yellowgirl

Yay Charlotte*Paddington!! . By getting involved you've made a huge difference to the rest of Sharni's life! Just one dog (for now ) , but boy, it feels good doesn't it? . Very proud of you for making this your business, and I'm sure Sharni's new owners feel the same way . Good karma to you too Melzawelza! :p . Maybe, maybe your email will make a difference. It's well written and gets the point across without coming on too strong . Might be worth cutting and pasting it in an email to every idiot who's advertising an undesexed dog on Gumtree. I wonder if something can be done to change the way so many people on Gumtree seem to think. Could we convince Gumtree to have something like Melzawelza's letter as part of their header or general information or something? The people who are advertising undesexed dogs are the one's who need to see that information.

Cheers Colliepaws! . Already sold one rope toy ... to Kelpiepupmum , to whom we give another big thanks for the bag of clothes she and Shannon brought over

Thank you Colliepaws for the bags of clothes! . Heaps there that I can definitely use And thank you also for the bag of felt toys you made for our Charity Corner!! ( http://fidosfunhouse.com.au/charity_corner_41.html ) VERY much appreciated!

Dodger is that for this Sunday or next Sunday? The meet is on 6th June

I hope I can make it . If so, I'll just bring Madeline. No way Banshee (the new one) would be able to cope, Pepper's still too nervous in big groups, and Sarge will just stare at the car waiting to go home . I could do it if I had a stronger temp fence, but it's not worth the risk with the four of them and the current thin fencing I've got. Any psychic DOLers know what the weather might be like? Hugs to Bully Hope you can make it Kerri!

Very helpful, concise explainations Erny. Thank you :D . I've been vet-hopping a bit with my dogs in the last year and each one of them still pushes the yearly vacc. I'm getting better at saying 'it's my dog, and based on the AVA information, I'm doing what I believe is best for him/her'. So true. I wanted to get Madeline back into training this year but I know they require a current vacc certificate to enrol. I might ring them and see if they accept titre testing now.

Oh man. Another opinion do you think Stormie? The vet seemed very certain, Banshee's mammery glands were a bit swollen which seemed to be the decider for the vet. Banshee isn't in any pain, she lets me poke and prod her tummy and it doesn't bother her. Appetite is great, poohs are great. I'm still a bit confused myself, she was speyed 2 and a half weeks ago, would there still be enough hormones to continue a phantom pregnancy after that amount of time? What do you (or your lovely vet) really think it might be? Should I see yet another vet?

You beauty Kirst goldens!! One person can make a difference especially when a few other one persons join in too . Sometimes you just don't know till you give it a go. I started a rescue funraising idea called Dog Sponsor (see my website) and the motto is 'Making a difference, one dog at a time'. Just one person helping just one dog does make a difference :D . I sometimes get a bit overwhelmed by the scope and enormity of dog rescue and it seems like whatever I try to do to help is like a little drop in such an enormous ocean :D . I'm amazed by how hard and consistently the people involved in it work, in spite of it seeming like a never-ending battle. They are angels. I think our little bit of help will make a difference . Thank you for joining in

Thanks Chewbacca . I think a coat or shirt can also help make a dog feel a little more secure, I know that's the case for my dogs :D . We also have Bonbongirl on board, who after getting the hang of the patterns, wants to whip up some shirts for the Kurri Pound Currently my shirts are going to K9Angel for the Blacktown pound. Anyone else need shirts or coats?

Thank you dear MM :D . I think there will probably be third and fourth opinions involved if her leg doesn't improve. I know!! Apparently Banshee started the phantom pregnancy before she was speyed, and the vet seems to think that it will settle down fairly quickly now that the hormones and equipment have been removed. I can't contact the vet who did the spey, which is very frustrating, as my original thought was IF the uterus is still intact is it possible for her to continue a pregnancy??

