trinabean

Yes, her dogs were clearly breaking the law by being loose on the street. HW's dogs were within the law.... muzzled & on leashes.

Full responsibility for the incident goes to to the woman.

And it's so awful that in doing the right thing (HW's greys were muzzled, as required by law) they were totally vulnerable, and unable to defend themselves.

Dogs that are liable to attack innocent (and often defenceless) passers-by should be kept behind locked gates. How hard is it to put a lock on a gate?

Thank you.

To be honest I'm amazed that Stan came through without more serious injury. One of the dogs had his back leg and was dragging him while my poor boy screamed in terror He has bites to that leg and a piece out of his tail and he will be on antibiotics just in case. My hand is a nice mess this morning, the muscles in my right arm are sore and my ribs are painful for some reason :/

Please get this seen too.

Yes, and some photos of your hand injury might be a good idea too.

Is the perimeter of the property fenced at all?

So what is the long term plan ,will she be chained for life ??

In wet weather is that her only form of protection .

Yes, have you thought about a dog run for her? You could put some snake mesh on a dog run too, and build in a bit more shelter from the rain. Just a thought. She looks like a lovely girl.

I think that your dog needs to see a Dermatologist.

Trying to sort the problem yourself or without specialist help has a big chance of making things worse.

To seek specialist help now, while it's in the early stages will mean that you wil spend less money and getan answer faster, and therefore it will be easier to help your dog.

It's false economy to keep on trying all sorts of things without proof that you are on the right track...... this is also what can often make the problem worse than before.

Many skin allergy trials need at least 6 weeks to be properly assessed by a professional so swappig and changing plans all the time is not helpful. You need a science-based plan worked out for your dog and you need to follow it rigidly.

Excellent advice Wundahoo. I say this as someone with an allergy dog, who is under the care of a dermatologist, it is well worth knowing exactly what is triggering your dog's issues. Eliminating Wandering Dew aside, none of the other things you are doing would have helped my dog. Because I know from allergy testing and elimination diets what he is allergic to, I can target my treatment approach accordingly. I too, think you might save yourself money and effort in the long run, by seeking a specialist opinion. You will need your GP vet to refer you to a dermatologist.

Oh poor Miss Maddie, and Stan, and you HazyWal. That would have been terrifying. It makes me so angry that people can't manage to shut their bl**dy gates and keep their dogs in their yard. I'm so sorry this has happened to your dogs. I hope the council take it seriously, and the owners pay your vet bills. Big hugs to you, and gentle pats to your lovely dogs.

If it starts that howling again at night, get in the car and take a drive round there, get out and walk around, you'll find the house. I'd drop a note in their letterbox, they could be quite unaware it's been howling/barking for hours, most people are if they aren't at home, and probably only hear the dog on return.

Not sure any ranger is going to investigate a howling dog, and if they did, I'm not sure what they could do anyway.

If my dog barked incessantly when I was out, I'd hope my neighbours came and told me, or dropped me a (nice) note. :D

Yes, I think a drive to locate it next time it howls is probably the best way to locate it, and a note in their letterbox. My neighbours have taken on a rescue dog who cried and howled for the whole day, the first few days that they went to work. He is quiet when they're home, so they had no idea how noisy he was in their absence. Luckily he has settled in now though.

I believe you should do what's right for the situation / the dog.

I would never make someone feel bad for desexing their dog if that's what they needed to do to enjoy their dog more. Some dogs simply can't handle their hormones and some guardians simply can't handle dogs with hormones.

I would never make someone feel bad for wanting to keep their dog entire if they were responsible and would be able to ensure the dog could not be mated unless it was intentional under a responsible and ethical breeding program.

As a Rescuer things are Black and White when it comes to Rescue dogs, there are no ifs and butts but for people's personal dogs that choice is up to them.

To tell a responsible dog owner they must de-sex their dog or put pressure on them due to brain washing campaigns is insulting to responsible pet ownership.

Ask the person WHY a dog should be desexed who harps on about desexing and they only thing they can usually tell you is to stop dogs ending up in pounds....well what about my entire male dog that isn't adding to that problem?

They may tell you for health reasons > that's a fair call in 'some' situations however a responsible pet owner can feel for lumps and bumps. There are probably literally thousands upon thousands of entire dogs and bitches making it to old age without adding to the pound population or ending up with reproductive organ cancers.

