SarahJ88

When we first got Ava she slept in the laundry, then that changed to a pen in the kitchen, then when she learnt how to move that and get in the lounge room we ended up moving house, she did have a crate but hated sleeping in it and then all of a sudden when we moved she started sleeping in it which was great. Now she only sleeps in her crate if she is sulking because she's getting her flea treatment, other than that it's usually on the floor in my room due to the cool tiles

My goldie loves greek yoghurt, even more so when it's passionfruit, I usually leave her a little bit in the tub and some up the sides and it keeps her entertained for about 15 minutes. Then she licks it clean and the contained entertains her for another 10 until it cracks and gets taken off her

Hi there,

I am seriously thinking about pet insurance. I had to have my nearly 13 year old girl put to sleep last week as she had oral cancer. I had taken her to a specialist vet last week and he quoted me $1000 for a CT scan and a few hundred dollars here and there for other tests and an operation costing $3300. I have been reading these posts and I am now apprrehensive about pet insurance. What is the Medicare one like and there is Woolworths? If I go this way I would like a good one.

One thing to factor in Mumscats is that if you have any other dogs that are over the age of 8 years old alot of insurers will not cover a dog that old

Thanks for all of your help. The vet did give us a solution with a little bit of alcohol that you squirt in once a week or so - she doesn't like it but if it can keep the ear infections at bay then we'll be doing it. Thanks FHRP for the info, I didn't think that a condition previously such as those incidents would rule it out for other insurers but I can see why it would be. Telida I feed her on advance large breed chicken, with chicken necks, plus some vegetables as well. I know it isn't as great as a barf diet (which I would love to feed her on) but due to finances unfortunately can't do that. She also gets fish oil & glucosamine with chondroitin in the mornings to help her bones (not that she likes taking it)

So here is my dilemna, I have pet insurance with prosure and up to a certain point they have been okay except for the fact that I didn't wait the 30 day wiating period and my dog got an ear infection, now they are classifying that as a pre-existing condition which I cannot claim against - ever. So fast forward a year and have claimed a $3000 surgery on Ava which they thankfully reimbursed 80% of. My issue hwoever is that Ava is a golden retriever and has issues with ear infections, if I get her clipped and they give her a wash they get water in her ears and fast forward 3 weeks and where back at the vet asking for more ear drops. Last month I took her to the vet for her yearly vaccinations and she had an ear infection, gave her the drops and went back a month later - hadn't cleared, gave more ear drops and went back 2 weeks later - had cleared. Submitted the claim form which was roughly $500 worth and got a response yesterday saying it had been denied due to a pre existing condition (re 30 day waiting period) so I am looking for a new pet insurance that is not with the hollard company (which I know is going to be tough). This isn't the first case they have rejected my claim, Ava was diagnosed with ocd at 8 months old and had to have several xrays because of this. We had an issues about 4 months ago where she just wasn't herself, salivating and bloated and we thought she may have swallowed a macadamia from our neighbours tree, we took her to the vet and got the xray and submitted the form, then got a reply about a week later from the insurance stating an entire vet history needed to be submitted. My vet thankfully had to write to explain the situation and I doubt if they hadn't of done that I wouldnt have got the money back. It's like they are only letting me claim one thing and then it's classed as pre-existing and I'm not allowed to claim it ever again, this includes xrays, ear swabs etc.

So does anyone know of any pet insurances that aren't controlled by the holland group? I know prosure is and unfortunately so is mbf pet insurance. Any help would be appreciated.

We had the exact same thing with our golden, we had her for 6 months until we had to move then about a month after we moved our new neighbours plus some around the conrer came around to say she barks everytime we go out, all the time. Hence we had to go out as soon as we hear dthat and got a bark dollar (the shock one) - I know that's harsh but we visited my aunt who had citronella ones on her dogs and she just kept licking them so we know they wouldnt work, the bark one definitely does work though, we used it for about 2 months and haven't had issues since. Possibly think about the citronella collar they may be able to help you out - they are pretty cheap on ebay

A coke bottle (without the sticker around it) with some water in it. Keeps our dog entertained for a couple of hours at least

My 6 month old golden retriever puppy has had 2 days of limping on her right front leg.

I took her to the vet tonight and he isolated the pain to the right shoulder.

Thinking most likely OCD and that she'll probably need a very expensive operation to remove the flap of cartilage, $2000-!!!

She's on painkillers and booked in for an x-ray of her shoulders next Tuesday.

I am really, really hoping that she has just bruised herself or strained a tendon or muscle.

I'm restricting her activity in the hope that if its a bruise or strain she will heal before we put her under for a very expensive operation.

Any thoughts or experiences greatly appreciated.

