Ever wondered what it’s like to live with an Airedale, Persian, Rag Doll or Zuchon? How about a shelter or stray cat? A special needs or designer dog? Ever wondered if you could survive a crisis with your pet – or what to watch for to prevent one? Miss T gives you the word from the trenches with the world’s best cat and dog column: “Four Paws and Me”.

How lucky can you get? You and your best friend live and play in one of the coolest toy stores in the city. And the toy store is just across from one mother of an off-lead park? Welcome to the world of Buzzy and Chops and their two legged pals Sofie Barrett and her mother Niki Hearman. Even with a little fear of loud noises to contend with, it’s easy to see these guys are living the good life!

So when and where did you first meet Buzzy?
Sofie: My boyfriend and I were down at the local gay and lesbian festival that used to happen on Brunswick Street 11 years ago. We walked past a pet shop and popped in. And there she was. A miniature Pintzer cross Aussie Terrier. Adorable! She was the only brown dog of the litter to also have a little brown nose. Then she stood up on her back legs and that was it. She came on home with us.

And Chops?
Niki: My partner’s dog died about three years ago. So I kept on telling him to get another dog to keep him company (which is just sooo funny, cos he spends so much of his time with me!) Anyway, we started off looking at the Lort Smith Animal Hospital Hospital and then the Lost Dogs Homes but we never met a dog we felt was “the one”, you know? Then a woman came into our second shop in Mornington. She worked at the vets and said that they’d just got in some Tenterfield pups. We swapped phone numbers and the next time we were in the area we dropped in.

I’m always curious as to how people choose their pup out of a litter. How did you pick out Chops?
He was the quietest, he was crying and he was sitting all by himself – having a sook, as he still does. He’s been with us every day ever since – he’s the best. Except for the shedding - he’s worse than a cat!

And what have you found to be one of the most trying times to go through with Buzzy, Sofie?
Sofie: Probably the time Buzzy ate 30 chicken bones she’d managed to grab out of the bin.
Niki: She was clogged right up to the whatsit wasn’t he?
Sofie: I didn’t have a car. And mum was away. And so I had to cab it to the vets by myself. And nobody cared about Buzzy!
Niki: Oh, that’s not true!
Sofie: No one did! Except mum! She did. It was just awful. I saw how sick she was. She was crying and spewing up her guts.

And what was your most dramatic moment with Chops?
Niki: Not long ago, my partner took Chops out to the park. It was a really busy day. About an hour later, Chops came tearing into the shop all by himself! Something must have made a loud noise at the park which was across a couple of roads and he’d flown out of the park, zooming back into to the shop. He literally flew back in! Now if something freaks him out he gets all “hetski-sketsi”. It can be as simple as if a door starts to close or air comes out of the heater. Just this weekend gone, he saw an upside down wheelbarrow on the lawn and freaked! He was barking at it for ages!

What do you most love about your pooches?
Niki: Their unconditional love
Sofie: Buzzy’s my best friend. We’ve been through everything together. All that growing up that happens between 14 and 26. Lots of things happen in that time! There’s been high school and boyfriends and getting pretty down. She was really there for me.

Yeah?
Sofie: Yeah. She was like my little nurse, wasn’t she mum?
Niki: She sure was.
Sofie: She lay beside me for almost six months! But all that crying I did into her fur has kind of back fired now. I mean it was full on, and once I’d gotten over it, she’s never let me go back. Now if I cry she bolts out of the room. She won’t handle swearing, or yelling either. It’s kind of like she’s gotten stronger somehow. She had enough. Sometimes, even if I just laugh loud, she’ll do a runner.
Niki: Chops is a different kettle of fish really to Buzzy. Buzzy is certainly the boss out of the two of them. The real matriarch. Their both characters and Chops is hilarious! We just sit back and laugh most days. And he’s wise too. I can tell what he’s thinking and he can tell what I’m thinking.
Sofie: Yeah, he’s awesome. He interacts a lot. When he plays with the ball, he always shares it around. So if I’ve thrown the ball to him, he’ll take it to the next person, then the next. Whereas Buzzy (who’s naturally very sweet) can be greedy. Even if she doesn’t want the stuff.
Niki: Chops and I are a real team. When we drive to our Mornington shop, Chops sits up in the middle, looking straight ahead and says “Forward Ho mum!” Chops actually runs both of toy shops. We call him Mr. Mornington.

From your own personal experience, what advice would you give to anyone with a pet like yours?
Sofie: Look after them, but don’t spoil them like mum does.
Niki: Not fair!
Sofie: Adore them, respect them. Look out for them.
Niki: Take them to the beach.
Sofie: Give them a massage if they get anxious. Buzzy loves her massages. And talk to them as though as if they’re human. I mean they’re your best mate aren’t they?

Sofie Barrett works with her mum Niki Hearman in their wonderfully imaginative toy shop the Singing Whale. Forget your “Made in China” plastic fantastics, this store is chocker with colourful traditional and educational style toys loved by litte and big kids around the world. Buzzy and Chops are kept busy with stock taking and lunchtime entertainment gigs.

A Bit about Dogs with a Fear of Loud Noises
Shhhhhh……With their superhuman hearing abilities, a lot of dogs become seriously spun out when they hear the whizz bang of firecracker night, a hearty clap of thunder, the 12 wheel rumble of a semi or a crazy backfiring car in the street.