As a Rescuer and a Pedigree entire dog owner I am Pro Choice for responsible pet owners, I am also a supporter of early de-sexing if that's what people feel is the right thing to do. Each situation is different and no-one can tell you what is the right thing to do for your dog.

If you're a responsible pet owner then I support you de-sexing you dog, hell I've even paid for some of those to occur. If you have a dog who can't handle its hormones and they are not enjoyable to live with then I support you desexing your dog.

But in the end who the hell cares what I support, who am I to tell you what to do with your dogs bits.

Great post!

Happy Birthday Ziggy!

OMG Stan cracks me up. He is such a clown without even trying. Some of my mental images of his antics are hilarious.

Could somebody please send a chiropractor to trinabean. OMG poor Bruno.

Stan cracks me up too. :laugh:

And yes Grumpette, knowing my luck Bruno probably does need a chiropractor!

Trinabean if there was a roaching Olympics I'm thinking Bruno has the gold in the bag

Do you reckon a chiro would accept an Olympic medal as part of a payment plan HazyWal?

So many funny photos.

I love Maddie's smile HazyWal. And Zeph's 'Hello Girls' position is funny Grumpette. :laugh:

Bruno likes to do the Twist. This was a puppy photo:

What's WACA? I only know it as the cricket ground and that's all that's coming up in my quick google search.

Try CAWA (Canine Association of W.A). They have a website listed as Dogswest too, where you can find info on upcoming shows/ events/ registered breeders etc: Dogswest

I know that it's cheap because I'm in Perth (where Vetpath lab is located) but I pay about $60 to have a parvo/ distemper titre done.

The vet practice needs to have an account set up with Vetpath I think.

You could try contacting Vetpath directly and asking which vet practices in Victoria have an account with them? Then it's just a matter of checking on prices/locations of the vets they suggest.

Vetpath laboratory

And they're in the news again for euthanising cubs and an adult lion.

I just read that in the news this morning.

'The four lions were put down on Monday after the zoo failed to find a new home for them.'

They don't seem to be very good at finding new homes for any of their animals...

How awful.

You sharing this story highlights for many of us the importance of reporting aggressive/ roaming dogs.

Please don't beat yourself up about it JulesP. It is, after all, a community responsibility to report dogs such as these (and it sounds as though others had reported these dogs too).

I have given 2nd (and 3rd) chances in the past before lodging a report too. Stories like this make me less reluctant though.

I hope that the victim can make a full recovery. Awful for all involved...

It may be common knowledge on DOL that onions can be harmful to dogs, but to be honest, I don't think it's widely known in the community. Plus I think that the ill-effects happen when onion is ingested over a period of time. One onion probably isn't a big worry. I'd put it down to yobs throwing food rather than anything malicious. :)

A big to Scout. May all your toys be squeaky!

And Happy Birthday to you too VizslaMomma. :)

This one is an eye opener too.

My link

Oh thank you, I know someone who was looking for this particular study. I shall pass it on. :)

For me there are a few variables. I booked Bruno in to be desexed, but my vet gave me some studies to read before making a final decision. Including this interesting paper: Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs

Taking into account that my breed is horribly over-represented in many types of cancer (and desexing male dogs seems to increase the risk for many of these) I decided not to castrate him. My vet suggested that desexed dogs are at greater risk of rupturing cruciate ligaments too (sex hormones play a role in keeping ligaments strong?). The compromise we made was to chemically castrate using the Suprelorin implant. I guess time will tell if that was a good idea, and we can always castrate at a later date.

Better nominate your vet for our next awards - that's the first time I've ever heard of a vet doing that - good on them - allowing a client to make their own informed decision.

Good idea Steve, I will. :)

That study is actually a link provided on the vet's website now, but at the time he emailed to me and suggested I think about it.

My vet suggested that desexed dogs are at greater risk of rupturing cruciate ligaments too (sex hormones play a role in keeping ligaments strong?).

it is my understanding that this link between CCL rupture is #1 associated with early desexing and #2 thought to be caused by the changed angles of the joint when the long bones grow slightly longer with growth plates that close later due to the lack of sex hormones.

