Barty's Mum

Why don't you try giving garlic oil capsules every day in their food, this is one natural alternative that does work for repelling ticks and fleas on about 80% of dogs it has been tried on. I use it down here in France where the ticks and fleas are now resistant to Frontline and the little so and so's are rampant. Last summer we didn't have a single problem - started mine on them a month ago as we were having temperatures over 20C and so far so good. I buy mine from Healthspan but you could get special doggy ones from Hilton Herbs. And before you ask, no it doesn't make them smell of garlic. Anne, Barty & Chloe

Happy birthday you beautiful boy.

I, too, heard this on the news this morning, but what you have to ask is what was the premise for the research in the first place - ie the question they were seeking to answer and who was paying for the research. I have been in marketing all my life and can make research say just about anything I want it to. Any other published studies you will find will be funded by one faction or another. My advice to you is take advice from people who have anecdotal evidence that shows one brand or other or supplement works and then try it. Anne

If that doesn't work you could try some flower essences. I used Honeysuckle on Chloe (for forgetting past fears and troubles) when she escaped from friends and was gone all night. She was a nervous wreck and back to her scared behaviour after that but a good dose of Honeysuckle for 3 days and she is actually better now than she was before she escaped.

Bless she was so pretty

Hi, I currently have a few dog jumpers for sale on Ebay - with all proceeds going to the Oldies Club. Click on the following links and help Oldies while keeping your dog warm and snuggly this winter. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250539520361&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT 18" Aran Jumper http:...//cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250539520991&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT 22" Blue Boucle Jumper http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250539520991&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT 21" Sparkly Plum Boucle Jumper http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250539522658&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT 15" Wine/Cream Jumper http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250539523172&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT 15" Black/Purple Jumper http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250539523825&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT 15" Black/Red Jumper I can also knit jumpers to any size that you want. Again ALL proceeds to Oldies Club

The other thing I absolutely swear by is Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) - buy a bottle online and dilute it down. Fantastic for this and loads of other things. It is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral. Brilliant. I recommended it to Sarah when Flora was shaved for her hip op and she didn't get the normal problems she got with the shaving rash. Hope it helps Anne

Hi, I use Cortaflex for my 28Kg lurcher with multiple spinal and HD issues and it works extremely well for him. There is also Synflex that is cheaper and has had good reviews. Regarding the anaethestic, if you do need to do this, can you ask your vet to use the expensive one they use for greyhounds. It is what I always have had for Barty's sedatives. They come round a lot quicker and with less side effects. Barty (being lurcher) is very sensitive to anaesthetics and I am always ultra cautious with him. Anne

Can't wait for this one - I love quizzes

As the carer for a rather dear lurcher with terrible hips due to HD, I would offer a word of caution about OVER exercising a dog with bad hips. Exercise should be given in little and often type rather than one huge walk a day which can do far more harm than good. I have only ever known one GSD with bad hips and she was like my own dear Barty. No sockets at all - she was road walked every day of life, fed raw tripe and she lived until she was 12. So I guess that sort of answers the can they live a normal life. My own boy certainly lives a normal life, he is coming up for 7 and we got him at just over 5 months. HTH Anne