Danois

Yep, that makes sense. I believe Mars completed the acquisition a couple of months ago. http://registers.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/1182387/fromItemId/751046 - they actually only got ACCC clearance 2 weeks ago.

Pheebs - I am with Sas - I would still xray - just so I had that certainty. Not questioning your vet but I would want the hard facts. If I was in your shoes (and I know it is all very easy to say this when I am not dealing with the same emotions as you) then I would spend the most awesome-est day with my dog doing everything they loved, feeding ice cream etc and saying my goodbyes and then have the xray and if it is confirmed, let them go then. It is always better to be a day too soon than a day too late. You are in my thoughts though as I know it is a shitty situation to be in and it hurts like crazy

EBOS also owns 50% of Animates Pet Store in NZ. The other 50% is essentially Greencross Vets (after they merged with Mammoth Pet Holdings). And of course, it was that same merger that gave Greencross Petbarn in Australia. To me it seems more likely that Black Hawk will become the private label brand for Pet Barn/ Animates and won't be in supermarkets.

The information Sas has provided goes into all the details about choosing the right breeder etc when it comes to Great Danes. The resource that she has put together is the collation of of many years of experience with the breed from breeders, owners, vet sources etc. I know a number of breeders who feed cheaper foods for Dane puppies in the first short period of time - and for many it is a result if years of experience rearing puppies on that food. Great Dane Lady is a good resource too - starting to date in some areas though.

Sas will be along soon hopefully to give a lot of experienced advice re diet.

I know another Dane owner who PTS on diagnosis. I think it is what I'd do - I would not want the risk of the break when he was left alone. My thoughts are with you as I hope for the best news.

It took me 16 minutes. It says on the information page that it takes 15-20 mins to do, there is a progress bar as you go and they say you can quit at any time.

I have one from Ruthless too - like the longer one in Lisa's photo - it is one you can wear across the body if you wanted. Love love love it.

I am not a fan of foods with potato over sweet potato. The manufacturing processes used cannot counter the solanin that you get in green potatoes - and this is something that is toxic to dogs.

I'm talking about any Australian Made logo. To me 50% Australian made is not Australian made. You are overlooking it is a 2 prong test - 50% AND substantial transformation. That makes it Australian Made - it is a product of the Australian manufacturing industry. If you want more than that then you want Product of Australia or Australian Grown as that is about the significant ingredients being Australian. There are simply many ingredients that Australia does not grow/ produce at all or in quantities to support manufacturing.

Not sure where you are getting this from but it is not correct. It is kind of mashing together the criteria under the Code of Practice (COP) for use of the AMAG Logo and the Australian Consumer Law. Under the AMAG COP - the criteria to use the Australian Made Logo is that the product is substantially transformed in Australia and at least 50 per cent of the cost of production has been incurred in Australia. Under the COP, it specifically states that the process of reconstitution (i.e.) adding water back in is not substantial transformation therefore the water is to be considered as if it was water from the same country as the product you are reconstituting. The AMAG logos are just a certification that business can apply for to include on their products. However - under the Australian Consumer Law there are guidelines from the ACCC regarding country of origin labelling that everyone must adhere to regardless. So for example, water used for reconstitution would be considered as water from the place of reconstitution (i.e Australia) - but you would have to label the product on back of pack as Made in Australia from local and imported ingredients (or imported and local ingredients depending on percentages). If you are interested in learning more then the ACCC has a guidance document on country of origin labelling, the COP from AMAG is readily available on line and just this week the House of Representative's Green Paper on Country of Origin labelling has been released - all 167 pages of it.

These have been around for quite some time in the US so it does not surprise me that they idea has now been copied locally.

Gorgeous!! What time did you get the pic of the Duomo to have only 1 person in it!!

I use cheese - I put a little bit in a bowl and microwave it for about 8 seconds then wrap it around the pill.

Yes. It was the outside toe though. From memory we put him in a cast for 6 weeks or so - this was done as both me and my vet knew my dog would not keep quiet and would reinjure it bouncing around. Healed fine with the cast and being kept quiet.

Did you read the PDS. This is where the excess is normally detailed. When you sign up you agree that you've read the PDS.

What's the purpose of giving out papers?? What can a puppy buyer do with them? I'd be concerned about the long term use of them - more and more people BYBing puppies and claiming they have papers. Fact is that unless your puppy comes from a breeder registered with the official canine council and has been registered by that breeder then you simply don't get papers. If you're so concerned about having them then buy a puppy from the right sources.

My dog is broken. He's never killed a soft toy.

One of the riders at the beach once said she loved my dog and could she pat him - I told her I felt the same about her horse! She reassured me that the horse was very comfortable with dogs. So we ended up with a Dane and a horse nose to nose sniffing each other quite happily. Then my doofus boy backed up and went to drop into a play bow...(which I stopped). Since this time - while he watches the horses, he no longer had the interest in going to see what they were close up.

Our beach trips normally coincide with the race horses being swum and we respect each other's space. I can see when they arrive and so move away from the entrance they use to let them get to the water. My dog also knows he does not run up to them - he watches but stays put. We only have had once incident - they had their stable dog with them and he came running over to us and they started playing - the riders called the dog back and so of course mine chased thinking it was the game. Thank Christ for good recall!

White vinegar.

I think you'll find no one imports irridiated dog food now because of the risk to cats. So it is not all imported foods - it was only ones with certain manufacturing processes. Edit - cats not costs!

Gorgeous and I can't wait to see the rest as I am planning 3 weeks in Italy next year at the moment. Would welcome a link to your Venice apartment too.

It is a civil matter so the onus of proof is only on the balance of probabilities. BRD is the criminal standard.

I doubt the 13kg of food claim - that is an excessive amount of food and I doubt it would be physically possible for them to consume that amount. As a Dane owner, if this was my Dane I'd be too embarrassed to seek such public recognition of a Guiness World Record. This dog's structure is appalling (questionable breeding??) and it was never going to have a long life.