I assume this is speculation re cause and effect as with many conclusions drawn from such studies, but in any case the ones I have read have been focusing on time of desexing in relation to joint issues.

this does not take into account cancer risk, which I have also read may be increased for some cancers (osteosarc comes to mind, but this was particularly for females and related to "oestrogen exposure time" again in relation to early vs late desexing) in the desexed dog, but decreased risk for others. Males do not have the same issue with mammary tumours which is the big deal for females although they do often get prostatic hyperplasia +/- testicular tumours etc when the testicles are left and thus continuing to influence the prostate. Prostate cancer is far less common in dogs than humans but even hyperplasia or inflammation/infection of the prostate can cause significant discomfort and issues deficating in older dogs and these tend to really only occur in entire older males.

it is a balancing act in my opinion and in circles where dogs are most likely kept 100% under control and in a secure yard (as is likely to be the case with DOL members who clearly are very interested in their pets and their wellbeing to be spending the time to research and chat about it) I do not think the accidental matings thing is such an issue but rather the decision should come down to these health considerations.

personally I would be looking at desexing a dog after the 13month growth plate closure as a minimum age... but would probably still be looking to desex before they get much older than this for the above reasons.

Yes, your explanation of the link between CCL rupture and early desexing makes sense. Thanks. :)

I don't think there's a 'one size fits all' choice for responsibe owners (as you mentioned Bridgie Cat, who keep their dogs 100% under control and in a secure yard). So for me, it really does come down to weighing up the health risks/ benefits for my particular dog, in my particular situation.

The paper I linked to earlier sums things up well in it's conclusion:

CONCLUSIONS An objective reading of the veterinary medical literature reveals a complex situation with respect to the long-term health risks and benefits associated with spay/neuter in dogs. The evidence shows that spay/neuter correlates with both positive AND adverse health effects in dogs. It also suggests how much we really do not yet understand about this subject. On balance, it appears that no compelling case can be made for neutering most male dogs to prevent future health problems, especially immature male dogs. The number of health problems associated with neutering may exceed the associated health benefits in most cases. For female dogs, the situation is more complex. The number of health benefits associated with spaying may exceed the associated health problems in many (not all) cases. On balance, whether spaying improves the odds of overall good health or degrades them probably depends on the age of the dog and the relative risk of various diseases in the different breeds. The traditional spay/neuter age of six months as well as the modern practice of pediatric spay/neuter appear to predispose dogs to health risks that could otherwise be avoided by waiting until the dog is physically mature, or perhaps in the case of many male dogs, foregoing it altogether unless medically necessary. The balance of long-term health risks and benefits of spay/neuter will vary from one dog to the next. Breed, age, and gender are variables that must be taken into consideration in conjunction with non-medical factors for each individual dog. Across-the-board recommendations for all dogs do not appear to be supportable from findings in the veterinary medical literature.

For me there are a few variables. I booked Bruno in to be desexed, but my vet gave me some studies to read before making a final decision. Including this interesting paper: Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs

Taking into account that my breed is horribly over-represented in many types of cancer (and desexing male dogs seems to increase the risk for many of these) I decided not to castrate him. My vet suggested that desexed dogs are at greater risk of rupturing cruciate ligaments too (sex hormones play a role in keeping ligaments strong?). The compromise we made was to chemically castrate using the Suprelorin implant. I guess time will tell if that was a good idea, and we can always castrate at a later date.

It was a tiny Chi cross - who owns a chi cross and keeps it outside on a chain???

My first thought as well poor little bugger must have been petrified.

Yes. Poor little dog.

This US study seems to show that a small percentage of dogs don't respond/ have low response to vaccination for Distemper and /or Parvo.

I could be interpreting it incorrectly, but it might be worth a read:

My link

CC is it possible that Louis is a non or low-responder to vaccination? Has he previously had titer tests done that yielded a more expected result? I vaguely recall my vet mentioning that some dogs don't develop immunity when vaccinated (probably wrong terminology, tired brain today!). He mentioned it being more prevalent in some breeds though (eg. Rottweilers). And I can't exactly remember which ones...

How awful Yonjuro, I hope Ronin is unaffected by this.

To be honest, even if you go to parks/reserves that are meant to be on-lead only, many people diregard the rules. My dog is always walked on-lead in such areas, but I've lost count of the number of times we have been rushed by loose dogs.

I do find dog-friendly beaches like South Beach are generally ok compared to parks.

There are still incidents though, we've been lucky so far. I try to pick quiet times or go with other people and dogs we know.