KJ

Labkisses........the pup had been on medication for about a week in the second photo. I would hold off on the vaccination until you pup has fully recovered, with Rudie (the pup in the first pics)I was told to wait about a month after she had fully recovered. This did not ever happen as she was pts at 12 weeks after developing neosoprosis.

Henrietta(the second pup with strangles)was perfectally healthy before her 12 week vaccination, within 24 hours of being vaccinated she had symptoms of strangles.

How old is your pup?

Bisart.........as far as I know it does not run in lines but my knowledge is limited. Strangles is not that common, I think my vet said he sees only 1 or 2 cases a year. I know I would not breed from an adult that had strangles as a pup.

For my pup, Rudie, the first sign of strangles was a bump on her eye lid, then her ears becames weepy and massive swollen lymph glands appeared overnight.

YOu can see the bump on her eye in this photo........

This was taken about a 2 weeks later........

After 3 weeks on cortisone, she was tiny compared to her litter sister but her skin was much better! Photo taken when the pups were 9 weeks.

Henrietta had a much worse case.......

and now aged 2.........

Bisart.....it is due to a weakened immune system. Signs are swollen lymph nodes, bumps on eyes, boils/pustules on face and in ears.

The specialist I saw believed that there was a connection between the distemper component of the vaccination Henrietta received at 12 weeks and her developing strangles.

To my limited knowledge it is not preventable.

Puppy Strangles

In my last litter had 2 puppies come down with strangles. The first one got it at only 6 weeks of age and sadly had to be put to sleep at 12 weeks, the cortisone severley weakened her already weak immune system and allowed another disease to take over

Then Henrietta, after her 12 week vaccianation, also developed puppy strangles. It was a tough battle for Henri, thought she would die. The cortisone did stunt her growth, I think she took it for around 2.5 months and she had a big growth spurt as soon as she was weaned off it but is still very small(at 2 years old she is just 22kgs!).......she now has multiple joint problems.

If I was you I would be keeping the puppy until he has been free from medication for a few weeks. With Henrietta she would be looking fine and then suddenly have another breakout of boils as soon as the medication stopped. Henrietta does have some scarring but as she is black it is not really noticable unless you know what you are looking for. I will hunt around for some photos

The colour is yellow not gold

I have a young Lab with multiple joint problems. 6 months ago her arthritis was so bad, despite all the medication she was on, and I wondered if I was cruel keeping her alive. It was heartbreaking to have to carry her to bed at night.The best option for her was a joint fusion, with a long recovery. I though long and hard about putting her through more surgery but it was her only chance of being pain free. After she recovered from the surgery she was like a new dog, so happy and pain free. Unfortunantly due to complications she has just had the procedure repeated. I questioned if doing the surgery again was being fair to her but she is such an easy going girl and copes really well with being crated/confined. I know other people probably think she should have been pts ages ago but, as she is now asleep on my lap with a very content look on her face, I know I have made the right decisions for her.

Good luck with your boy, would be great if your specialist can provide you with some hope!

Get pet insurance

I would be wary of too much Cartrophen in such a young dog. Long term, it can damage the liver and kidneys.

Instead I'd be doing maybe one course after healing, then use supplements like glucosamine chondroiten and perhaps musseltone for inflammation if it develops.

If they really want to go the whole hog, it has been reported that using stem cells at the injury site will do wonders.

Really?I have a 2 year old Lab who has monthly Cartrophen injections(and has done so for the for the last 12 months) and her vet and specialist have not ever mentioned that it can cause liver and kidney damage.

Thanks, I will give that a try.

Henrietta is a couple of days post surgery , she has a shaved leg and shaved patch on her back which look like they have a bit of a rash from the clippers. Any ideas of what to put on it?

Thanks

I have a Lab with OCD of the hock and believe (and the specialist has indicated)there is a genetic component.

How is the dogs ocd being treated?

I have Pet Plan insurance and am very happy with it, I have claimed in excess of $10,000 and have never had any problems.

Masonsmum........that is interesting about pre existing conditions, I thought pre existing condtitions would be exculded forever.

Baker Girl.........I am pretty sure they would not cover the type of hip surgery you are/were considering for your pup.

I had noticed some scratching on the garden fence and had no idea who or what the culprit was until I saw this

Are you talking about the tokens you save up to get free bags of food?

Don't know how to use the quote button but blacklab I totally argee with your comment

People are too willing to see a poorly breed lab with not enough bone and too much length of leg and say it's the best looking lab they've ever seen

I wonder how many people think Teddy is too fat?

You have probably been told that the hock is the worst (and least common) place to have ocd and has the most guarded prognosis, the shoulder has the best prognosis. I was told that only 40% of dogs do clinically well after surgery for ocd of the hock

My Lab Henrietta had surgery for hock ocd when she was 6 months old. After she recovered from her surgery, Henrietta was probably good for a month then started to become progressively lame and uncomfortable. She developed very bad arthritis and it got to the stage where I often had to carry her to bed at night, she was always in pain(despite being on painkillers and anti inflamatories) and I wondered about her quality of life. A hock arthrodesis (fusion) was the only way to take away her pain, Henrietta had this procedure about 12 months after her first surgery, its a salvage procedure and required 6 weeks in a cast but now nearly 5 months since her surgery she is like a new dog, so happy and pain free

Good luck with your boy, I really hope his surgery goes well!

I have had a brindle in a litter, in fact my Teddy has a brindle litter sister!lPhoto of puppy it is the first puppy in the brindling section......(thanks to Kirsten written beside it!)

Just wondering...........is there a cut off age for the dogs? My current running partners(Labs) are 8 and 10, would they be too old? They currently run 10-14kms 3x a week.

One of my Labs has had 2 obstruction surgeries, the first was a sheep's foot and the second (a year ago) was a stick! Both times she recovered really well, last year she had 5 days in hospital and then only small meals of soft foods for about 10 days and once the stitches came out she was back to normal.

Henrietta (Lab) recently had 6 weeks of crate time. I would take her to my parents place (25 min away) each morning before I started work (not sure they appreciated the 5.30 am wake ups) and then collect her at the end of the day. She loved all the extra attention!

I always buy Glyde from Value Vet Products. I am very happy with their customer service and have not found a better price.

So sorry :D I have always loved Rocco's photos and they have always made me laugh, what a beautiful boy :D

Claude trying to reach an apple...........

One big leap and she was rewarded with an apple

Sooty.......

Henrietta.......

Claude...........

I run with my Labs, I often take two at a time, and run up to 10km. They know when we run that there is no mucking around/talking to other dogs or stopping to sniff around. Sure it is not great running with a bag of dog poo but the dogs love it and it keeps them fit and healthy

Henrietta (20 month old Lab with multiple joint issues) has monthly cartrophen injections. I have found she will become a bit sore and stiff if she does not receive a monthly shot

I have PetPlan and could not be happier with their customer service.

I have made several claims, probably around $10,000, and they have been paid with no problems. I send a complete history with every claim and get both my vet and specialist to fill out seperate forms and have had no problems at all.

I put in a claim, for over $3000, in the middle of December and received a cheque in the mail last week.

I love PetPlan ;)