Internet pages are packed with stories of runaway dogs on New Year’s Eve, or neurotic dogs fizzing in a thunderstorm. The good news is that with patience and sensitivity, your pooch can be trained to lead a happy, confident life even amongst the clang and the roar of the 21^st century.

What NOT to do when your dog gets the “heebee jeebees”

1. Punishment and reprimands are one of the worst things you can do. Not only will your dog fear the thunder, but he’ll be scared witless of you too.
2. Ironically, it’s also not wise to reassure or comfort your pup when they’re in fear mode. It sounds harsh, and it can be bloody hard to do, but it’s really important to stop yourself from giving them a cuddle. What you’ll really be saying to them with as you scratch behind their ears or rub their tummy is “Good boy!! Your acting all scared and frightened and that’s fantastic! You keep doing that and I’ll keep giving you snuggles!”

How to Desensitize Your Noise-Phobic Dog

Measure the Level of Stress
Some dogs might just shiver at your feet when they hear a loud noise, others with more extreme phobias will literally jump through fly screen doors, leap off verandahs or take off into the night. Get to know your dog’s pattern of escalation so you can act before he’s out of control.

Prepare a Safe Place
When a dog is really bugged out, you might need to pop him in a safe place where he can’t hurt himself or do any damage. A crate can be ideal, but make sure that he’s accustomed to the crate before the storm and sees it as a safe haven where he feels protected and cared for. You don’t want him thinking he’s beings punished.

Distract You Dog with Happy Things
It’s difficult for a dog to feel afraid when playing her favourite game. The idea is to distract. You can also get her doing some tricks that you know she has down pat. She might have trouble concentrating at first, so the better she knows the games and tricks, the easier it will be for her to perform under pressure.

Reward!
When your dog is obeying your commands, then shower him with affection and attention! He’ll be getting treats for being an excellent little performing pup, not for behaving fearfully.

Desensitise and Relax
You can also gradually get him used to scary noises — and I’m not just talking about the latest Mariah Carey album. These days, you can actually buy soundtrack CDs of fireworks and thunderstorms. Begin playing them at a very low volume to your pooch. You should barely be able to hear it, but your dog will. Over the following weeks or months, increase the volume very gradually. The dog should hardly be able to notice the change. If your pup does show any signs of fear, decrease the volume again, and proceed a little more slowly. This method will work quite quickly if you combine it with distraction training.

Ever wondered what it’s like to live with an Airedale, Persian, Rag Doll or Zuchon? How about a shelter or stray cat? A special needs or designer dog? Ever wondered if you could survive a crisis with your pet — or what to watch for to prevent one? Miss T gives you the word from the trenches with the world’s best cat and dog column: “Four Paws and Me”.

Never thought of dogsonline.com.au as an internet relationship site? Well, four years ago it brought Oska, the firey West Highland Terrier and Alex Ross together at last. They’ve been head over heels ever since - and together they survived a terrible run-in with rat poison!

What do you get up to in your life?
Looking after this one! (chuckles and nods to Oska sitting at her feet). I run the Ginger Bar in Brunswick St and enjoy a great social life. I hop on my bike and head out to the bars. It’s great because I can claim that I’m just doing my homework!

When and where did you first meet Oska?
When I first took my flat mate out to meet Oska at her breeders, she was just six weeks old. It was love at first sight. It was another two weeks before I could take her home with me. It was the longest two weeks of my life!

It was amazing actually. When I went back to pick her up, she sat really quietly on my lap, facing me. And then she very gently put her nose on my mouth and just pushed it. It was as if she was saying, “Hey, it’s cool. I like you!” Dogs are great aren’t they? (smiles) Interestingly, the last dog we had before Oska did a very similar thing when we first met. People seem to have this instinct, don’t they, on how to pick their dog?

And why did you pick Oska out of the litter?
There were two other little girls there and, to be honest, Oska was the prettiest! She had the most beautiful coat. She’d had a hernia, which meant she couldn’t be used for breeding and I said to the breeder, “I can’t promise to be the best dog owner ever, but I can promise I’ll be her best friend.” And then the breeder called me and said, “I’ve thought about you guys, and I think you’re supposed to be together.”

Why did you decide that it was time to have a pet in your life? Was there a catalyst?
I’ve always loved dogs and three months before I got Oska, our Schnauzer Ludi, who was living with mum, died. Although she lived with mum, I’d have her for one night a week. Then, suddenly at 13, she just died. Schnauzers tend to go very quickly. It’s like they’re a puppy one week and a very old dog the next.

I don’t make many decisions lightly, so I thought hard about what kind of dog would suit and because I’m so busy, I actually did a lot of my research on the internet with www.dogzonline.com.au. It helped me fast track a lot of the research and it was dead easy to use.

Since then I’ve been looking for a little brother or sister for Oska and I’ve visited the site again.

Why choose a West Highland Terrier?
Well, normally I’m a large dog breed person, but because of my house and my lifestyle, I figured that it would be best if I had a small dog. Initially I was considering a Cairn terrier and not long after, I met this little Westie called Max. I fell in love. I never wanted a white fluffy dog but she’s not really a white fluffy. She’s got a bit of spark, you know? She’s independent, willful and very intelligent! But I’m going to get a Cairn terrier this time around. A black one so that I can have one white dog and one black dog!

When do you think you’ll get the second one?
Probably around October. I’ve been advised that it’s best to get a boy dog with a girl. Apparently two gals living together can be trouble. It’ll be strange to have a boy around; I’ve always had girl dogs in my life.

