Lab_Rat

Hi Fitforaking - I understand your reluctance for using nsaids! I do believe however that some sort of pain relief and anti inflammatory are needed for dogs post surgery- however not being in the know of such drugs I cant recommend any, sorry! Our last ridgy had a front leg amputated when she was nine years old through osteosarcoma. After surgery she had pain relief patches (possibly Fentanyl) which worked wonders for her. I cant remember how many she had all up, it was a few years ago now, but she had one when she came home which I do remember removing and replacing it with another. Im not sure what other drugs she was on at the time, perhaps rimadyl. Are there other alternatives?? I recall my sisters dog being on Tramal for severe pain relief. Are there other anti-imflammatories available, steroidal rather than non-steroidal?? I hope you find an alternative for your dog. Let us know what you do find please, I would be interested to know whats out there!!! Rat

Both mine are wierdos!! Wandy the kelpie must walk and poo.............luckily we have enough space for her to do that Zola however is a pain in the bum when it comes to poo-time. First we must find the ideal spot - this can take quite some time, 'specially when Im in a hurry! Then we need to check if it is indeed the right spot Perhaps theres a better spot here under this small prickly shrub!! Then and only then will we poo, and please dont watch mum - it makes me nervous .. She is also easily distracted - oh look, theres something over there that needs sniffing, hmmm, what was I doing??? Makes for interesting afternoon walks, me commanding the dog to poo, she pretty much doing whatever the hell she wants. Must sound wonderful to any neighbours that are in earshot Rat

lol, simple as that really. I wouldve said SHINY brown He is definitely a beautiful boy, and Im not that partial to the ear thing or the breed!! Rat

Hi Chicken - like Vehs says, hope she does truly understand the command I taught our Kelpie to speak on command with verbal and hand signals when she was actually barking - it came in very handy the time our ridgy girl bolted from home during a thunderstrorm! We drove around in our ute, with Wandy on the back and got her to bark every now and then.......Being in the bush her voice carries well. Scared ridgy soon appeared. I havent taught the ridgy to speak on command tho - was a challenge teaching her to bow and shake hands!! Rat

:) Oooh Irish Terriers!!! I would looooove one some day!! Are they really "terrors" Christine??? Ive met a couple at some Perth Shows, they seem like such characters! Rat

Bloody Hell you mob have been busy!!! What, about five pages in one day! Who said they felt old for graduating in 2000................How about 1984!! Thats old! I really agree with whats been said about the numbers of dogs allowed to be kept, it seems to me that its fine to have as many kids, cats, birds, ROOSTERS! etc., but dogs get the pointy end of the damn stick! Im not even game enough to broach the subject with our council.............hmmm have just discovered its two dogs in a townsite, 4 not in a townsite............Now I just need to find out whether were we live constitutes a "townsite" .......Were on five acres so youd think not, but its in an outlying "township". Bugger it, think Ill make the decision myself I think - done! Seriously though, its time councils started to rethink the number of dogs "allowed" to be kept by responsible dog owners. I would love to prattle on, but I have to go and make some tea for me, OH and pupsters! Rat

Thats what I thought too Persephone, his hock seems to be throwing out. I do know that pacing in dogs aint a good sign!! I would be having him checked out. He is very handsome by the way, looks like he may have ridgy in him! Rat

Thanks Staffyluv - I did find the second link last night, but obviously my brain wasnt working too well!! It seems to be a very individual thing when it comes to what the poor pancreatic dog can and cant eat!! I will pass on the info I have - I wonder if roo meat is available in the UK??? After the bit of reading I have done, I sure hope I never have to deal with such a nasty disease. Thanks again Rat

Anyone out there got any good, simple dietary suggestions for a large breed dog with pancreatitis?? Ive tried doing a search here and on the internet, but cant find much other than symptoms and causes! Thanks in Advance Rat

Hi lillim, sorry to hear of your dogs allergy. Our girl has certain meat protein allergies - to do with her food, which I am still not sure about entirely, but am researching! She is on a diet which restricts some meats, and has also been on several courses of Chinese Herbs for helping her gastrointestinal system and rhinitis (which she developed this year!!). She was also on a short course of cortisone which turned her into an eating machine . Sure is one icky drug that one. I feel for people and their dogs who have to be on it long term. Im still not quite sure Ive got my head around it, but I think that allergic reactions are the immune system reacting to "proteins" entering the system. Im quite interested in researching and understanding the whole allergy thing, one so I can understand whats happening to my poor girl and two so I can do something about it! SAS - I would love to know where the allergy test for your dog was done! Ive only been able to get a test done that didnt contain foodstuffs - which Im really concerned about!! I hope you get some more stories lillim, sorry I havent been much help! Rat

Wow - love the look of the Ruffwear Harness! Hey Kei also check out the normal car harness section on the same website - their harness' for car travel look great too. They cross over at the chest and between the legs. I dont harness my girl (RR also) anymore coz the harness slipped, she got twisted up in it and it was more painful than useful! However these look very good, so I will be investigating more! I want to start putting our two in the back of our dual cab which has a canopy, but I still want to restrain them somehow. Rat

XLNT!!! I will definitely be up for the Western Classic! I wouldnt worry too much about missing the Feb show - its so bloody hot, and theres no night shows in Bunbury unfortunately. Rat

