Tru Borders

I pay $60 per dog for titre testing. It pays to look around, if a vet has an account set up with vetpath that is all it should cost. Some may charge a consult on top but most wont if you ask for just the bloods drawn and tested. I don't like the idea of the heartworm preventative as that is an awful lot of poison to put in their system in 1 hit, particularly puppies. It also contains ivermectin which I would never risk with a border collie. It amazes me the number of vets who don't realise the danger of using ivermectin in breeds that have tested sensitive to it. BCs are only turning out to be about 5% worldwide affected but you just don't know.

I talked to her about Ivermectin and she brushed me off like a bad smell. I doubt she knew anything about it to tell the truth based on her reaction.

I just wish they would take the time to give Educated AND Neutral advice or info and then let us decide.

Yeah I know its my responsibility and that I make the decisions .... but I guess im living in a dream world ;)

Just so you know, the heartworm injection is not a 'vaccination', nor is it a 'preventative' - it is rather the injection of a poison (similar to what is in the tablets) designed to last in the body over the twelve months to kill heartworm if/after your dog gets them at any stage during that period.

There are two other threads currently in the 'health/nutrition/grooming' section which discuss Titres and how much they cost, so you may want to go read that info there.

Thanks Espinay2!! Will do :)

THANK YOU all SO MUCH for the info!

Love all the help and informative answers!

My pups had all their puppy Vaccs and I did do the yearly heartworm vacc, but after reading your comments think Titre testing is definitely the way to go.

My Vet is definitely an Annual pusher so might consider finding a new one, or just standing ground.

I feed raw also and I know she's against that ;)

How much have you paid for Titre testing and do vets do it or will I need to find a specialty practice?

SO i've been reading lots lately about people not vaccinating their dogs and of course its caused quite the controversy.

As the owner of 2 5 month old Borders, im interested to know who does and who doesnt and your reasons.

Please, no sledging of others.

Also, if you DO NOT vaccinate, do you still use flea and tick spot ons or worming tabs?

Not sure which end of the Gold Coast you're in, ot how far you're willing to drive, but you might check out VIP Dog Club ..Yatala I think. And not sure what classes All Paws Paradise at Pimpama operates ..be worth checking it out.

Thanks so much Barb!

When the pups are older you could also give Dock Diving a go at Gold Coast Dock Dogs

I saw the Dock Dogs at the GC Pet Expo a few months back and it was amazing! Def will look into that, thank you so much Rumour!

It would also be worth talking to the guys at WAAG. (Wild About Agility Gold Coast) They are an ADAA affiliated club who focus on agility. :)

Thats great thank you so much Agility Dogs!! :) :) :)

http://www.goldcoastdogobedience.com/

Thanks so much Ams!

You are a wealth of info! Appreciate it :) Thank you!

Puppy preschool isn't just about obedience, it's about socialisation in a controlled setting as well. I train working dogs and have had heaps and heaps of puppies pass through my hands to get started and trained or just raised and I always take them to puppy preschool because it teaches them to interact with other dogs properly.

Thanks Mixeduppup :)

I appreciate your info!

Im not bagging out Puppy Preschool or saying its not worth it, its just not what im after.

Looking for groups moreso, on the GC for future Agility and get togethers :)

Vets usually hold puppy classes, so puppies of the same age/vaccination level can interact with each other and they also do the starts to basic obedience.

Thanks Noishe!

I didnt want to waste too much time at puppy preschool, only because Ive had dogs before and already have these 2 learning basic obedience.

Guess im wanting to join more "interests in common" groups, but thanks for the options!

Nacho (Left) and Frankie (Right)

Heres the lil tackers themselves :)

Hi All

I recently got 2 new beautiful Border Collies, Nacho and Frankie!

They are just over 12 weeks old and are pretty amazing, even if I do say so myself ;)

Still waiting on 3rd Vacc which is on the 27th, but of course a week or so after that im looking to start socialising them and was wondering if there are any groups on the Gold Coast, Collie or other, that get together for socialising, training etc?

Im hoping to get some agility training under my belt as they get a little older to so any info on sports etc on the Goldie would be awesome!

Thanks all and Merry Christmas!

Trina are you sure its food?

Im not familiar with your older posts but could it be a plant in your garden?