What’s been the most difficult time you’ve had to go through with Oska?
It was like she was suicidal for the first four months! Honestly. First up we were at a friend’s place on the first floor and the window was open. I turned around and saw her standing very close to the window ledge. I looked at her and said, “You stay there!” And she looked at me as if to say, “Ok mum. Sure thing.” The next thing, I turn back and she’s standing on the ledge! I couldn’t believe it! I went up to her very, very carefully and then grabbed her by the skin on her neck. I got to her just in time.

Then, a few weeks later, I was upstairs in my office. Because I work in the food industry, we have lots of health controls, one of them being rat baits. Anyway, of course I puppy proofed my office within an inch of its life; put up all kinds of barriers surrounding the areas where the rat baits were. But someone had come up and moved one of the barriers when I wasn’t there right? So I’m working at my desk and the next thing I know, Oska’s dropped an empty rat bait on my foot and is standing there looking at me, pleased as punch. I ran down as fast as I could and told the staff I had to get the vet’s straight away. They induced vomit after vomit until she didn’t want to vomit anymore. Then they gave her this kind of drop to put in her eye and it induced more vomiting. Oh, it was awful! We had to give her Vitamin K for weeks after and the vets said that I had to be doubly careful around her and rat baits now that she’d gotten a taste for them. I guess if it’s attractive to rats it’s also going to be attractive to dogs. God, it scared me so much and still does. It really makes me think how frightening it must be for parents and their kids.

What do you most love about Oska?

Boy, that’s a hard one! Just everything! It sounds corny but I fall in love with her more and more and more everyday. I get all gooey around her. I love the fact she’s so feisty. She’s a big dog in a small body. She’s not afraid of anyone or anything. She’s happy to try and do anything. I love that.

How would you describe Oska’s personality?
Wilful, feisty, independent and yet sooo loving! Of course, all those traits have their pros and cons, but I hate berating her. I hate people seeing her as a white fluffy toy dog. Other people might think that I spoil her, but given the fact that I work late and work long hours, there are a lot of times when she has to sit at the office while I work and get cuddles on the couch in front of the tele rather than having a big run.

From your own personal experience, what advice would you give to anyone with a pet like yours?
Establish yourself as the alpha in the pack straight away. Once they know you’re boss, they won’t try to push it. My housemates think that she can be a real little miss, but that’s because they don’t use the tools I give them to keep her in line. She automatically assumes that she’s the top dog with them.

She’s never gone to puppy school, but when we get the new dog, I figure that they can go together.

What’s her favourite activity?
Going to the park, beach, river. Anywhere with grass where she can roll about happily.

What’s been your “best find” for you and your pet?
Oska’s allergic to red meat, she gets itchy on her legs, and I was giving her kangaroo because I thought it was really good for her with all of the iron and protein in it. But it was having a bad effect on her. Smelly farts too! So now I give her something I found at the local pet shop which is called Eagle Pack Dog Food She has chicken or turkey and it’s a dry food.

I also LOVE her oatmeal shampoo, It’s so good for her

Alex Ross opened one of Melbourne’s first cocktail bars with her mum six years ago. Last year, Ginger Bar was voted as one of the best bars in the world by Bartender Magazine Australia. It’s a passion, a love and something that they’re hugely proud of.

A Bit About Rat Poisoning
Dave and I went to the movies to watch Rataoullie last night. Never having been comfortable with the idea of rat poison before the movie, I’m even less flexible now.

Cute little rats with shiny pink noses, who can cook — let ‘em live to achieve their personal best I say!

Seriously though,

What is Rat Poison?

Rat poison is an anticoagulant that attacks the blood, not the stomach. The poison thins the blood and destroys its clotting ability. The animals drown in their own sticky red stuff. Not nice, even for rats.

How will I know if my pets been poisoned?Not every dog or cat owner is lucky enough to have a rat bait dropped at their feet by the animal that ate it. Lucky because it can actually take several days after the poison has been eaten for symptoms to show. Generally, a poisoned pet will look weak and pale with bleeding not always appearing externally.

If bleeding does appear, you might see bleeding from the gums, nose, or bum. Coughing is another sign something is wrong and what seems like a mild cough can be life-threatening in just over 24 hours.

Sometimes bloody urine or poo is evident or the pet might suffer a nosebleed.

Because certain bait pellets used in the mouse/rat poisons are neon or blue green, they can turn a dog’s poo to be the same bright green.

Increased Resistance

Because rodents are becoming increasingly poison resistant, pest control companies are using more and more potent poisons to counteract it. And to be sure they entice the pests into the traps, the poison is hidden inside attractants like molasses, brown sugar and peanut butter. These attractants certainly have the power to attract pets as well.

Secondary Poisoning

Since the poisons are so potent, another danger to our pets is that if they eat a dead animal that has been killed from rat poison, then they will also be poisoned. A real threat to our native wildlife too (owls hunt mice as prey).

Act Quick

There is some good news for pets in all of this. If the poisoning is caught in its tracks, the survival rate is high if they get immediate treatment. A blood test is available that accurately detects exposure to rat poison and there is an antidote that can be given in the form of an injection. The dog can be saved and make a full recovery quite quickly.

Ongoing Treatment

Treatment involves an injection of vitamin K (Konakion) to help clot the blood – with a follow up treatment of antidote pills twice a day for around three weeks.

