woody2shoes

Hi, Just hoping someone might have experience with this 'type' of dog. My sister visits quite regularly with her two dogs. Typically, she stays overnight on her way to Melbourne and heads off the next morning with her quiet terrier mix bitch. She always leaves her very excitable greyhound/staffie mix bitch with us since she is just not a dog she can travel to suburbia with. The grey/staffie mix is actually quite a biddable girl BUT she has a very excitable and volatile nature. The slightest thing switches her over to the point where she literally screams with excitement! NOTHING PENETRATES when she is in this zone. You can wait till the cows come home for her to calm down and she just keeps it up. I have never seen or heard anything like it and I am sure that our neighbours 1km away will report us to the RSPCA. This kind of dog behaviour is totally new to us. Some things do help a little but I'm not sure we are really adressing the root of the problem. I am keen to know if anyone out there can relate to this behaviour and offer some advice. Thanks in advance. w2s

FWIW, a friend of mine had a golden bitch who was speyed but continued to come in season, albeit a little less than normally. All the associated issued came with it including attracting dogs etc. This was a while back now so I can't recall specifics I'm afraid. In any case, I know she was operated on again some time later, this time successfully. I would have to go for surgery in this sort of instance if it were me. And in all fairness, I believe that the vet who originally did the procedure, should bear the cost. JMHO w2s

Hi guys! Tangwyn, yes, Candy's all growed up - all 21.6kg/18" of her!!!!! OMG!!! Still, she's a lovely little thing and sweet as to have around. She and Gidg (all 30kg/22"!!! ) are the best of friends. I have plenty of pics so will scrounge some up tomorrow for you - You will die when you see how different the two girls are. Lablover, I missed you at the trial. Figured the weather was going to keep a few people away but thankfully, it was uneventful. I only entered the Sunday. Miss Candy Pie did two great runs then made a mess of No. 3 so we missed out on a placing. Overall, very happy with her all the same. Gidg came along for the outing and had a hoot too! Have you heard that I'm getting a dog to show??? And, it's not a gundog - can you believe it????????????? :D All being well, she'll be along at Easter so you will get to meet her. w2s

Yo will happily work for everyone. Rather cool trait I think. Hi Lablover, Just caught the tail end of this thread. Did you head north for the training day???? Not sure if I read that right... Are you entered for the Golden/GSP Club trials at the end of the month? I've entered Candy for the Sunday only (Novice) as I had a prior commitment on the Saturday. Hope you, Andrew and the boys are all well. Tangwyn, Haven't caught up with you in ages. Glad to hear Peppa's on track for AA. Hope to catch up with you some time in the near future... t

Asolutely spot on Tilly. Have to agree. Chezzyr, this is a vet job as the ear may well need a deep clean which they will only be able to do under sedation (more than likely) followed by drops daily till the infection clears. Your girl won't stop scratching/head shaking till the infection is under control I'm afraid. BTW, ear infections are not uncommon in some breeds due to poor ventilation of the ear. Bugs get in (especially if the dog likes swimming) and because the environment in the ear is warm & moist , voila! the infection goes rampant. If you do swim your girl, you may well have to routinely dry her ears out with a soft cloth, just as far as you can go in comfortably (no cotton buds!) With our labs, if they ever had issues like this, regular use of a general ear cleaner such as Otoderm also helped a lot. It neutralises the environment so that bacteria can't thrive but be warned, most dogs don't enjoy having liquid squirted in their ears!!!! Have a chat to your vet though. They will be able to give you the complete rundown. Cheers and best of luck. w2s

Sure did! And I sat watching with great interest, glued to the TV...till I saw the cost!!! My girl's elbows are pretty ordinary despite having had surgery and I am now facing the prospect that she may need an elbow replacement some time further down the track. From my initial enquiries, the cost for both procedures (ie elbow replacement & Stem Cell) is about the same. Problem is, one has guaranteed results but is highly invasive, the other is minimally invasive but there are no guarantees. In any case, I suspect this may be a moot point since such high costs are out of the question for a lot of dog lovers. w2s

Hi PomsNZ, I have only just read your thread. I am so sorry to hear what your little guy has been going through. I have everything crossed for him. Just hang in there and keep doing the best you can. He knows you are there for him. I don't know if the breakdown of blood is so much a good or a bad thing but simply a process he will have to go through. If in doubt, I'd give your vet a call. That will at least ease your mind. Nothing worse than sitting there, second-guessing. Sending you tons of positive vibes and lots of cuddles for your little man. All the best. w2s

