_PL_

Thank god you have posted in this manner, cavNrott. I have been jumped on from a great height from time to time suggesting that, shock horror, vets might actually either not know what they are talking about or, even worse, thinking of their bank account. It's like people getting into a lather because an animal is diagnosed with a heart murmur. 99% of animals, including the human animal, if they live long enough will have heart murmurs or heart problems most of which will not need medication or be controlled by medication. Yes, good advice from both experienced Dolers :) I'll echo DD and also say that to me, some LP grade diagnosis done by hand is, pointless, wrong or too 'by the book'. eg One of our adopted seniors was taken to their family vet after a sudden seizure, the owners left later with no answers or tests re the seizure but booked in for an LP surgery on the tiny tiny 13yr old. They said they felt bad, very guilty and feeling like they had done wrong for not doing it already. Of course the surgery was cancelled when they were able to think about it properly; and change vets. No idea about insurance either but you'd not really be providing useful info as nobody seems to be able to give you the exact grade or recommended treatment. You'd only be able to confirm anything with a radiograph. In which case they would need to know.

This is what the original breeder of these dogs thinks. He's sorry. http://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/nov/13/inventors-idea-regret Same Rutland Manor lady involved but I can't remember her name sorry The 'cobberdog' name gives me the heebies :laugh: I don't know anything about developing breeds but isn't this the way it is done? Apologies if that's a dim question, not my field of expertise obviously.

thank you. I'm so sorry for the loss of Guinness.

Not a bad idea.

Riverstar, she makes a dog's one too, in smaller bottles :) it's flavoured like bacon and easy to sprinkle on their food or blend it in. It has no herb or 'strange' smells which have put my fussier off dogs in the past.

No need to respond here. Just let it slide off the page. :) I've posted so people googling might find Winnie's diary (which is in very early days). I couldn't find any 'real life' accounts of a dog going from diagnosis to treatment to recovery. Maybe it will help someone. However, I am a daggy writer; don't pay too much attention to the rambling. lol Acanthomatous ameloblastoma (acanthomatous epulis, peripheral ameloblastoma) Winnie's Story Apologies if this is bothering anyone, I'll have Troy delete if you prefer. :)

Just meant I feel like such a sales rep LOL Hugs for Sonny :) x anna

I think I've mentioned this a dozen times on Dol but I stopped my search when I tried Joint Performance and noted visible improvement (we have obviously trialled a LOT of joint support products) add a series of cartrophen it's magic. The dog one comes in bacon flavour. :laugh: They love it. Georgina, the woman who sourced the high quality ingredients and created the formula herself is fantastic.

Yaaaaay for Grace! Gorgeous little old lady Don.

I saw that, looks like trouble contacting the pound? But she has quoted the contact details and instructions of what to do which written in the first line. :) So I assume she worked it out or got in contact with someone else.

Thanks Sas, that is very very helpful. The NCTM is the only one I've spoken to because they look the most legit. And I was really impressed after speaking to them. It helps to have your input. Sounds like it could be a good thing to do. I'll make sure we organise a visit to you before enrolling.

There are plenty of rescues who just need a call and will drop the dog off at your door, collect the fee and disappear into the distance. I'd rather ask questions, they are my dogs not 'nobody's dog' as people have told me they are. And I have the right to decide where they go, making the best decision I can make and not ping-pong them in and out of homes. It's also with the adopter in mind so that they get the right dog. If we don't have the right dog then we refer them on. We have a lifetime return safety net. Any age, any time. I promise you, if I made carers hand over dogs to poorly checked homes they would leave us in a flash because that's not what they signed up for. Adding: we've had several dogs come through that have been poorly placed by other rescues who do not want them back.

That's so nice :) Quick question: I was looking at the myofuctional therapy course, thinking it might be good for our seniors. What benefits have you seen in small dogs?

Yes. Humans can be pure evil.

omg, all the urban myths ...... becoming reality.

Would your old boy fit in a pram? :D I've seen them locally. Mum is in the same situation with one of her dogs so I advised a month of weekly cartrophen injections and replace walks with driving the girls to the park, one can exercise and one sniffs around. She is also using Joint Performance. It's working really well but I understand the park drive part isn't practical for everyone. hugs to your old boy xxAnna

Some McDowell's we ordered were too foul tasting to give the dogs. But I swear by their Maritime Pine Bark. Dogs apparently get a good seratonin boost from a long bone chewing session. Works for my own nervous boy, he gets quite dreamy. Haven't tried acupuncture but one of my adopters loves it.

Awesome! What a great result :) he's so happy and clearly adapted well. xx

Same animallover :laugh: but I can't imagine my littlies being too happy getting pushed off the sofa. I understand the adoption fee thing but the other full vetwork pounds have a flat rate $300+ and have been having great results with direct adoptions of senior dogs.

That's them! Sally, she has been rescuing forever. :) Hope she has some good advice for you.

I think leaving the 'puppy-farm' stuff behind and getting xrays are a great idea. :) There is a rescue in Grafton who might be able to send you to a vet that has been very knowledgable in the past when they have had a wonky dog. Our foxy boy Speedy a complex surgery. His bones were deformed in his hind legs, his patellas were off doing their own thing. And to just take look at him .... to me it honestly looked like his hips were the problem. Because they had very little muscle and he was looking a bit pigeon toed. Obviously that was incorrect. Anyway, the specialist repaired him in two surgeries and he's now a normal happy little dog who has also grown muscle where there was none. But without those xrays being taken and looked at by his vet and specialist we would never have found out he had a rare condition that could be fixed. If he was not repaired, he would have been a wonky dog unable to enjoy a run, risking painful injuries and very early arthritis. Sorry to not be explaining things in medical jargon bones aren't my strong point. lol It was just to say that all is not lost, you just need a diagnosis before worrying too far ahead. Have a vet do the xrays and if it looks like you need a specialist (or if you just want to see one anyway) they will do a referral. xxAnna

If anyone hasn't seen this: Gumtree Guide to Responsible Pet Ownership

Because certain nutjob "rescue" groups give all of rescue a bad name by encouraging their supporters to harass trainers, spreading misinformation about the industry and treating everyone involved in the industry as if they were all monsters. It got so bad that even just being neutral on the racing issue is enough to get you abusive messages and death threats. If you were a greyhound trainer, would you invite someone onto your property to collect a dog if you knew they were probably packing a hidden camera and preparing resources to later raid your kennels and/or home? You can't call someone a murdering monster and then expect them to be willing to work with you. Absolutely spot on.

It's just one place to advertise and since they first began, gumtree has tried hard to put a few rules in place. They do respond to the report function as far as I know. Gumtree is owned by ebay. Pet sales are banned on Australian ebay (not on Ebay Classifieds in countries such as the US) so they will always be on Gumtree as far as I can forsee. If they are ever banned then the other sites will do fine. The sellers won't be at any disadvantage whatsoever, google can find you pups anywhere. I get it that it's got a bad reputation but people need to remember all the other places pets are advertised, including the local shops and telegraph poles. And why do paid classifieds not have petitions out about them? It's nice to hear breeders and rescues have been successful with their advertising but I tried it years ago and omg I just couldn't deal with the nutcases incl the rescue ones who message you to say 'how very dare you use gumtree!!!!!!!!'. The only thing that will work against disreputable sellers/breeders etc is helping people make the right choices and avoid being lied to or ripped off. Don't badger them or abuse them for making their choice, we just need good pet owners, not alienated ones.

Mojo looks so good now! :) Love the goofy grass roll.