Prevention is better than a cure

• Never transfer toxic products into jars or bowls from which pets can drink.
• Some mouse and insect killing products use peanut butter as an attractant. The peanut butter is also attractive to dogs. If you have to use these rat poisons, place them in areas that are inaccessible to your companion animals.
• If you are uncertain about the proper usage of any product, contact the manufacturer and/or your veterinarian for instructions.
• Have the phone number of your veterinarian and the emergency vet numberIf you think that your pet may have ingested poison of any type, immediately contact your local poison control center for help. Keep your pet warm and quiet, and try to determine what the poison was, when it was ingested, and the amount ingested. Have the label with you when you call the poison centre or visit your veterinarian.

Ever wondered what it’s like to live with an Airedale, Persian, Rag Doll or Zuchon? How about a shelter or stray cat? A special needs or designer dog? Ever wondered if you could survive a crisis with your pet — or what to watch for to prevent one? Miss T gives you the word from the trenches with the world’s best cat and dog column: “Four Paws and Me”.

At 13, Floyd would have “House”, the sarcastic limping tv doc, scratching his temples till they bled. Helen Altmajer, loving mum to Floyd and easygoing Maltese boy Moka, tells a story that would make any Medical Drama proud.

So, tell me about your dogs
Floyd is a Rhodesian Ridgeback and will be 13 on the 29^th of September. I’m amazed he made it this far, but he’s still kickin’! Moka, our Maltese x dog is nine, and is such an easy dog.

Easy? How so?
Well, as a six-month-old pup, Floyd was diagnosed with Dermoid Sinus - a condition that specifically affects Rhodiesian Ridgebacks. He’s also been on heart medications for the last year and half and diagnosed twice with cancer. Once at age five and again at the beginning of this year. The tumour this time round was wound around both bones in his leg which meant that the vets had to take the bone out completely in order to get to the tumour. Now his leg is like a layer cake; bone, titanium plate then bone again.

Oh yeah, he also ate a bone that was left in the park by someone else. It lodged deep in his esophagus and took the strength of three nurses to pull it out! I don’t even want to think about what our bank account would look like if both Floyd and Moka had health problems!

What were the first signs of his cancer?
When Floyd was five, his breath was getting really smelly. I’d keep on taking him to the vet who continued to tell me that I should just give him bones, brush his teeth more often, all that kind of oral health kind of stuff. But it never changed; his breath would get very smelly again very quickly. But I wouldn’t give up and kept on taking him to the vet until I got pretty emotional about it. In the end, the vet listened to me and looked in his mouth and there was this huge lump in there! I could tell, just by the tone of his voice that something bad was happening. The specialist he referred us to said he didn’t have a hope in hell and suggested that they either put him down there and then or we take him home and spoil him for a couple of months. I was like, “Spoil him!!?? He gets his meals cooked meals and walked twice a day! What more do you want me to do? Take him on an overseas trip?”

I was bawling. It was the worst week of my life. I just cried the whole time. The vets were so keen on getting him put down; his stats were 60/40, weighted in the negative. On the day of the operation, they had to remove the whole bottom of his jaw. I remember just seeing it and wondering, “God is there anything left of it? What’s going to hold up his head?”

So how did he cope after the operation?
The vets wanted to prepare me for the worst I guess. They said he’d be quiet and off his food but when they opened the door, Floyd came sprinting towards me, legs flying and he was STARVING!

When and where did you first meet Floyd and Moka?
Both of them came when I was with my previous partner, Chris. He wanted a dog. I’d only ever owned small dogs before so when we went out and saw these HUGE Ridgeback dogs I was mortified! I mean Floyd as a pup was bigger than the full-grown Pomeranian I’d lived with before! And while we stood there and watched, he destroyed everything in sight! He destroyed a hose, a pot plant, and the back of a car seat! He was a menace! And my partner turned to me and said, “Isn’t he adorable? I want him!” So, he came home with us and after the first week, I said, “You know, if we split up, it’s not negotiable, the dog comes with me.” Which is exactly what happened. But yeah, Chris and I are still good friends and he even baby-sits our pups for us at times.

And Moka?
Well he came when my partner bought a pet shop. His shop was going to close for a few days over Christmas, so he brought home Moka (who, as a pup, looked like a tiny moccasin shoe) and even at that size, he could hold her own with Floyd. He wasn’t going back. No way!

How would you describe Floyd’s personality?
Stubborn. Weelll, not so much stubborn as determined. I’ve never met a dog who had so much fight in them. I mean there he was last weekend, hopping along on his three legs, with a pretty major heart condition, chasing after rabbits like there was nothing wrong with him.

He’s also calm and very cunning! There was this one time when there was some food on the bench and I hear this crash from the kitchen and I rush in and there’s Floyd lifting up his paw and whimpering like he’s hurt and I’m like “Oh baby! What’s wrong?” and I forget ALL about the fact that he’s getting food off the bench and then once he sees that, bam! He’s off out the door, sore foot over and done with. It was hilarious!

From your own personal experience, what advice would you give to anyone with a pet like yours?

1. Take out Pet Insurance! We’ve spent well over $10,000 on Floyd in vet bills. Unfortunately, by the time Floyd was five, he had so many health problems, it was going to be nigh on impossible to get any Pet Insurer to cover him. So we learned our lesson the hard way. We insured Moka before anything too much had gone wrong with him. He’s been easy up to now, but as he grows older, it’s inevitable that something will go wrong. Better to be safe than sorry.
2. It’s also great to have a strong support network. Family, friends, there’s no way I could have gone through what we’ve gone through if Rich hadn’t been at home cooking dinners for us while I shuttled Floyd to and from vets for months on end.
3. It’s also great to be in an environment where everyone around me loves dogs too. People like that will appreciate that if something’s up with my dogs, then something’s going to be up with me.

