Scottsmum

Doubt it. Lol!

Maybe @sas can help / suggest something...

A chance for possible inflammation to settle. It was a great consult - I really liked her. & really appreciated her frankness

Thanks Perse. Just feeling sorry for myself. As someone else said to me tonight - why do they have to get old!

Yeh, I know but I've gone from being somewhat in denial and thinking/assuming/hoping a bit of quiet time and some pain meds would sort it out, as it has in the past ... to ... you know .... a very frank and honest conversation about spinal trauma and possible courses of action. And it's times like this, when it really F'ing sucks being so far from home and loved ones.. I don't have any friends here. It's me and him in a lot of ways. and all the guilt because I was the one that put him in that kennel - even though logically I know it could or would have happened anywhere.

Quick update. I want to be careful about what I say, because while I have said I am unhappy with the level of care with my current vet - it's complicated... Had a consult with a new vet, had a great chat and talked through a lot of the options. She's sent me home to have a think as there was a lot to get my head around - with options which could range from do nothing and treat with stronger pain meds, to xrays - as the safe and middle of the road option, through to CT scans and lots in between. We discussed swapping over to them (new vets) 100%, seeing out the spinal care with the "old vets", doing some kind of split care thing & lots more. As I said, it's complicated. We also discussed alternate therapies - and they have someone they work with and recommend but - that person would probably want x-rays as a minimum and we also discussed a few other questions I had. So yeh. It was a good consult, and I'm glad I did it, but it's just made this so much "realer" for me - I've gone from "sore back" to acknowledging that there is some thing more serious going on. So I suppose next stop: X-rays.

Sorry to hear about Jag. Thew dolphin experience sounds amazing! Off to look at the video now.

I don't say things like this often, but I hope those rangers get their arses kicked!

I don't think (especially after Scottie's separation anxiety) I could take on an older dog with known health issues beyond the usual (age related stuff). To be honest, I don't think I could knowingly take on a project dog of any age. But give me an oldie over a high energy pup any day!

Oh! @showdog - I thought about this later - you're right - where there's horses there's chiros! LOL. I liked a horse chiro ages ago on facebook who also does dogs. (And yes, before anyone asks, a "real" chiro for people, with extra quals for animals + vet nursing certificate and lots of other certificates + 16 years experience + owns dressage horses & English Pointers). Her only down side is that she's a few hours away and does regular runs through the region. But have contacted her to see when she's next planning to be in town. Also thought a bit more about your post last night - I might have missed the point you were making about GP vets. What I was trying to say when I said "I feel like I need to be under the guidance of a good GP" was I really want a vet who says "oh hes looking well (or not)" or "how's the X going? Did you try Y?" Vs what I'm getting at the moment. One vet walked into the consult room a few weeks ago and said "Hi I'm xxx, I don't think we've met before" - To which I said, "Actually I've been you at least three times" they also repeatedly try to sell me hills food, what ever, except I feel like I tell them he's grain free every time I'm there. I know my dog isn't a special snowflake and they should remember ever detail about us - but I don't think reading the file is too much to ask....

Stunning @persephone! I want to be sitting there in the shade with a cool drink!

No problem @Tara and Sam. I assumed it was related to metacam possibly making him off in the belly.

They have a conditioning clinic / program attached to the clinic. No runs. Thank god. Thanks for the other ideas/thoughts

Yes, that was the next thing on the list if it didn't settle after the metacam. Ah... good point. I think there is a local dog track in town. I do also know that the Greyhound as pets people have a kennel about 40 minutes from here, so will have a dig around and see what I can find. But as I said, I really feel like I need to be under the guidance of a good GP before I start adding other treatments in - especially as he's also on a few other meds and I need to be careful of contradictions and stuff (*to be clear I know chiro probably wont interact with drugs - but you know what I mean. I feel like I need a good comprehensive and holistic plan...) As someone with a terrible back, I agree with PK and, by extension Jumabaar/Primal Paws. His happiness & comfort is important and I'm not keen on pain being used as a restraint.

That's what I thought too! I was impressed. LOL. Nope - and I sure didn't ask. ... Actually a friend took a similar photo this week. It's possible it could be a Nursery Spider web... http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/spiders/nursery-spider.html but that's just a guess.

Breaks your heart and warms it at the same time if you know what I mean. I can't imagine being away from my oldie during their twilight years and after Guin went at the age of 15, we purposely adopted Scottie because our life style suited a senior dog.

Week 9:

Ah. Thisle - I've been so spoilt - we have used the same family vet since 2000 - and because I worked for her for a while I trusted her implicitly and also got to always see her - not who ever else was around. The only time I I have never had to change vets beyond that when I moved 40 minutes - and even then I went to a vet who'd been treating family pets for over 10 years. So picking a new one was hard, especially when I didnt know a single person in the country, let alone in town and this one should have been a safe bet. Anyhow, I do think he's worse so I will try to get in to see the new ones, who have come recommended by two separate people. Yeh. I thought about that - and had hoped that the GP would refer me to one of the conditioning vets. I'm just hesitant to do much to him / have much done without the guidance of a good vet. You know... and also we have ... limited options around... Thanks everyone else for thoughts & opinions. As I said, I kind of knew the answer but wasn't sure if I was being rash & I've never "dumped" a vet before - it feels terrible. Luckily for Scottsman, he's still bright & happy, eating and pooing and demanding walks.

