chook007

We have just has a lovely 5 day in noosa with our dogs. We rented a house I found on stayz. The house was lovely with good fencing and we could do just what we wanted with our dogs. Great holiday.

Thanks ash1 for your help. We are not happy with the vet we have been using & it is hard to know who is good.

I would love to hear from anyone living in the Gold Coast area who has a number of dogs, breeds... What vet do you recommend

If you get them soon enough a tortion doesn't have to be fatal. My dog survived a tortion where a stomach tube could not be passed.

Same with my girls....but its the after effects from the torsion that can be fatal. The part of the stomach that has been lacking in blood supply can break down days after surgery. The heart also needs monitoring post op.

I would be worried about any kit that included an ice pick!! A needle or catheter could also be used.

Education, prevention...as much as is possible, I know its impossible to prevent bloat....an know your individual animal. Also be prepared to get a speeding ticket and a very large vet bill! :)

We have run red lights getting to the emergency vet at midnight .

Touch wood I have not had bloat - yet but I do worrie about it. I am an x nurse so passing tubes ..... does not bother me . I will have the tummy stich done to buy time

We are 15 min from the emergency vet & they are very good, but I do travel with my dogs for shows & this is what bothers me.

Do you have a bloat kit in case of an emergency ? What is in your kit ? I would like to have a bloat kit but not shore who sells them or what is in a kit.

Storm I have a two year old Newfoundland and I would not feed super coat nor would I feed puppy food. Eagle pack as suggested is a great food so Giant breed adult or proplan adult. They are not cheap but you need to feed a quality product.

High dose Easter C has been used to correct leg issues and chicken necks and frames (raw) are good to help put weight on. Feed at least twice a day or more small meals if possible. Bloat is an issue with the breed so wait at least an hour before and after feeding before any form of exercise.

If you go to dogzonline breeders look up Planhaven or Opalbay, Opalbay is in Brisbane and Planhaven are now on the Gold Coast. Frances from Planhaven has been the longest breeder of this breed in Australia and Sue from Oplaybay has been involved in the breed for over ten years.

I am sure both of them would be only to happy to talk to you and offer advice where needed. Good luck with your girl, they are a beautiful breed to share our lives with. :D

great advise

Eagle pack is a very good food for a giant breed puppy. Talk to your breeder.

Hi all, Just wonder how others cope with a bad back & if you are still able to show & do the things you would like to be doing.

I have had a back problem for a while now & have had to cut back on the things I can do.

How many breeding dogs are you able to keep? Did the council need to check with property owners near by before giving you the permit ?

Great food for a growing puppy. I am feeding this to my 12 week old pup. His diet is 80% Eagle pack & I add some pet chicken mice to this for 1 meal a day & the other meal I add sadines & he loves it. I also give hime half a chicken frame each day & he loves it. All of this has been advised by me breeder & he is growing well.

Definitely talk to the breeder and take their advice first and foremost.

A few suggestions though if your pup is going east/west.

The two main issues to be aware of when growing larger breed puppies is overall calorie intake and amount of calcium. With large breed puppies, they generally require less rather than more of both. Increased growth and calcium can manifest in growth issues and going east/west is often one of the first you may identify.

If a puppy is going east/west, in general terms two things I would consider doing would be decreasing overall calories and decreasing calcium.

There are two foods, based on my research and experience etc, that are IMO 'better' for growing large breed puppies.

These are Pro Plan Performance (which is an all life stages food and better than their large breed puppy formula) and Eagle Pack Large and Giant Breed Puppy. These two have a better balance when it comes to calcium intake etc for growing large breed pups.

The other thing I suggest is not feeding too much extra bone. A smaller meaty bone daily for chewing exercise (e.g. half a chicken frame or a beef brisket bone) is good, but any extra meat mixed in the food should IMO be boneless (so not chicken mince which has bone in it).

You can include things like pulped veggies (these increase volume but can help decrease overall calories if you feed them as a portion of the diet). Also eggs, sardines once or twice a week etc as well, but keep an eye on calories and be sure to keep your pup lean.

FWIW

Thankyou so much.

