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SchnauzerMax

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Posts posted by SchnauzerMax

  1. I think it is a lot of things in combination - increase in dog ownership, using harnesses instead of collars and leads (you might as well hook up a sled and get them to pull something), more dog owners not really knowing what they are doing and choosing inappropriate breeds, etc.  Most of the lockdown times, you could still walk your dog and get about but people who got a dog for companionship during those times most likely would not have got a dog in normal times and probably didn’t even give a thought to training it.

     

     

  2. My biggest worry would be the move. Elderly dogs (and people for that matter) don’t “do change” very well.

    I have seen quite a few older people, seemingly coping very well in their familar environment, just straight out decline in new, unfamiliar surrounds. I have observed similar patterns with elderly dogs - ours, friends and family. The anxiety that change provokes can be awful, both for the dog and family. If your darling boy is coming with you, you will have to be proactive in getting him familar with the new place and its smells. I wish you luck, in the end you have to consider what is best for him.

    • Like 4
  3. 2 hours ago, tdierikx said:

    Considering nearly all of the pet insurance covers are underwritten by Hollards, there really isn't that much difference between them... and most are not great value for money at all.

     

    T.

    Insurance is never good value for money. You are essentially paying an amount each year, so that if your pet has a catastrophic illness / accident you can recoup *some* of the cost of treatment. 

    You really don’t want the best financial outcome / value for money because that implies your pet is having major, major health problems and interventions.

    And putting $xxx a week into a savings account won’t go any where near covering it for those extreme situations.

     

    • Like 1
  4. 6 hours ago, Diva said:

    One report I read quoted the man attacked, and said the dog ‘was responding to an argument in the house’. He was also referred to as the dog’s owner in that report. To do that severe an attack after 8 years in the same family to family members makes me think there is a long back story we will never hear. 

    And they used a cigarette lighter and boiling water to get it away from them … I am sure that there is much more to the story and yes, we will never hear it.

    • Sad 4
  5. 2 hours ago, Powerlegs said:

    Parvo and leptospirosis seem to go through peaks. Especially this time of year. Rain, warmth, flies, rats. Best call is your vet to see if it's in your area right now or if they recommend waiting until the 2nd vacc. Popping in the car for a drive is a good idea too. There are raised seats that help them see out the windows. And training them to step into a harness is handy for the future. 

     

    I don't walk pups for the same distance as mature dogs who have finished growing. :) 

    And if you are in the inner suburbs, talk to your vet about lepto vaccination. It is spread by rats and can be more of a problem in the inner suburbs than parvo. 

     

  6. There are ways around having someone come to read the meter.

     

    Jemena Gas (gas wholesaler) have an app where you take a picture of the meter and enter the reading. Person in the office verifies it and no-one has to come to your place. I’ve changed gas retailers and the app works like a charm. 

     

    Electricity retailers offered a few years ago to upgrade the meter for free to a fancy new “phone home” meter. It automatically updates the readings every day over wireless (?) and no-one comes to your place unless it malfunctions.

     

    All this doesn’t help the poor guy though. 

     

     

     

    • Like 1
  7. 46 minutes ago, Loving my Oldies said:

    You are missing the point.  These sorts of people consider it a badge of honour to have an aggressive dog and, bugger anyone else, they will take it where they want to.  The person has obviously managed to get away with it for a while as the Council apparently does nothing.  And I doubt anything will happen this time.  Hope I am proved wrong.   

     

    Denial is a powerful thing. 

    Also councils like multiple complainants because it proves a pattern of behaviour that they can then act upon. 

    • Like 3
  8. On 11/10/2022 at 8:03 AM, Little Gifts said:

    I have an almost 15 year old and this year she needed the steroid Prednisole. She developed every single side effect in the book and it was awful for her and us but please hear what everyone is saying - this is a drug that needs to be tapered off. You cannot just stop it. I don't know the technical reason why but there is a good reason. So please continue the doses as prescribed but you can also call your vet for their professional advice on how to manage the affects on your dog.

    When you give steroids (cortisone or prednisone or whatever) for more than a few days, the body stops producing its own. So stopping abruptly causes a crisis due to insufficiency. The effects of this are really unpleasant and depending on the daily dose can be life threatening.

    • Like 3
  9. 3 hours ago, Diva said:

    Yep it is perverse to limit the age of the male. In breeds where the common diseases aren’t testable, using older healthy studs is one approach to help safeguard the health of the breed. If the boys make it to a decent age without health issues they are better prospects. And it’s not like breeding them over 6 does them any harm. Making it illegal defies logic.  

