tdierikx

My guys get human grade food... and definitely do a LOT less poop than when they used to eat a commercial high end kibble... T.

I would be approaching the vet with a query, not an accusation, OK? Don't approach it as if they did something negligent to cause it, as sometimes things just happen that are beyond their control, and accusing them of not acting with due diligence won't get anyone anywhere. By all accounts they saved your pup's life, so if pup now has a small bald patch that may take some time to grow back in, that is really a very small price to pay, yes? T.

The catheter for taking blood and attaching the IV would have been placed in the shaved area... not outside it. The bald patch looks to be below the patch towards the wrist/foot, is that correct? How long was she on the drip? Could the patch be from the port on the catheter rubbing, or from where the tape was placed to secure it, and maybe when removed pulled the fur out a bit more vigorously than expected? Hair/fur grows back slower if it's been pulled out by the root... T.

Oh perse... my heart breaks for you... Fly free with the angels sweet Tallie-Cat... T.

5 already?!? Seems like only yesterday when we were all waiting on tenterhooks for them to be born... Happy birthday Seekie... you still have the prettiest eyes in the land sweet girl... T.

Lipoma fat can come in all colour ranges from clear to a darkish yellow... but the common property is the fact that the stains don't attach to the aspirated material. Lipomas can also have different consistencies, from really soft and fatty feeling, to almost hard. Hard lumps could also be fibroids, which are also usually benign... but pathology checks are definitely indicated to confirm that any harder lump is definitely benign. Any lump that feels like it has attachment strands or is very irregular in shape or feel should be sent off to determine their content... way better to be safe than sorry, yes? If you are otherwise happy with the services your current vet is providing, and you are a long term customer, then you should be able to have a frank discussion with them about what you consider overservicing or overcautious treatments/diagnostics... and come to some middle ground that suits you both better with regards to how he/she approaches certain situations/ailments. If they won't come to the party, then change vets... T.

Sooty may adjust just fine to having you all to herself... give it a bit of time and see how she processes the change in routine... you both need a bit of time to process it methinks... Huge hugs for you and sweet Sooty... T.

I have a great dane cross who has on occasion pushed the limits with her behaviour. She is a large and powerful dog, but is extremely nervy and obstinate. She has tried to snap at me a few times when she hasn't liked something I was doing to her... and believe me, that is quite a scary prospect! On all such occasions, she has been told in a deep growly voice that her behaviour will not be tolerated, and so far, that has stopped her in her tracks and I've come out of the situation without injury. You need to make Henry know that you won't be tolerating his naughty behaviour... not always easy when he's given you a fright, but it can be done... T.

Oh Cyn... my heart breaks for you... You have been the most awesome mummy to all your little oldies... they all knew they were adored above all else in life, and spent their best years with you. Please remember them all with smiles for all the treasured little moments they have given you over the years... no tears... just joy in your heart knowing that you loved and were loved back a thousandfold... T.

My labrador was named Trouble... for a reason... labs can be very smart, very driven, and very easily bored... mine chewed pretty much anything she could get her teeth on as a youngster too... and was expelled from group training for being the naughtiest dog in the park... err! Have a read of the book "Marley and Me" for all the fun that can be in store when getting a Labrador... lol! Rgardless what breed or cross you decide to welcome into your family, it is going to need plenty of obedience training and socialisation if you want to end up with a perfect family pet... and that will be up to you... T.

It sounds like you've pretty much made up your mind that he's not a fit for your family/lifestyle... bet he was the cutest puppy though... If you are willing to put in some work to regain his respect for you as the caregiver / food supplier, it sounds like his behaviour can be corrected, but there is no quick fix. Look up NILIF training methods... here's a decent starting guide... http://www.greatdanerescue.com.au/Docs/nilif.pdf It sounds like your little man has decided that he runs things, and he just needs to understand that he can't always get what he wants when he wants. It can be done... T.

When they prepare a slide, they dip it into 2 stains and a fixer, then they put the cover slip on. With a lipoma, virtually no stain will attach to the fatty substance extracted, so it ends up looking quite clear instead of red/purple... thus is really easy to tell even with the naked eye. Vets definitely know how to use a microscope... even vet nurses are trained to use them. Not to mention that it would be one of the cheaper pieces of equipment needed in a vet clinic... T.

There he is! That darling boy!!! Missed you Chase! (and @NikkiandKane) Good luck on Monday handsome boy! Be good for mummy and the judge... lol! T.

In Australia you need a vet's prescription to buy those vaccines... a C3 costs around $15 a vial. So technically, you could do it yourself, but as you said, you won't be able to provide certificates as required by transport, kennels, etc... Which is why you should be discussing options for complications well before they occur... like during pre-natal checkups... T.

After working with special needs dog rescue for a number of years... my experience was to discuss possibilities of caesarians and other complications with the vet well ahead of time... *grin* T.

Vets can be negotiated with for better pricing if you are a regular and financially responsible client... also microchipping courses are available to anyone, so if you are needing to do it regularly, then it would be beneficial to become a licensed implanter yourself too. Unfortunately, due to the composition of the various vaccines, they do need to be done by a licensed vet, but theoretically you could negotiate a lower cost for doing an entire litter. T.

On an errand for my work today, I met a lovely Kelpie breeder who is NOT charging crazy prices for her fully ANKC papered pups... such a breath of fresh air... and absolutley divine pups to boot! T.

My experience with lots of pups over the years is that each is different in how it will respond to different training methods... some need correction that isn't always 100% positive, and others respond really well to only the positive. There really is no one shoe fits all training method, it must be tailored to the individual. That said, there is no place for extreme or harsh correction in a very young pup. T.

It's really easy to ascertain whether a lump is a lipoma or something else that may need further looking into. Take the sample, then aspirate it onto the slide. Dip into the 3 different dyes/fixers. If the dye does not attach to the aspirant, then you are looking at a lipoma. Simple. In all reality, a vet nurse could technically perform the procedure... but only a vet is legally allowed to make a diagnosis. Vet nurses actually have to learn how to do a FNA as part of their training/course... and we all have to pass a practical test for same. I can understand erring on the side of caution though... some vets may prefer to have samples inspected by a professional pathologist for the most accurate diagnoses... just in case there is something else going on. It would be horrible to miss something sinister at an early stage, yes? T.

Haha! Maybe I did learn a few things in vet nurse school... lol! That said, consulting a vet in any case where one is concerned about the health of our furry mates is best practice... T.

It's possible that she had a spontaneous abortion of the contents of one side of the uterus for some reason... luckily for you, that was only 1 pup, and the other side that had 2 pups was unaffected. T.

Royal Canin Recovery tinned food is also very tasty... and smells pretty good to dogs... Glad to know that Mezza'a wound isn't too bad... poor wee boy. Please give him a few extra cuddles and kisses from me when he gets back home. T.

Have you got any Manuka Honey @Loving my Oldies? A dab on that wound will certainly help... otherwise, a little bit of Betadine will work just as well, but might sting a little. T.

A simple fine needle aspiration is a very quick and relatively inexpensive way the check for lipomas. If the stain doesn't stick to the aspirant on the slide, then you can usually safely assume that it is a lipoma. They are usually fairly readily diagnosed by the way they feel, usually softer and squishy and self-contained. They are also pretty common in older dogs. T.

My first step would be a full vet checkup to make sure he doesn't have an underlying medical issue. If he hurts somewhere, he may be objecting to being handled. T.