westiemum

Hi Sheridan, Yep there have been some supply probs with the Hills B/D - but do persevere - I suspect for Mac its working well. Yes doggie doors are a necessity for these doggies I think. Yep Grumpy sounds very cunning - are you sure he's not just a grumpy cunning old boy??!!

Hi All, Resurrecting this thread with an update. I'm thrilled that Mac is continuing to do really well - paws crossed it continues. He's been on the Vivitonin for just shy of two months (half a tab twice a day at least 30 minutes beofre food - and yes I've been religious about the 30 minutes). He's been on the Hills B/D for a bit longer (half a cup twice a day and some additional veggies at night). And back earlier this month I added a vitamin supplement to his meals. I also have been carting him around with me as much as possible. And I haven't heard a prolonged aimless growling and/or barking session since 25 February. Two momentary growls only where its hard to tell how purposeful they were and he seemed a bit vague on 17 March only. I'm not sure what component of this regime is working - but I'll keep it up until it becomes obvious I need to change again. How are you going? I'd be really interested to hear your progress. Best, Westiemum and Mac.

The collective noun I've used for years for my guys is a 'waggle of westies' We have been known to have up to 17 of them at our westie gatherings. Much more interesting than the traditional 'clan'

I like the idea of a staffy called Grace (Graaaacieeeee!!).

Thanks everyone for your suggestions - will ring around and see who I can get into. I always like to follow a DOLers recommendation... Thanks again.

:laugh: Thanks for the suggestion Christina - great minds think alike! But Elisa is who I can't get into! Yes she is excellent!

Thanks Christina - I should have mentioned I'm in the inner south-eastern suburbs - so anywhere ringing the city or in the eastern suburbs would be good. Thanks DBT - and I'll go out to Dernancourt if I have to but it is a loooooong way from here... Thanks everyone.

My terrific groomer is booked out on a Saturday until early April (I forgot to book ahead last visit ). So I have 6 or 7 weeks to wait So to prevent the westies rapidly turning into little white woolly mammoths, I need a recommendation for an Adelaide groomer who might be happy to help me out as a 'back-up' to my regular groomer and can get me in ASAP) Any suggestions Adelaideans? TIA.

That is superb! DOLers are soooo clever...

Thanks OSO - good to know.

Yep Belladawg - veteran of three ACL procedures here and two different procedures - all in the same dog (Westie boy at 7 years then at 10 years for the second and third ops) The first one was a De Angelis - and that worked brilliantly on the left leg at age 7. The second on the right was a De Angelis and that failed within two weeks of surgery. Discovered a conformation problem in the back right leg which was probably the cause of the De Angelis failure so back we went to a specialist surgeon - this time for a tibial wedge - an op usually reserved for bigger dogs. Similar to lucknow, Mac had to have his back right leg conformation corrected and a steel plate inserted. And its been a raging success. He's even using stairs which he wouldn't tackle at all in the past - used to sit plaintively at the bottom of stairs until someone carried him up! Bounded up the stairs like a puppy at the beach a few weeks ago. Couldn't believe my eyes. I respect the people who decide on a 'wait and see' or natural therapies approach - but in my experience this is a structural problem that I can't see resolving it self or responding to other therapies. And it is so important to a dog's normal movement. So I believe a structural problem demands a structural solution (ie surgery) - and is warranted 99 times out of 100. Good luck and hope that helps.

Thanks poodlefan - those odds suit me just fine too.

Yep poodlefan - broke my heart to to see her cowering with sad eyes... as if she was waiting for a good telling off... which I would never do. I reassured her while I cleaned up the puddle. I know some would say I'm reading too much into her reaction - but they didn't see her last night. ;) As for banning her from the house and my bed - what a terrible thing to do to a gorgeous girl who is doing absolutely nothing wrong - she's just simply getting older. Like you, it would never enter my head and I simply wouldn't do it - we'll find a way through this with as little disruption to our normal routine as possible... Just might need to make sure I toilet her a couple of times before bedtime and that she's on the towel (or two) on my bed until I'm sure whats going on here... she's my beautiful girl who I love dearly and we'll work it out. My girl was very distressed by it. She clearly thought she'd done something wrong. Horrifies me to think some folk's response is to ban the dog from the house and that's it.

