Erny

No need for the rolled-eyes, GSD. I was making a statement, not pointing a finger. Sorry if you took it differently. Given the title subject of this thread (which is about grass burning) I thought what I said was appropriate.

Erny - does this still have the same effect with the grass burning? I have no idea, GSD Mum. I haven't used ACV with my young pup yet and if I do it will only be because I have determined with as much confidence as possible that it's because it's good for his health, not merely to save my grass.

TMK, they are not illegal. There may be some dog schools who don't permit them, but nothing to do with "law". Victoria is the only State which has banned the use of the PPCollar.

If you understood the nature of training a dog with an e-collar in the manner that both I and K9 Force use, you'd understand it is not a matter of "shocking" the dog. I'm happy to explain more, but only if you wish to know it.

I had my pup on EP Holistic for specific problematic developmental reasons. It did good as far as sorting that out and his coat improved dramatically. However, it too became somewhat 'oily' so I've now switched to a whole raw meal diet. His coat is rich in colour and gleams, but the oiliness has disappeared. I still believe EP is one of the better quality commercial dry foods available but you do need to adjust according to what the dog's condition is telling you, IMO.

Di - I've always maintained putting in the dog's dinner (and not necessarily every time) is better. Not that I had any scientific data to suggest it was causing harm, but just that dogs MUST drink, so putting it in their water leaves them no choice, unless there is an extra bowl of fresh water available to them.

I don't know, but on the basis of what you tell us here (ie no chemicals) there would have to be mineral ..... and I'm presuming whatever mineral it is that is operative, it causes a change in the PH balance within the dog's system. Maybe this is a similar way in which ACV works ???? "ACV" Apple Cider Vinegar, or in Andisa's case (AVC) .... Apple Vinegar Cider . Sorry Andisa .... just stirring

Genuine question .... in what way is it superior?

I'm now doubting my memory. I thought the general cost of titre testing was $90 - $150.00 for at least TWO of the aforesaid diseases, but not sure if it was for all three. That might be where the extra $$$ comes into it though. Although it still seems a bit steep to me. I will be doing a titre following my boy's 15 month booster vax, so I haven't had one done to know the cost for myself. Others have had it done though so I'm sure they'll be able to tell you their cost and whether it covered the 3 diseases or just the 2.

Hi GoldD and congrats on your new pup. When I picked up my fella, he too had a pretty big case of dandruff. In his case I believe it was nutrition that was the cause and although I had a couple of people offer advice on it (and recommended bathing) I followed the advice of another, which was to leave it be and just focus on diet and good nutrition. I preferred to not bath .... the pup's coat/skin needing the oils that are likely to be stripped by the use of the shampoo. The dandruff cleared up of its own accord (but, I'd suggest, with the good diet helping) within a couple of weeks, if my memory serves me correctly. One person did suggest the possibility of mange and it seems in my case that was not correct, but something you might want to check out for your pup, just incase.

What disease immunity is your Vet testing for?

Yes - it was only that I specifically said I only wanted C3, otherwise my Vet was about to administer a C5 as pup's 2nd vaccination.

Barry Haywood is well thought of by many and I expect with very good reason. Unfortunately, I cannot share that sentiment, but then my situation and opinion is individual and by the sounds of it very much in the minority. It's not so much that he did anything that caused harm to my girl, but that what he did I found somewhat rough, and then he chose to not follow through (her issues were complex). I ended up visiting Kevin Kelly in Devon Meadows. I don't believe he has 'papers' but he did some wonderful work on Kal. He was very gentle with her (as he seems to be with all the dogs he sees) yet what he did was very effective and of the chiro's I had taken her to, his manipulations worked ..... and held. Of all the Vets, Chiro's and other dog-health professionals, Kevin was the only one where Kal did not shake and tremble on her arrival there - this a direct tribute to how gentle he is with them. Kevin works from the Devon Meadows dog swimming pool (Stanley Street or Road, if I remember correctly) every Wednesday 4pm - 6pm. He charges $15 per visit. The thing is that he does not take appointments. You get there, put your name on a whiteboard and you're seen in the order of arrival. But he'll only see up to 20 dogs, which means if you get there late there's a good chance the board will already be full. So I get there at 2pm (when the pool opens), put my name down and prepare to read a book, take my dog for a walk, eat my lunch or whatever. People (including breeders; sport-dog owners; greyhound people) come from far and wide to see him. One breeder/owner drives all the way from Bendigo to see him and I believe that's not the furthest people will travel for his services. IMO it doesn't hurt to have an opinion and I find that Kevin will tell you if your dog doesn't need to see him.

