samoyedman

Just like to publically thank Rappie for looking at the xrays for me. Cheers.

So much to answer and I'm busy but on the swimming thing I avoid it because being a double-coated breed their undercoats easily can mat and tangle. If they do get wet you always have to make sure they are absolutely and thoroughly dry or else the samoyed might get skin conditions.

I sent rappie his xrays so will be interested to hear her insights. Despite his seeming to be over it I'm not complacent about his arthritis and I am assuming he has it. I am keeping a close eye on him during walks.

As right as rain. Even pulling me on the walk this morning and raring to go again tonight. If he is arthritic he sure isn't showing it. Its like it hasn't happened. And no limping since Friday. Thanks for asking. :)

Hi Rappie yes I do. I am not sure I can reproduce them here though. Would you be okay PMing me your email?

Can someone please PM me reputable Sydney chiropractor contact details please.

Thanks Darlingdog. Hope your fella is doing okay. After a very bad night of being clingy to me and not eating he is in much better spirits today. And he is drinking heaps of water. Not sure if that means anything.

His Cartophren cost $48.50 for 0.7 (mills I presume). They said the price can vary.

Supposedly that is the purpose of these special treats.

He is on a course of 4 cartophen shots. Been given special treats called Seaflex high in glucosamine and omega III ($40 for 30 of them ) also got some inflammotry pills for the next week to put with his food. Vet said I can still walk as per normal just to watch him and be snsitive to his pain threshold. He seems out of sorts tonight and won't eat. Probably a side effect of the antithestic and drugs.

Thanks for all the feedback and concern. What a great community we have here.

Hi Jo, I know DOL tends to look at all possibilities with things like this but surely with arthritis a vet wouldn't mis-diagnose it? They took xrays and all. He is always super-active and runs around after walks (yes zoomies around the yard at age 6 :laugh:) . Never seen any limping or sensitivity prior to last night. So it is a little confusing.

who is schofield and barnsley?

yes I thought it was sudden too. There has been the odd sign of weirdness on about one in every 10 walks where he wants to stop and rest but other than that no signs of this (whatever the signs of arthritis are?). Vet thoroughly went over front left leg and found something weird there. He is right on his perfect weight and fit as a fiddle. Everyone who looks at him thinks he is 18 months not 6 years old. :laugh: The vet x-rayed him so I presume they know what they're talking about and I have to trust them. They're emailing me something soon.

He's at the vet today. Initial prognosis is maybe arthritis. He's 6 years old and fighting fit (walked twice each day) so I was shocked at this. Was poster in the surgery saying 1 in 5 dogs of his size (or all dogs?) get arthritis. Okay as I type this surgery has just called me saying that's what it is. He's going to need injections of something and other treatment. A little shocked because I couldn't see any signs of this coming.

Just took him outside for morning wee and he can barely walk. His whole body lurches forward on his good leg. I had to carry him. The strange thing is he doesn't seem stressed and his tail was wagging.

My dog had a vigorous play last night with a retriever we met on our walk. When we got back home I noticed he was limping and his front left leg is hurting. All last night he was crying when he had to move his leg during his sleep (this sound tears you apart as a dog owner ). The strange thing is I have felt all over his leg and he doesn't seem sensitive to pain. I've checked his paw thoroughly and nothing is lodged there. Maybe it's a sprain and let it go for 24 hours, or would you go to the vet? As I type this he is lying next to me and when he raises the affected leg off the ground it trembles.

Do you say anything to them?

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/fat-chance-of-weight-loss-for-oscar-20121013-27jna.html

They ain't that fussy SM but they are master manipulators :laugh: Bloody hell aren't they just. Do you ever get the tail-erect, eyes wide open and staring at you and relentless panting when they want a walk? He actually guilts me into walking him. :laugh:

he doesn't watch them though. If he sees one he chases them but due to the layout of the yard he isn't always aware of the blighters.

Yeah I know but he's not a bog-in-and-eat-it-all in one go type. They're a fussy breed.

Okay why not. Some background music while you read this. :laugh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBkkDzdJ4-0

No music. Sorry to disappoint any Rossini fans. :) There is a magpie, or multiple magpies, routinely helping themselves to the lazy samoyeds food bowl. It is not practical due to the layout of the place to put up a large scarecrow and I don't like covering his food all day when I'm at work in case he gets hungry. What is a good small-ish idea for scaring off this persistant food thief? Something I can hang up maybe? Any ideas? Thanks.