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trinabean

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Everything posted by trinabean

  1. Hi Stitch, I order Balance IT directly from the US website: Balance IT I checked with Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) before ordering it. It's within their guidelines, so is OK to import. It's worth noting that it doesn't come with recommended dosages, this needs to be worked out on an individual basis, depending on what the dog is eating. We had a canine nutritionist draw up a diet for Bruno, and she calculated the Balance IT dosage accordingly. Ours was done by my vet contacting a nutritionist in the US, but it looks like Balance IT offers a similar service through that website too. I can understand your concern about adding oil to the diet, especially if she got really sick last time. Typically Bruno doesn't handle oil well (and still doesn't do fish oil well) but the cold-pressed safflower oil surprised me. As I said though, we added and increased it very gradually. Might be worth talking to your vet about it though? Also, can she tolerate any fattier meats, like lamb? Just wondering if the roo is simply too lean for her? My dog lost an unacceptable amount of weight while on a roo/sweet potato elimination diet once, and the vet had to change the plan.
  2. Yes, the dermatologist wasn't keen on oats for Bruno, I can't remember the reason though. Everything makes sense in the consult, but my brain deletes most of the info shortly after. Either way, we were using quinoa as the novel protein but it was too expensive for a big dog to eat long-term. Barley was her preference as an alternative, if tolerated. Thankfully it's been fine.
  3. She is cute beyond words Hankodie!
  4. Stitch, my Boxer suffers from Histiocytic Ulcerative Colitis ('Boxer Colitis') and food and environmental allergies. He can't tolerate dry dogfood, or chicken, beef or lamb. He is very sensitive to any dietary change too, so I understand your hesitation. Bruno's current diet has been formulated with the help of his dermatologist, and he is "in remission" and looking the best he's ever been. I've found cooked goat and human-grade roo are good for him. Roo on it's own is too lean for skinny Bruno. He eats mostly goat (still a lean meat, but has more fat than roo). He also gets cooked barley and sweet potato, a couple of tablespoons of cold-pressed safflower oil and a vitamin/mineral supplement called 'Balance IT.' He gets some fish oil capsules too, but can't digest as many as the specialist recommends (he gets a runny bum!). The cold-pressed safflower oil is, according to the derm. vet, one of oils that are easiest for the dog's system to ultilize. We are adding it for omega 6, but also to increase the fat content as the meat Bruno consumes is so lean. You can get it from health food stores. We added it to the diet very gradually, increasing the dosage over a couple of weeks. Bruno is 30kg and now gets 2 tablespoons a day added to his cooked food. Just a couple of thoughts. :) ETA: the Balance IT seems to have helped Bruno too. It contains no animal products (so is good for dogs with food allergies) but I get it shipped from the US as there is no Australian retailer. Bruno's diet was so limited and was deficient in some vitamins and nutrients. I think the dietary deficiencies were compounding his gut/ skin problems last year.
  5. Might need to start carrying a loaded cat on our walks :) :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Glad the little boy is OK. We had a male tabby cat when I was a kid who used to chase dogs out of our yard. Once when my sisters and I were little, we were playing in the front yard and 2 dogs came running through our (open) front gates. As we ran up the front stairs to get away, our cat shot out like lightning and scared them off, hissing and scratching. He was badass. Good ol' Sugarplum. :laugh:
  6. My dog has allergies, so I make his treats as that's the only way I can know for sure that the ingredients are ok. Since he can't have chicken, beef or lamb, I tend to use meats like goat or kangaroo. Mostly I just cut thin slices of meat and spritz with olive oil then bake for 15-20 minutes. Sometimes if human-grade roo is on sale, I'll buy the mince and bake tiny meatballs. I like sweet potato treats too, thanks for sharing that idea. Yay, something else Bruno can eat!