    Um,  not quite true. The older either of the parents are, the more genetic defects. In humans, the older the father the more likely the child will develop schizophrenia or other mental heath issues and the older the mother, the greater probability of Downs Syndrome or other genetic defects. The bottom line is younger eggs and sperm are generally healthier. If you want to cover your bets, you collect from the dog when it is young and then wait to see how it turns out. 

  10. 1 hour ago, Dogsfevr said:

    I would first research what restrictions the retirement villages currently have on sizes etc etc in the area .
    We have had to help rehome 2 dogs this year as they didnt meet the village rules or set up .
    Before anyone says Crap owners these 2 homes where amazing owners & they needed to go into a suitable retirement set up for there future ,the ones they could enjoy living at had dog size restrictions & serious barking rules .The owners did the right thing even though it broke there hearts & the dogs had to go through significant change .
    I will say both owners said they wished they thought about retirement home restrictions earlier .
    So keep in mind if planning to take everywhere it may not do well when left alone .
    I would say once you have an idea off potential restrictions then look at what will suit the criteria 

     

    Some retirement villages have a blanket ban on pets, not even a goldfish is allowed. 

    • Sad 2
  11. 1 hour ago, Deeds said:

    I live about 5 kilometres from Sydney.  I go to a large busy Vet Practice.  My Vet had never heard of Galliprant.  From what I read in overseas articles it had good results for dogs.  I was disappointed my Vet had never heard of it.

     

    It’s very brand new. It’s been available in Australia for less than 6 months according to my vet.

    • Like 3
  12. 15 minutes ago, BDJ said:

    Hi,  

     

    My brother recently changed vets, and a general blood test was done by the new vet.   No symptoms or 'triggers' - it was a general 'new patient, let's do one to check everything is ok and to get a baseline'.  The dog is a 9yo whippet who appears to be happy and healthy.

    The results have come back with a very high lipase reading (3 x normal level).  Vet and owner are surprised as that level usually indicates pancreatitis or other issue which should be resulting in a sick/unwell dog.   However, he is happy, noisy, bouncy etc and showing no indications that he is unwell.

    Vet advice is to change his diet and reduce fat, and then do another blood test in 6 months (obviously respond sooner if any other indications)

    Does anyone have any other thoughts or suggestions?

    thanks

    It might be his normal level? 
    I would just make sure his food is good quality and I would probably lean towards raw / barf.

    • Like 1
  13. Correlation is not causation. Just because one event follows another does not mean the first caused the second. 
    Also, the reported adverse effects and the time intervals between dose and effect are very variable in these reports, which makes it difficult to evaluate properly. 
    Perhaps it is similar to ivermectin, some animals with a particular genetic makeup don’t tolerate it?  
    If I gave my dog tick meds and 3 weeks later they got really sick, my first thought would not be the tick meds. 

    • Like 3
  14. 1 hour ago, giraffez said:

    So  a nasal tumour easily treatable and has a good chance of survival?  Did they just remove it while he was under for the scope?

     

    ...


    They scoped first and then planned the subsequent operation. Survival rates are very dependant on tumour type and location. Kitty’s was high up in a difficult spot to get to, so vet removed as much as they could but could not get it all.  So greatly improved quality of life in the short term but it will eventually come back. 

    • Sad 1
  15. 3 hours ago, Rascalmyshadow said:

    I would go and have him scoped, we had a very similar thing happen with our previous chi, spent months treating for so called allergies/infections but she had a nasal tumour which was very high up and ended up spreading to her brain, we lost her at 5 years old.

    I personally wouldn’t be mucking around, hoping it is nothing serious.

    I too would have him scoped. A friend’s cat had similar symptoms and after a lot of faffing around went for the invasive option which showed a tumour high up in the nasal bone which they operated on to remove. 
    I too hope it is nothing awful but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and get a definitive diagnosis so you treat it effectively. 

    • Like 1
    • Sad 1
  16. Animals are considered property in the eyes of the law. So, in effect, you have purchased a defective product. 
    The usual legal remedy is you return the dog to the breeder and receive a refund. There is no avenue for damages. The breeder may offer to pay for some treatment at their discretion or replace the puppy again at their discretion. Threatening and pursuing legal action for damages will only waste your money.

     

    • Like 6
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