Danois

I see boxer in the face.

I am not sure that your puppy is timid or lacking confidence because it does not go outside by itself to toilet or relieve itself when in public. I have an actual 'timid' dog and he had no issues going to the toilet by himself. It is more that your pup simply does not know yet about the whole toileting thing. You should still be going out with them and reinforcing the cue words for toilet. As for relieving in public - this is quite common and I know dogs who will not go while out even as adults. While they are young - everything smells good and needs to be investigated and explored and this means they simply don't think to go to the toilet. Just reinforce the toilet training - use the cue words while out. They'll soon get the idea. And - 'marking' is something which comes with age. At 10 months, my dog is only just starting to do it - which means I can now train to not allow it - I don't want a dog that marks on every 2nd tree. Just out of interest - how are you asserting your place as Alphas in the house? Just curious as puppy seems to have trained you re the crate.

Look at Sassy Treats for a biscuit treat.

I used to bath my last dane under the shower (had a detachable shower head) - made for a very easy job.

Shell - it was in baby puppy and it kept moving after its handler but then came to a stop!

I took this one in Jan at Spring Fair - has frozen the moment!

Tell me about it! We can come back from a BIG walk which means instant sleep on the trip home - come home and he has to zoom!

I have not posted in the challenges before but here are a few recent shots - either taken on DSLR or the Point and Shoot (both Canon) This would be frozen as he was in the process of rolling Panning (I think!)

It is amazing that the pro vet lobby are happy to be "ripped off". The only fee you are aware of prior to entering the consultation room is the consultation fee. I don't take to being ripped off too kindly yet I have no issues with my vet which would indicate I do not consider they rip me off. Well yes - the only fee I am aware of is the consult fee because I have no idea what the vet will diagnosis will I? I do know roughly what a course of ABs cost for my dog. As part of my consult, we will discuss medication - what is best, what is most cost effective etc. I do not think it is a case of the pro vet lobby here - more a case of a few vet bashers who are failing to find an audience.

Right - I am off the the supermarket - must remember to ask them to disclose the cost price of the raspberry jam and mustard I am going to buy so I can make sure I am not being ripped off. I might drive a further 10 mins to make sure that Coles is not cheaper than Franklins - but what's a girl to do - there's a Woolies 10 mins in the opposite direction. Decisions decisions....

Thanks for clarifying that Rappie. It did seem a large amount but then again - given most people refer to my dog as a horse....

The dog didn't receive 10ml of Clavulox. Also the tablets come in 50mg, 250mg and 500mg. The number of tablets suggests it was either a short course for a dog 20-30kg using 250mg tablets or a longer course for a similarly sized dog using 500mg tabs. The bigger tabs are comparatively more expensive, but some vets with hearts will dispense the larger tablets to be given as fractions of tablets (1/2 or 3/4) because it's more economical. The price of the injection will be made up of an injection fee and the cost of the drug. In my local area the injection fee run between $13 and $17. Clavulox (as in product manufactured by Pfizer) is not a generic and is more expensive than other products. The injection also covers the first 24 hours of treatment. Pretty much there! It was a course of 500mg tablets for a 55kg dog. I chose the injection (rather than it being offered) as I know I have issues getting him to take tablets and would rather not subject him to more stress for 24 hours following the attack.

50% mark up on the injection at 10mls? It was actually 40mls. So I came out ahead it appears.... How about the syringe and materials that went with it and the vet coming back in to do it after our consult had finished? In this instance the vets took me immediately into treatment room despite waiting patients and I had 2 vets and a nurse working on him - trying to identify cause of bleeding (hard on a black dog when there is blood everywhere) and it would have been at least 1/2 an hour in time if not more.

Gee, you are lucky to find a vet like that mine just put $1000 at the bottom. O! I did get a smile. Could you let me know his address, you found a vet with the fire still in his/her belly. I have NO problems with the fees, but when it comes to the drugs, I don't trust them. EVERY single invoice I have received from vets (4 in total) have consult + drugs on them. And after having had a very sick dog I have seen a lot of invoices. You need detailed invoices for insurance claims anyway. My last one following a dog attack: Consult (std evening) $64.90 Medication Clavulox $53.60 (15 tabs) Clavulox Inj $29.80 (administered at my request and knowing price) Bandage $11.60 Dressing $.30 Professional fees Tissue Glue $49.95 (tube) Total - $210.15

Great point! who at Fair Trading would touch-it? I would say most of them at Fair Trading has a vet they use. I don't think it would happen. But the minister of Fair Trading might look at it. WTF?? If a complaint is made to Fair Trading about a specific vet then they will work with you to resolve it - they don't pick and choose because of personal situations. I would love to read the grounds for your complaint though...