Both. Although sometimes I have a glass or two of the juice myself, depending on what I've put in . But definitely, the pulp goes to the dog.

Is it a once off that you have to provide Pet Partners? If it is, then I'd go with getting Dr. Dodds titre testing, assuming it isn't done here, even though I know money doesn't grow on trees. All of this dependant upon whether or not Pet Partners agree to a waiver being signed instead. I'll be interested to know the response you receive regarding titre testing for CC out here. As far as I was aware, these tests weren't available. So please let us know, if you will.

I didn't know that!! Thanks for the tip, LukeW. Handy to know. Hhhhmmm ..... does it work for pictures that have been loaded as well?

My youngster has had his puppy vaccines (2 x C3). I didn't opt for the Canine Cough Vaccine. At around 5mo he came down with a bout of CC. Symptoms appeared 5.30pm on a Thursday and by 5.30pm the next day, outward symptoms (ie coughing) gone. A little lethargic compared to the usual for another 12 hours, but otherwise, he was over it. During this time (and for the rest of the week following, just to help him along) I heavily dosed him with Active Manuka Honey which boosts the immune system and also soothes the throat and eases the cough. And he LOVES it . Even now, I dose him up on a teaspoon of the AMH every now and again. Also pointedly do it if I feel there might have been a chance of him picking up something from wherever we've been. Sometimes, I just use it as a special treat . Sorry .... veering a little off topic .

How do you tell if a rabbit is diseased? I mean, I have seen the advanced stages of mixo, but how would I know if it has contracted something like that but clinical symptoms haven't begun to show? Same with the Calicivirus? I think it is a good way of making use of an animal that is otherwise a pest and shouldn't have been brought to our Country in the first place, with all the damage they cause to farmers' land. But I am mainly concerned about the disease aspect and this would prevent me from feeding it. That, and that my Dad only occasionally rabbit hunts now, given that he is 84 years old and doesn't tend to climb the mountainous rural areas as high up as he used to.

There are lots and lots of people who have plenty of good things to say about e-collars. Or are you talking scientifically based reports? If the latter, the bigger problem is the expense and lack of budgets. You'd think if the collars really did cause so much of an issue to animal welfare that they'd prioritise the conduct of scientific studies. Really, though, in many respects, you can see the results through the dog's body language assuming the person observing has a reasonably good understanding of it. And if you watch the dogs that are trained to e-collars using the negative reinforcement/low stim method, you'd realise that this method of training is not the problematic method many seem to think it is.

My highlights That's why the stim level is measured to the individual dog and measured in such a way so that its use does not produce the extremitites that all previous studies that have been conducted do.

We vaccinate for distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus. These are given in one shot (C3). There are also two strains of Canine Cough that can be vaccinated for. You can vaccinate for one strain plus the other diseases I've just mentioned (C4) or the two strains, plus the other diseases (C5). The subject of vaccinations and whether we're killing our dogs with kindness is a fairly hot topic at the moment and there are quite a number of us who have become minimalists in this area. My current 7mo boy has had 2 x C3's as his puppy vaccinations and I intend to follow up with C3 booster when he is 15 mo. Then a titre. I don't think I'm going to vaccinate again if the titre test shows immunity. Some people are looking at the "every 3 years" option.

I'm speechless at the moment, Goldens, but just want to acknowledge your story and thank you for sharing it. We here are becoming more and more aware of what we might be doing to our companions in the never ending administration of drugs and the sort of drugs some are, but your story, whilst I wish you hadn't had one to tell, brings the reality of these things to the forefront. So very sad for your loss. RIP Hunter

But wouldn't your 'local organic butcher' be farming these rabbits in the same way that others would farm rabbits? Elsewise, how can they know what the rabbits are raised on? I'm not seeing the difference between the two (ie farming/not farming) in your instance.

Hi Goldens ..... thanks for the story, although sorry to hear you lost your ol' boy. It is always sad, regardless of whether it is their 'time' or not, but glad you were able to provide him with some comfort and better mobility in his latter years. I've not heard of Knox Nutrajoint here, although perhaps we have it under another name? If you still have a jar of it, are you able to list the ingredients? Oh ..... and as an aside, 'trotting' is an economical gait for dogs, energy-wise speaking .

She's pretty good on the response turn-around time. Generally inside 24-48 hours (often 24 hours, but I don't want to 'pin' her to that ). Go with your gut feelings. And besides, even if you are wrong, you won't be left wondering on the "what if's". I know what you mean. I wished for that for my previous (avatar) girl, bless her cotton socks. I too would have followed the thyroid testing through Dr. Dodds with her (and wished I had) if only I knew then what I know now.