Bluefairy

I have owned dogs all my life, cross breeds and pedigree ones. My last pup had to be returned to her breeder because of a problem with the soil in our back yard. In the last 10 years we have lost 2 dogs to cancer, one was 8 the other 11 months. The pup showed similar symptoms, so after a lot of researched it was found to be the soil. An old house containing lead paint, lead pipes and lead on the roof was buried in the ground of the empty block we bought and placed our house on. It appears the lead has now leeched up to the surface causing the dogs to get sick. We have a 24/7 indoor cat that has never been sick, so we think its because the dogs went outside that they came in contact with it. We have had lead testing done on us and we are within normal limits, but we don't normally go into the back yard anyway. But OH has higher levels as he works in the yard. We are in the process of getting this problem fixed, but in the meantime I couldn't watch another dog die so we returned the pup, she has been rehomed and is loved as much as we loved her. That was 2 1/2 months ago and it has been heartbreaking with out her. Not having a dog around at all is so depressing. We are not going to get another dog until this problem has been rectified.....but how do you get past the lonely feeling of something is missing, and you know its a companion....its just so hard. How do you do it? BF

For the Aussie contact Pip Nobes in Toowoomba, QLD. And yes you have the right web site for information. but ask Pip about breeders in your area. I got my last one (the Pitbull lookalike from the Breeders list on that site (she's not there anymore)). Good Luck. BF

Thanks Jed, I agree the Aussie Bulldogs (not the BYBer ones) are not DD. I owned one 10 years ago and got her from the founder of the Breed Pip Nobes in QLD. When she went over the Bridge a couple of years ago I wanted to get another, but stupid me chose a breeder closer to home, turned out to be a 1st timer and the Aussie Bulldog was huge, she looked so much like a Pitbull I would swear it was in her breeding somewhere. These dogs have a brilliant temperment, they are so placid and love the warm weather and a lay in a paddle pool. Jed is right they were bred for Aussie conditions, and when I was last a member of the club they were doing 6th generation puppies, that was 18mths ago. They now have Miniature Aussie Bulldogs (half size to the standard ones). They are a very strong dog, but are very easy and quick to train, great with kids, love to be active or a couch potato. They have no breathing or whelping problems. BF

Did I say before I wanted one? I'm not sure. But Yes put me down, I love this one and I love my slow cooker. BF

I am so glad Ollie is staying. As for the allergies....I was once around a Pug with a double coat, I was sneezing, running eyes and nose, and my whole body was itching, and the itching led to me making it bleed....I can't feel the pain of what I do so I tend to scratch badly. This pug shed a hell of a lot. I have had other dogs myself and never had a problem. I even recently had a Pug with a single coat and I never had a problem at all. No allergies, nothing. Mind you the cat is another matter, I am allergic to her. For me it was the difference of a single or double coat on the Pug. BF

Great Idea Where did you want the recipes? Here or in the Off Topics thread? I looked but couldn't find anything in the OT section. BF

I just wanted to say thank you I tried out the Chicken Pie last night and it was excellent. Later this week we are having the Chicken Meatballs I can't believe how easy some of these recipes are, so thank you to everyone from the person with the brilliant idea, to the those now with writers cramp after posting off all those parcels. BF

:D I got mine today. I absolutely love it, I spent all morning looking through all the recipes.....my poor daughter had to be driven to school by her dad because I couldn't tear my eyes off the book Thank you all so much. BF

I haven't got mine either, but I still have some finger nails left, so I can wait a little longer BF :nahnah:

Thank you so much for that I'd like to be a fly on the wall when all these packages start flooding the PO's BF

The poor Australia Post won't know whats hit them.... How many parcels have been sent out? Did anyone do a count before they went? Just curious to know the amount of parcels from one point in Australia, being sent out to every other point across Australia.....it would be very interesting to know BF

Oh No! ;) I hope they manage to find it....its weird they they misplaced a whole pallet BF

