Scottsmum

Thanks Teekay - also I'm in NZ these days - Bumble bees aplenty :)

Quick update: I) According to the receptionist at the vet I called into - He doesn't need heartworming. I will ask at another place to be sure because .... I'm not 100% confident - but I think all evidence is pointing towards no. II) The Nurse I ended up speaking to and the receptionist both pronounced Titre differently - again - do some reccy when I pop into another vet to confirm my finidings ;) III) Still undecided on the vet and the payment plan etc. Espinay raises a good point above - I'm confident enough and know (just) enough to not be upsold or over serviced. Plus I have real life vet and grooming friends who I trust and you lot too - so I'm not too worried about that ... verdict still out. On the topic of titre testing - the receptionist and the nurse were unsure if they did it. Well, they don't do it as a general thing. The nurse said it's not at all common and both counselled it would be far more expensive then "just vaccinating" ... When I said cost wasn't an issue the receptionist actually said "wish I could say that!" ... Any how... the nurse was going to get a quote for me and call me ... so I'll keep you all updated. Also - the standard vaccination (C3 or C5) appears to be called a V3 or V5 ...

They do. I have tried them not 100% in love ...

I assume the process is related to the chemical process of titration (which I was taught to pronounce similar to "Tight-ration" at uni) therefore I assume it's pronounced kind of similar.

Thanks :) I hate pronouncing things wrong :) My hubby is having a field day with me trying to learn Maori place names :)

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Thanks Perse - we needed to pop into spotlight for a specific thing yesterday. I've been avoiding it like nothing else (it was torture - so many bargains) but they had a "help wanted" sign up - job not advertised online - so I'll pop back in this arvo and maybe I could get a job there - then I'd spend every cent on material ... like a kid in a lolly shop... :laugh:

OK - Because I'm totally OK with looking like an idiot with you guys and I'm on the hunt for a new vet for the first time in over 15 years.... Here is list of kind of dumb questions. How long from a negative heart worm test do I have before I need to treat? (I'm drawing a blank - is it 4 weeks or 6?) Do I even need to treat for HW here in New Zealand? Edit: Nope! How do you pronounce "titre" test? Is it Teat-rrr (like a nipple teat?) or is it Tight-rrr (like hold on tight) (I told you they were dumb questions) Edit: Sounds like the jury is out on this one Is one of those clubs where you pay a vet a certain amount per week for "free consults" worth it? (very open question I know) Edit: Still undecided on this one ***A bit of background (AKA the long version): Scottie is due for vax and HW. I think I'd like to just have him titre tested this year and I'm actually wondering if I need to bother at all with HW now we're in NZ? The HW question is probably one for a local vet but does anyone here have any knowledge on the HW situation in NZ (we're in Manawatu if that makes a difference). I have googled - not found anything one way or the other - It's not mentioned at all on any of the local vets "things you need to do for your pet" pages. If I do need to HW I need to do it fast as I think my window is closing quickly most recently tested neg just before flying out of Sydney on 24/11/15. Secondly - seriously - how do you pronounce Titre? Finally - I'm vet shopping - Yuck! I asked around locally (pet shops) for recommendations for vets. Understandably most places were hesitant to recommend one over another (and there are a lot of vets in town) - only one place went as far to name one place to avoid. I tried one local place when we needed his AGs expressed - it was here nor there. I'd go back but they we only so so. Which leads me to my last question: One of the local vets offers one of those loyalty club things - $10 a week gets you unlimited general consults, a "wellness consult" vaccinations, (null point if I do a titre test as I'd have to pay for that - but I suppose if he did need a vax it would be covered). The "club" also covers a parvo test (at 16 weeks or annually), microchipping and rego, a "breed predisposition consult", $50 off puppy school, nutrition counselling, weight management consult, $100 off dental or desex, faecal tests, nail trims, express AGs, annual blood pressure, in house urine analysis and 1 x annual in house bloods. Obviously some of those things have no value to me and I can do the maths on what I spent on consults alone last year (except I have clearly put Scottie's file somewhere very safe as I can't locate it at the moment). I would obviously check to see if the deal was transferable (to another clinic) or if I could cancel it - but if we moved there is a local branch in the most likely place we'd be moved to. We typically see the vet for vaccinations, his separation anxiety - and dispense of related drugs, his creaky old man body (I think arthritis meds are on the cards this year - we nearly went there last year) and he's getting 6 monthly 'senior bloods' to keep an eye on a slightly elevated ALT (which was normal at last check - Yay!). So anyone tried the idea? I know it was starting to be advertised around Sydney's inner west just as I was leaving ... Good? bad? rushed consults with a junior vet or a different vet every time? His health care isn't about money, It's ultimately about me finding a vet who I like and click with but obviously if I can save money that helps immensely - especially as we're on a single wage until I manage to find work.