What’s Floyd’s favourite activity?
Chasing rabbits and food. He once stole a kid’s backpack that had a packed lunch in it and he loves eating tacos. Once I was trying to get him to lay off his food obsession so I put a big taco in front of him, heaped with hot chili sauce. Anyway, he gulped it down and absolutely LOVED it! So much for that!

What’s been your “best find” for you and your pet?
“Vets All Natural” I mix it with raw roo meat. It’s got grains, veges, garlic, parsley and vitamins and minerals. It’s good stuff, a complete mix formula and 100% preservative free. Also another “Vet’s All Natural” product for his joints - Shark Cartilage Powder . It’s helped so much with Floyd’s arthritis and made all the difference with him being able to walk again. Really sped up the process.

Is there anything special that you do with your pet to add value to their lives?
Exercise. Whether your dog is big or small it’s great for them to get out morning and night. It gives them stimulation, socialization and manners. You can’t put a price on that kind of activity.

Helen started up her own dog grooming and pet accessories business eight years ago. Pet Art has boomed in funky North Fitzroy, where Helen has combined her natural creative flair and animal husbandry skills in an area that is dog friendly and filled with artists, writers and creatives. Richard works as a service provider for maintenance, asset and project management.

The two have been together for eight years and happily married for three.

A Bit about Pet Insurance
Let’s face it, who wants to research Pet Insurance? Most policies seem way too confusing and expensive. Nevertheless, as our furry loved ones are graced with ever increasing family member status, decisions on expensive vet surgery can get pretty complicated and emotional. Vet associations predict that in the next five years, more and more pets will be referred to specialist care, which means bigger, longer, weightier vet bills. It’s a sad fact but true that most people are kicking themselves when their best mate is on the operating table, wishing like crazy they’d taken the time to do a spot of pet insurance investigation. The pay-off is obvious. Even when you’re facing a bill as big as Greenland, you’ll be feeling financially confidently and happy to stand back and let the vet do what their best at. That few days or even week of research could really bring a smile to your dial when the chips are down.

Get in Early
Even if your pet has been seemingly bullet proof for years, by the time your cat or dog reaches seven, the likelihood of illness becomes a lot greater. Most Pet Insurers will not insure animals after the age of nine and if of a particular breed, some only up to the age of seven.

Affordability
Happily, pet insurance is getting more competitive which means greater savings for savvy pet owners. It’s now possible to buy a decent policy for less than $30 a month for dogs and $15 a year for cats.

Accident and/or Illness?
Most policies will offer an “accident only” policy or an “accident and illness policy”. The accident only policies are a cheaper option in the short term, but in the long term, may not provide value for money.
Because of the growing rate of pets living indoors and also the fact that many city councils have enforced night curfews on cats and dogs, visits to vets because of an accident or injury (an unforeseen external event that causes injury to your pet) have dropped to just 10%. The remaining 90% of vet visits is connected to illness (sickness or disease not caused by injury).

Extras?
My research has concluded that the “Premium” or “Extras” options which cover some general health procedures (vaccinations, worming etc) not normally covered in pet insurance policies, aren’t worth the extra dollars. You seem to have to spend more on the policy than the amount you are able to claim back. But go ahead and do your own research. You might find different. Let me know if you do!

Seek Professional Advice
Speak to your vet about insurance policies that they recommend. Because the vet is the one to go into bat for you if the insurer has any queries, they’ll have a pretty good idea for knowing which insurer pays up and which insurer doesn’t.

Read the Fine Print
Check out the policies fine print. Look to see whether they cover behavioural treatment and therapies (a more commonly occurring issue in high density living or with animals rescued from pounds or shelters) and whether you can claim on alternate therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractics etc.

Don’t be Afraid to Ask
If you have any queries, ring up the insurer and GRILL them!! Find out exactly what you can and can’t claim. Don’t be shy to ask questions about scientific terminology you don’t understand. Believe me, you won’t be alone, but you’ll be all the wiser!

Don’t Judge a Book By its Cover
Don’t be fooled by easy to use, smart looking websites. People often feel so overwhelmed when trying to buy pet insurance that they go for the neat, simple option. Professional looking it may be, but they can offer the same products (and less in some cases) for much, much more.

Pet Insurance firms in Australia
http://www.vetsown.com.au/
http://www.petcover.com.au/
http://www.petplan.com.au/
www.rspca.org.au/animal/insure.asp
http://www.petsecure.com.au/

You might also want to see whether your existing home and contents insurance covers pets as some do. Generally however, they only insure for up to $500 per year.

Great value pet insurance from Direct Line

Pet Insurance from Pet Protect for people who love their pets

Ever wondered what it’s like to live with an Airedale, Persian, Rag Doll or Zuchon? How about a shelter or stray cat? A special needs or designer dog? Ever wondered if you could survive a crisis with your pet — or what to watch for to prevent one? Miss T gives you the word from the trenches with the world’s best cat and dog column: “Four Paws and Me”.

A lot can change in 11 years. But for Catherine (14) and her mum Anne, Freddy the family’s Cavalier Spaniel has been their happy and huggy constant companion.

