Rebanne

I used JetPets to export to Europe. From what I have heard around the traps it is often cheaper to use a European company to import. Maybe ask amongst your OS breeder friends who they would recommend on their end. Good Luck!

So the in-laws are happy to give him up to either yourselves or a reputable rescue? How big is your yard? You could put up a shade sail and provide him with a paddling pool, make sure he is kept clipped with a shortish coat. But.... he will still need to be walked daily, you would have to commit to getting up 1/2 hr earlier on your work days and also another walk in the cool of the evening. I would imagine he would be an active boy being a spaniel x poodle. What a lucky little dog Rusty is to have someone who cares for him and wants to see things done right. Good luck

I have had dogs insured with 3 different companies. Had claims with 2, no problems paying and the other nil claims. Having forgotten to insure my youngest dog, who proceeded to break a toe that needed amputation and discolated her hip and now recovering from suspected meningitis, I would recommend insurance.

Distemper certainly is still here in Australia. It was one of the diseases one of my dogs was tested for recently.

Update on Opal, she was really sick last weekend and I thought this was it but an injection from the vet and within 12 hours she was much improved. She had lost 4.5 kilo's in weight and I'm happy to say she has put on 1.5 kilos in the last week. The steroid dose has been halved to 30 mg daily without any regression. The omeprazole has been ceased. All tests on her spinal fluid have come back negative so it's being treated as the steroid responsive meningitis.

My girl Opal was definitely depressed with her illness (update: now much improved) and I think nauseated. Maybe a trip to the vet? One injection for Opal and she was back to eating within 12 hours and hasn't looked back

Great news Tully, so pleased for you

if you see the pitbull again you might like to tell the owner what you have learnt, share the knowledge

I'm not one to over vaccinate but I believe distemper is on the rise ( don't ask me where I read it as I can't remember ). I also believe the actual numbers for a titre don't matter as long as they are there. However saying all that I would do a C3 at this time. Distemper is an awful disease and I wouldn't risk my dog getting it.

How are things going @Tully?

It is a bit more then one in a million. As someone said, there's not a problem until there is a problem.

Thanks JRG. Opal is doing so much better on the pred. Still walking like a drunken sailor but the frantic pacing etc has stopped. I feel like I have Opal back. The mental side of her. The physical is still lagging but she is back to jumping on my bed now What Opal may have is Steroid Responsive Meningitis Arteritis SRMA, which as the name says is very responsive to steroids. I am really hoping the further tests do give a definite diagnosis. The few people I have been able to chat with about SRMA have said their dog made a complete recovery.

While I haven't debarked a dog I know dogs that have been done and they still remained the same. They don't seem to realise they are no longer making a large amount of noise and are happy to continue barking but a lot quieter. Most dogs still make some noise.

In my experience they don't do half as much when you are not there as they do if you stay with them.

easy fix is to just leave her to it out in the backyard while you are inside.

@Tully I have had several people, both here in Aus and OS whose dogs have had this contact me. Most have recovered well, some did have some residual lameness and a couple have died or been PTS. If the lungs aren't affected then the chances are very good of recovering from what has been told to me. I just threw out the question on some FB pages including some for my breed.

so sorry Tully you are having to go through this. It is now unlikely my girl has this. I still have no definite answers. Opal had a spinal tap last week and while initial testing pointed to several different things I am hoping further testing will pinpoint things down. As things stand she is still on her feet but very unstable. Appetite has never ceased. About to finish a course of the most expensive antibiotics ever! and has just started on massive dosages of pred. with Omeprazole to help prevent any ulcers forming in her gut. I have decided feeding raw chicken is not worth it so am now cooking it. I have one dog who won't eat red meat so cooked chook it is!

I've nursed patients with Guillean-Barre and they have all come good, as in they were able to walk out of hospital not in a wheelchair. So I am trying to stay positive. Other options are disk problems but the vet is not confident about that. Just a waiting game at this stage and I don't play that game well.

@JRG, how so paralysed? My dog is not there at this stage, just very wobbly on her feet.

Has any one had a dog with acute polyradiculoneuritis APR ? If so how was it diagnosed or did you just stop feeding raw chicken? Any information gratefully received APR is now at the bottom of the list of possible problems

I couldn't say it any better

he's pretty cute

Instead of going up how about going out? Piece of lattice or the Bunnings compost cage panels laid horizontal along the top of the side metal fence and resting onto the pool fencing. Not sure how to fix it to the metal fence, some sort of clamp maybe. Protruding into the yard by a couple of feet. Otherwise I like corrie's idea best. It would be more secure then something just attached to the top.

how high is the shorter section? I wouldn't be rushing to add anything yet. Your pup is nearly 5 months old and just over a foot tall. He might not grow as much as you think.

I've always believed it was on lead, forced exercise that should be restricted. Free play/exercise where the pup/young dog can stop when it's tired is fine.