it at all. He had C5. They shared the same water bowl and she licked him (including his mouth) when playing. Vet said he couldn't rule it out, though but luckily Fred never got it.