When and where did you first meet Freddy?
Catherine: Well, mum bought him home when I was only three, so to be honest; it’s all a bit blurry to me.
Anne: It was 11 years ago when my eldest daughter Frances, who’s now 22, asked for a dog. A good friend of mine had had a lot of dog experience, so I asked her for advice on what she thought would make a good “plug in and play” dog.

A Plug in and Play dog?
Anne: Yeees. (laughs) It probably helps to be in IT to know the term. But basically I wanted a dog that wouldn’t be too much of a fuss. You know, you plug it in, turn it on and off it goes! Not high maintenance. Anyway, my friend suggested the Cavalier Spaniel. I knew of a litter close by and while we were driving there I kept on saying, “Now, we’re just going to have a look. That’s all, just a bit of a look.” And of course I walked in the door, saw Freddy and immediately said “Oh! We’ll have him!”

He was so little! He fit into the crown of Francis’s school hat.

So what was so special about Freddy?
Anne: Well, we didn’t have much difficulty choosing. He was the only pup of the litter! And for whatever reason he had this very special aura about him. When we brought him home I thought it would be quite adequate for him to sleep in the laundry, but the girls would smuggle him into their beds and he’d get lots of cuddles!
Catherine: He grew up as my best mate. I’ve had him nearly my whole life. He’s always there. I like to cuddle him even when he’s sleeping. He’ll wake up and look cranky but I’ll hug him anyway.

What’s the most difficult time you’ve had to go through with him?
Catherine: Last year, Mum and my brother and his friends had been staying at a holiday house up in Mystery Baby (on the South Coast of NSW). When they got back, Freddy seemed a bit slow and tired. We just thought it was because he’d spent a long time in the car coming back. I mean, it’s a ten hour trip.

Anyway, the next morning I woke up and found out that they’d had to take Freddy to the Animal Hospital. He was in there for six days and in intensive care for five.

Anne: It was awful wasn’t it? Just awful!
Catherine: He’d gotten hundreds of baby paralysis ticks on him. We couldn’t see them. The vets had to bathe him four times a day and then they shaved him right down to his skin. He was bright pink!
Anne: He was completely paralysed and couldn’t blink or swallow for a whole 48 hours!
Catherine: And then when I went in to visit him he was a humidicrib! Just like you see the babies in. And I made him a card didn’t I mum?
Anne: That’s right you did!
Catherine: He was in a cage and so I slipped it into the railing. When I came back the next day he’ tried to eat it and there were all these little chewed bits out of the corners of the card.
Anne: It was so terrible, but he was a little trooper and he managed to pull through with flying colours!

What is it you love most about Freddy?
Catherine: He’s so happy. He never stops wagging his tail unless you start patting him and then he kind of goes into this blissed out trance. I feel happy when he’s happy.

My sister Frances lives in Ballarat and for a while Freddy went to stay with her, just to keep her company.

Anne: But the house fell into disarray. We really missed him.
Catherine: Yeah. When I get up he’s normally nosing about in the living room and when he was up in Ballarat it felt really weird and empty.

How would you describe Freddy’s personality?
Catherine: Relaxed and like I said before, happy. He normally sleeps all day and he barks all night.
Anne: What I love about him is that he goes to everybody like they’re going to love him. He always approaches any stranger with a great amount of confidence. It’s a great way to approach life, don’t you think?

From your own personal experience, what advice would you give to anyone with a pet like yours?
Catherine: A dog’s got to have a happy life. I mean, just don’t have a dog if you have a small apartment or you can’t walk them enough or you work a lot and so have to leave them by themselves too long in the backyard.
Anne: I completely agree. Similar to what Catherine says, I think that dog’s reflect the way that we treat them. What I’ve learnt is how very important the first period in a dog’s life is. They learn certain behaviours very early on; whether they’re going to learn how to trust or learn how to be fearful is very much dependent on what happens in those first initial years.

What does Freddy most like to do?
Catherine: Sleep.
Anne: Walk. And ride in the car! He LOVES that. You just have to say “C.A.R” and he’s off!

Favourite food?
Anne: I’m fairly fascist about what Freddy can and can’t eat. I believe that the trouble with indoor dogs is that they can tend to get fed a lot of human food. I personally believe that he recovered so well from the paralysis ticks because he was so healthy from getting fed a well balanced dog food diet. Of course, he acts like a right little vacuum cleaner in the kitchen though, and hoovers up anything left over on the floor!

Is there anything special that you do with your pet to add value to Freddy’s life?
Catherine: Well, the other day I bought him a new little jacket because he gets cold (laughs).
Anne: Oh it’s terrible!
Catherine: I bought him a coat when he got shaved. It’s kind of like a trench coat. He’s got four coats to keep him warm through winter.

What is absolutely amazing/gob smackingly important about your pet?
Catherine: Sometimes it looks like he does stupid things, but he’s not stupid. There are these little things he does that are actually really intelligent.
Anne: People come up and say “He’s a really stupid dog” — we hate those people instantly don’t we Catherine? But he’s just very discerning when it comes to making decisions, that’s all. It’s like he has this veneer of being an airhead, but he decides when he will and won’t obey us. He’ll obey us when he knows that there’s something in it for him. I mean, if we just want him to sit for the sake of sitting, he’s not going to do it, but if there’s food involved, sure thing. He’s not dumb!
Catherine: After having Freddy in my life, I think I’ll always have a dog from here on in.
Anne: He’s been the one constant in our life over the last 11 years. Lots of things have changed and come and gone, but Freddy’s totally reliable. We know he’s always there for us.