Sorry this is about a cat not a dog. I took my very sick cat to a vet I had never been to before. I had no idea there were two vets in this town. I ended up going to the wrong one.....My cat was vomiting, had diarrhea, and had stopped eating. The vet wanted to keep her overnight. He put her on a drip for 2hrs and as she looked better told us to pick her up. She didn't look right, but thought maybe it as just the shock of it all. She got worse overnight and was again rushed to the vets, they xrayed her and said she had a bowel blockage, they gave her about 3 enemas over 2 days, she was still refusing to eat and was losing weight fast. So the vet operated on her thinking she had a blocked bowel. He found nothing. After another 2 days he told us she was fine and we could pick her up. She was lethargic, was a mass of skin and bone, and not moving. Her eyes were almost popping out her head. I managed to find the right vet in the same town and rushed her in. She was isolated, given IV fluids as she was so dehydrated, they said it was touch and go if she would survive. They ran a load of BTs, Urine and fecal tests. They also opened her up again and found the stitches the other vet had used had become infected, in fact my vet said they hadn't used that type of thread in years as it was found to cause a lot of infections. The tests showed she had a disease called Panleukopenia, a feline form of the Parvovirus. The only thing they could do was treat with AB's and fluids. She pulled through ok. She has no muscle mass in her hind quarters since then. The vets don't know why. My cat started out weighing 6kg and she went down to 3.4kg when the new vets got her. My vet also had a few words with this idiot vet, to ask what the hell he had done to this poor cat. He also never isolated my cat, so all the cats that were in the back would have been infected with this too. I wrote a letter of complaint to the idiot vet and he rang me to find out what had happened. I told him he nearly killed my cat because he never did any tests to find the actual cause before he opened her up. I never heard from him again, not even a bill. I always warm people away from there and tell them my story. I never took it further. I have also sued for Medical negligence from an OB, resulting in the death of our son. It took 7 years of hell, heartbreak, mental anguish, etc to finally say enough is enough and we settled out of court. We got a pittance after the lawyers took their fee's. I would never go down that road again. It is so NOT worth it. We didn't do it for the money we wanted to rip her heart out......The only compensation was the hospital that hired the OB from NZ, never used her again. Thats a blessing at least. BF

***rubbing hands together in anticipation of its arrival**** BF

I live in a small farming town, so dogs on the back of utes is a common sight. It makes me so angry to see some farmers, mostly the old die hards with the dog just sitting there, no tether, shelter, water, nothing. But it is nice to see most dogs are tethered, have shelter, mats and water available. I don't mind in the least if a dog is in the back of a ute, so long as the dog is adequately looked after and is safe from harm. The farmers here only ever bring their dogs into town during a work week, but when it comes to going into the major town or city, the dogs are left at home. BF

I have been stalking here hoping for an update about these I hope to be able to try out some recipes for the cook off at Christmas yummmm BF

Yes I noticed that too :D I suggested she add another ticker but it just got missed some how. Funny that really BF

SC ~ So when are we going to see Dylan's new ticker in your signature I love the video, its amazing to see 3 dogs of any breed, so well behaved, so quickly. You are a very lucky lady ;) BF

SC, I am so happy that you finally have "Bandit" (I like this name too and we have to call him something ) By his size I'd say he is between 8 and 10 months old, definitely older than 6 months and not an adult yet. I hope the time you have with him, long or short, and the most rewarding for you. He has certainly showed some surprises in Pepper and Tango. Good Luck BF

I keep refreshing the page in the hope SC has gone on with pics...... But I end up doing this Its like waiting for a baby to be born.... BF

SC ~ Glad the change of phone worked I always seem to get the weird ones on the phone. I'm also real glad you are getting this baby. I don't think you will have any problems with your other two, dogs tend to sense that puppies are baby's and make allowances beyond the normal for them. I have to go out in the morning, but I'll be rushing back on here to get any news, so keep us updated please and its a no brainer we need lots of pictures to satisfy our puppy addictions OK? BF

I have just read through this thread. I am so sorry this hasn't worked out..... I had the same problem ringing a company about a complaint, they never answered the phone when I rang. So I used a different phone (mobile, neighbours phone) and it shows a different number on their phone and they will answer it. I think they are avoiding your calls....it worked for me. Good Luck BF

Thank you everyone for the replies, I just got some of the tests back and its not giardia, the vets are still not sure what it is, and are still waiting on the rest of the stool and blood tests to come back. The vet gave ABs in case it was a bug of some kind, at least it is covering her until they can work out what it is. I was given a claim form with my paperwork from PIA, so I will fill it in and get the vet to do a health report too. I have had PIA since I got Zoe at 12 weeks, she is now 7 1/2 months. I even got the vet to check her patellas when I got her so I could skip the 6 month wait. Which PIA did, as you just never know. I do have accident and illness cover, so this should be claimable. Thanks again BF

I was just reading another thread on Pet Insurance, and it just got me thinking. My pug pup had diarrhea and vomiting earlier this week, so with a trip to the vet, hospitalisation, blood and stool tests, meds, and sensitivity diet until her stomach gets over it. I am nearly $500 poorer.....so Can I claim all this back on Pet Insurance? I am with PIA. Can I claim the sensitivity diet too? As it is part of her recovery. Can I include the the last vet visit too? As it was for the same thing as above, but months ago. This is her 3rd bout of this, the vets seems to think its Guardia, so with 3 weeks of ABs they are hoping its going to stop. I never thought about claiming...but would like to. BF

I got one of my dogs from a Registered Breeder.....but have since learnt that really they might have been a BYB. The dog in question lived a life of illness and was finally put out of their misery at 11 months with cancer. I'd have to say even the nicest of breeders can be not nice at all. BF