Just wondering if this has been sorted at all? Our 8 month old golden had surgery for her ocd only 7 weeks ago and is healing nicely now except it's hard to contain a boisterous golden.

I wish I had found this thread about 2 months ago, our 7 month old golden was diagnosed with ocd in the right shoulder, after a $3,500 surgery she is better but could be alot better, I know alot of people surrender there pets due to health problems they can't financially afford but when you look at her face you can't give her up or put her down just because of this set back, thank god for pet insurance!

We have prosure, you get 80% back which I think is pretty good, our golden had a ear infection at her 12 week vaccination and then had a urinary tract infection so we decided to get the insurance which is a good thing we did, she got another uti within 30 days of having the insurance so we couldnt get the money back but since then we have had her desexed - cost $300 got $150 back, she's had xrays - $600ish and she had been diagnosed with ocd in her front right shoulder which cost us $3,500 and we got roughly $2,800 back. It's definitely good to have in case something does happen

We where told Brooke (can't remember her last name) at BCVS Caloundra for our golden who got ocd however I wouldnt recommmend her as her prices are high and she walks out to leave you to do it yourself in alot of sessions. I have heard there is one in relation with the emergency vet at underwood, possibly think about calling them?

Thanks all for your input, I think what I might do is just buy human grade glucosamine & fish oil and keep giving her her regular advance large dog breed adult food. I was told by the phsyio at one stage that sardines would be a great source of fish oil however when we went up the other week to see her and I mentioned that we gave her some she basically went nuts at me, needless to say I won't be going back to her, at $75 a pop for her to just walk out when we're supposed to be in physio it doesnt give me great confidence!

Thanks everyone, yes it is for my frenchie boy. Atua that doesnt sound to good. Ill stick to my orignial vet she is a lovely lady and has been great with him so far, Clyde saving starts now! He also has to have surgery for his cherry eye so all up its abit for me atm.

Random question but just wondering where you got your frenchie from? I'm interested in possibly getting one and researching some breeders. Thanks

So my 8 month old golden retriever had surgery about 4 weeks ago for ocd and we have been told by the phsyio to start her on glucosamine and fish oil to help with her joints. When we went to the pet store yesterday a lady was telling my mum about eukanuba and it has added glucosamine and fish oil, just wondering if anyone has any experience with this pet food and if they have seen any benefits in relation to better mobility etc?

Also if eukanuba isn't the best choice we can start her on human glucosamine & fish oil, would we have to wean her onto it so that it is not such a strong dose at first? Attached photo is Ava having fun at her hydro session

Thanks

I'm sorry.

Where is the OCD? Just asking as prognosis is very different for OCD in different joints.

I don't know that specialist, but probably someone on the forum will.

It's in her left elbow and right shoulder, I'm actually ringing them now because I need to book her, unfortunately the vet said we're looking at a few thousand

So our beautiful 6 month old golden retriever has been diagnosed with osteochondrosis and we've been told by our vet that Dr Mitchell is among the best to do the surgery for her, I'm just wondering if anyone has had any consultations with him and what he is like, also the price if you are willing to write and what happened to your dog. Thanks in advance. He is based at the North Coast Veterinary Specialists at Tanawha, Qld

Every night before we let Ava out I usually go out with the dettol and torch and try and get rid of as many as possible. Then tehres still the occasional one that pounches and she just "has" to go after it. Good thing we keep her on a leash when we take her out.

Thank you all for your replies. I'm extremely tempted to sign up to the national desexing network however not sure on the only vet that is listed in my area, very dissapointed as well because the vet I use was previously on there but now isn't. She doesnt need to be desexed/spayed until mid april however it's hard to come buy money that quickly in that short amount of time (for me anyway). Thanks again

I wouldnt feel weird receiving a gift for my dogs bday from the breeder, mainly because the breeder I got her from is my boss lol

I'm looking to get my dog desexed next month as she will be 5 months and I want it done as soon as possible. I was going to sign up for the national desexing network discount however they have taken my vet off there list so I can't use it anymore. Just wondering what the costs everyone has come across (if they have desexed there dog, I realise this forum is full of show breeders who do not desex) for the size, breed, weight of there dog? Or if you can help on maybe giving me an estimate on how much it would be for my dog? (I realise calling would be the decision however just want to find out info at this moment)

She is a 16 week golden retriever at the moment (will be 20-22 weeks when desexed) and at the moment weighs 12kgs but expect her to probably be around the 14-16kg mark at time of desexing. Thanks in advance

So I took my 12 week old golden retriever to puppy obedience this past tuesday and she was pulling that much that she was choking herself trying to get to the other dogs to play. So my question is, what is the best harness/ collar etc to get her? I want to get a harness but considering that she is growing every day it's hard to know what kind to get and I don't want to have to keep buying 5 different harness'

Thanks in advance