ILuvAmstaffs

The 18-250mm will be on the to buy list, but to start with I'm really just looking at the 18-55mm VR Nikkor.

I am so sorry for your loss. RIP Rex.

Thanx. I drove my OH made trying to decide between getting an entry level or the D90 or Canon 50D & then I ended up getting none of them. I'm sure there will be lots of Diesel pics while I am learning to use this camera... just need to get a lens & I am all set!

So today I finally purchased my first ever DSLR. I had been trying to decide between buying the Nikon D90 (something I could grow in to) or the D40 (to cut my teeth on before upgrading to something better). Anyway, Harvey Norman were doing the D40 kits for $549 plus an extra 10% off, so I headed up to grab one... but came home with a D200 body as they were on sale for $1099. So now I need to buy a lens, preferably 18-55 to start out with. Does anyone know any good sites that sell either secong hand lenses or new ones at a good price? So far the cheapest I have found is $249 on this site: http://www.d-d-photographics.com.au/nikonslracc.htm

I'd proceed with the ortho, I went through a similar thing with my boy & it turned out to be ED (FCP).

I also use this powder whenever I run out of Flexicose. It seems to work quite well. Aside from that I have trialed Diesel on various human brands of glucosamine, joint guard & sashas blend but the above 2 seem to work best for his issues.

I also went through a similar thing with my amstaff who we later found out had ED. This is the last thread leading up to & after his diagnosis: http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...29&hl=elbow

I have heard the same which is why the person I was talking to recommended the Pentax K200D as another option.

I have been told that the D40 is better even though it's an older model. I've also heard some really good reviews of the Pentax K200D which is similarly priced. Check out these pages for info on the camera http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/ http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d60.htm http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Nikon/ They are doing the D60 single lens kit for $649.95 & the twin lens kit for $849.95 at Teds Camera Warehouse.

Gladesville vet do it as well. I was quoted around $120 last year.

I saw this posted on another forum. Link PPS might remember this guy...

How old is she?

Any hints as to the website?

Oh no. R.I.P Charlie

Thanks W2S. Goodluck with your girl as well. To be honest, I think they will usually limit their own exercise if you let them. As for competing, I'm not sure how much jumping etc is involved, but that is the only part that I would really worry about & if it was possible to train 90% of the time doing the stuff that doesn't involve jumping & only doing enough of the stuff that does to get you by, then maybe you could look at altering the training routine to allow for her weaknesses. At this stage I would say it's early days & the greatest improvement I saw was from around 12 months after the op. Again, goodluck with it all & keep us posted as to how he is going. P.S Do you know whether the elbow replacements are widely available & ifso, what the approx cost is? I'm thinking that it might be an option if Diesel deteriorates when he is much older.

I use Wagners Ester C tabs available from most chemists. The added bonus has been that it also helped his skin a lot. I sometimes use the Wagners Glucosamine, Chondrioton & MSM powder which does contain Ester C, but I just boost the amount by adding an extra ester C tab to the mix. He became lame at around 4-5 months of age, had x-rays, vet couldn't see anything so put him on a 4 week course or cartrophen shots which was then extended to 6 weeks as no improvement was shown. At around 8-10 weeks after the first visit more x-rays were taken & a few weeks later we received a call saying he had FCP & if he wasn't operated on within the next few weeks that he would be so lame by the age of 4 that we would have to put him down. In the meantime we had seen a chiro that was recommended by many people who told us he definately could not feel any issues with the joint & it was infact a torn shoulder muscle causing the pain & to rest him & it would come good. He was 8 months by this time. We went for a second opinion at Syd Uni Referral Vet & they could see the fragment on the first set of x-rays. He was operated on the next week. Both the fragment were removed as well as an ulna-ostectomy. He was confined to the house for 8 weeks after the op & toileted on lead & then we began short walks on lead for exercise over the following few months. We would walk him to the corner (100m) and back & as he started to show no signs of limping we increased the frequency of the walks rather than the distance. He had a follow-up 4 week course of cartrophen shots starting from 8 weeks post op then follow-up x-rays which had shown the arthritis had become severe & that the ulna had again grown causing pressure on the joint. Now at 2.5 years of age you would barely notice a limp except after heavy exercise, which we try to limit but sometimes when playing with other dogs it is hard to not let him play & he sometimes has a bad few weeks where I begin to worry that what we are doing is wrong, but then he comes good again... though he only has these bad times once every few months. I am sure that it is usually the cold weather during winter that causes the discomfort. The main things I can think of that help are: * The right mix of supps * Monitoring their exercise so you know what their limits are * Keeping their weight down but maintaining muscle tone * Keeping them warm during winter Hope this helps.

Perhaps it might be worth trying a few other combinations of supps. My boy has severe arthritis in one leg as a result of FCP & it took a bit of trial & error to find the sup that worked best for him. I had him on jointguard for a while & saw improvement, but found that a glucosamine, chondroitin & msm mix such as Flexicose combined with Ester C saw a much greater improvement. I also think changing him to a raw diet helped as well.

If you are giving this for arthritis, I wouldn't bother getting an "animal formula" and would just go for a human version from a health food store. One that is worthwhile looking at is Wagner MSM Joint Formula with MSM, Glucosamine & Chondroitin. I give it to my boy if his Flexicose runs out before my next order arrives.

The vets at Syd Uni Referral Vet were fantastic with Diesel.

Oh no, so sorry to be reading this Case. Big hugs from us & Diesel sends big sloppy amstaff kisses your way.

PM Malleer, her dog has bilateral ED as well as HD & has been operated on for both.

Normally he wouldn't but what I did was get him in the shower & made him think I was just washing his face then quickly stuck the bottle in his ear & squeezed, then when he went to shake got a squirt in the other ear. I had to be very sneaky & quick,. ;) Will update in a few days time to let you know if he's any better.

Thanks Dan. Yeah, spring has brought about a lot of allergies this year. I don't think water would have went in his ear because I'm quite careful with the hand held shower, but I guess a small amount could have. Though he has been shaking his head for around 1.5 weeks now. I don't think the epi-otic helped the cause either. Will check out the other thread when I get home. Thanks for your help.

Yeah, I was thinking it might be allergies because being spring I am having a bad time with them as well... but his skin has been fine for around a year now. Evcer since he's been on the ster c, no scratching or bald spots, so I was hoping that was all fixed. As well as the fact that the new house (we have been there over a year) doesn't seem to have anything that irritates him like the old house did. I have had my finger right in his ear with a tissue a few days ago & there was nothing, but yesterday there was a slight discolouration. I think I upset it by using epi otic on his when I had him in the shower last weekend. Don't worry, if he has to be sedated they will be giving him the complete overhaul, teeth, nails & anything else that I can think of while he's there.

The weather has been horrible. Stinking hot followed by rain & freezing cold. Was high 30's out west on Sunday & Diesel just wanted to stay inside when we visited mum & dad & then yesterday it was snowing on the blue mountians & it's so cold at home he won't leave the heater. All perfect weather for bacteria, ear aches etc.