~Anne~

Greencross isn't a franchise. In Sydney, we also have VetFriends. (Edit: snap Kavic) In fact, I'm not sure that any of the groups are franchises.

Greencross are not the only ones who have a network of clinics and, in fact, they're not the only ones who have pet supplies and vet clinics. There is another I believe with PetVet and PetStock combining. There is even a specialised service group called Veterinary Buyers Group who buy clinics. You might also want to look at The Vet Group and Vet Share. There is another quickly growing group as well but I can't recall what their name is. I've seen them advertising practice management positions and similar.

You don't think you're being a little alarmist? According to the BoS there were more than 2300 clinics and that was over 13 years ago. I assume there has been an increase since then. Let's say for arguments sake there has been no increase in vet clinics though. Greencross would have to own more than 800 clinics to get to 36% 'if' that was the capped amount. If you actually look at how many they have, there are less than 100 practices.

I doubt it was Greencross. They originated in QLD. They're an Australian company and I doubt they're in the UK. In fact here's a tip - the Australian Financial Review predicts share prices in Greencross will continue to rise. They've had something like a 100% increase over the past 12 months and the merger with PetBarn is apparently going to see more increases. I'd be out buying shares if I had the money.

I can only see the benefits in the merger. PetBarn are not a tacky little pet shop operation selling animals in a mall. Combining the care and maintenance - health and retail - can only reap benefits in my view. Instead of buying high priced goods in a veterinary clinic, the range and price would be expanded and the choice far better. This means you get a variety of prices, it opens up the market on price. Why would you keep health care and medical care separate? Both are so intertwined. The health care industry for humans is also linked very heavily to medical care. It's logical. Everything I've heard about Greencross has been posisitve so far.

Flea eggs can lay dormant for a couple of years too. Hot humid weather makes them hatch so you could be dealing with fleas historically... so to speak. The cycle is hard to break. Persistence is the key. People routinely and persistently treat their dogs but not their environment. I'd pay for a pest control to do specifically for fleas inside and out and then I would bomb the house again 4 weeks later and then again 4 weeks later. and I would also wash the dogs bedding every week in a flea rinse and let them dry in the sun.

Didn't she go off her food before she started the antibiotics? I think your vet is just pacifying you because they can't make head nor tails of the symptoms. Some vets are good at diagnostics, others aren't so good. The one good thing is that it seems that there is nothing in the symptoms that is alarming to the vet.

I'd take the advice of your vet. The pound should understand although it is possible that they may also be concerned with space at the pound. If he has parvo and you bring him home, you are going to be opening up your home to a highly infectious disease. Every pup and dog, young or old, that enters your property is at risk for 12 months or more after. I'd see if you could pick him up Xmas eve. I'm rusty on the incubation time though so hopefully someone will respond who knows this.

Ditto This.

If ownership can be proven, I'd be inclined to return the cat and expect reimbursement for the cost of vet work. If it isn't possible to prove ownership then they could apply to adopt. In all reality, if it is her long lost cat, although she hasn't any legal rights I feel there is a moral right to return the animal. Were they lost and found within a reasonable distance? How old was the cat? Does it have distinct markings?

I'd go for the X-ray and further tests. There is obviously something going on. Your vet needs to start investigating it more.

I would give all options a go. If after trying surgery, whatever the vet recommended, and it failed, then I would look at euthanasia. I would also look at having a specialist do the surgery to enable the best chance at an optimal recovery.

Great news.

I know they're a small breed... But I bath mine in the bathtub. :D

I'd rather put myself through harassment on Facebook then open up an avenue of risk. If the dog can't be rehomed, you have no choice anyway. Being ethical means you have to do what it right for the dog, not the nutcases on social media. Take a sabbatical from FB for a while after it is done and refuse to enter into disucssuion from supporters or non supporters regarding the decision on and off social media.

Unless the events are held on private land, my understanding after doing a little research very recently, is that the greyhound must be muzzled unless it is an approved green hound.

The FNA cannot tell you what it is. It can rule out some things though. For example, if the lump has fatty cells then it is usually a lipoma I believe. If the cells are more fibrous it could be several types of tumour or none. That's my understanding anyway. Boof has yet another on his neck. It looks innocuous but with his history we can't be sure. This one is like a small wart. He's had one before that looked like a wart and it was an MCT. He's had MCTs that look like fatty lumps and he's had one way under the dermis. They're insidious little things and can take all different shapes and appearances.

If you are still having probs giving medication, I'd buy some chicken or beef mince, place a half tab in a little bit of raw mince and roll it into a ball. It's easy to eat and raw meat is usually eagerly accepted by most dogs. I find you have to ensure the tablet is broken into small pieces though and it is less likely to be detected.

:laugh: RuralPug's post sums it up. They're very used to being fed twice a day and I'd rather give them a little of something if I can. I've left them 3 times now, all for varying lengths of time, and the longest was from 2pm sat until 11am Sunday and they've survived without a full meal. I'd like to know they were getting a nibble the next morning though. I would never leave them any longer than overnight without someone calling in on them. I've ordered this food dispenser (although mine was cheaper). As per Minimax's post, now the fun begins. :laugh: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LARGE-10-LITRE-AUTOMATIC-DIGITAL-PET-FEEDER-AUTO-CAT-DOG-FOOD-DISPENSER-NEW-/320968631008?pt=AU_Pet_Supplies&hash=item4abb38a2e0

Gorgeous girl. RIP Viva.

I love this pic!

Thanks, that is exactly what I was looking for. I'm on a companion animals committee and I noticed that they restrict greys from being off leash in designated areas. I'd like them to reconsider this but I wasn't certain of the applicable legislation. Thank you!

Can any greyhound knowledgeable people clarify for me, or direct me to the appropriate place to find clarification, on greyhound muzzling laws in NSW. Specifically I am seeking information about greyhounds who have undergone the retraining process in NSW under the Comp. Animals Act. Are there any restrictions regarding dogs that have undergone retraining when it comes to off leash?

Thanks. For my purposes, an automatic dispenser is what I am looking for though.

:laugh: Yes. I picture that is exactly what they will do! My friend's one sits on the ground and her little fluffies barely look at it. I had already thought that I will have to sit it up high on a bench and it will have to spit the food all over the floor because I know they will tear the machine apart to get more food from it if it is on the floor!