Tazar

Thanks for the suggestion. She is crate trained, in fact loves her crate and will happily be in there most of the time. (Not that she spends a lot of time in there). She has separation anxiety (I rescued her at 14 mths) and has moments when she just has to get out and is successful. I need to be able to put her in the crate and know she can not get out. I think it will be good for her in the long run too. This is a dog who has scaled 7ft fencing with a boundary collar on the highest level to get to me. She does not go to that length anymore and has improved tremendously. On the upside her recall is amazing I have cable tied the sides in multiple place and use a metal skewer loped back around and woven through the wire cross the door. She broke the cable tie and the bent open the metal hinge/clasp....

Hi, I have a small GSD and she has managed to get out of every crate I own . She will push with her paws and head butt the door or sides until something pops. Most of the crates have been Life Stages and one doesn't have a name but is definitely more robust than Life Stages. Can anyone suggest brands that have more robust crates? Thanks in advance

Hey Bianca.a, All good so far, putting weight on it most of the time, really only toe touches at the end of our walks. Started doing sit to stand today but he stands from a sit without moving his front paws so am not sure this is the best for rehab purposes. When he sits his left paw is out so he is not sitting straight. Must be uncomfortable as he always sat straight in the past. He starts hydrotherapy next week so will see how that goes. Rebuilding muscles in operated leg and getting ready for next surgery by building up his right leg. He is very use to our routine now and toilets on command which is great as it is bloody freezing outside! Still waiting for the supplements you recommended but I think they are a few weeks away. We have been doing some training though, just little tricks to keep his mind active and he is very focused. Thanks for asking :)

Hey, I had a foster dog that had a Grade 3 LP and she had a very shallow groove too. The vet deepened the grove and after the initial period in the crate and time rebuilding the muscle she was great and had no ill effects that I am aware of. She was with me for about 8 months and would clear 5ft fencing and spend her days charging around with my GSD's. It is amazing what they can do now, just ensure your vet is well experienced on the surgery. Don't worry you will get through it. What type of dog do you have? :)

Thanks Bianca.a, I have ordered some :)

Hey CavNrott, The specialist said that the osteo changes were the same in both legs and that when they damage the meniscus usually they have to open up the joint, depending on how big the tear is. This can compromise the knee overall so it is better to avoid opening the joint and do the surgery so that the meniscus and cruciate are still intact. My boy had a partial tear and they said if he is still lame at the end of this, they may need to go back in to open the joint and trim it up but this is not as big as the TPLO surgery. He said that based on the X-ray/scans he would have no hesitation in going straight in and not to even bother going to my local vet, just book him straight in. So this is what I am going on I guess....

Person describing their dog: My Alsatian sits, drops, stays for hours, heels, comes to his name, knows not to take the washing off the line, waits for his food and fetches things for me. Me: wow that is impressive you must have done a lot of work with him, good on you. How old is he now? Person describing their dog: 9 weeks :rofl: :rofl:

It is awful but on the upside it is not fatal and I have insurance :). He should be good as new for a good long while. The vet said he will likely have back end failure as he gets older which will be heartbreaking but we are going to stay positive. Love my boy, doing anything for him

Hey Bianca.a, he is doing really well, thank you. he is happy to be inside and got his Hannibal muzzle which made life a lot easier in many ways. Thank you for the offer of your anti bite collar too. Spoke to my vet last week and he said don't bother with glucosamine tablets, just feed him 'joint food' food and start pentosan injections once the stitches are out. We started walking slowly about 300 metres twice today. Baby steps :)

It is not just the ligaments, it is the osteoarthritis in both knees and in the sacral area. I'd be surprised if this condition was not in either of the parents or some of the other pups.. Sad when Breeders treat you that way CavNrott, tarnishes them all a little bit. I am not going to wait for the other one to go, surgeon said the less damage to the cruciate and surround the better. He is doing so well though, coping great being in the crate, sleeps on his mat in the bedroom or under the kitchen table when I am home. Took most of his stitches out today when Hannibal muzzle came off. Cheeky boy, can't wait till it is all over.

