CareyJ

So, so cute! Congrats RV. Yep, summer puppies for us too. After we missed out on the last litter we were looking at (not enough puppies to supply demand) we decided to wait until it is warmer!

This topic is right up my alley! Maxwell Wines, McLaren Vale SA has the "Where's Molly" Rose. The label has a picture of their GSP Molly hidden in a number of other photos of all of Molly's dog friends. Is is bad that we chose to go to a winery because we know they have GSPs?!?!?

So sorry you and Dusty are having to go through this. We have just had some experience with something similar which was originally diagnosed as Lymphoma which unfortunately turned out to by multisystemic hystiocytic sarcoma (much worse!). I'm not a vet and only talking from experience and knowledge gained when Leila was sick. I believe initial diagnosis could be done with a blood test but should be followed up with a multitude of other tests to determining staging and therefore the appropriate treatement. It sounds like you have caught things early if he doesnt have any visible enlarged lymph nodes - this was the first symptom we had that Leila was now well. There are a multitude of options available and the only person that can make the right decision is you with support from your vet (and other vets if needed). We didnt get the opportunity with Leila because it was all so rapid but I have heard some really great stories about success with diet change and the use of a holistic vet. Good luck with whatever you do.

PIA paid out $7000 in under 3 weeks for cancer diagnosis and treatment for a 21 month old dog - got it all back minus $100 excess in 10 days. We never thought we would have to use it for illness and got it more for accident/injury like ACL etc. We had never had insurance before and would never be without it again just based on this one experience. The amount we were paid out was more than we would have paid in premiums in 10 years! Knowing people who have dogs with alergies, that have needed joint operations and all sorts of other things, and knowing the cost for after hours consult and dignosis it made sense to us. Remember though that you still need to be able to pay the bills and claim it back through insurance later.

Better pets and Gardens/City Farmers will often have sample bags that they can give out - just ask. We did when we were looking at swapping over. they even gave us cat food samples even though the cat was fine!

Those tollers are just too damn cute! Great photos CC.

Great response CC! love it I havent had much to contribute lately but I couldnt pass that one up.

Great photos We're getting married in Denmark in November. Its a beautiful spot.

We have palmetto in the shade and it is currently going crazy. Its a really nice lawn but did suffer badly when we had a dog on it. It didnt help we didnt give it enough time to establish before the dog dug it up. We had also never had lawn before so had no idea what we needed to do to to maintain it! The good old Kyk (used on most footy ovals) seems to work but isnt so popular in standard back yards. Carey

Search in the General forum - there have been heaps of discussions on this. I cant speak more highly of PIA - they paid out our claim within 10 days - it was $7000 which was racked up over less than 2 weeks.

I forgot about sardines and yoghurt too.

We chose to go with chemo because we had the means to do so and surgery wasnt an option for the type of cancer Leila had. It meant that we were able to say that we tried and we were totally guided by the advice from our vet, who was lovely and completely open and honest with us. In hindsight - nothing would have helped I dont think. We tried to made some quite drastic changes to Leila's diet...but we just didnt get enough time. Bear in mind your girl also had a relatively significant surgery so do the best you can with getting her to eat. We went with the theory, if she wants it, she can have it - to make sure we kept up her strength - if there was any meat & veggie leftovers from whatever we had for dinner, she got them. We chose to stop feeding biscuits - but continued to let her steal cat bickies! There is a good cottage cheese and honey recipe (I think I got it from on here or at least the idea for it) which is high in protein and dogs go crazy for. What else did we feed? cheap butchers mince, eggs, pumpkin. Most of these things arent too expensive when you take out the biscuts. If all else fails and she wont eat it but will the biscuits - feed them! Apart from not eating as much, how is her personality bearing in mind the surgery and unusual vet visits? A lot of people say "you will just know when enough is enough" and that did happen with us - Leila stopped being her - she wouldnt eat and had to be given pain relief - that was enough. Until that happened we were on the plan that the vet had set for us. Hang in there.

So sorry to hear about both Havana and Abbigail. We lost our 21 month old GSP to cytosystic sarcoma (like lymphoma but worse!) last year so we understand exactly what you are both going through There are some fantastic support groups out there. Whatever treatment option you chose, may it be chemo or diet change and care or something different, there are some fantastic success stories out there. Doing the best you can within the resources you have and providing them with a safe loving environment means you have done everything for your babies.

We did some indigenous training for work and one of the trainers told us that when the native orange plants are flowering around Perth, the venom is more potent and survival is less (most are out before christmas) - now whenever I see orange native flowers all I think about is poisonous snakes!

Yep, GSP puppy. It is only early days yet, I have sent 2 emails to breeders in NSW and have another couple I want to approach. One responded within 2 hours and has a litter due at the end of March and possibly another planned for late this year/early next. She comes with very good recommendations (DoL of course) but has never flown a puppy. Apparently the dam is "a very sweet girl and not too OTT" Im not sure if that is in terms of any dog or a GSP!

Was that for Bear Tiggy?

Cheers everyone OH's sister lives in Sydney so maybe she might like to come and visit...although she might try and make us pay for her flights as well!

Does any one know what the approximate cost of flying a puppy from Sydney to Perth would be? I might need to factor it into my puppy savings plan

For our next puppy we will definately be going to Train a Pup Time after all the recommendations it has had. We took our crazy GSP to Perth Obedience Club and learn a lot from Denise and Margaret. they tought us novice dog handlers a lot and put up with Leila's craziness. Denise is firm, but fair.

Does your hubby also have a hand in who gets employed at the new store? My Dad would be very keen on a Bunnings job! Not really, but he does work closely with the manager. I'll see if I can find out more about their recruitment and send you a PM if you like? the Western Classic is each evening over the weekend isnt it? I'd like to go but the info on the dogswest website means very little to me....I wouldnt mind going down to see the GSPs and maybe some obedience...

OH is thrilled your all so excited about all the new bunnings stores opening up - he's their state marketing manager. The service is always heaps better at their new stores. We spend way too much time and money there! Bunnings pays money into our account and we give it straight back to them

You would hope that your GSP points seeings they are bred too Both my pointers snorkle in water as do a fair few I know. They also had smells and sprays and will rub themselves all over the ground to get the smell away. Yes, very true! I was waiting for a comment like that. It is still amazing to see something so young just know how to do it... she was able to point before she started to wag her tail!

GSPs point - it amazed us when our 10 week old gsp pointed at the cat the first time they met! They are also very vocal.

Has any one seen the bureau of meteorology website today? We're getting a cyclone in Perth! Tropical cyclone Bianca is expected to be a category 1 cyclone off Bunbury by 30th Jan. Best that everyone stays away from the beach for the weekend as high tides, very rough seas, dangerous surf and flooding of low lying coastal areas are expected on sunday between Jurien Bay and Cape Naturaliste.

We would be but I'm starting triathlon training. Cycling at 7am at challenge stadium. I'm going to die! The things you do to fill the time when you dont have a dog!