Well done to Sparky & Cruise!! Good weekend then?? Sorry I didnt make it with choccy cake but I had NS Saturday & Sunday nights! Its toooo long to be awake if I dont have a little nanna nap before going to work! Hope the weather wasnt too hot for you all. I havent seen the Xolos for a while now as I havent been to obendience training for quite a while Hopefully I can get it together enough to get there next year I guess Ill have to head to Perth in the early part of the year to see the new little Chessie baby - hows the waiting game going valleywa?? Rat

Cant help re the training Daydreamer, but perhaps someone that shows and has an older experienced dog and some time on their hands may let your daughter "borrow" a dog to get her into junior handling. Good luck with it! I did a bit of showing with my girl, we didnt get very far - she never won anything substantial, but I had fun while I was doing it! Most of the show people are friendly and helpful, so just jump right in!! Rat

Did anyone head down to Bunbury for the shows on the weekend??? Any results?? Rat

I only came into this thread to read about muscle wastage with dogs on Pred - my girl is on it short term for rhinitis...................I am so sorry for your beautiful Jordan, Bokezu. RIP you gorgeous red dog you! I had never heard of this disease, but have now learned something new. How horrible for all thatve been in here for their precious dogs to have to suffer such an insidious disease I am thinking of you Bokezu, and your husband. And carrying his collar around in your bag is just normal to me!!! It made me smile too - every time you put you hand in there and touch his collar, you will think of your beautiful boy when he was healthy & happy, and I hope it will make you smile, if not now, then in the future! Big Hugs - Rat

Mmmmmmm........................Puppy breath! Oh how I miss it! I may have to invest in some more next year, if Im allowed to Glendabenda - 10 ks which direction from Margarets??? I sold a horse to a lady down that neck of the woods last year, along Abbeys Farm road actually - lovely area down there! Each year all my female cousins, sisters-in-law, sister and myself head down to Molloy Island for a "Girls Weekend" - just drinks and snacks, absolute bliss! We usually do it in May, but Im hanging out for it again already, I think it may have to become a twice a year destination Rat

Woo-Hoo only two weeks to go Daydreamer!!! Better get lots of sleeps in before then ... Seriously tho, HOW EXCITING On the showing side of things - there will be heaps of WA peoples willing to help you believe me! But ridgy specific, rijbiz and wash are two WA ridgy showers. I used to be but sadly not anymore . So any questions - PM those guys! Regarding the show entries, each show has a closing date for entries. The bi-monthly DogsWest magazine has all the show ads in it - when you get your girl, you will need to become a member of CAWA/DogsWest to show your dog. Im sure your breeder will help you out with all the rego and related stuff!! Im pretty sure someone takes showing classes at DogsWest too, very helpful if youre a newby! Good luck with your new kid too, enjoy her while she is still "small". They grow so damn fast, I can barely remember what Zola was like as a baby! I hope you get some more useful info from more experienced showies than me!!!!! Rat PS - How was Albany guys??

No, I don't take Ruby to show training but we do go to obedience classes & agility with Benotto. Do you go to the South West dog club? Where abouts do you live? What breed dogs do you have? Yes Im a member of the "Bunbury & Districts Dog Club" - is that the SW Dog Club??? Whats Benottos like?? Ive seen their ads, but its even further from us than our normal club. We have a Ridgeback (Zola) and a Kelpie (Wandy). Ive done a bit of showing with Zola and some obedience with the pair of them, although Im pretty slack! I did have intentions of trialling Wandy, but things are going fairly slow! We live on five acres east of Donnybrook. Rat

Hi Aimee - Im from outta town (about an hour from bunners!)....Do you take Ruby to show training at all?? I usually go to obedience training Wed nights, but havent been for a while - such a long bloody drive for half an hours trianing Rat

Wish I was closer to Perth - I would bring my rare ridged Vizsla..... :D Rat

Cool, two pages already! Welcome Sandgropers!! Valley - the Western Classics are great shows to enter - lots of stuff happening over a short period of time!! It was one of the first weekends I entered my girl into when I was showing her! Its a great busy weekend. Roughly measured (with my pinkie in the phone book ) Albany is about 300ks from Bunbury, depending on which road you go I think. Coast or Inland. Both are nice drives! Belgian - well behaved, non showing dogs are welcome to dog shows! Good luck with the storms RnL! Im over thunder and lightning already..... Rat

No..........this is for WA based doggy stuff - as it was decided that having state threads was a bit excess. Its a follow on from a thread we had in the show section Thanks Longclaw - dont worry, Ive been eyeing off greys as our next big dogs for a while! Rat

So...............I thought I may as well start the thread and we can see how it goes and how long it takes to get lost in the ether :D I dont actually have any news as such, but Im sure others do............. My only exciting news is that the company I work for is actually shutting down for TWO weeks over Christmas and New Year. I am so looking forward to having a little break. Not going anywhere, but just being home will be nice! I may also be going to the Cannington Greyhounds in a couple of weeks for our dog club Christmas "do"! Ive always wanted to go! Rat

Wow kelpiesrule - He certainly has grown into a stunning looking youngen!!! Rat