Thanks for your reply SnT - I'll certainly talk to the vet about whats best her. And at least I know there is an effective treatment. Thanks. Apart from the inconvenience she seems very unhappy with this too... I've got really heavy expenses at the moment so I would prefer something more affordable if that's what it is... TIA. It's just that Stilboestrol is kind of like cortisone- cheap as chips. Propalin comes in a syrup and is a new drug so it's costed accordingly. In small breeds you might actually find it fairly low cost. The good thing is you could start on Stilboestrol and move over later if your finances allow it. Check it out with your Vet though as I don't know the prices off the top of my head.

Thanks lablove - I'm very open minded and am certainly not adverse to natural therapies. So yes I'd be very interested in what you bought. Please PM if you prefer. Thanks very much for your post - much appreciated.

I'm beginning to wonder if I too have a problem with my gorgeous 9 year old westie girl - the last two Saturday nights she has leaked and she looks so mortified. Its like normal urine and doesn't smell. She too has a damp bottom. I'll take her to the vet but SnT could you give me some detail about: I've got really heavy expenses at the moment so I would prefer something more affordable if that's what it is... TIA.

Great news - well done for persevering - occasionally you get a victory! I was going to suggest the Battersea Dogs Home in London if the poodle falls through for some reason - don't know much about Battersea but it would be worth investigating I think... Congrats again to you and your sister!

Yes if this is a family vet of long-standing whose behaviour seems to be changing, I'd say to him I noticed his uncharacteristic handling of the dog and ask if he was OK - out of concern for him. He may well apologise and explain what was going on for him that day or at the moment - or he may brush you off (but at least you tried). Please don't think I'm excusing his behaviour - I'm not - and you should still leave the practice if you are not comfortable - but there is likely to be a reason for the change in behaviour and its not likely to be good. Vet science is a caring profession which is more under the radar from this perspective than human health staff of all persuasions. And the caring professions have high rates of burn out - and doctors in particular have high rates of depression and suicide. Having worked a in place that saw health staff jump off car parks I used to wonder if these professions in their professional isolation and need to appear professionally 'invincible' (for want of a better word) are not in some ways their own worst enemies... and would a couple of them have jumped if someone had noticed... So I don't want to sound morbid either but I think if you can do it I'd talk to him about it... just knowing someone noticed kindly and understood might make a huge difference... gwenneth1 I agree the solution is to get out - I did too - but for some their depression is such that they can't make that decision easily or genuinely can't see a way out - adn that feeling is terrible... Good luck...

I walk all three westies together - two on a double lead and one on a single - apart from a half hour walk taking almost an hour with all the oohs and aahs and people wanting to stop and talk every few minutes - no issues!

Westie desexed at 6 years - no probs at all - a bit of weight gain which I'm not convinced wouldn't have happened anyway as he got older. He's still the loveliest boy. Go for it. :D

Yep I think Adelaide is pretty dog friendly. I have three westies and had no problem with Unley council (inner citysuburbs) getting the third westie registered. It appears they didn't even ask neighbours and stuff as when I asked the neighbours if they'd been approached by the council and they said they hadn't. Mind you there were no complaints on file against my address either! And my neighbours all love them and know them by name... There are many dog friendly cafes around Adelaide - some favs of mine are Grimaldi's and the Duthy Street Deli. I work in the city and frequently see dogs on lead in the city - doesn't seem to be a problem. Good luck with your move. I've lived in five states in Australia and feel SA is up there with the best - and Adelaide is a great size - all the advantages of the eastern states big cities without the disadvantages - and has recently been named the most livable city in Australia. And we have great DOL meets!

Gayle that's wonderful - good luck to you and your new addition. I've only ever had adults and oldies - puppies, cute as they are, just don't do anything for me and there are plenty of others who will always take them - its much harder for an adult to find a home. My Mac was 6.5 when I got him, Sarebear was 5 and the most recent addition, Andy I was told was 4 (but who knows...). And they have brought such joy into my life :laugh: So it'll always be adults for me - even if I do have to rehab them long-term and spend the equivalent of the GDP of a small developing world country on them And yes I'd do it all again in a heart-beat. Would love to see some piccies!

I was told by one of their former groomers there is a groomers in Adelaide who fills up the bath in the morning and doesn't change the water all day :cry: - and knowing her well I have no reason to disbelieve her. And of course its not my groomer who I often recommend. She charges me $50.00/dog which I think is really reasonable for the wonderful job she does. But I think thats a multiple 3 dog discount for which I'm really grateful and I have been going there a long time!!

I bought a set of steps some years ago from ebay for 20-30 dollars from memory. Thye've worked really well - particularly the washable cover.

Corvus thanks for the tip to contact deerhound owner. She's terrific and has been really helpful.