Rebanne

I wonder about the thunder shirts. Opal gets so hot, like boiling to touch, and I worried a thunder shirt would make her hotter. Luckily she found her own safe spot.

I've tried a few different things, all seemed a bit so so. What worked for my girl was she chose an open crate to go to. She's a bit sound sensitive as well. She still shakes like an earthquake but seems settled in "her" spot.

1 hour ago, Princess Fru Fru said:

@jemappelle you're correct. Other states have absolutely zero access to the NSW Pet Registry and when travelling interstate, if you were to scan your pet's microchip, it would come up as "not found".

 

 

 

I've not heard of Global Micro and it seems a fairly new registry.  There are some grammatical errors on their website that personally put me off (professional businesses that require their clients to pay for their services should be utilising editors etc. to ensure there are no spelling/grammatical errors) and I also preferred to go with a registry that had been around for longer than 10 years.

 

Another thing to note with Global Micro is that they're located within NSW.  What would be the odds the other states have heard of them and therefore think to run a search? 

 

Hope this helps

I'm in Victoria and my vet used Global to microchip my last litter nearly 6 years ago. I hadn't heard of them either. Haven't lost any of my dogs so can't say how any registry reacts.

You don't search each registry, the chip should take you right there. Except for NSW and, in Vic, all retired Greyhounds who now have their own registry. I believe they are not linked to any other, like NSW. Stupid idea in my opinion.

Yes I remember those days but I thought organ meat was 5%. Certainly wouldn't hurt to give the 200gm but I'd split it up over a week. My dogs wouldn't touch it!

I've switched my dogs around a few times, back when you could do so. It was for various reasons not that I was unhappy with them. Australasian Animal Registry, Central Animal Records, and now Global Micro as the last litter was registered with them by the vets. I moved the others over as I like my pets to be all on the same register.

They have been around for a long, long time. Glad they are being recognised. Love the little bits and pieces you find Boronia.

We are back home! My head is spinning a bit. So.......the denevration is on the cards but before we do that we are giving a 6 week trial on supplements. I am to continue the gabapentin, though Dr Andrew thinks it's too low a dose but we don't want to change things, and Opal is to start on Glyde powder, 4Cyte gel and a 4week course of either cartrophen or something starting with Z if my regular vet has it or can get it in (it's a more recent thing then cartrophen).  Dr Andrew says the hip is bone on bone and several other things which all mean it's bad.

Dr Andrew has been doing the denevration for 20 years and only had 2 dogs come back because the nerves regenerated. Small incision and keep them quiet for 2 weeks. Approx cost $3500. Femoral head ostectomy, more invasive approx $4,500 and an 8% chance of the dog breaking the femur at a later date. Knowing Opal this would happen to her! And a total hip replacement would be elsewhere as he doesn't have some piece of equipment that is needed, $10,000.

Oh and Opal had a stride test, running along a special mat which measure weight % of each foot fall. It showed how little the left hind is used.

Whew!!!!!

Little bit, no, a lot nervous about the outcome tomorrow. Got to be there at 8.30 and Opal has to be fasted.

Ring your vet and ask them what they have to say about food. Re the omeprazole, I did have a dog react badly to that so just keep an eye on your boy.

Interesting!

My littlest in my last litter was way behind the others but caught up once food was introduced. At 8 weeks you would never have known he was half the weight and size until 4 weeks. He's a big boy now, nearly 6 yo and weighing 38kg and a lovely example of the breed.

Blue fawn is a fawn with an overlay of blue. Occurs in Greyhounds. It's like a dirty or dusky fawn. Of course the colour may not be described properly for the stolen pup. Hopefully it is found soon.

a vet wouldn't know how to tape ears. You'd have to ask an experienced staffy breeder.

Hard to say Mac. Ears sometimes can be a lottery but they do look as if they are on the way.

Have you let the breeder know? Did the pup come with "papers" from Dogs SA or MDBA? It is possible the breeder did not know if the pup was showing no signs of the disease. Under Victorian law you would/should get a full refund but not sure what SA does.

Just a minor update. Opal is using her leg less and less. I have upped her pain meds again. But she still enjoys a shortish walk. In fact would most likely like it longer but Phoebe is happy to head to home. We finally see Dr Andrew next Tuesday June 6th. I suspect there will be more xrays. Dr Jo has sent everything down to him but he has yet to get back to her, he's a busy man.

@bece

I would wait. It wouldn't be fair to either dog to get a pup now. 

I didn't do anything special with my daughter. Just told her the pet was old and sick and in pain and it wasn't fair to keep them like that. Or words to that effect. Was a long time ago and she was 5 when the first dog was PTS. It was her first day at school and the dog had a stroke. My daughter wasn't allowed to witness any euthanasia until she was about 12

20 hours ago, Mairead said:

 

Because there used to be a greyhound kibble, mostly grains, which was formulated to be mixed with fresh or cooked meat.

Don't know about being a Greyhound dry food but there was, and still is, Vet's All Natural, which had to be soaked and added to meat. I am currently using Phud's which is similar but no need to soak all day. My dog's love it.

5 hours ago, sandgrubber said:

It works be interesting to know how well the dog recovered,  and how long it lived after the operation.   I'd guess it would be a slow and difficult recovery.

In the video I saw it had a lot of difficulty walking. Op was over Easter so only a few weeks.

19 hours ago, Roderic said:

A friend of mine recently put down his maremma as he said it attacked one of his lambs as he found blood on its mouth. Can anybody let me know of any instances where a maremma dog has actually attacked the owners sheep?

It's no different to a kelpie turning on sheep. Dogs are dogs and we don't always know what they are thinking. Or how well they have been trained. Or if the owner rushed to conclusions.

Most vets I have known over the past 40 years have been  reluctant to straight out say " put to sleep". They can get sued for that, by owners who decide after the event that they were talked into it etc. Vets can't win.

Opal is possibly having expensive surgery in the nearish future. I have a figure in mind that is my limit. I also know how hard it is to say stop after you start down that path.

14 hours ago, Powerlegs said:

If it's a matter of pain killers now or in the future do ask about Gabapentin/Neurontin to see if it's suitable. Much better than NSAIDS long term.

I'm sorry, I have no experience with denervation but I'd love an update if you can. Big hugs for you and Opal. 

Thanks Powerlegs, will be sure to update when I have one. We have started Gapapentin a couple of months ago. Opal is also on Meloxicam and has been on that full time for the past 12 months. She is only 5 1/2 years old which is why I would like to find a better long term solution for her.

11 hours ago, Tempus Fugit said:

Scientific American article: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-greyhound-racing-drove-the-evolution-of-a-superparasite/

I haven't read the article yet but American Greyhounds are notorious for hook worm resistance in Greyhound circles. 

6 hours ago, Mairead said:

Which option is likely to mean best quality of life?

have yet to see the vet who would end up doing whatever is decided on. I am just trying to educate myself before seeing him.