Lollipup

Wow that's funny because we used to live in Jimboomba before we moved to bundaberg, it's our home town and my OHs parents still live there so that's a possibility. Thanks!

That's great news! You explained it just fine, & I'm happy for you. It's hard to keep them confined, but it will be worth it if it avoids the surgery. Did he see the incongruity at the elbow joint in the rads, or are they just guessing it might be there? Hopefully you can avoid surgery, but if he does need it, far better to get it than not get it. They can't see the bone fragment but they can see an incongruity at the elbow, I think it was at the humerus. Its basically a lot more white built up there. I can see it but I don't remember what he called it. Some kind of lines that are normal on one elbow but on the left elbow you can't see the lines much, just a small but more concentrated mass of white. There's a difference anyway that is indicating the dysplasia. Hmm sounds like I have no idea what i am talking about...

I went for an appoitment with our vet today and he showed me the xrays and explained in detail what is going on. I could definately see a slight change on the xrays on his left elbow. There are no signs of any problem on the other elbow. Its definately FCP. He prescribed some more anti-inflams (Rimadyl - a months worth, that seems a lot?) and also some sedatives (valium) for if Chester is getting too upset with the confinement. He said that the chances of the rest working and not needing to do the arthroscopy are more than 50% so quite hopeful. He explained that this is because often the cause of dysplasia can be because the two bones that meet at the elbow joint are growing at different rates and therefore aren't fitting together like they should. The rest is supposed to enable the growth of the bones a chance to catch up and grow into each other in the right way. Well it sounded better when he explained it, I am bad at explaining things. I am also looking into getting a chiropractor. I would really like to avoid surgery. He also told me to stop researching into it on the internet as there is a lot of crap out there :D and I was reading things that stressed me out and confused me even more (not referring to DOL). On another note, Chester has learnt with his clicker and target training to open and shut the cupboard door using his nose, clever boy. I may regret that later....

2 weeks to go until I head to my first lot of block training. Its the QLD blocks which is a relatively new set up. Has anyone been to the first lot of QLD blocks who can give me an idea of what to expect? Are there any instructors on here who will be there in 2 weeks? I'm really looking forward to it.

I am about to buy a crate for Chester for his crate rest to help heal his elbow. I know they are cheaper online but I don't really have the time to wait as I want to get strict on his rest asap. So my choices in town at the moment are an X-Large Kramar crate for $221.00 from the vet or a "CPV" (Complete Vet & Pet? I think) XLarge crate for $195 from a pet supply store. The Kramar is L110 x W71 x H81 cm and the CPV is 110 x 80 x 75 cm. They are both collapsible wire crates. I've heard of Kramar but not of CPV so has anyone had experience with them? It sounds good but I want to make sure it's sturdy. They look to be.

:D Please don't tell me they have a dog friendly beach? I went camping there a few months ago and didn't take Boss because people said NO DOGS! um, pretty sure they do. Inskip point has dog friendly areas. Thats near there isn't it? There are dog friendly camp areas and non-dog ones. I haven't been myself but hubby has with his family and they always took their dog. There's a book called Camping in Queensland that has all the camping areas with all the symbols on whether you can have dogs or not there. its a good book.

His conformation seems normal to me. When he is walking you can hardly even notice there is a problem. Although sometimes I am watching so closely and wondering if I am seeing him favor it or not, or if he is walking funny. It must be mild and its only the one elbow. I am trying to be positive there but I'm still worried. I need him to be okay. I want him to be happy and healthy and have the best start in life :D If he could still do dog sports later on that would be really good too

Thanks Piper, I contacted the breeder as soon as I got off the phone to the vet. I had also told her a while back about his bilateral cryptorchidism and how it complicated his desexing. She said I'm not having much luck and she'll soon owe me a puppy! But she is glad that I keep her informed. I highly doubt this is a hereditary issue but I beleive it is from an injury at some point.

Thank you. He said it would be Arthroscopy first which would then tell them whether they would need to progress to major surgery. I don't know if he meant in the same session or not, its a bit hazy right now.

Our vet called. He has finally heard back from the specialist. They definately see elbow dysplasia there. They have recommended 4 weeks strict cage rest with some more anti-inflams for now. Then after that if he is still lame we need to go to surgery. The vet said he can do it up here but he strongly recommends we go to the specialist instead, which is in Brisbane, a five hour drive from here. Still, if it comes to that I will be going to Brisbane. Surgery would mean his elbow would likely never be 100% and that he would have a high chance of arthritus later in life. Chester is already going mad from the one week rest he has had and that hasn't even been full cage rest, its been in the laundry rest. I have to buy a large crate when I get paid on Friday so that I can give him proper cage rest. He's going to go even more mad and depressed. :D

Go Charlie! Goes to show how happy he is with such an awesome loving Mum!

me thinks the 'I' key should not be right next to the 'O' key there!