Lol... I was saying it would make a great picture to have Bianca.a's two GSD's and my three all in a line as they vary in weight from 27-47kg. He has not been at his wound today :). He does want to get out and run though, joys of a usually fit dog. I have not put anything on it Thanks CavNrott. I found a specific TPLO recovery book on line and it looks good so think I will follow their program. It is on the top dog website if interested. Can I ask what joint supplement you have your dogs on? Vet purchased or.chemist? If chemist what is the dosage per Kg? Thanks heaps

He made it through the night without pulling his stitches out...YAY. I didn't bandage just sprayed some betadine on the wound. He is licking it cavNott, and they stressed infection risks with licking as he was done on Wednesday. He destroyed a cone of shame collar a couple of weeks ago and pulled out a stitch after having a small lump removed on his front leg so I know he will do it if he can. Thanks Bianca.a, I will check the measurement. I tried to order one from K9 pro in a medium (just guessing the size) but they didn't have any in stock so I have ordered the hannibal type muzzle. He is on Metacam too. He is a big boy at 47kg, my middle boy weights 40kg and my little girl weights only 27kg. She is the size of a tall kelpie! They would maybe a great picture all 5 of them in a row :) Bugger just got on the couch, he looks comfortable for a change, so I will leave him there. Thanks your all the advice :)

That collar doesn't look very comfortable. My boy is 47kg, very tall and long but lean too so I am not sure if it would fit. Is there a measuring chart? He is in a crate and the cone of shame is so big, he can hardly move around. (He is in a big crate). He has a pain patch and it on anti inflams. No sedation, unfortunately.

I think I will try to bandage it, just worried that it might make him want to get at it more. I am in the Macedon Ranges Bianca.a and he is a large GSD. So why was the bite collar awkward for your dog? I wonder if he would still be able to get at it with the bite collar on? Once this one heals he is having the other done, poor boy is so unsettled.... Thanks for the tips :)

....with a huge Elizabethan collar on. He has such a long body... Anyone go any solution until I can get a cage muzzle? He had TPLO surgery so it is very important he doesn't lick it. Thanks

He is in the main living area and crate trained so happy to be in the crate. Yes It sucks to have these two unrelated conditions in a 3 year old dog when you pay top $ for a pup from a registered breeder where the parent have had all the appropriate testing. Poor Monster...

Hi, just thought I'd update, My boy had TPLO surgery today . The other knee needs to be done in the next 6 months and he has changess in his spine. :(. Not happy Jan..... How did you keep your dog entertained in the crate?

Thanks for the recommendations, we are going back to the vet Tuesday for X-rays under anaesthetic as the anti inflams ffor 7 days made no difference. Vet doesn't think it Is fully ruptured but at 47kg it doesn't look good as he is such an active boy. Four months of rehab, WOW that is going to kill us all! Better now than in the summer though I guess.

Hey, I have a 14 year old, tiny Cav. She is deaf and blind now but has had terrible skin allergies and LOVES her food. To keep her weight down she is on tuna (in brine) and rice and gets a big bowl for dinner. I will put in a raw egg once a week or so. She also has pancreatitis hence the no fat in her diet. It keeps her in good condition. :)

Thanks Ness, just been researching, looks like they have made some nice progress since my Rot did hers 18 years ago!

Large, not over weight, GSD male about 47 kg, almost 3 years, very active, we are on property and he chases birds most of the day and has a couple of GSD companions.

Hey all, Just wondering if anyone is up to date on the latest techniques for ACL surgery. Looks like my boy has done his and we are off to the vet tomorrow. He is about 47 Kg GSD, very active, almost 3 years old, we are on property and he chases birds and has two other GSD companions. TPLO - does anyone have any recommendations for specialists in Melbourne? Thanks

What beautiful pooches :) Fostering is hard, I do it and have realised that if I don't let one go, I cannot help another. Sometimes if there is room you keep one or two :) There is just this gut feeling, I have three ex-rescue and one I choose as a puppy. I think you need to think like this when you get a foster. You need to treat the dog like you would a boarder. When they first come in, you show them where they sleep, eat, go to the toilet and the communal rooms (kitchen, dining). You don't give them access to your whole house or leave $100 (read shoes or fun things to chew) on the dining room table when you go out. As you gain their trust and they yours, you start expanding the boundaries. You also need to keep in mind that their forever home may not want them on the bed or couch so don't give them this luxury, let the new owners give them this if they choose. I think giving them what they need, the basics and expanding slightly as time goes by gives them the best chance when they are placed in their forever home. Just my opinion. :) Yay you for being a Foster Carer :thumbsup:

Freeze, or Freezer

Made me cry, beautiful photo's :cry: Beautiful memories..