Thanks ILA, Your boy's scenario isn't unlike Gidget's except that I went for CT scans at 5 1/2mo to get a difinitive diagnosis when earlier x-rays showed no issue. My girl had bilateral arthrotomy for FCP that same day. Luckily, I think, she did not have UAP so no need for an ulnar-ostectomy. Her post-op recovery was a bit faster as a result. I live in hope then! I don't care if my girl can't compete or even train (actually I really miss training her - she just LOOOOOOOVES her work) but I don't think I could bear it if she could never run free again. That seems unimaginable. I have always had her weight right down, I'll have a play with her supps to see if I can give her any more relief, and my specialist has recommended a course of cartrophen every 6 months for the rest of her life, one at the end of autumn just prior to the onset of our cold months. She sleeps indoors and is already a lounge lizard but all the more so since this latest drama started. She hates that of course - NOT! I guess keeping her mobile and toned will depend a lot on how much exercise she can tolerate. I plan to do as much swimming with her as I can manage during the warm months. I sure hope your boy continues to enjoy being pain free. He deserves it after all you've done for him. Cheers, w2s

Hi Tameeka, I really feel for you having to make such a tough decision but would recommend you wait and get that second opinion before deciding on anything. If you are really lucky, you won't have to make the tough decision at all but if you do, be guided by your instinct. It will serve you well. Cheers, and best of luck. w2s

Thanks NEA, I'll have a little look today & see what I can find. Cheers. w2s

Hi bl, While I was never led to believe that there were any guarantees with my girl, there was certainly a reasonable chance that she might be able to train and compete, at least to some level. I certainly know of labs and goldens with ED who are still competing in retrieving today. In fact, one lab went on to get its title. Mind you, their owners couldn't tell me what kind of ED their dogs had so that could have some bearing too. My specialist simply said that every dog is different and I would have to see how things pan out. He said I would be guided by how well she tolerated the exercise and training and that's exactly what has happened. I so know what you mean. I guess that's what I go to work for! w2s

Hi ILA, I never thought of that! Well worth a try...is the Ester C already part of the Flexicose or do you supplement it? I would love to think that I have the time and energy to try her on a raw diet but I have to be honest, I don't think I'd be able to maintain it long term. Can you pls tell me a bit more about your boy's FCP? When did it start & what treatment did he have? How active is your boy and how much stiffness (if any) does he have in his leg after exercise/rest? Thanks NAO, I can certainly add Vitamin E but have no idea how much is required. Can you help with this please? Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all your ideas. w2s

Hi Stormie, Following her recovery from surgery, I brought her on very, very slowly, gradually getting her to the point where she was coping easily with normal exercise. I then began giving her some marking practice where she would see the item thrown & would be sent to retrieve it. This involves some running but isn't too hard on the joints. Typically, she would get 3 in a training session. As her fitness level increased, I introduced some simple handling drills like the ones I described in my earlier post. Eventually, she was getting the drills in the morning, and marking practice (including water retrieves) after work. I think your idea about visiting a chiropractor is a great one. I don't suppose there's one in the Echuca/Bendigo/Swan Hill area that someone can recommend???? We seem to live in the middle of nowhere!!! I might just have to schedule some trips to Melbourne on a regular basis & take her to one I know of down there. Wish there was a place near here where I could take her for hydrotherapy in due course too. I have been giving the whole situation a lot of thought. Clearly I may have to change my focus so I could at least concentrate of getting her CD. I guess we can only try! Cheers, w2s

Hi puggy_puggy, I can see why it might appear that way but I don't believe she has any issue with her bones being brittle. The broken toe was really just bad luck. Apparently the local vet said it doesn't take much - just flipping it back hard enough will cause it to break. I am still feeding her Eaglepak large/giant breed puppy formula which I consider to be very good. Not sure what else I can do. And she has been on Joint Guard & fish oil capsules for most of her life. In addition, she is on NSAI for the moment. Leema, Thanks for the link. That's quite an inspiring story...from my limited knowledg of OA, keeping the joints mobile is quite paramount so the thread of the article is very logical. I really don't want to confine Gidget any longer/more than necessary and I will try to bring her back into some sort of 'normal' routine, her elbows permitting. I guess I will have to be realistic and accept that training her on handling drills which require the dog to sprint, stop hard and spin sharply is just not going to be good for her elbows. I think my idea of swimming her on retrieves might be beneficial and should (hopefully) satisfy her retrieving drive. Cheers, and thanks for your thoughts. w2s

