MooBoo

Last year we woke up one morning to find Bella couldn't walk properly, was like she was drunk and falling over. She had also been vomiting, so we rushed her straight to the emergency vet. They did a test on her heart which showed up a slight murmur but nothing of great significance. We took her to our vet when they opened and they kept her in all day to keep an eye on her, but she just slept on and off all day. No more vomiting but still wobbly. We brought her home that night and she slept throughout. By the end of the next day she was back to normal. She has had no issues until this morning. This morning I woke to her vomitting next to my head She was slightly wobbly, (but she had 2 knee ops at the end/start of year and the cold isn't being her friend), I didn't think too much of it. She then went on to vomit 3 more times over about 2 hours and became less stable on her legs, just like she had before. Then she started kicking one of her front legs out with every step she took. Our vet had just left for the day, so we took her to another one close by. She thinks something is going on in her brain but thought as she had something similar last year that cleared up she thought it best to take her home and keep an eye on her, if she gets worse take her to the emergency vet. She gave Bella an antibiotic shot and some to bring home. Bella has slept on and off all day and only recently got up to go for a walk outside. She is much better, still slightly wobbly but not like she was and the front leg isn't kicking out anymore. I've tried googling the symptoms, but of course there are so many outcomes. I'm just wondering if anyone has had any experience with this sort of thing. I know cat scans and so on will show if she has a tumor or blood clot etc, but the fact that she is better 24hrs later and it has been a year in between episodes, has us perplexed. Any ideas would be great.

They are very good vets but I dont think?? they have wheelchair access. Someone would need to assist getting in the front door. Just to open the door, there is no step to get in.

3 Bordeauxs...what more can I say! It's up every wall, on all furniture, I don't own a piece of clothing that hasn't got the slime trail on them. But you gotta love it!

Animal Tracks at Homebush. I LOVE them. Very small practice and awesome with the doggies and their nuerotic owners.

Gorgeous, I am in love with Carlo

This is a great idea, thanks! I absolutely love everyone at the clinic and want to thank them all. I was also thinking of making a card or photobook of our babies to give as well. Thanks everyone for the ideas.

It is so great that there are still people like this in our world. In this day and age people are becoming more selfish and it is so nice that some people still care about others.

People always complain how expensive vets are, my OH is a big one for this and hates it when I run to the vet whenever something doesn't seem right. We have always had a running joke at our vets that our 3 babies have kept them in business. We have just left the vets, after picking up Bella who had to have her second knee operation in 3months. Our amazing vet, knowing that we don't have much money but will always find it from somewhere, gave us the run down on her medication and when she had to go back then went off to his next consult, I went to pay, dreading the bill, knowing how much was available on the credit card and hoping it wasn't going to be more than that. $341.15! I just looked at the recieptionst gobsmacked. I asked for an invoice and discovered that he had given us a discount of $1405.50! I walked out to OH who had taken Bell to the car shaking my head. He started carrying on about how much was it this time blah, blah, blah. I gave him the invoice. He didn't understand until I explained it to him and we both just sat there and had a cry. I just cannot believe it. Our vet is on holidays for the next week but we want to get him something to say the biggest thankyou we can, we were thinking wine or something like that, any other ideas? I have to repay him in some way.

I'll second Moonee. I'm originally from up that way and Moonee is awesome, plus they have recently built a shopping centre there so you don't have to go into coffs. There are lots of little beaches all up and down there also and many of them allow dogs - Sandy Beach is a good dog beach, dogs are allowed up the north end of the beach. OH and I went camping at Iluka (left the dogs at grandmas) and when we got there we were surrounded by dogs, made us feel a little guilty at leaving them behind. Another about 15minutes south of coffs is North Beach Caravan Park, it is right on the banks of the Bellinger River and a short walk to the beach. It's a cute little town with a corner shop and a bowling club.

Thanks for the reply Staffyluv. The specialist thinks it is nearly completely torn. We really don't want to do surgery if we can get around it due to Bells age and weight and she also has a very slight heart murmer. Surgery basically just scares me so any other ideas would be great. I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get it done though.

Back from the specialist and it looks like Bella has partially torn her cruciate ligament. I've been searching the net but was after some first hand knowledge from those who have had dogs go through this. Bella is a DdB and currently weighs in at 56kg, she is trying really hard to lose more weight, hopefully another 6kg. Also we have been quoted $4000-$4200, does this sound about right. Our regular vet quoted about $5000. Anything anyone can tell me would be much appreciated. Thanks

Bella had her second injection today and she has lost 1/2 kg this week. Vet was very happy. Just another 7 1/2 kg to go!

This is what Bell eats, let me know what you think, Dinner includes a mixture throughout the week of 500g of beef mince raw or 500g of cooked chicken (she wont touch raw chicken), 500g of beef or ox heart or a can of tuna in springwater or brine, this is mixed with 1 cup of dry. She gets bones once or twice a week and a rawhide treat a couple of times a week. We've tried her on vegies and fruit but she wont have any of that either. I totally agree with the fish oil capsules as I have been reading up on them but Bell weighs in at 58kg, so that would mean she would have 12 capsules at one time, that seems a bit excessive. Would it still benefit her if she had less then this?

