Golden Rules

Good advice, ArtyFarty. But I wouldn't go for chilled water. Cool water from the tap would be better. It is absorbed more readily by the body. And go for Active Manuka Honey with a UMF of 20+ or higher. Expensive, but very good stuff. Incubation period is generally around 10 - 14 days. My dogs have always loved chilled water, they seemed to think it was a treat! I even fed ice cream to the KC/CC victim at the time, treating him as though he had a sore throat. I bet he wished he had a sore throat more often

Not sure about the incubation period (I thought it was anything up to 3 weeks??) But as for the Manuka Homey, I'd be giving two or three teaspoonfuls each day (ie one in the morning, one at lunch or mid arvo then one at night before bed - approx 8 hourly - treat it like an anitbiotic). Also put a little honey in chilled water, very soothing and healing.

Is that on the corner of Ranford & Warton Rds? Yes (says me who's never been there but driven past it )

Aaawwww, I missed it :D I knew it would be fun but I slept in and then had to take a cat to the vet this morning so it would have been too much of a rush. Glad you had a great time with Mason. Hope they do it again next year!

I am and Masons Mom probably will but to be honest I don't know where to meet! We might just have to look out for each other or each others dogs

Yes, it's usually the way...one leg goes and then because the good leg is compensating for the bad one, it always goes as well. I did find the second time round after the op I was a lot more confident with the post op care and wasn't on DOL asking for advice! Hope all goes well tomorrow

Salty Seadogs Breakfast is next week (Sunday 29th Nov)

No news here either We close for 2 weeks over Xmas too - from the 18th which means we are back straight after New Year :D but I might take an extra week off I'm sure it will be hot so will have a few trips to the dog beach!

Awwww, he's just leaving you with some very special moments!

I know what you are going through Willow Healthy thoughts and wishes for Jarrah

I bought 2 kilos of sausages yesterday, cooked them in the oven then bagged them up. They are now in the freezer, and they are all dog food/treats! Very cheap treats if cut into small pieces.

I haven't needed to use Zinc tablets but have read a lot of good things about them for dogs and humans. For any supplements I give to my dogs, I give the human dose. As for the Colloidal Silver, wiping doesn't get it far enough into the ear canal so I would use a dropper, then massage the base of the ear. If you can hear squishing, you know you have enough in there (or the dog has discharge in his ears which would mean a vet visit). And then let the dog shake the excess out of the ear. I wouldn't use a syringe for 2 reasons. Firstly if the dog has sore ears, you are likely to hurt his infected ear with the force of whatever is coming out of the syringe, and secondly, the noise in the ear when having anything syringed into them is extremely loud, like an earthquake which may scare the dog or at least make him shy away from ever having anyone do anything to his ears again Also, I would try the colloidal silver as a daily oral treatment as well to boost immunity. Constant ear infections are usually the result of a lowered immunity and hard to get on top of so a holistic approach is usually best. Good luck!

It's not too early to get some pet insurance :D

Got an E collar?

Aaawwww, poor possum Pressure bandage and crating should do the trick

When I say my dogs have never needed one, they didn't have a spray of any kind, bitter or not. Wounds ooze and they need air to let them dry and heal. I had to clean the ooze for the first couple of days every time. Maybe I've just been lucky? I did have a dog who had to have half of his tail amputated and he had to have a collar and even then he managed to rip the bandages off. We sedated that one for a few days, poor mite.

She looks gorgeous! Are you in Perth? Are you coming to the next DOL meet? :D

I used to be one who was very anti drugs too and I held out for over 2 years but seeing the difference now is all worth it. I tell everyone, it's quality of life that's so much more important than quantity.

Spot on Monah I use fish oil caps, Glucosamine, Ester C and green lipped muscle extract - none of them did anything that I noticed in the movement of my boy. But it's horses for courses so you have to try them to see what works for you and yours

Yep, not all dogs need them. Mine never did, not even for major ops. It isn't hard to get them back on, just a knack. You don't have to undo all the slots, just the one closest to the collar. Once you have done it a few times, you'll be an expert! So where do we find pictures of your new puppy? Are you in the goldie thread? I don't visit there much coz I can't keep up with them all! Will he be old enough to come to the next Dol meet in November?

My 20 month old goldie has a very thin coat compared to other goldies I see. She has never been clipped. Could her thin coat be caused by her staying indoors most of the time? This is her photo just after a bath: Her coat doesn't look much different to my boy's I had another goldie who was quite dark in colour, I swear he didn't have an undercoat at all! Hever never shed hair and you hardly ever got anything off him when brushed. I'm looking for another goldie just like him

My first Goldie got clipped for summer. I didn't know any different and thought it would be cooler for him. He was a rescue and was a messy rescue at that. After his coat grew back, he looked fantastic. Will see if I can find pics. My second Goldie was also a 'rescue' however his coat was SO thick, it was obvious he had been an outside only dog. Early summer, he just lay on the pavers in the shade and panted like mad. It wasn't even that hot. So I got him clipped as well. Same puppy cut as the first Goldie. His coat has grown back fine, no problems at all. However, I haven't had him clipped since I first got him 3 years ago as he is now an inside dog and the aircon gets left on for him on hot days. He gets brushed every day and I give him 3 fish oil capsules every day. His coat is beautifully soft. (He gets bathed once or twice a year ) I have a friend who has a Goldie and a Flatcoat and because she never brushes them, they get clipped every summer. Their coats have grown back fine as well. They do look a bit odd though when clipped and that's as much to do with the groomer more than anything. I have tried to discourage her from doing it but each to their own. Personally, I think if your dog is outside in the heat of the day, make sure you have a paddling pool / clam shell in the shade so the dog can cool off when hot. Very regular brushing to remove all the dead undercoat helps, and a Mars Coat King Rake (#18) used monthly from October to March makes all the difference too. It's what I do and I have a happy cool dog

Acupuncture really only helps by increasing the circulation and improving muscle tone which in turn supports the joints (whic is what my vet acupuncturist told me in the simplest terms) so it may or may not be effective, you would need to try it. My 7 year old has HD and has had 3 cruciate ops so also has some arthritis. Since the last op 4 months ago, he has been on Metacam daily, and the difference in him is incredible. He gets up and down so much more easily, he has so much more endurance when at the park or river, and he just moves so much more comfortably. So even though he has the quarterly Cartrophen injections, it's the Metacam that has given him the greater quality of life. Something to ask your vet about ETA - swimming is great exercise because there is no weight on the dog

For such a short period, I'd be doing as you are doing at the moment, ie confining her to a room (unless she is crate trained then a crate is the best option) and keeping her occupied with training, kongs, bones etc. The rest and Rimadyl should work well together. It's not such a long time although it may seem so!

Yes it's fine to give to dogs. I gave it to my boy every time he had surgery (3 times now) and it definitely helps with the pain and bruising - but you need to get it into them as soon as possible after the injury occurs. A week later is too late for it to be effective. Arnica Cream is available from most chemists - for use on unbroken skin, otherwise use the pillules from a Homeopath or your Health Food store. Really great stuff! \