Mason_Gibbs

Trust your instincts rach, if u know the perdon and dont feel that he is responsible enough than maybe have a chat to him and let him know your concerns.

He swims all day everyday and most of the time its when I am not here, I try covering the pool but he gets the cover off !! I'd guess this is causing the hot spots, especially with the recent humid weather. Maybe he needs to be shut away from the pool while his spots can heal or you could invest in a doggy dryer to thoroughly dry him after swimming. I have to painstakingly dry Sarge with a hair dryer after a bath or swim which takes an hour or so because if I don't you can bet he'll get a hot spot. I am checking out dog dryers to buy. A coat king might just cut the guard hairs and not actually thin the coat. I have some shedding combs and they are really good at getting undercoat out I use them on my neighbours lab, much to his delight. Problem is that i cant keep him away from the pool as its on the verandah, its the only shade outside for him. I am going to order a furminator for him. The dermatologist and i think its his immunotherapy shots which are causing them, he gets a shot every 21 days, 2 days after the shot the spots flare up again.

Thanks Rach, I have 2 shedding combs here that GR kindly gave me so I will give them a go and see if it helps any - if not I will take you up on your offer.

Would a coat king or a furminator work? What is a coat king? I have a shedding comb but that is not going to crack the mustard I think his fur needs to be thinned out by clippers etc so the air can actually get to his skin. His problem spots are his neck and back area.

He swims all day everyday and most of the time its when I am not here, I try covering the pool but he gets the cover off !!

We are battling with hotspots at the moment, I am seriously thinking of somehow getting Masons fur thinned out as I think his thick fur is what is causing it!!

Crossing my fingers for you! ;) You're a brave woman, I wouldn't leave a 5 month old Lab inside. Come to think of it, I won't leave my 4 year old Labs inside I can't say they are destructive though, haven't done anything in so long, the most they do is dog holes (but the poo in the hole thing meant no holes for 2 days straight so I am hoping it wasn't just a coincidence and it actually does the trick!!) But I still wouldn't trust them inside Little ratbags!! I left mason inside from 8 weeks old with access to our room and the open plan living area. He never destroyed anything or had accidents. He stays outside at this house when i go out tho, he has a verandah here to shelter from all weather conditions. When i am home he is always with me inside.

Glad to hear he had a great time Funny that he got stuck in mud though! Where did he even find mud? Welcome and remember to post photos Sorry I can't help with trainers in that area. They have dams for the stock to drink out of. I will post pics when our iinet is up and running next week!

I would stick to the spray- 10ml to 400 ml water last ages using this way on my Rotts. You would need a lot more added to bath tank to keep the correct ratio so a lot of wastage. Cheers lee I use daily in a spray bottle and it really lasts ages!!

I rinse mine off as he has a dry skin and also because the salt dries on him and being black it makes him look dirty!! Salt water seems to help with his hotspots tho.

Took Mason to a mates farm yesterday arvo and they had great fun playing farm dogs!! He got stuck in the mud at one stage and hubby had to pull him out! He is still tired today, normally he follows me around asking for a walk but today he is just laying around ;)

I used to use Johnsons baby oil to get sap out of my horses coat, dont think you get it in australia though but there must be an equivilant.

Well that's one way to put it It's not so much the judges comments that worry me, but peers I still dont think I could do it!!

I didn't go clubbing until I was in my 30's . Curfew didn't allow for late night outings so when I became a divorcee I let my hair down and partied, whenever I had a babysitter at least. Miss those days, of music, dance and good times but use to laugh at the scantaly dressed young ones walking around Northbridge freezing their butts off. Lol, good on you for letting your hair down!

Which vet did you book at??

I dont mind watching a bit of obedience or agility but I dont enjoy watching dog shows - think its different if your dog is involved but I would take great offense if someone did not like my dogs physique ;)

Not all of us :p Agreed. I have never been drunk ;) And because I don't drink much alcohol I have never been that keen on going out and watching others get drunk! ok we need to get mirawee at least a bit tipsy ;) I have never been so drunk that I have thrown up, I just don't want to go there as I have images of girls/guys with their heads in the gutter However, I have experienced only 2 hangovers in my almost 30 years, not bad I guess And they were in the last 5 years. I do remember one shameful night where I went out for dinner and drinks with friends and they kept buying me drinks as it was a celebration of me leaving a crappy job - well I remember walking down the street, arm around my friend, shouting at the top of my lungs "I hate drunk people like us that walk down the street shouting at the top of their lungs" How lame I am such a nanna!!! Love my cocktails, though! Mirawee, come join us for cocktails one night ;) I used to drink quite a lot before I got married - even got asked to join AA by my friends one year I hardly ever get drunk now, cant remember the last time I was actually ...

My condolences

i never went clubbing my first time was about 10 months ago lol and we didn't exactly go clubbing went to the races then the strippers first time i stayed out all night and boy i felt like a nana rofl I started going out at about 16 years old - thought I knew it all lol oh well you live and learn!!! I feel too old when I do go out now though

I had 2 ridgeback bitches who were spayed at 8 months, both started leaking about 3 months after this and at age 12 ( they still live with my mum) they still leak. She has them on some hormones which do seem to help a bit but without them they leak very badly. I think in their case it was technique as they were done by the same vet on the same day and both ended up incontinent.

I was a terrible 18 year old. I was as thin as so I wore short short dresses and skirts and I was the cheekiest thing out!!! We all go through that phase though so it does not bother me. We went to Mustang for a friends hens night in Northbridge and there was a much older crowd there!!

;) Nope, wouldn't recognise you in a skirt, either! I rocked up to agility training one night in shorts and my hair down as I was in such a rush I forgot to put it up, and oh my gawd the amount of comments I got! Apparently dog people haven't ever seen me with my hair down or in shorts I wear shorts in summer training and I wear my hair down most of the week to work, so I found that quite weird Speaking of hair up/down, when you had your hair up at the last trial I think it was Sandi, I almost didn't recognise you ;) Me thinks all us doggy people need to actually go out to dinner or something (with no dogs ), get dressed up and be freaked out by how normal some of us can look when we're not dressed for dog activities! Went to club agm last year one week night, was so odd seeing people dressed for work etc, did not recognise half of them without their dogs!!

They didn't say exactly why it had got to that state nor why the open wounds had set in. The owner said she walks them 5km a day and swimming in the afternoon - perhaps too much for an old dog with arthritis (and we know dogs often wont stop and will overdo it). Nor did they mention why he was shaved and seemd to have some kind of scar over both hips after the operation. Yes i was wondering what the hip cuts were for!

Yes we are getting Bob, being switched on at the exchange on the 18th ... sigh ( still using 3mobile but cap is finished so I am scared for my bill next month ) I also do one trip only to the vet, I shove both cats on one cage and take Mason too - cats love going in one box, i think it makes them feel safe!

funny