I am feeding Holistic Select & this is the new name for Eagle pack. My breeder has said to feed this as it has a lower protein level of 23% in the large puppy. I give 1/2 a frame each day & some chic dog mince so I will cut down on the mince. Would you contunue with the sardines ??

Thankyou all for your help. I have been at work today & was not able to PH the breeder until late arvo only to be told she will be away for the next few days.

The mince I have been feeding him is the pet mince [frames].

What % of protein should a young puppy have at 10 weeks.

also - has he been jumping off anything at all? (even steps) or running downhill? This can have a effect in young puppies.

No jumping, no steps,no injurys, it is all flat

Definately contact your breeder as they would be the best person to help you. labs and goldens are prone to this if their diet isn't correct, also, they can go east/west due to their chest being narrow while they are growing etc, once it pops out so to speak (its hard to explain) the feet straighten up... but... I would make sure the diet is correct as well as their are no guarantees that it is because of how they are growing.

Is he a good weight, and is he down in his pasterns as well or is he just a bit east/west? What is the protein & fat content of the HS?

The protein in large puppy Holistic select is 23% + he is having a bit of chic mince, sardines, frames. His weight is very good I can clearly feel his ribs. He is a happy active pup, moves well. Interesting what you have said about the chest. thanks for you help.

No, not yet I have only noticed it in the last day or 2 & I first thought it was just afunny way he was standing.

Thank you for that. I will have a good look at his sholders. Fingers crossed they come straight.

He is on Holistic Select + some sardines, chicken mince,wings, Ester-C, fish oil, but 90% of his diet is HS.

Sorry I am not able to attach photos [not good on the computer]He is a lab. His legs look straight [not bent] his feet are pointing out instead of pointing straight ahead.

My 10 week old puppy is very health & happy but I have started to notice his front legs are starting to turn out a bit. Why would this be happening & what can I do to correct this. He is on a high quality food.

I was hoping to get some recommendations from fellow DOL members of a good vet on the Gold Coast or Northern NSW area? I have been looking into 'The Vet Lounge' which has just opened in Currumbin and have read some good things about Dr Michael Woodcock who is at the Coomera clinic but I think he is moving to the Currumbin one now?

Would love to hear everyone's thoughts and experiences from any vets in QLD/Northern NSW areas...

We dont have a good repoductive vet on the coast if this is what you need I travel to Bris for my repo visits. I have been going to the green cross vet at Mudgeeraba & they are very good.

http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/241789-interesting-conversation-with-rspca-inspector/

You might find that thread interesting.

You definitely want to set limits on returns.

And if you offer to take the puppy back at some pro-rata refund rate - definitely set a time limit on refunds or replacement puppies. But always take the puppy back. Sigh.

Thankyou everyone for your help with this. It has given me a lot of great tips to think about.

Just a question :) are you a registered breeder???

What breed are we talking about because different breeds will need different health guarantees if you decide to go into things like genetic health etc

Thanks Steve for your help.

I am a reg breeder & this will be my first litter so I still have lots to learn.

Both my dogs have been health tested with excellent results so I'm not expecting any health problems, but you never know & this is why I am wondering what other breeders offer.

My breed is newfoundlands.

Just interested to know what kind of health guarantee [if any] other breeders offer puppy buyers.

I am having my first litter soon & wonder how to go about this. I have thought of offering 6 mths pet insurance with each pup ??

Love to hear from other breeders.

Thanks

Hi,

I have just got my Gold Coast councils breeders permit. I am planning to breed my first litter soon.

I was told by the GC council not to apply for the permit until I planed on breeding as the permit only last 3 yrs & you dont really need it until you breed & you may want it sooner if you plan on having lots of dogs. You do not need this permit to keep entier dogs you will just pay more for dog rego each year.

The GCCC permit allows the breeder to keep up to 8 dogs + puppies. The council will come to your home to inspect how your dogs are kept + aske questions. I found them to be really good to deal with.

Dogs QLD do not require you to have a GCCC permit, but is does help with getting the GCCC permit if you are a member of Dogs QLD.