Catherine Parkhowell is currently studying Year Eight at a high school in Canterbury, Melbourne. She likes maths and textiles and spends her spare time reinventing her “My Space” site, chilling out to the Cat Empire, Modest Mouse and The Killers and enjoying a laugh with “the Might Boosh”. Every second Sunday Catherine puts in some hard yakka at a hardware store in North Fitzroy.

Anne Parkhill says she has managed to remain employed as a freelance information professional for the last twelve years by being useful to a range of clients from private and government organisations to academic and research institutions. Her company Aptly has contracted in content management, information design and evidence searching.

A Bit About Tick Paralysis in your Dog or Cat

Things you should know:

• It only takes one adult tick to cause paralysis and possible death in a dog or cat.
• Any tick found on your dog or cat (regardless of size or colour) may be significant and you should seek veterinary advice immediately. Baby ticks (nymphs) can cause paralysis if enough attach to your pet.
• Tick toxin is really potent and can cause problems in as little as 36 hours.
• Ticks are prevalent in bushy, coastal areas and mostly occur from Spring to Autumn. However, they can attach at any time of year, so be alert for tick paralysis signs.

What to look out for…

• Often the first signs are a bit wishy washy. Your pet might just look a bit tired and is “not itself”.
• Tick toxin causes paralysis which usually starts out as weakness and “wobbliness” in the hind legs.
• As the toxin spreads through the body it causes muscle weakness that extends gradually toward the head. Your pet might find it hard to stand, may start coughing, salivating, have a change in its bark/meow and will start vomiting.
• Death normally happens because they can no longer use the muscles of the chest wall and so aren’t able to breathe freely.
• The toxin also effects heart muscle function. Even after an animal has been successfully treated, the damage to the heart can cause ongoing problems which can cause heart failure later in its life.

How to prevent tick paralysis…

• Be aware that staying in coastal areas in summer increases the risk of your animal coming into contact with ticks.
• Clipping your dogs coat short during the summer time makes it easier to search for ticks
• Search your animal closely every day (especially in every skin fold and crease). Any tick should be carefully removed and brought to the vet with your pet for a check and identification.
• No product absolutely prevents ticks from attaching and causing paralysis, so regular searches are vital. However, it can be useful to use a product to help prevent tick attachment. These can include spot-on type products, baths and rinses and collars.
• Monitor your animal for any of the signs listed above.
• Seek advice from your veterinarian or vet nurses if you have any concerns about prevention of tick paralysis.

When Annie Morris flopped down to watch an Airport Reality show on Thursday night, she fell instantly in love with an earnest young creature sporting big brown eyes and an obsession with stylish baggage. And no, it wasn’t the sexy-but-suspect Spanish backpacker!

Annie had fallen for one of the world’s most family friendly and lovable dogs — The Beagle. Adorable they might be, but one year on after rushing out to buy the three month old pup, Annie realized she’d bitten off more than she could chew, unlike the Beagle!

What kind of work do you do?
I work as a palliative care nurse in the community which means I drive round in my car visiting the dying. I’m often asked if it’s depressing but it’s not. It can sometimes be challenging and sad, but it’s always a privilege. I meet the most amazing people of all ages and walks of life and feel that I’m actually preparing (in a good way) for my own death when I meet these wonderful life coaches.

Any family?
I’m a sole parent of three children, 8, 10 and 17. The ten year old’s a rose between 2 thorns if you know what I mean. We’re a bit of a chaotic household with kids, friends, two dogs and one Siamese cat. I’m the responsible adult in charge of order and the house often feels a bit like “Ab Fab” with periodic attempts at serious parenting.

Between my kids, home and work, I don’t have time for a hectic social life which is why my pets are important — we take them to the park, meet our doggie friends, and chat about Mutt Stuff while they play and exhaust themselves. It’s a lovely way to unwind at dusk after a busy day.

How did your animals enter your life?
Well, first came Penguin. He was this little feral kitten that was found in a box of flowers and abandoned in the park. He remained wild for life, grabbing ankles around doorways when you least expected and sinking his teeth in.

Then came Priscilla our Siamese. She lived six doors up when she came to stay. Her owners were renting and at work all day. I was home with three kids and she heard the babble of play and pretty much moved in. I put her out each night for a week, the last time in the rain. She just sat there looking in on us. I put a note on her collar to tell her owners where their cat was, but we heard nothing. Ever since, I’ve had a beautiful, cuddly foot warmer sleeping under my doona!

I’d promised the kids we’d get a puppy when the cats ‘disappeared’ and when Penguin fell off the back fence (RIP), the time seemed right. Priscilla pined for her old mate and we set about fixing her loneliness. In a bizarre moment of impulsiveness, I decided on a beagle — such cute ears! We found Lily in the Trading Post, three months old and gorgeous. So began the most chaotic year of my life.

How so?
All dogs are pack animals by nature but beagles are particularly so. LilBil (as the kids call her) hated being left alone when I went to work. She actually had separation anxiety, shaking and crying on our return, not to mention the destructiveness whilst we were away! And it was like she had to keep frenetically busy destroying everything in her path to cope.

Everything?