Why can't you complain to Fair Trading about your vet???

Pays to note also that there is annual limits on this. If you have basic plan then its $500 per year and next plan up its $1,000 per year (both per dog). Also - and this is the biggy for the plan - the hospital admission cannot be for an illness or conditions that you had prior to taking out the insurance policy.

I thought some of what was being said here was familiar - there was a thread on medication dispensing in Oct 2008 in which Mum to Emma complained of the same issues with Trental and a good chunk of her posts have been vet bashing. I like the fact that I trust my vet 100% be it with the services and care they offer or the prices they charge.

Funny how the real vets/ people in the vet industry in this thread have commented in the same vein then. They do care about treating animals but, and it may come as big surprise to you, that they cannot do this if they can't stay in business.

Thanks for the heads up on that. I think it all comes down to ethics, if the vet over charges the RRP on drugs, if there is a RRP on drugs, are they(vet) going to treat the animal SLOWLY? so they will need to use more drugs than normal. RRP = Recommended Retail Price which might be appropriate in perfect circumstances - ie without having to take into account wastage, dispensing costs, freight etc etc. Its only an indication of what could be charged - not what has to be charged. Seriously, I can understand that some people would prefer a lesser mark up on drugs (although 10% is unrealistic I'm afraid) along with a larger charge for a consultation, although I can't see why people think the distinction is so important - the vet has to cover the costs and make a profit somehow, so you'll end up paying about the same either way, whether through drug markup or through higher consultation charges. All fine in theory Staranais - but then a whole different group of people would be starting a thread and moaning about how much vets charge for a consult and how unaffordable vet treatment is *cue violins*. Vets having dispensing costs etc on drugs is the fairer way as not all consults will result in medication being provided.

Seriously - how many people shop around for the cheapest prescription? You spend the extra couple of dollars driving to the suburb 6 suburbs away. I agree PPS. Value the relationship with your vet and it is reciprocal. They are not so worried when I see another vet for anal glands though! And there are always going to be people who whinge and moan and focus on the dollar figure and not the service that comes with when they should be grateful that they have that person on their team doing everything they can to help your dog get better including leaving their family during the night several times to go and check on your dog, going to lectures in their personal time to learn more about your dog's condition and spending time just hanging out with your dog when they're seriously ill just so they're not alone.

Community challenging fuel prices is so far unrelated its in friggin' Siberia. Fuel Prices have high components of government taxes and charges in them.

Major international law firm - did not realise there were any of those (jurisdictional/ different legal system issues and all). What you tell clients is part of your professional obligation on costs disclosure. You are required (by law) to disclose your costs. The client can still instruct you to do the work or go elsewhere. No comparison between lawyers and vets... To clarify (since I obviously need to) an international law firm has offices in a number of countries <sigh>. The people I'm taking about are those who get the firm's name from the phone book and call up unannounced. That's long before the engagement letter stage which includes full cost disclosure and estimate of total fees. Clients only receive that once we agree to take on the matter. Perhaps vets should be forced to disclose their costs and charges too, eh? At least make them readily available without the client having to ask. A vet will disclose their costs and charges - just ask them. I have never had an issue when I have asked my vet and he is more than happy to tell me. In fact, many times he has even told me unprompted. There is a significant difference to costs disclosure for lawyers and vets - even at the telephone consult stage and apply whether you are at Deacons or a small suburban practice <sigh>

Major international law firm - did not realise there were any of those (jurisdictional/ different legal system issues and all). What you tell clients is part of your professional obligation on costs disclosure. You are required (by law) to disclose your costs. The client can still instruct you to do the work or go elsewhere. No comparison between lawyers and vets...

stormie - its coming from her friends who happily load the bills of clients they don't like. Actually most on this board are not breeders but just pet owners who seem to have the common sense to be able to ask questions of their vet re cost of medication. I do not care if my vet marks up medication - if it means that he can continue to provide me with service then so be it. Poodle3081 - I can't comment on vet prices but I note that you have ignored my example of the price of cup of coffee.