  7. Yes, good idea to take him with you. At least you'll know he's fine if you can keep an eye on him. :)
  8. Yes, I would just keep an eye on the poos and provided he is eating and drinking normally, I'd probably relax a bit after tomorrow. Yes, he could just be tired after training, he is only 6 months old and it takes a lot out of them at that age (Bruno used to sleep all the way home after training). My dog normally saves his poo for a walk, so that makes it obvious (and public!) if there's a problem. I know the weather's not great, but if your dog is similarly-inclined you can always bag the poo and check it once you get home. *Yes, my name is Trinabean, and I'm a poo-watcher*
  9. Yes, I use Epi-otic or Duoxo ear cleaner, on a makeup pad too.
  10. Any sign of the plastic Yonjuro? I hope he's ok.
  11. I had no idea he'd swallowed it actually. Took me a minute to go through his toys and work it out!
  12. Yes, I would just keep an eye on him Yonjuro. My boxer once chewed and swallowed half of one of these happy chaps: The cheery mangled face in the poo gave me an awful fright! :laugh:
  13. Oh Stevie, staring lovingly works on most people. :laugh: And yikes Maggott, not the face. Yes, Bruno is bouncy normally. The trampling of delicate anatomy under paw happens here too. I wasn't sure that he knew how to tone down the bouncy enthusiasm. I'm glad he did. :)
  14. Jeez, I must be getting old . I have little tearies reading about how the day worked out. I can just SEE the little girl so thrilled and puffed up about what a great dog trainer she is going to be :laugh: :laugh: I'd love to by a fly on the wall in that household over the next couple of days. Trinabean and Bruno: take a bow !! So glad you didn't listen to MY advice, but went with your instincts and recognised your own and Bruno's abilities. Trust me DDD, our abilities are limited, that was most of our obedience repertoire. I haven't been a good enough trainer to teach anything fancy. :laugh: Brunes has a lovely Boxer temperament though and is confident, not fearful, that helps. That little moment was a spontaneous thing, I hadn't anticipated that any of their kids would want to interact with Bruno at all. It was sweet and Bruno was so good, sitting and dropping before being asked. It's his default setting when he's keen on being awarded a treat. Kind of "I'm not sure what you want, but this usually wins a treat." And it did. :laugh: Thanks all for your thoughts. I'm proud of Bruno for doing so well at everything the little girl commanded him to do. And I'll credit his breeder for his sunny good temperament. It was a much better day than I had hoped for. :)
  15. I thought I'd seek ideas from dog-savvy people on Dol. I wouldn't say that I'm so worried that it warrants them cancelling their trip. That would be an over-reaction. I like to plan ahead and look after my dog, and didn't realize it was such a dumb question. Thanks to all who offered ideas. The day was a roaring success. I locked doors and made the backyard off-limits for some of the day. We supervised the kids playing in the front yard after lunch. And then I popped him in the laundry (put a baby-gate on it) for a little while too, and the kids had a bit of time playing in the backyard. He was quite happy in the laundry as he could see us. And I gave him a treat-filled Kong. Whilst I didn't use the crate today, he was happy to spend short periods in there yesterday, so I may invest in one. The 8 year old girl was nervous, but quite fascinated by Bruno. She asked if she could pat him, which is a huge step for her. I took her outside and showed her how to get him to sit, drop and stay. He is always very gentle in the way that he takes treats too, so that gave her a bit of confidence. He was so good, and calmer than normal (phew!) Our friends commented that he was one of the best-behaved dogs they'd met, - he's only done basic obedience though, so maybe they just haven't met many dogs! :laugh: He's back inside now, snuggled on the favourite couch with me. Happy happy joy joy.
  16. Yes, 'out there' describes him well. :laugh: You get where I'm coming from. Thanks Raffiki, that was a kind thought. And if a fence is 'Rhino-proof' it should definitely be Bruno-proof. He doesn't try to get over or through fencing, or baby-gates. It's something to keep in mind then, if reinforced with star pickets or posts. Yes, Bruno is the same. :laugh:
  17. Ok, as a backup measure I have borrowed a crate from a friend. I will set it up today with some familiar bedding and toys, and will try giving him a few chewy treats in there. Just in case it might be useful tomorrow. We have some other, dog-loving friends visiting tonight. He has a ball when they visit, as they will throw a ball all afternoon for him. He usually puts himself to bed when knackered, while they're still here. I might put his Snooza bed away and encourage him to use the crate as his bed tonight.
