BJ.

Well had Jester back at the vets today as although he was a bit brighter over the weekend and today he still wasn't quiet right. They had another good check over him and couldn't find anything so decided to do a blood test. Test came back all clear but a couple of the enzymes, so 2 out of 3 that they check for kidney function were a little high, still within normal range but on the high side. So I have had to leave my baby there they are going to put him on a drip and also get a urine sample for more tests. The poor little fella trotted off with the vet quiet happily until he realised that I wasn't going too, as I left I could hear the most heart wrenching yowels.

there is definitely something going around that is just like what you have described.. and it seems to be looking to be a national problem... i have just had people i have rehomed a pup to last week.. at a vet today and so far their bill is up to $2400 with no answer.. oh except for the vet telling him after a test that no it wasn't parvo.. then they did an operation suspecting a bowel obstruction.. and found nothing.. and then after the dog passed a poo with blood in it.. (as you would i expect if you have just had your bowel operated on) .. then they said.. yes it is parvo??? if the poor little bugger makes it through the night .. he will probably come good tomorrow.. sadly this little man had a similar bug to what you have described.. only 12 days ago when he was still with me... like you i noticed no eating, drinking etc.. i usually keep some empty syringes here so that if they are avoiding drinking they get no choice.. and keeping up their fluids and observing them they seem to pass the bug in about 24hrs.. only problem is 2 of the 4 have come down with it again... pxx Hmmm did you have only puppies affected? I have 2 adult dogs here and both seem to be fine at the moment but maybe I should keep an eye on them too. Jester seems a little brighter tonight, he has eaten almost the whole breast of the bbq chook. Mind you I shredded it and hand fed him and he also went outside and had a good drink from his bowl without me prompting him. I have started to think that maybe his throat was sore and that is why he was/is reluctant to eat or drink, he certainly doesn't seem to have had any tummy troubles.

I had Jester at the vets this morning as he was very flat all day yesterday and didn't eat anything and was drinking very little. He hasn't vomitted or had the runs, is still weeing and he pooped this morning with no problems. The vet checked him all over no sore spots, no temperature, gums a good colour etc. Told to take him home and keep an eye on him and if there is no change to bring him back Monday. I can get him to drink about half a cup of liquid every 2 hours if I put honey in the water, (is this enough?) and he just managed about a quarter of a cup of BBQ chicken that I hand fed him. A sad and sick doggy is bad enough but a sad and sick Basset is really pathetic. I guess I am really worried that he is getting enough fluids, he is just 6 months.

Going by the body + score chart Barney would be classified as very thin. You can clearly see his last two ribs and he is hour glass shape from the top. His teeth aren't great but they are all there and still ok, the vet suggested if he needed a general for something else then he would do his teeth as well but they aren't bad enough to have him put under just for a dental.

I have the recipie here for satin balls and before I make them up was just wondering if they will be suitable to fatten up a senior. Barney is a 13 year old small terrier of some description, he never sits still but is not a big eater as he is always too busy to stop. I had him at the vets last week for a general check up, they checked liver, kidney function, heart etc all is good but they want a little more weight on him. He only weighs 3.8 kilos and was 4.2 a year ago. He gets raw chicken wings, roast vegies and is supplemented with Pro plan for seniors (which I think is low fat so probably not what he needs). Do you think Satin balls would be too fatty for his system? I don't want to give him pancreatitus.

We have thunder storms predicted for later in the day and tomorrow. This will be our first day time storms and I was wondering about how to handle Jester to make it a non-scarey event. Last time we had a small storm in the middle of the night he did wake up and have a whinge, but he was in his crate so I ignored him and he settled back to sleep. Any tips on a day storm, he doesn't like his crate during the day so don't really want to stress by crating him when he normally wouldn't be. I have had a dog that was terrified of storms before and would prefer not to go down that route again. Both the other dogs here are not bothered at all by storms.