Should have said - gentle on leash walking or swimming encouraged - to help keep muscle tone. (and I think he'd kill me in my sleep if I dared try not walking him!)

So... I suspect I know the answer - just need a sounding board and a bit of a vent to be honest! Scottie came home from the kennels, 3-ish weeks ago, lame (a tuesday). No big deal, they warned me & I assumed he partied too hard in the exercise paddock. Kept a watch on him over the week and he progressively got worse. Had him into the vet the following Monday (earliest). Had a consult and was sent home on 7 days metacam. He improved - significantly. 24 hours off the metacam - he was worse - and worse than when he'd gone on. Called the clinic, spoke to the vet, he gave me 30 days more metacam. I asked what else I could I and I was told "keep him quiet". SO we're now 6 days into the second lot (so almost 2 full weeks on the metacam) and I feel like he's getting worse again. Tiring and getting lame on his evening walk etc. Despite trying to "keep him quiet". Edited to add: Gentle on leash walks + swimming approved. (as if he'd get wet!) As a side note - I've been saying for a while now that I need a new vet. You can't book into see a particular vet, only one of the 4 I have seen in over 12 months ever remembers me, I feel like there's no continuity (no one ever f***ing reads the file!). They have an emergency after hours service, but you can only make a standard consult in office hours (8-5 Mon-Fri) they're often late, consults are LOOOONGG... and they always stuff up our amitriptyline refills - to the point where I always have to ask for an itemised docket and check everything I'm given before I leave the clinic. The icing on the cake was on Monday when I walked in, paid $70 for the metacam, got in the car & opened the brown bag the meds are dispensed in to discover a they'd given me a half order of amitriptyline! (took them 15 minutes to figure out what had happened - with the receptionist trying to send me home saying "we'll let you know when we figure it out" and "it's lucky you noticed" - turns out it was the other half of an Ami. order they didn't fill a month ago and have been trying to get me to pay for!) I was, and still am, livid! So... Do I go back to them now - and hope I can see the vet who saw him for his sore back? or at least hope he's in the building and he can pop in and take a look? Do I go to the new place I have picked - bearing in mind he's on pain relief so any physical they do is likely to not be 100% accurate. Giving him a day or two off the metacam for a consult with the new vet isn't really an option

Don't really know, but you're right - I usually try to avoid it / get lower in salt if possible. (after all the other considerations)

Including changing the formula to include 3% more protein & salt. Removal of the venison & fish line Addition of mackral & lamb No more 5kg bags Name change (to Ziwi pets) https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155256156754905&substory_index=0&id=178362849904 Coming *soon* to Aussie shops. Might pay to pop out & stock up on old sizes or formula if you're worried about formula or size change. *************** Update: Canned food changing too. Check out our improvements to our dog and cat canned recipes below! **If you have questions, we have included information on how to submit them at the end of this post. - Meat has replaced broth as the #1 ingredient by weight. - Dog canned recipes now have a higher meat content at 92% Meat/Fish, Organs, Bone & New Zealand Green Mussel (on a dry matter basis). - Cat canned recipes now have a higher meat content at 93% Meat/Fish, Organs, Bone & New Zealand Green Mussel (on a dry matter basis). - A higher meat content means we are able to reduce the supplemental vitamins & minerals – but it is still a complete and balanced diet. - Removal of Agar Agar, TSPP, and Carrageenan from all recipes. - Our cans will continue to never include BPA. Addition of chickpea as a natural binder for the high meat content ingredients. -What can you expect with this? -Food may be slightly lighter in colour. -There will be less congealed broth on the surface. -Cans may contain a small amount of liquid broth. New can weights: -6 oz/ 170gm can will be replaced with 6.5 oz/ 185gm can. -13 oz/ 370gm can will be replaced with a 13.75 oz/ 390gm can. -3 oz/ 85gm can will remain the same. Your pets can expect to still enjoy the same great palatability & taste. The recipe modifications are minor; therefore, there is no need to slowly transition from old to new and improved recipes. **QUESTIONS? Please click the following link to go to our Contact Us page to submit your question: http://bit.ly/2lCXM8u

Love it too but have a soft spot for the Paul McDermott version.

They're all just so different (&beautiful ) Perse

Lots of dogs would fit that bill. I'm walking a herding dog at the moment & there's no f-ing way I'd go in the yard with her without knowing "the word"& she doesnt look menacing. I'd be talking to breeders & thinking about the other qualities they want in a dog. Before making up my mind based on potentially scary appearance. As a side note: I probably wouldn't pick a puppy for this task. Theres a lot of growh, maturity & training needed for what they are after.