Azurite

As someone who just recently went through the process of selecting a new lab puppy I can say I have seen this happening in the advertisements here on DOL. Right now just looking at ads from NSW only, there is a bitch for sale on mains register who "can be transferred to the limited register on request for a greatly reduced price." There is also an ad for an upcoming litter which states that all puppies will be sold on the main register. :D They have not even been born yet! Yet another ad states "The pups are priced at $1000.00 Limited Registration as Pets. Main Registration is available upon negotiation to responsible parties." We can only hope the negotiation only applies to pups suitable for main registration but it doesn't necessarily read that way. Going back to what was said earlier about breeding for colour, there is also an ad for puppies in which the chocolate puppies are priced $200 higher than the yellow puppies. These are the ads that NSW lab puppy buyers are looking at right now! You have to wonder what this is going to do to the breed over time. Then there are also the breeders with "gold" Labradors. A minor quibble perhaps, but makes you wonder if some of these breeders have even bothered to read the breed standard.

Thanks! Added Proplan to the list.

I understand the concern, but I'm not sure how else to confirm whether the food has been irradiated or not other than the statements made by the importers/manufacturers on their websites and to DOLers who have inquired. I don't know how legally binding these statements are or whether there would be any legal repercussions if they were found to be lying. Molasseslass apparently tried to obtain a list of foods that were not irradiated from AQIS but was denied as this would have violated the manufacturers privacy rights.

Thanks InspectorRex!

Thanks tpl! Will add Dick Van Patten to the list.

I thought it might be helpful for everyone considering a new dog food after this irradiation/Orijen fiasco, if we had a list of foods which manufacturers/importers have stated (through personal communications with DOLers and statements on their websites) are not irradiated collected in one thread. So far we have: - Artemis - California Natural - Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance - Eagle Pack - Eukanuba - Evo - Great Barko - Iams - Innova - Nutrience - Proplan - Royal Canin - Uncle Albers - Ziwipeak Thanks to everyone who has contacted the pet food companies and posted their statements.

Eagle Pack is apparently not irradiated. I e-mailed them earlier this week and this is the reply I got:

Perhaps the cats that didn't get sick, weren't being feed solely on Orijen? This is why I like to feed a vaired diet, at least then you're less likely to get deficiencies or excesses.

For those concerned about the irradiation of Eagle Pack foods this is the reply I got: So it would appear Eagle Pack foods are NOT irradiated upon importation to Australia.

Thanks for the suggestions. I had totally forgotten about Artemis. I was considering it before I settled on Orijen. Might have to give it ago.

This is something I'm also thinking about now. I'm feeding Orijen (make that was) at the moment. But now I think I might have to look at an Australian brand. Trouble is they just don't seem to be of the same quality. I'd like to know if Eagle Pack is irradiated or not. I was feeding BARF but one of my dogs can no longer tolerate it since developing insulinoma.

Hi Jackie. Sorry I didn't see the thread sooner, I haven't been on DOL much lately. Thanks for the link to the support group. Raffles is doing pretty well currently (and about a month out from his 14th birthday which I was afraid we might not see). Although we had to take him off the prednisolone a couple of months ago as the muscle wastage was severely debilitating him. He was unable to even support himself to do his business, so we decided the seizures were the lesser of the two evils. Since he has been off the steroids his muscles have gradually built up again and he has regained his mobility. I'm happy to say so far (touch wood) we have not experienced any seizures since taking him off the steroids, in fact his blood sugar last time we tested was higher than when he was on the steroids, which has our vet baffled. I hope Jamie is doing ok on the steroids. I think we were a bit unlucky though, as Raffles pretty much experienced every possible side effect there is.

Oh right! Sorry I can't read today! I don't blame poor Giz for not being impressed! What an unpleasant way to have to take your medicine! I've read a few websites that suggest that grains and carbs are bad for a dog with cancer as the tumour/s just metabolise them and grow, so I've swapped to a grain free kibble (Orijen) is this what you mean? His main meal is BARF, fortunately my vet doesn't seem to take an issue (they actually have a very limited stock of dry foods). Most vets around here at the very least recommend bones. Thanks again, I appreciate it!

That's awful! I've heard about the increased appetite and weight gain but not the blindness and incontinence. Thanks for the link, I'll send an e-mail and see if they can give me any advice.

Thanks for the reply JackieW. It's a tough choice to make, I'm still second guessing myself as to whether I should run the risk of the surgery or go with the corticosteroids, unfortunately the surgery is useless if you wait until things really get bad. It's a catch-22 kind of situation. Do you mind if I ask what your experience was with the steroids? What blood glucose readings does Jamie usually get? Raffles' are constantly around 2.8.