LOL Shame we are at opposite ends of town, if you are ever in Belconnen you would be more than welcome. Now that he has had his 12 week vac in a couple of weeks he should be ready to make his debut on an outing.

LOL I have just come back from reading TOT as I thought I should start soon, we already do NILIF. He is quiet a strong personality and as he isn't going to be a small boy we are tryin to start as we mean to continue.

Thanks again, shall get onto to it. He has been so good up till now that this was a bit of an eye opener.

Thanks Erny, so I should do it first before asking others to try? He seems ok with me taking things out of his mouth (several times a day at the moment;) ) the problem seems to be when you put your hand over the top of his nose to open his mouth.

Just got back from the vets with Jester after having his 12 week vaccination done. The vet gave him a going over, health check as they normally do but when she went to check in his mouth he totally freaked out. He even growled and attempted to snap at the vet. She was being very gentle but he wasn't having it. Eventually I got his mouth open and everything was fine. So this is a problem I need to get on top of now before he becomes too big and no longer cute! Do I get people coming to the house to look in his mouth and then treat him? He is going to puppy school and loves it I will certainly ask them but it is a week away and I think I need to start on this problem now.

Our lovely old girl Rosie went to sleep peacefully in her Daddy's arms on Friday. We were hoping to celebrate her 16 birthday in a few weeks time but it wasn't to be. Our final gift to her was to allow her to go with dignity at the time of her choosing. Rosie was testament to rescue dogs that have a hard start in life can go on to lead long healthy lives. We miss her, and she will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Rozzie a long time ago we had a peke who had a stroke, I am just trying to remember the symptoms. His back legs went all together, his tongue lolled on one side and his eyelid on that side looked lazy. He also was abit "spacey". He actually recovered from that stroke with lots of physio but later on he suffered a second one and was given his wings. Good luck and gentle hugs for the little one.

Yes thats where we are at too, without the Rimadyl Rosie wouldn't be still going. Hers is not for arthritis but a bone spur impinging (sp?) on a nerve. YLD Rosie is a RRidgeback X Dane?, but yes she is a long leggy girl. We tried smaller doses first but they didn't control the pain. With 100mg she is a bit stiff at first thing in the morning but is fine for the rest of the day.

Good question, we have our oldie on Rimadyl everyday, 1 100mg tablet she is about to start her 4th course so she has been on it for 3 months now. We were told to watch out for loose bowel motions but haven't had any trouble so far. She was on it last winter but got very sick, I am now wondering if it was something else that made her sick at the time. If she reacts to the Rimadyl this time we are left with few options as the pain is too bad without it. She was on Presdynil (sp?) for a while but it didn't seem to do the job that Rimadyl does.

I am so sorry Rozzie, I will miss your lovely tales about this wonderful character. BJ

Sorry to all that I haven't responded sooner, I must admit that I leave this room until I am feeling strong as the lovely posts have me blubbering like a baby. I will certainly pass on your best wishes to Zells owner. Tornado Zell was a labrador/poodle cross, and no she didn't shed for about 2 weeks of the year, the rest of the time she shed like a lab but the fur was 4 times as long! She was the strangest looking guide dog, she certainly got lots of comments. Katie I will have to get some photos of my pups up. I have 3 lovely doggies. My post on Zell would have been in the photo section about 12 months ago, not long before she retired. Thank you all BJ

I posted about my friends guide dog Zell previously and now I would like to commerate her passing to rainbow bridge. Zell happily retired from her guide dog duties 6 months ago. She really enjoyed being a spoilt pampered pet, sleeping on the bed, pats and treats form people when she was on a walk and not having to go out when she didn't feel like it. Even though she deserved a long and happy retirement it was not to be, Zell was diagnosed with cancer 4 weeks ago, its progress was quick and last Tuesday surrounded by her family at home the vet relieved her suffering. I know her family miss her terribly, but she is also mourned by all of us who had the pleasure of knowing her, she was a wonderful ambassador for guide dogs and will never be forgotten. R.I.P. My Darling Girl.