Yep. Everything, including (but not limited to):

• my Dad’s underwear;
• one leg of lamb;
• three packets of chocolate muffins (that’s 24!)
• umpteen loaves of bread;
• prescription drugs
• my daughters brand new Swatch Watch;
• the car gear stick;
• too many shoes to mention;
• library books;
• a street directory;
• stacks of photo albums;
• sheets still fitted to our beds;
• an electric blanket.

And my whole back garden! Need I go on!?

What did you do to cope?
People around me were saying that Lily really needed to have a mate, preferably another beagle. But after all the problems I was having with Lily, I just couldn’t come at that, it would’ve killed me!

In fact I felt pretty ambivalent about having another dog at all! What if any dog I got made things worse, not better? At that stage I was seriously stressed by the daily damage being done to my house and garden! So I decided that if I did get a second dog, it’d have to be small. Surely, no other dog was going to be as much trouble as a Beagle and it might just help to settle her down, so I took the risk.

And you found one?
Let me tell you, I was desperate!

Every day I checked the pound websites and missed out on a few little dogs I was keen on. Often the cute dogs on rescue sites or pounds are snapped up by the time they’re listed and I was getting more and more disappointed and frustrated. Finally, I found Rocky, a little Maltese x Shitzu in the “Trading Post.” He’d been rescued by the same lady who’d given him to some people two years before and they’d just neglected him. She’d had him de-sexed, shaved within an inch of his life because of his matting, and advertised him in the paper. She told me I could have the first option on him if I came straight away — an hour and a half’s drive away to Lilydale!

Luckily I had a day off so I threw LilBil in the car, packed our lunch and went on a mission from god! Rocky really was the ugliest little dog! Not my type at all — shaven with buggy eyes and an overhanging bottom jaw that my daughter and I had always scoffed at before. But I’d driven all this way and I’d promised Lil we were going to get someone for her. And then this little guy jumped into my arms and snuggled in.

I thought — “It’s okay, he’ll look better when his hair’s grown.”

And so was Lil happy with Rocky?
Definitely. Luckily, Rocky’s quite robust and he put up with the grueling daily playful pummeling from Lily. Lily still destroyed everything, but was much happier doing it!

What do you most love about Lil?
Definitely her crazy ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” beagle nature.

Living with her was stressful but she had this beautiful nature and this wild sense of fun. And unlike most beagles, she could be off lead at the park or beach and would always return on command saying with her eyes, “Here I am! I love you too!”

From your own personal experience, what advice would you give to anyone with a pet like yours?
I’ve got an impulsive personality and believe me, it’s not the way to buy a dog.

I know so much more about beagles now. They’re strong willed, stubborn and difficult to train, hence they need firm boundaries and consistent messages. We loved her too much and gave her too much reign. We gave her an inch and she took a mile.

How did you end up adding value to Lil’s life overall?
Look, the crunch came when she dug out yard and was found wandering the streets by our neighbour. We live right by a very busy highway and her death would only be a matter of time.

With great sadness, we got help from Tam at Beagle Rescue to help us find Lily a safe and happy home. We gave Lily to a beagle savvy family who have had beagles over 30 years and understand the beagle mind. They know how to put boundaries around her behaviour, whilst still loving her as we did. And they have Cooper, a male beagle that she can play with all day long. Lily didn’t look back as she left us. She was just going off on another exciting adventure. But we cried all day. Lucky for Rocky, we’re fostering a little guy from Rigby’s Rescue until he finds his forever home. He’s keeping Rocky amused until we carefully plan our next move. We all know a lot more about bringing up a dog right now!

A bit about owning a Beagle

Beagles are a great family dog. They’ve got a dynamite happy go lucky nature, have wonderful, well-rounded personalities, are full of pep, are loyal and patient with a fantastic ways with kids, not to mention being also highly intelligent.

However, if you’re a first time dog owner, you might want to ask yourself a few “reality check” questions before bringing one home.

Are you a Family kinda peson?
Beagles need two legged friends to spend heaps (and I mean bucket loads) of time with. A Beagle won’t just chill out in the backyard twiddling her paws either. No siree Bob! Their hound nature means that they’ll have your neighbours baying for your blood as your Beagle bays for your attention!

The Beagle has been bred as a pack dog (you’ve seen Royalty ride off with a pack of Beagles looking for some poor bloody fox right?). As such it’s got one of the strongest needs of all dogs to be part of a family. Your Beagle needs constant human or canine company. No two ways about it.

Got a backyard like Fort Knox?
Beagles have got a nose to make a professional wine taster green with envy with a hunting spirit to match. Your backyard therefore, should be 100% absolutely, positively escape proof! The smallest hole will have a Beagle scratching its way out to follow a scent across the River Styx, and then you gotta pay the ferryman, and ..boy, it just becomes a big hassle, ya know?

Does the idea of Beagleproofing every single cupboard in your house sound like your ideal weekend?
Again, it’s the nose thing. If there’s food to be had in the kitchen, the Beagle will find it, tear it apart and eat it alive.

Same goes for shoes, handbags, bras, lipsticks. Well, lets just keep it simple shall we and say everything and anything he can get his chops around.

Are you a Buddhist at heart?
Meaning, can you “surrender” and chill out when your house, clothes and garden have been destroyed. Experienced Beagle breeders say that it’s bound to happen sooner rather than later in your Beagle’s lifetime.

If you can answer yes to all of the above then YAY! Your Beagles gunna love ya and the rewards are many — they’re a gentle dog without a “bad” bone in their bodies — and they’re great with kids under the age of 10.