  18. If only! Probably needed to book somewhere weeks ago to get 9 people in for lunch at Easter though. Sadly, I didn't know they were coming until recently. I wish Bruno were disinterested in visitors CavNrott. He is always happy to see visitors and is particularly interested in kids. He is gentle with my kids, just loves being near them. He's great with dog-savvy kids who visit ( I'm always hyper-vigilant and supervising). He will sit, drop etc for them, and follow them around trying to press his squeeky toys on them, so they can throw them. But I recognize that he is exuberant (doesn't jump up on kids, but will whack them with his helicopter tail and nudge them with toys etc) and I have always kept him separate from fearful kids, on the rare occasions we have had one here visiting. For his benefit and their comfort, I suppose. The front yard is large but unfenced. We might do an egg hunt out there. That's a good idea. He loves our bedroom and could sleep or watch the backyard through the window. I could put a baby-gate across my bedroom door-way as an extra security measure...
  19. Bruno has had a lot of time at the vet's in his short life. I think being crated at the vet, away from us, would be more stressful for him than being secure and separated at home. Besides, I don't think they're open on Sundays, let alone Easter Sunday. But thanks for the ideas DDD. Yes, outside is looking like the best option. I do wish I had crate-trained now though! It would have given me an option of keeping him inside and near us. He does get a bit stressed being banished to the backyard. He prefers to be in the midst of things, with people. Yeah same here. Or just say the kids cant go outside. In my heart I feel the same way Canetoad. But these are old, dear friends. They can't help that they are afraid of dogs, anymore than I can help being terrified of heights. And yes, it will probably come to that Aussie. As I said, not ideal. Bruno hates being separated from us. And it's a small house, especially with extra kids buzzing around. Yes. :) Oh, and he loves meeting new people VizslaMomma! If only you could dog-sit him. :D
  20. Yes, it's tricky. It's not a situation we are normally in. Bruno adores kids and has to know where mine are at all times. He will be pulling the saddest Boxer face imaginable at all of the glass sliding doors while we are inside.
  21. No, everyone seems to be away or visiting family for Easter Sunday. Yes, I can key-lock the security doors and block the dog door to make the backyard off-limits (and unable to be 'accidently' accessed). But it will be necessary to get out to a playground as our house is small. With my two kids, my husband, myself, and a faimily of five visiting, things will be cramped! Yes, my initial suggestion was for a picnic at a park/playground. The mum was hesitant as their youngest has just had surgery and isn't supposed to go overboard on activity. Plus he's still on pain meds. We can make the backyard off-limits, eat at home then head out to a playground with the rest of the kids I suppose.
  22. I've just found out we have friends visiting tomorrow for most of the day, instead of just dinner. They have 3 kids and they and their mum are scared of dogs. Two of the kids get quite terrified if they even spot a dog in public. Bruno, our 30 kg Boxer is part of our family and normally has free access via a dog door. He is not crate-trained although he had a crate as his bed as a puppy. Whilst I can borrow a crate, I don't think I can adequately prepare him for being locked in it in one day. These friends live hundreds of km's away and we don't see them often, so it isn't a problem I've faced often. Normally if they come for dinner, I put Bruno outside with a bone and a stuffed Kong. Because their little kids will want to play in and outside tomorrow, and I will be busy cooking and hosting, I need ideas on securing Bruno so that he, and the visitors, are comfortable. So far, my best idea is to block the dog door and just keep him in the yard when everyone is inside eating. And when the kids want to play, I can babygate the laundry and keep him in there. The laundry is small, but adjoins the kitchen so he will be able to see me, and has glass doors that overlook the yard, so he can see outside. A lot of Doler's have mentioned the Bunnings compost panels. Is it feasible that I could construct a pen in the yard from them? Are they sturdy enough to contain a 30 kg dog?
  23. My Boxer loves everyone. But he is especially interested in other Boxers and other squishy-faced breeds like Frenchies, Pugs etc.. I do have to watch him at the dog beach though as he has a bit of a thing for huskies. He would happily trot home with a husky and their family if I didn't call him back.
  24. because the law is an arse............... Yup. HW I'm so upset for you and your dogs, especially after seeing their injuries.
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