Sams shopping saga....... (very long post!)

TKP_3

I hope this doesn't sound mean, but £60 for a christmas present sounds like an awful lot to me?

Yategirl

I would say that Gusto would be a better choice of food for your dog if he is struggling to gain weight - higher protein would be better for him at the moment.

I have Border Collies - not working dogs but pets for us... one gains weight easily and the other is either slightly underweight or just right (he's naturally a skinny dog) and I adjust the amount of food depending on what we are doing (at home away on canals (i.e. tons more exercise!), etc), the weather etc etc and find that I can keep them on the same diet whatever.. give it a try... you do need to allow about 3 weeks to allow the dog's digestive system to get used to it. I found that the dog I have with a "gippy" tum (and he is the skinny one) has had no problems at all with it wheras many other foods cause upsets.

Wipes - if you don't like the idea of cotton wool and water to tide you over while money is tight, use flannels or cut up an old sheet to make reusable wipes (once used put them in a tub and wash when full with your other washing - I wash mine with whites at 60 deg).

Toxic_Lemon

I really hope you have a wonderful Xmas. Reading your post has made me feel somewhat ashamed , as well as brought me down to earth that people actually do have to budget so tightly and reminded me how lucky I am. You have my admiration. :A

moggins

I agree with Toxic Lemon. I hope you have a wonderful christmas too. DH and I were in a similar position 7 years ago when we first got together, I remember we had £10 left on Christmas eve so we split it and ran off to buy each other a present

Just remember that it's a time for family and friends and as long as you have everything you need what you want doesn't matter.

MushyPeas

Gosh, very tight Sammy. Good luck, let us know how you get on. MPx

culpepper

sammy our dog was a rescue dog too.
OH had a friend at police who was a dog handler and he recommended dry food with cracked wheat in as it helps bulk them out. Dry food is better for their teeth too as it doesn't get stuck in them, so may save vets bills later on.
Sounds awful that the shelter didnt sort our 'woofers' worms problem before offering for rehoming though.

sammy_kaye18

With regards to pooch he was taken off his previous owner because he was severely neglected by them - he had no vaccinations at 3 years old, was bald in patches from skin mites, and was chewing his own front legs to the point they were about 75% scabs becasue he was so terrified of hs owner.
We visited him in the shelter a good few times whilst the neglect/cruelty court case was going ahead and my family fell in love with him and him with us. We had training lessons and my 2 year old knows not to be too boisterous or rough wiht the dog and is very good about it. the pair are like bonnie and clyde t times. With regards to the weight - when he was checked over by the rescue homes vets he was given wormer and treatment for his skin mites. They didnt vaccinate him or neuter.....neuteur........ fix him :rolleyes: , or treat his legs and this is a well known rescue centre. So as soon as he was home with us he was vaccinated, and his legs were treated with a steroid cream form the vets we registered him with adn he is pampered at home now. For a while he was a very unsociable dog (prefered to sit in his bed and not interact with anyone) and now he is a family dog.

The vets recommendation was to give him tinned food and leave dry food down for him (which has to be weighed out to the right weight for the breed) and his water she also said he was allowed tit bits - ie carefully picked chicken scraps etc - and not to put too much down as it will over feed him and could make him even poorlier - ie over indulging and being sick. Plus with regard to the food - as you can see im on a tight budget and live in a 2 bedroomed ground floor flat so this is what he has been fed on since day one and he is used to it and also storage is a problem i have no where to put a huge bag of food.

Penny-pincher - thanks for the PDSA tip - me and bf are on HB adn CTB because of bfs eye (btw hes seeign the eye specialist tomorrow - fingers crossed they cna save his sight) so i will keep that in mind,

V - Lucky -
Nappies -my two year old (actually 2 years and 7 months) is in the middle of potty training so he is in pants in the day and nappies at night so 35 is more than enough - hoping this will be the last pack i ever have to buy too.:o

also with regards to the washign machine my darling MIL has let me use hers for a while i rang the repair man and he cant come out until after the new year - so it looks like im machine less until then but my MIL and SIL have offered me the use fo their machines till then - i can probably afford to have it mended then with the overtiem ive been working (its only abotu £70 but it should be enough)

TKP - no the £60 is for his sons christmas presents - his son is 5 years old and so far has 1 present which is cars game on PS2. so the £60 is to get him some more gifts. Plus the £20 i budgetted for him and ben to get me a gift - the actual gift is £12.99 so its nto a full £20 at all either

beetrootjuicer

sammy_kaye18 wrote:

With regards to pooch he was taken off his previous owner because he was severely neglected by them - he had no vaccinations at 3 years old, was bald in patches from skin mites, and was chewing his own front legs to the point they were about 75% scabs becasue he was so terrified of hs owner.

Oh, God, this is heartbreaking. Bless you, Sammy_kaye, (and that poor dog) -money might be tight but your heart's in the right place! I remember some of your earlier posts and wish you all the luck in the world and hope there's good news at the hospital today. Hang on in there, sweetheart, I know times are tough but you're going the right way and hopefully one day all the hard times will just be a memory.

Toxic_Lemon

sammy_kaye18 wrote:

I do do alot of baking - fairy cakes, scones, victoria sponges, biscuits, cookies, so that is goign to cover most of our treats this winter. So i think i will leave the jaffa cakes out after all.

Just wondering - Do you make these by hand or do you have a food processor?

culpepper

You're doing well with the potty training then! My DS was in nappies until 3 years old but luckily was dry day and night after that.
Your dog is a very lucky woofer! Ours had scabs too and we used tea tree dog shampoo which is very soothing.