Catalina

On a walk she cut a pad on her foot. The vet has advised complete rest, it's not a bad cut but it's the length of the pad so it's taking a while to heal. She's miserable as she's not getting her walks, we can't even play ball in the garden or take her for a swim. I hate seeing her so bored so ideas for fun without running around are welcome. I'd prefer ideas that don't only revolve around food as it's a struggle to keep her weight in the healthy zone.

My female dog was spayed yesterday using a method where the ovary is transplanted (I think they attach it to the stomach). It's supposed to reduce the chances of weight gain and was recomended by my vet as my dog is a Labrador and a highly skilled scavanger so we have to work hard to keep her weight down as it is. I can't recall the name of this type of procedure - if anyone can remind me before I see the vet again that'd be great.

I was wondering if anyone else had had this type of procedure and whether or not they found it as effective at weight management as it's supposed to be.

Many thanks.

My dog has always gone to the same groomers every month for a year and been fine.

The last two times she has been she's had a high temperature later that evening and been really miserable. I took her to the vet who did the usual anti inflammatory/ antibiotics thing. The first time it happened I did#t think that it could be as a result of going to the groomers but that it was a stomach bug or something, after the second time I figured it must be the groomers.

She will not be going back ever. It seems terrible that she's probably getting so anxious there that she is making her self sick, I feel very guilty about it but she seemed fine when I picked her up. I was wondering however if other people had similar experiences, what they think the cause was and whether it might be worth trying a different groomer in a few months - (one where I can stay and watch I think!).

My Lab is almost 11 months old. She is a little more ignorant that usual and every male dog we met yesterday wanted to hump her but there are no other signs of heat. Is this heat? Is she fertile? Is it time to isolate her already?

I don't want to isolate her too soon and have her going without her freedom for longer than needed. She's very big and very strong so walking her on a lead whilst she is in full heat would probably not be a good idea as she could get away from me if she really wanted too. She's not been spayed as we are planning to have one litter when she is old enough - we already have potential homes for any pups.

My 5 1/2 month old female Labrador is 22.9 kilo (3.6 stone) already. She's definitely going to be a very big girl but i wondered if there was any way to predict how big. Also at what age do they stop getting bigger?

Good job i love big dogs!

I am looking to find out who to approach for a mortgage. I know that the last person who tied to buy this house pulled out because the survey identified damp issues with the kitchen, Don't know why they went that far as the damp is pretty obvious. The kitchen is in a wooden extension which is rotten and needs removing. Price wise I am comfortable that we are getting a good deal even though we will need to pull the kitchen extension down and rebuild it. The rebuild will cost apx 20k and the house is up for 139. The identical house over the road is up for 199 and I can do a lot myself as well. I can find the 20k to do the rebuild within the first 6 months of purchase. What I don't know is who is likely to lend on this basis, any ideas?

My husband in being asked to provide a reference for his ex wife so that she can get kinship care of a grandchild. Does anyone know what the reference is about? What is information is asked for and what would happen if he said no?

His ex wife wasn't a particularly good mother to her own children so he's reluctant to get involved in helping her take custody of the child.

Am I the only person who thinks that 6 weeks old is far to early to rehome a kitten!

Please spread the word and stop people buying from bad "factory" breeders.