Wandering Jew or something like that?

its now been a 10 days since surgery and Asher is doing ok.

Had a vet check up today and he is happy with the weight bearing Asher is showing on his leg.

to be honest, I set up the crate but only used it for the first 3 days. As Asher has been pretty quiet anyway I have let him have his freedom, with back yard visits every day. Hasn't seemed to have hurt him in any way.

Only used the Metacam for 3 days as he seemed fine.

So all good so far. Hope positive progression keeps on.

Asher doing well today.

His Turkey leg is giving him the shits as its completely shaved but other than that he is getting around ok, putting some pressure on the leg.

Some brusing came through last night.

All good so far.

Thanks Kelly, needed to read that

Still not using his leg yet, but he hasn't moved too much. The incision was done on the outside of the leg this time so im assuming its affecting him differently. We'll get there.

Still a bit sooky this morning. I think its more for the sympathy and pats and hugs cheeky bugger!

Im guessing they took the whole meniscus? im a little confused, maybe it was the front part and not the back ..... brain scramble

He has Turkey leg again Kelly it had grown back to a point that was bearable, off we go again

He's so good going to the Vet though, after everything he has had done, he still loves going in and being taken away by the Vets!! Bloody fool.

So as well as Sasha's blend, we are introducing Glucosamine, Chondroitin and maybe some MSN to the diet. Once the Sasha's blend is finished we aren't going to use it anymore as it is not aiding in the repair. Gonna see if I can find some Osteoease that has all the above ingredients in it, Gluc and Chon specifically.

I can see Chlo now running across the yard chasing the cat Bless her, she has the mind of a 2 year old

Will update as any progress comes in.

OMG poor Molly and poor you!!! That must have been awful!

Glad she is ok now and great job saving your fur baby

Thanks for your support Kelly Means alot lovie.

So Asher is home and it has been a long 6 hours. He has eaten about 400 grams of food and drank just a little bit, but he is very very sore and a little out of sorts. The Vet said he was put on an opiate before leaving to help with the calming. I was a little worried about it but I guess its ok. He has been whining lots and I have tried to comfort him, but not too much, OMG its so hard. I just got him up and put him on his fav chair, much to my dismay I hurt him on the way up, but he seems more at ease now so I guess thats good.

I got to see the Meniscus that they removed. The tear in it was impossible to see until the Vet used one of their tools to show me the tear, which was about 1cm long. The removed piece was about the size of my thumb nail x 2. such a small piece of meniscus caused so much trouble.

So confinement again for 2 weeks. After that only one 5 minute walk a day for 2 weeks, physio and check up in there aswell, then hopefully at 4 weeks we can get back in the pool and rebuild the muscle as it is lost.

Anyone say dejavu?

Sorry Kel, didnt see your reply!!

Op Today, dropped Asher off at about 9am. Poor boy. Going through it all again.

Hopefully the surgery is easy and fast and I can have him home tonight.

Just keyhole surgery so not as invasive.

Specialist thinks if all goes well, he should be all good in about 4 weeks.

Not too sure yet about post op, but im going to do exactly the same as last time. Confinement for at least a week anyway. He has still been on lead in the back yard so no changes here.

Got everything crossed.

So we are booked in for Surgery next Tuesday to have cartilage removed.

Our specialist said that only around 4% of TPLO recipients have this problem during recovery. She felt so bad, but of course it was not her fault.

Approx a 2 week recovery and she hopes that after this is done he should be almost back to normal within 4 weeks.

Im not getting too hopeful, shall take it a day at a time.

Saki's pink splotch

There is not a bit of chewy left in her fur, absolutely none at all, her fur is actually dyed fluro pink there now

Perhaps I should add some more, and she could be a pink polka dot doggy for a while

Halloween is on Saturday .......

Vet visit today, but nothing to report as we are seeing the specialist on Tuesday.

Will update then.

Will keep fingers crossed for a miracle until then.. but you're old hat at all this now, could do it again with your eyes closed couldn't you?

So true Kelly Not even worried if we have to have more surgery, just want my baby boy better!!

Fingers crossed

Vet visit today, but nothing to report as we are seeing the specialist on Tuesday.

Will update then.

You're the best Kel thankyou