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Great Barko Beef, lamb, chicken, pork, fish, cooked cereals, wheaten bran, canola, soy Lysine, methionite, antioxidant, bentonite Vit A, D3, E, K, B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin, pantothentate, folic acid, biotin Calcium, phosporus, sodium, chloride, cobalt, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, selenium, zinc Protein 20% Fat 10% Fibre 5% Customer information number 08 85628340 I have been feeding 2 American Cockers and 3 Staffordshire Bull Terriers on this food now for nearly 3 weeks. They are ALL doing exceptionally well, including the 9 year old Stafford who doesn't "DO" Tassie winters. Shiny coats, fat bellies (to the point of cutting back on rations) and no scratching or mucky eyes which is my usual indicator of a food not doing the trick.

I'll probably get flamed for saying this but is there any chance you can crate them side-by-side when you're not there to supervise? It may be the only way you can keep him from stressing so much whilst she is away from him. It's not an ideal solution but the last thing you need is him deciding to try and escape and running the risk of injuring himself even more.

Just as an alternative. Cheaper but definitely NOT nastier....why not look into Great Barko. Produced by the Laucke Mills in Australia. I have recently started some of my dogs on this and it is really very good. $25.50 for 22kg. Lasts ages as you don't have to feed much, especially if the dry food is not the major component of your feeds. Doesn't look the most appetizing product on earth but even my two fussies will eat it. Stools are smaller, harder and easier to pick up. And even the skinny minny has put on weight in the space of a couple of weeks.

I love my Coat King. I use a 26 on the American Cockers, adult and puppy. Doesn't suit ALL coat textures, but even on the less successful ones it still rips out the dead undercoat on the saddles like there is no tomorrow!! I have SOOO many huge ugly callouses on my thumbs and forefingers from handstripping and the Coat King is an absolute godsend!!!!

Taking a young puppy for extended walks on a lead is akin to making a human toddler jog around the block. Self-exercise is safest and more fun for any baby. 10 or 15 minutes on a lead per day just in the front or backyard for lead training is sufficient. Any more than this can cause early wear and tear on major joints.

Sounds like inverted canines to me by your description. I'm sorry but it is a jaw problem. The bottom jaw isn't wide enough (and in some cases long enough) for the canine teeth to sit in the right position. It is hereditary, it can be aggravated by retained baby teeth and the bad news is that there probably isn't much that can be done, short of removing the canines from the bottom jaw. Check with a canine dentist but be aware that Inverted canines are quite a big problem in Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

Sounds like converged canines to me (as per my previous post). Common problem in Staffords and I hate to say it but it rarely corrects itself. It isn't so much a "tooth" problem as a jaw problem (botton jaw is wrong size and shape) and is hereditary.

Could be genetic. There are some lines of Staffords which tend to have rather scrambled teeth. There are others which have inverted canines. I'm afraid short of expensive dental surgery there probably isn't much you can do about it. Once those adult teeth come in, being permanent teeth, they're there to stay.

I'd certainly check with your regular vet. Certainly injectables get into the system quicker than oral meds. And you saw how quickly she went downhill. The problem is that you don't know now if the beesting was enough to desensitise her (the latest "buzzword" in allergies) or if it is enough that next time could be fatal. Either way, be prepared. Better to be safe than sorry. Glad she's ok now. It would have been frightening for you all.

Believe me, I can relate! A few other DOLers have seen this photo...it has been posted on numerous occasions in the past. However for those who haven't seen it.....THIS is the reason my dogs must be bathed so often....can you imagine this on your bed??? ETA: BTW, SOMEWHERE in the brown water in the bathtub is a black American Cocker Spaniel!!!!

Well, ALL of my dogs, including my "smelly ones" are on a good diet. They wouldn't grow hair and be as shiny as they are otherwise. My Stafford (and Rottweiler) rarely get bathed unless they have rolled in horse sh!t or something equally as pleasant. I don't mind the smell but I do object to the extra laundry because Dolly Stafford sleeps on my bed and rides in the car every day when I go to do the horse-paddock bit. The long-coats MUST be bathed religiously or they don't grow hair. As they are either actively being shown or being grown in for show purposes, it is important that they stay clean because dirty coat matts and clean coat grows. They do tend to get a bit "doggy" smelling if not bathed, but are more often than not "earthy" rather than doggy having spent the majority of their time digging holes and generally acting like fat pigs in the mudholes they create in my backyard. Not good for show coats, but they're happy and that is my main concern. My house is grotty enough without them dragging dirty hair around for a long time between baths. And yes, my house smells but nothing that a good vaccuum, kitty litter tray empty, fresh air and heaps of oil and incense won't take care of!! Anyway, if you ask me, my kids stink worse than my dogs do!

Dolly Stafford gets a bath whenever she needs it...depends upon whether or not she has been to the horse paddock and rolled in anything. The American Cockers are bathed weekly. They smell very doggy very quickly otherwise and if it has been damp, their coats begin to take on the aroma of wet carpet. And besides, they're easier to keep in coat if they're clean because dirt attracts more dirt and causes knots and hair loss.

My dogs are bathed weekly and I empty anal glands when they're in the bath. No real dramas whatsoever. They just get that "oh here we go again" look on their face and then it is over with in an instant and "the evidence" is simply hosed down the drain.

Just to add, I use it a LOT. My cats drink it and the kitty litter trays aren't as offensive. My dogs drink it and they don't smell as much, particularly the boys and the girls don't leave those attractive burnt rings on the grass. I also give it to my horses and have in fact just purchased a huge big container of natural ACV which is mixed with garlic - will see how it goes with the animals. I drink it warm with honey and I haven't had a UTI for years (used to be VERY prone to them once!). Simply excellent stuff!

Check to see that the manufacturer hasn't altered the formulation of the ACV. I recently found that the one I used to get had added preservatives.

Hi Debs Excellent news that it was "just" a cherry eye and nothing else sinister. Let us know how it all goes.

I'd be seeking a vets advice, especially if you've pushed it back in and it keeps reappearing. The risk with third eye prolapse (cherry eye) is the eye drying out. If the membrane is exposed for too long it can prevent it from being successfully tacked back into place and often then requires surgical removal.

Some breeds with a looser eye have a predisposition towards it. It can be hereditary. It can be caused by stress and is quite common in some breeds at teething time.

If it is what I THINK it is, sounds like a cherry eye to me (prolapsed third eyelid). He'll probably need to have it tacked into place if it keeps appearing. http://www.eyevet.info/cherry.html

Not related to dogs but may give food for thought. Most horse nutrionists recommend feeding horses from ground level to help avoid air emboli which can also contribute to colic. Also Shek, you can purchase Glucosamine and Vit C from Health Food shops or even from the supermarket. And if you're in town check out the Pharmacy Warehouse because they're really good on prices as well.

Shek are you adding Glucosamine and Vitamin C to his food? They were some of the things that were HIGHLY stressed as being necessary to support rapid growth in the breed by Luther's breeder. ETA: What were his parent's feet like? Sometimes flat/splayed feet are genetic. DAMN my father for giving me the gene for dropped arches!!

hehe...trust you to notice!

The only time I have problems is when I take too much bed, snore or fart too much....then the dog complains.

GOM, unless you are actively showing, you really don't NEED "top of the line" products for your dogs. You need a good quality slicker brush (I recommend the "Doggyman" slickers which are hard to get but there are other soft slickers on the market), a good quality pin brush (which doesn't need to cost you $60 when you can pay under $20) and a good quality comb. The comb you already have but I'd ditch the pin brush with the knobs on the ends of the pins and I'd get rid of that slicker. It looks to be very hard backed with no "give" to the pins. I can't remember where you live but if you can get to a dog show, check out some of the vendor vans which will have pretty much everything you need.

I'm not a good one to ask. I personally don't like them. A lot of money to spend when there are comparable brushes on the market which are cheaper. You might like to look at the PSI range for a start. I've just been sent a Plush Puppy pin brush which I'm trialling and that seems to be pretty good so far too.