Phantom pregnancy!!! . Vet says it will subside as the hormones settle. Now for the bad news .... I also got the vet to check Banshee's back left leg as she's been resting it a lot from day 1 and often trots around on 3 legs. I've had her on glucosamine/condroitin and the VAN joint formula since the first week and so far there's been no change. The vet who did the spey said she had checked Banshee's leg when she was under sedation but couldn't be sure if there was cruciate damage, and to see how she goes. The vet we saw last night couldn't really tell too much because Banshee was screaming and snapping all through the examination . She's put her on Previcox anti-inflammatory, and the idea is that if there is improvement it's probably arthritis, but ... if there's no improvement, it's probably cruciate damage, and the next step is sedation and xrays, and then an operation ... and I don't want to think about it. Geeze, she's lucky I love her

Just to hear a little something was lovely, thank you Toohey. We know she's still okay ;)

Thanks so much for your input Stormie. I'm glad that she can't be pregnant, but I'm a bit more worried now though as it has to be something. Poor girl has had such a crappy life so far, I was hoping she could just relax and enjoy being warm and loved for a while. Will let you know how she goes at the vet. Appointment is at 6.30 but I won't be able to update till after lunchtime tomorrow.

That would be great Spottychick! ;) I'm using the Simplicity 3939 pattern, and have just ordered the Simplicity 9520 for larger dogs, and another one but I can't remember what it is ;) . All from ebay. There are quite a few pattern stores there.

*Snuggled in a big armchair with a great book and a big black dog across my lap (wonder who he belongs to?), coffee and donut on the side table. My four Cresties have all found a Maremma each to snuggle up with.* It would be lovely to hear something, even if it's just that Jed is asleep. I hope she can feel us all with her ;)

I wonder if this vet just isn't up with the times, DBT. Bit odd, because I think she's only in her mid 40's-early 50's. I think she may be the only vet in Adelaide still doing flank speys. That's certainly no keyhole persephone ;) . Pepper's was big too, she had 6 stitches, just not as noticable as Banshee's. I can see what you mean about a Gremlin That gorgeous nekkid body with the armadillo wrinkles, big leathery ears, adorable kissable bald head, the white mokawk, lovely big brown eyes ... and a mouthful of teeth to bite the vet with ;)

With a flank spey, do they remove the uterus as well, or just the ovaries?

Thank you Robbi for not only paying for postage bags for food to be delivered to an interstate rescue, but also for the big bag of coat material! It's taken a while to get the patterns organised (I've put it all onto cardboard now), but hopefully today I can start some sewing! I've also ordered two other patterns from ebay for larger coats and different coat/shirt patterns.

Just out of interest Stormie (she's going to the vet anyway), how long would it take for fluid to drain away, and would it cause that much of a bulge? It feels quite firm.

She's booked in for 6.30 tonight at a different clinic

I know Stitch, the scar is really noticable isn't it? Just as well Banshee doesn't have a modelling career or anything! I took her to this vet as she does the NDN low cost desexing http://www.ndn.org.au/apply-for-low-cost-desexing.html . She did one of my other girls as well with no problems. She was also desexed through the side but she has different skin colour and texture and the scar isn't very noticable. No take-home pain relief, it was given at the time. Neither dog had any issues with healing at the site. I will ring another vet right this minute and get Banshee booked in for another opinion. If she's not pregnant, then something is causing the swelling. I'm a bit worried. Fingers crossed that Banshee doesn't bite this vet as well

Thanks Stormie and Blacklabrador, I'll take her to a different vet and get her checked out

Love the last bit where she couldn't find the spoon

Banshee came into my care on 4th April - edited - sorry, got my long weekends mixed up, it was 25th April (she was in season) and was desexed on 11th May. She was desexed through the side which I know isn't done much any more. She has a tummy bump that looks as if she's pregnant and I tried to ring the vet but she's on holidays and the clinic is closed. I rang another vet because I was pretty sure that it's impossible for her to be pregnant as the uterus is usually removed along with the ovaries. The vet nurse said that's the way it's usually done. She was busy and I think she thought that I was talking about a bump around the incision which would normally be underneath. So I thought I'd ask you guys for your opinions as you can see the pictures. Googling wasn't much help. Even if just the ovaries were removed, she can't be pregnant can she?? (Geeze, how's her enormous scar looking there?!? Looks like I drew a big pretend pirate scar on her!) She often stands hunched and has quite a hard tummy, but now the bulge is bigger. The vet had checked her tummy when I first took her in and said the hunching was due to her fear issues and would get better as she relaxes. This pic was taken a few days after she arrived, standing hunched as usual, her tummy was tight, but no bulge. Any ideas??? Edited to put in correct date

Love it!!