Thanks for all the replies. The joint guard and sashas blend, can they be bought outside of the vets? The Glyde powder which I have cost me $110 so anything else I can get that is cheaper would be great. We can take her to the river for a swim, so I might see if we can make it more often. We've just spent the last 3 weeks at the beach so she was swimming nearly every day. I will also look into a massage therapist. Thanks for the ideas.

Hi I'm just after some advice from people who have dealt with arthritic dogs. My Bella (avatar pic) has been limping on and off for a while, usually only when she gets up and never for a long period of time. The last couple of weeks it has become more pronounced and lasts longer (it is her front left leg), so I took her to the vet yesterday and she manipulated all the joints and said she could feel crackling in her joints and suggested it was the onset of arthritis. She gave me some pain killers to use if it looks like Bell is hurting, gave her an injection (can't remember the name of it) and she is to have one a week for the next three weeks and also gave me a powder (Glyde) to put in her food. Bell does need to lose a little wait, so will be cutting back the amount she gets and switching to a lite dry food. She isn't overly active. She loves her walks and will have a bit of a play with you and the other two ever now and then but is really just content to spend her days laying around. Are there other things which I can do that you have seen work for your dog? Any advice would be great. Oh, she is a 6 year old Dogue de Bordeaux. Thanks

He is a very kisses dog, not anymore!!!! Just back from the vet, she could find no infection and put it down to him being hormonal. He is still entire and will be til dec, jan, when he is 12 months old. She just said he is getting big boosts of testosterone at the moment. I'll keep an eye on it as he is licking it a bit and I don't want it to become infectious. I have been having fun though grossing people out by telling them my baby has a cheesy doodle! :-D

Thanks, I new I'd get a quick reply. I'll give it a wash and get on the phone and see if I can find a vet that's open.

I just noticed a big glob of a yellowy greeny pus on the end of my boys penis. It didn't go down into the thing, it was only at the top. Should I be worried, I'm away for the long weekend and don't think the vet will be open. Thanks

I had a look at their website, and we will go and check it out after the long weekend. I sympathise! I'm not from sydney either and even though i've been here 10 years, i still don't know where everything is! It's about 20-25 mins drive from you i'd say. it's about 10 from me and i'm half way between homebush and castlehill (carlingford). It's at castlehill showground (down the back) so if you go to google maps it should be easy for you to find! That's not too far to travel, I will also check it out after the long weekend. Thanks heaps for all the advice

That's the one that they had looked at, but the OP said that it was full. This one is full up which was a bummer cause we live up the other end of the road, 2 min walk away. The trainer also said that Castle Hill was a good place. How far away is it, I think I know where it is, but I'm not from Sydney and even after 3 years only know how to get to the places I really need to. Thanks for the sites, I will have a look, I need somewhere soon. Weighed puppy yesterday and he has hit 46kg, I can still remember holding him in my arms, how time flies.

I'm looking for obediences classes around the homebush area, the one opposite DFO is full up. The trainer gave me a few names of others, but I would love to know of others experiences, good or bad, of others in the area. I would prefer weekends but if not available that's fine. This will be our first time going to obedience as our two older girls were really well trained when we got them at an older age. Now we have puppy who is a 9 month old Ddb. He isn't too bad but I really want him to be as good as possible because he is going to be a big boy when he's all grown up and don't want to have any issues outside of the yard that can be avoidable due to training.

Name: Digby Sex: Male DOB: 21st January 2008 Age: nearly 8months Colour: Red Breed: Dogue de Bordeaux Hobbies: DESTROYING ANYTHING HE CAN FIND!!!!! But he looks cute doing it. Loves: Morning snuggles in bed, walks, chewing, ripping, shredding. Hates: Fireworks, he tries really hard to bark louder than them. Getting ready for a trip to the beach

Wyhlder, that's why I don't like giving it to them, it's crap! I saw the fundraiser, I'm going to check it out, I've never seen cows ears. We just got our delivery of bones and chickens yesterday, so now have about 40kg of the stuff. They will be getting these alternatively now. Thanks for the comments, I can now do the 'I told you so' song and dance when OH gets home from work

We got our delivery today, got the 10kg bag of mince as opposed to the prepacked ones and it was 100% better, looked and and smelt like human mince and the dogs chowed down on it in super fast time. I'll make sure I get this next time.

OH and I are having a debate at the moment about what to feed the dogs in the afternoon. At the moment, they get a pigs ear when I get home from work. They love their pigs ears and always wait next to the box after they have had their pats. OH thinks it would be healthier to feed them those devon rolls (human ones not pet ones as they are cheaper). I don't like them and Molly isn't too fussed about them either. I know they like their pigs ears so I stick with it. The only draw back is the expense, we haven't been able to find any cheaper than $2 each. What are your opinions????