I moved to Bundaberg 2 years ago. I don't know if its just the area but there is a lot of bogans, 90% of dogs are from BYBs, markets etc. and people tend not to take responsibility or dog training seriously. Its disappointing. Its not everyone but I do notice it. The foxie cross mentioned in the article is likely the foxie cross Jack russell that lives in our street and is allowed to wander the street. She chases the postman so he reported it and now she is declared menacing and her owner fined. She is still out in the street. It is ironic that the owner also has a huge rottweiler and a large cattle cross ridgeback who are both well behaved and nicely contained in his backyard, while his little foxie-JRT cross is out "menacing" in the street. As for the Council, I'd better not comment. I can say there are a lot of incidents where a dog lunging at a fence is reported as a "dog attack" And on the front of the local paper today is an article about this issue where an obedience trainer says "mongrel owners" are to blame. Which is pretty spot on.

Oh dear that would not have felt good!

I didn't want to say anything initially for fear of coming across as pessimistic, but now that FCP has been diagnosed, I thought I might share some of my experiences with it. My lab bitch first went lame at 4mo and X-rays at that time showed nothing either. Given the joint issues labs are prone to, I took her straight to a specialist who believed it was most likely to be FCP which, unlike other forms of Elbow Dysplasia such as UAP, often won't show in radiographs in the early stages. CT scans at around 6mo showed exactly what she had and she ultimately had surgery on both elbows - one was much worse than the other. Having said that, she eventually recovered very well and is now a healthy, active 3yo girl who loves to retrieve (she's from working lines). In fact, she competed very successfully at Novice level till I decided on a change of tack. Oh, and btw, the surgeon did try to tell me that Gidget would never be able to run off lead again...we sure proved him wrong! Good luck with your BC Tenille W and try to remain optimistic. It is a long road to recovery if surgery is required but it can be done. Please keep us updated. w2s Thanks for the encouragement w2s. I really hope he doesn't need surgery. I should be hearing back from the specialist within the next cople of days. I will certainly keep this updated. I'm glad your lab recovered so well

At Persephone - ARRRRGHHH!!!!

Its ok, kids are tough

The only thing that attracts me to Aloveen is the smell. But the dogs don't feel the same way so I may have to wash them with something else and just continue to sniff the Aloveen from the tube...

I can relate. I can understand when people just don't know any better but its got to be annoying that she ignored your good advice.

Sorry for your loss rest in peace Harry.

It's worth it if it gives people a laugh. I would laugh too

Ohh well maybe then. Didn't know you could get anal gland juice that's like poo. Yuck!!

My dog at home sometimes releases her anal glands. But this poodle actually did a poo. There were chunky bits. And it was all over my face like mud :rolleyes:

Very true! I thought my title might have grabbed your attention Poodlefan :rolleyes:

So that you may laugh at my embarrassment.... This is a true story - it happened to me when I was about 4 or 5 years old. It was awful and I'll never forget it. I still loved dogs after this, but I can't look at poodles the same again. My mum had a friend that had some toy poodles. She often brought them over with her when she came to visit. We had a chihuahua but I loved to play with other dogs so I was excited when she brought her poodles over. One of them was a dark brown or black one, not sure and I don't remember his name. But he was in the backyard with me and Mum and her friend went inside to make a cuppa. Well this poodle was new and interesting - of course I wanted to play with it. But he wasn't interested. Well I wanted to pat and hold him. He would come close but then run off. Then he came close enough for me to scoop him up and hold him in my arms. Yay! I was holding the poodle. Well the poodle starts to squirm in my arms like he wants to get away. He's pretty big for a little kid and he's putting me off balance. So i start to lean down to put him back down. Well thats when it happened. As I leaned, he twisted. He twisted toward the ground to jump down from me. As he twisted he strategically aimed his poo-hole at my face. And let loose. He projectile-pooped a brown sea of smelly slop all over my face. It was runny and warm. I closed my eyes. I screamed. I quickly realised to stop screaming as its vital to keep my mouth shut. I scream through tightly shut lips. The adults come running. I couldn't breathe! I swear I heard the poodle's owner laughing. They led me inside to the bathroom. Mum kept saying "keep your mouth shut!" Then mum cleaned off my face and washed it with A LOT of dettol. I'm pretty sure I heard her laughing too. That day I learnt not to ever touch a dog that doesn't want to be touched. Especially poodles. Anyone got an embarrassing story to top that one? I hope my humiliation has entertained someone. And I still love dogs. But I must say poodles aren't my favourite. :rolleyes: