Gretel

Fair enough

Yes Gretel was on it for the last 12 months or so of her life for arthritis and it helped her a lot. I've also used it after surgery a couple of times.

Poor little Sweep. I hope he is okay.

Cavaliers can do anything... They love agility, lure coursing and also flyball, they will do anything that you ask of them. Once the cavalier is full grown (approx 12 mths) they should be fine with a large dog, but before that they are just too little to be able to hold their own and will often get hurt from the rough play or just being annoying. Indeed I used to do obedience (until I got lazy!) and did well with my girl. If you have a look on my website at Portia and Tally's page you will see two little tricolours with lots of letters after their names that they have acheived doing agility.

My old girl choked on a neck once - she was a gulper. I got it out of her throat and she was okay (gave me quite a scare though!). When the necks I buy are big thick ones I attack them with the meat cleaver to smash them up a bit so they are not a perfect shape to block the throat if they don't chew properly. Another of my girls was choking on a lamb flap once and got very distressed. She's always been one to chew well so that did surprise me. I always keep a close eye on them while they are eating. A dog I was looking after choked on a piece of Four Legs. I had promised the owner I wouldn't give her chicken necks cause she was worried about her choking and she went and choked on that instead! It really gave me an awful fright. Bad enough one of mine but this was someone else's dog. I noticed not long after that they were making the pieces smaller so maybe I was not the only one to have a problem.

NattyJ, Cavaliers really are a companion breed and do best when they can be a companion I have rehoused dogs that barked, scratched up doors and generally made a nuisance of themselves cause they were bored and lonely.

Chicken frames are good. I've never seen turkey necks at our Woolies either.

There is the possibility that it is an innocent murmur that will disappear. That is not uncommon. Without a cardio exam it can only be guesses. Hopefully it will be okay.

Yes you will get lots of different opinions on feeding In the past I have fed BARF but tend to feed a bit of a mix at the moment. Last night they all had a chicken wing, tonight will be some Artemis and a raw egg. I like to give chicken carcasses so Ingrid will chew - she doesn't chew much at all. They get necks, raw liver, chicken hearts, sardines (fresh and tinned), Eagle Pack Holistic and a chunk of raw meat every now and then.

So no person that works full time will get one of your dogs? Wow. Are Cavs so different to other breeds? Cavaliers were bred to be companion dogs and do best with company. I have sold puppies to people who have another dog so the Cav is not home alone for hours. I have also sold two siblings to families on two ocassions and that has worked out very well.

10% bone isn't much is it? They would probably get about that but really with the way their anal glands are it is not suiting them. I think their diet needs a bit of tweeking. Thanks for all the replies I have fed BARF but never prey model so haven't looked into what it entails.

That makes sense. Plus the amount of an ice cube is quite small.

My dogs always have ice cubes when I have a drink. They all have for nearly 30 years.

I've worked out I think they had chicken of some sort for a couple of meals but it only had a small amount of bone. I did see the pieces at the chicken shop today and recognised them. I think they are part of the leg but there is only a little bone. I said something about giving them chicken wings but she told me they don't have them any more cause there is too much bone? No they are adults so not going through any growing. They are going home tomorrow so I will have a chat. Thanks for the input people

That's true. I used to empty their glands every month or two when they were on BARF. Never the amount like this though! They have a raw egg for breakfast and tea is a couple of sardines or a lump of meat and a couple of chicken hearts. Along those lines. Their meals all came made up and I've just been feeding what was sent.

Can you give me an idea of what your's would eat for a meal please?

I'm looking after two Cavs who I bred and have just emptied their anal glands. I did them about a month ago and there was a lot in there but today even worse! One girl I thought I'd finished and gave one more squeeze and ended up with chunks down my shirt They are being fed prey mode. Previously they were on BARF but their owner has changed them over. Their coats look better now but it can't be good with the anal glands filling up this quickly and this much. I've never come across so much! Anyone else feeding this way and any input please?

I think this will vary quite a bit depending on area. I think most good breeders around Sydney are charging around $900 to $1000.

Anal glands are really nothing to worry about, Shelley. It is quite common with a lot of dogs. Some need emptying more often than others and some never. The vet can do it or you can ask a groomer or you can learn to do it yourself and just do them every now and then when you are bathing her.

Yes just give him more and maybe feed something like lamb flaps which are great for putting on weight ;)

<Yes I know that 8-9 hours is a long time to leave a puppy, but what can I do when one has to work a 9-5 job I guess my only solution is to make the pen higher and keep discouraging her from jumping...a lot of spying on the weekends for me > And that is why I won't sell a Cavalier pup to someone who is away from home that long unless the pup has company. Your's sort of has company but she can't play with or sleep with the other dog. Discouraging her from jumping is not going to work. Have you thought what would happen if she got her leg caught as she was jumping over? If you try to modify the pen to keep her in you risk her getting caught in something. Dogs have been strangled trying to get out of things. If she is going to be penned she needs a really secure pen with a lid.

Is her 'brother' another Cavalier? If so why can't they be together? 8 or 9 hours is a very long time to leave a Cavalier puppy. And yes, since she can jump out she will continue too. They are not particularly known for jumping but some do.

You can find us here http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...p;#entry3787782 Generally pups have a puppy pen with paper down and a bed so as they start walking they tend to toddle off the bedding and pee on the paper. I wonder if your pup was kept in an area where all the flooring was the same. Did you see the place the pup was raised?

Jules, Ingrid developed a tiny lump on her top eyelid not long after she came to me so I raced her off to the vet. She used a syringe to get some fluid out and said it may return but it didn't. Six years later another appeared but then went after about a week.

Some excellent replies on here Can I just mention something that really bothers me in the breed? They are supposed to be happy, friendly little dogs and it is terribly sad to see aggressive and timid Cavaliers about. I have even seen a dog bite a judge on the table as it was being judged I've looked after another who was so terrified she would attack anyone who came near her A Cavalier with a good temperament is a wonderful companion. They are intelligent and the vast majority are very easy to train since they want to please you - plus most will do anything for a yummy treat If you are looking at buying a pup meet the dogs and be sure they have good temperaments.