Hi, my now 13mo lab bitch broke her toe a week ago after tumblng down a hidden embankment. X-rays showed a clean, non-displaced break above the knuckle of the outside toe on her RIGHT foot which was subsequently strapped in a half-cast. Estimated recovery time - 4 weeks. Unfortunately, she also has a very ordinary LEFT elbow (the result of joint degeneration secondary to Elbow Dysplasia and surgery) which she has been favouring badly of late so the poor thing doesn't know which leg to limp on now! OMG!!!! Can she possibly do herself any more damage???? Ironically, just two days prior to breaking her toe, I'd had her back to the orthapaedic specialist for follow up CT Scans to evaluate her elbows. There was some concern that another fragment may have broken away. Unfortunately, the prognosis isn't good. She has been doing brilliantly with her retrieving work and suddenly, everything has gone pear shaped. It appears she now has significant osteoarthritis of the left elbow which is the cause of her lameness and increased joint effusion. The specialist was very pessimistic. He said she definitely would not be able to retrieve and recommended that her exercise regime should consist of being walked quietly on lead for the rest of her life!!!!!!!! He even handed me a pamphlet on elbow replacement surgery which is apparently now available in Australia. Of course, when I can find another spare several thousand dollars, I guess that might have to be an option. It's hard to put into words how dissapointed/depressed I am. Of course my priority is to make her comfortable & somehow still give her a good quality of life. So I am hopeful that if nothing else, she will eventually be able to have some quiet off-lead time on her own and that perhaps I will be able to give her some retrieves in water as part of her exercise regime. Am I being unrealistic??? Am I just refusing to accept such a pessimistic outcome???? Can anyone share their experiences if they've had this sort of thing happen to their dog? Any feedback would be welcome. w2s

Hi, I recently heard from an orthopeadic surgeon that it's actually Omega 6 fish oil which is so beneficial for joints - not Omega 3. Of course I've been madly feeding Omega 3 fish oil capsules to my young labs. :p Has anyone heard this before? Is Omega 6 available in much the same way that Omega 3 is? I understand that Hills JD formula contains both Omega 6 & 3 fish oils but at $145/13.5 kg, ;) I just cannot afford it. I already own the million dollar dog! All the Omega 3 fish oil capsules (for humans at least!) claim to be good for joints so I must say, I am more than a little confused. Thanks in advance. w2s

I have owned labs for many years and for the most part, they haven't had skin issues of any sort. BUT, I had one yellow bitch several years ago now, who developed hot spots at the drop of a hat. She would scratch and scratch and nothing would stop her. I finally worked out a good system. I found that a spray pack product called dermacool took the heat out and then I would apply a soothing cortisone based cream which came in a green tube with white writing (I'm sorry, but I can't recall the name - it's been too long). While the hot spot was at its worst, she would wear an elizabethan collar and leather booties on her back feet to stop her scratching. It was very effective. The spots would be better within a day and once the itchiness passed, she could 'run free' again. Hope this helps. w2s

Thanks noisymina. I think refrigerating it is a really good idea. I will do that. I'd already considered using more of the Jointguard if I was at all worried about the product's viability. Mooper, Like you, I was pretty amazed at just how alike the two products are. I think (from memory) the canine version had say 80mg of glucosamine in every 2.5g scoop and the equine version had 90mg when I broke it down. The difference was negligible. The chondroitin was identical and the other ingredients eg. vitamin C etc. were not detailed so I have no way of knowing how the two compare. In any case, my vet seemed to think it was definitely worth buying the equine version as a substitute. I may just call NatureVet and ask them what they know about the product's shelf life. Thanks for the feedback. Cheers, w2s

Hi all, I recently priced Jointguard for horses and noticed that it's less than half the price of Jointguard for dogs. Naturally, I am keen to start using it as an alternative. As far as I can see, the ingredients are identical and their quantities are virtually the same (the glucosamine rate is marginally higher in the equine version). So, my question is - given that it comes in a 1.5kg tub and is likely to go well beyond its 'use by' date before I am finished with it, will the active ingredients such as glucosamine/chondroiton etc. etc. still work? How effective are these types of ingredients once you exceed their 'best by' date? Thanks in advance. w2s