From what I could tell the baiting actually happened closer to the front of the property ;)

Quick update. I discovered that petbarn (animates) over here sells a few options at the right price AND so far he's been on their minced chicken frame medallions with no complaints or tummy issues - so looks like I was over complicating things :) Have been buying a few other cuts from the supermarket as treats but we're back into a good routine where he eats all his meal most days! And I have settled on abandoning full raw - it just wasn't working for us - try as I might.

Funny I read on his FB page it squeezed under 3 gates and avoided a staff member in a carpark - so already the lies start. And yes - the story of Fansu the bulldog was absolutely horrible. She was out for about a month with a broken leg or hip and required massive surgery ... I have been a customer out there. It was an OK facility and I really enjoyed the classes - the instructors were great and to be honest I've owned dogs who would have probably loved it there - Not Scott but others in their time. However, I don't understand how dog lovers can turn a blind eye to this type of thing happening again and again. No way in hell would my pet be on that property ever again without being firmly attached to a lead with me on the end of it. When I was there (just over 12 months? Maybe a bit more) there was a bit of a common area - and there was an airlock style system set up- but there have been a lot of "improvements" / work going on out there. The area also doesn't actually back onto a road - his part of the property is down a very long driveway (at least a km) and is behind the Cauchi's boarding facility. He does back into paddocks. But we all know how quickly the little buggers move - once a dog was out you'd have no hope out there - especially if you needed to get out of the main facility and into the paddock or on to the driveway before you could start trying to catch it. Long story short: More and much better fencing required (among lots of other things).

Thanks Snook. I really appreciate your comments. gAs for the point and shoot - I do love it but Getting a "grown up" camera has been on the agenda for a few months.... eventually.

Maybe - but then maybe the family also wants or needs privacy?

Some doofus made some comment about "dogs go missing all the time - give him a break" and I said something to the tune of "this is about the 5th dog he's lost - counting Wags. Of Course wags died - so maybe we shouldn't count him as a run away" ... Strangely enough - my comment was deleted.

I have an older powershot an sx201 IS - It's 6 this year and has just started giving me trouble but it's been a wonderful little camera and I feel guilty I stopped using it as much when I got a decent camera in my phone.

Well I'm feeling a little shy with my point and click ... but oh well. Headed into my current favourite dog walking spot today as it was fine weather. We've have rain for 3 days straight and I was worried I'd have to resort to a photo of Scottie in my first week! I did however realise that the macro on my camera has died. Which is odd - but adds to my case for getting a grown up camera at some stage - maybe next xmas sales. So here it is. 1/52. Expect to see a lot more of this garden. As it's a great "sniff walk" for the boy and I love public gardens. Also: Everyone is always "urgh - Australia - scary insects and stuff wah wah wah" well let me tell you this about NZ- the blowflies are huge, the sandflies are more bitey than mozzies and there are giant fuzzy bumble bees.

Apparently the dog made it out under 3 gates with less than 10 cm clearance - then it ran from a staff member in the carpark.

Me too Storm!

Ah - I've just posted this too :) Utterly heart breaking.

Make no mistake Scottie is far from silent. As I type he's in his crate (door open) muttering away to himself about .... dog only knows. He's had off leash and some conditioning today so he's in a tired happy state. He was dreaming earlier too - lots of little whimpers and puppy woofs. He usually grumbles, mutters, "purrs" where ever he is. And the 'whack' his tail makes when its wagging and hitting the floor or what ever he's sleeping on. Then there's the tapping of toes and the squeaking of toys. As well as the jingling of his collar and tag - and the clang it makes as he has a drink or midnight snack. Occasionally - usually when someone knocks on the door there is a booming big bark which makes him sound like he's approximately Labrador sized! Oh and he's worked up the courage to bark at the sheep on our walk too (I don't encourage it) but he's still too frightened to woof! at the cows. LOL. So - far from silent - but he just uses his "inside voice" more often than not. :D

Nice snook! I took a snap of the ladt sunset of 2015 - a symbolic "f off" if you will :)

https://m.facebook.com/RescueResourceNSW/ Is my go to. They have donation points at some telstra shops & items go across nsw & act depending on where items are needed / requested.

Always remember the photograph of your mum’s (I think?) hands, persephone. I love your photos Perse. Can you share it?

Ah ... we have our issues & differences but she tried her hardest raising us kids & its so nice that's shes getting to do things she's always wanted to & getting the recognition she deserves.

Thanks Snook. Lets's call her Scotts Grandma! It's lovely for her a real compliment. As I said, she's largely self taught and takes a beautiful shot & has a great eye - especially for her landscapes & her pets/animals. ;)