Hi deltron, I'm so sorry to hear about your boy's ordeal. I really hope it works out well for you. You are doing all you can. We live in brown snake heaven and really, have been very, very lucky to date. Unfortunately though, I sadly lost my much loved 4yo lab bitch 2 years ago (almost to the day!) to brown snake bite. She was bitten in our yard while we were away at work and never stood a chance. On a separate occasion, one of other our lab bitches was bitten but we were unaware of it till we went to feed up and I noticed she wasn't all that interested. Within minutes, she was looking decidedly unwell and not long after that began to really struggle. We made a quick phone call to our vet follwed by a mad dash to the surgery 10 minutes away. By the time we arrived, Sunny was unable to walk. Since we were unsure what kind of snake had bitten her (and we were sure it was a snake bite from all the signs), our vet administered the 'general' antivenene but this had little effect. By this stage, Sunny was completely still and barely breathing. We took a gamble and decided that since 90% of snakes at our place are browns, we administered brown snake antivenene. Within 20 minutes, Sunny was already much improved. She stayed overnight and we picked her up next morning and it was as if nothing had happened! My BIL owns Sunny's litter brother and his dog was also bitten by a brown snake. At the time, he lived a good 3/4 of an hour from the nearest vet. By the time he got his dog there, Major was literally on death's door. In spite of that (and in no small part due to how fit he was at the time) he was treated with antivenene and after quite a battle, survived. It took many months for him to fully recover and I can't recall all the details but I know it was nowhere near as simply a recovery as Sunny's. Having said that, Major and Sunny are both now 11yo and fit and healthy...so fingers crossed that all will be well for you too. Cheers and best of luck. w2s

Hi, Just wanted to provide an update on my young lab bitch who was operated on 6 months ago for bilateral elbow dysplasia (specifically Fragmented Coronoid Process). If there's anyone out there going through this sort of thing themselves, I thought it might be useful to post my most current feedback. I am delighted to say that 6 months post surgery, my girl is looking remarkably sound. It took a while for her to become confident moving freely and I had a couple of set backs early on but once her muscle tone returned, there's been no holding her back. She still has some minor swelling over the outside of both joints but this is slowly improving with time and is expected to disappear eventually. She is now 12mo, in full training for retrieving trials and is keeping up with my other young lab bitch without any problems. I am still feeding her Eaglepack Giant/Large Breed puppy formula (not sure when to change to an adult formula - or if at all!) and she is on Jointguard and Fish Oil Capsules daily. She is free of any pain killers or Anti Inflams and has been for 3-4 months now. I am stoked. I can only say that I am very, very happy that I tackled this problem head on. Her gait will never be as nice as that of an unaffected dogs but having said that, she moves with no apparent problem - except coming downhill at speed. I notice then that she appears stilted and a little awkward. I guess that's a sign that those joints just aren't put together right. Hope this helps. Cheers, w2s

Our 13yo lab bitch recently began to exhibit very similar symptoms except that the skin around her eyes started to darken rather than go pink, as if her eyes were weeping. We thought it was an allergy too. In any case, the vet diagnosed it as sarcoptic (fox) mange and we've since had to treat all 6 of our dogs. My advice is keep an eye on it and see your vet if you are unsure. Good luck, w2s

Hi, I'm pleased to say that Lewis's epulis is the fibromatous type and was on a clearly defined stalk growing from the floor of his mouth behind his incisors, spilling between two teeth and over to the front gingival margin. At this stage. it isn't doing much of anything and I guess we will be guided by how it progresses. My vet has recommended daily brushing (for Lewis that is!) as it is the bacteria that get caught between the epulis and the teeth that do the most damage, with this type of epulis at least. Good luck with Guinness. w2s

That is brilliant news!!! Very happy to hear it. Cheers! w2s

Hi everyone, it seems that this year is definitely going to be a good one for my vets. :D In the past 6 months I have had - a pup with elbow dysplasia requiring bilaterel surgery, sarcoptic mange in our older girl for which we had to treat all six of our dogs, kennel cough courtesy of a visiting dog which (touch wood) has only affected three dogs to date and now, my 8yo maltese/jack russell cross has had a biopsy done and has been diagnosed with an epulis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Has anyone had experience with these growths please? I know this one has appeared in the last month or so as I check my dogs' mouths very regularly. Thanks. w2s