ktn

Thanks for the support guys, appreciate it lots Her tooth extraction happened so fast - looking at her chart, she has not much teeth left on the upper jaw. Her lower jaw's teeth are mostly there. The upper one however only has one premolar and one molar per side(!!) and 4 front incisors left. It's very sad - she's lost 7 upper tooth before and now another 7. I should have known older teeth are so precious! Do you guys think she can ever have bones again, and which type would be best? It's pretty much lower teeth and gums at the top for chewing. I'll definitely start with the brushing.

Day 2 update - late last night she finally gobbled down all her kibbles (which was very very soft soaked in water by that stage). She must have been hungry! She looks much better now, bit more tail wagging and zest for life so everything should be ok

Thanks for the response and link Huskyheaven (you know where my stimulus package has gone hehe). I wasn't given painkillers but an anti-inflammatory called previcox. The vet said it will help with the pain (it was actually prescribed for a secondary elbow limping problem I was worried about), and he said that it will also help with the post dental. She was given strong painkillers for the day - I hope this will be enough. 6 teeth and canine - I already feel faint thinking if it were me Good idea with roast chicken.

Hi all, I adopted old Daisy about a year ago, and she's 10, She was already missing some teeth then, including a canine. I have been a bad mum and not been cleaning her teeth thinking that the occasional weekly chicken necks is enough. The first vet I used didn't seem to think her teeth is a problem (there was a yellow tinge then), but I've recently changed vets and noticed her teeth becoming worse. After an initial dental checkup, we had a big operation today and they've decided that she had to have 6 teeth extracted, including a canine (+ clean). I feel awful for not taking proper dental care. She now has no canines left, and I'd like some opinion on: * post-operative care (I have anti-inflammatory pills and antibiotics for her) - any tips? I don't think she can open her mouth. She did not eat much when she got back (only licking in mashed wet food). This is just the first night and I feel awful seeing her so miserable and bit of blood drools. I dare not look into her mouth yet and I have no idea how to put the pills into her without stressing us both * recommended good diet for elderly dogs like her with not much teeth. What can I do diet-wise to preserve the remaining ones? She can't eat hard things since I got her. * should I start brushing every day? what products do you use? I've read up about this, it's going to be a long process as she doesn't like her mouth touched. Kat

Thanks for feedback - i'll try adding more fibre in his diet for his 'engorgement issue' while he's straining. Good idea to keep an eye of the prostate size - my vet didn't think it would be an issue, but i'll make sure it hasn't gotten any larger. He's desexed late in age. When I did a quick googling i saw that it's happened to men before. Which is why I thought of ageing, where one can't control their bodily functions anymore.

My old boy (I'm only guessing his age is around 8-10 years) has been having an erection while pooping. Is this normal ageing behaviour? Most of the time I see um, an inch or so, but he has occasionally had the full thing come out. It goes right back after the poo. It's been consistent so far, for over a month now since I noticed it. I don't think he's straining more than before, and poo is normal looking, I got him 2 years ago. We've had an ultrasound before and his prostate is enlarged, but not to be alarmed about according to my vet.

Good news!!! Several aspirates later - my vet is able to confirm that the sag is just harmless fatty tissue - so relieved! I hope others will find this info useful. K

Hi all, Just some updates over here in chronological order: - ultrasound found that Bob has an enlarged prostate, but this didn't seem to be the main issue to the 'fluid build-up' / puffy tissue at prepuce area - urine test came out clean (no pathogens or evidence of abnormal cells, but can't be 100% sure this way), but they did note that his urine concentration is the same as the blood (low) and may be pointing to a hormonal issue - full body blood test came out clean - results today from first thin needle aspirate in area found fatty tissue, and histamine. The latter could be allergic reaction caused by mast cell tumours, but they could not see any in this sample. So we are going for another aspirate first thing next week to search further for any mast cells. He has been behaving as normal except for something I noticed just recently for a week - when he poops, he gets an erection :p Doesn't seem to be straining abnormally, but you see a bit of it sometimes, or all of it out. I've noticed it 5 times so far consistently during walks, but goodness knows when it's really started as I did not walk much while it was hot. My vet has not heard of this case before. Do wish us luck - I wish I've pushed for an aspirate to be done the first time now, it has been a month now. Him being his usual happy self has to be a good thing though, my SO thinks I shouldn't worry so much as the only thing wrong with him is this bulge! I wish it will be as easy as that. What do you guys think?

Thanks for the feedback - I appreciate it heaps. I did think of getting a second opinion but hesitated so it is always good to get someone like you guys to tell me to do the right thing I managed to get in touch with a large vet which has more resources. This vet confirms that it's going to be a 'difficult one', but could be two things: * Blockage in lymph system (sounds awful - does anyone know what can be done if this is the case?) * Classic cryptorchism and he has testicular tumour This vet said that a biopsy would not be able to diagnose such things, and they recommend an ultrasound to be able to see if it's either of the two. They can also do an accurate needle biopsy during the ultrasound of anything suspicious. Whatever it is, I just hope it's fixable as he's just behaving so well, eating, pooping, playing and all. Wish us luck! Kat

Hi Andromeda, I am having the same problem too. Found flea dung, and then two fleas on my dogs recently (by combing with a flea comb, and one drowned during bath). I noticed you are from Canberra too - I have not had fleas for two years since having them, so maybe it's more of a problem this summer Kat

Hi all, Unfortunately 2 physical examinations later, we do not see any changes in the area. My vet has recommended that we wait until next wednesday to see if any improvements happen over the weekend. I'll try to describe this lump in case anyone has seen this before. It feels like symmetrical long line-shape lump extended from the base of his you-know-where to be upper abdomen (along the area between the gut and skin), and my vet said that this area usually has fatty tissue and it feels like that's inflamed (not at all sure though). He has not seen anything where this fatty-like lump is extending forwards like a line (hence the sag). So it'll be an full mystery to my vet until he opens Bob up. My vet does not favour needle biopsies because it's difficult to get the right sample from the correct place, and I can see that point of view. I'm a bit at a loss at the moment. I dare say Bob is at his peak of health. We've started walking him later in the evenings now so he's trotting a bit more energetically than when it's hotter earlier in the evening. He's eating well and I think pooping OK too. I've started cooking for him so he's enjoying a varied diet. The only recent new thing I've done is to move to Eagle Pack in Nov, and also trying the Natural Balance duck and potato treats. Oh, and him sleeping outside for a good few weeks before me locking him indoors now with a nightlight. I also just this week found a very weird smelly thing in the house, looks like a yellow-coloured spine bone pieces of a small animal. He does find weird things in the garden I think. We have magpies dropping pieces of raw meaty bones in the yard, but this spiny discovery is a first :\ If it's not increasing in size, maybe it's not a bad thing. What should I do? Wait and see? I'm worried about doing biopsies as there's always this risk of opening him up, and if there's nothing wrong with him afterall it'll be pretty heartbreaking if anything goes wrong then :p Kat

I do not see any improvements, in fact it could be a bit larger as I can feel a raised bump going towards the upper abdomen. Could be an organ though as it's symmetrical. I will give the vet a call to say there's no improvements and if we can do anything earlier. I was also going through Bob's back hair and found lots of specs in some areas of what I think are flea droppings (stains a wet paper brown). Where and when did he get them? Do you guys think it could be related? Daisy looks totally clean though - wonder why. I have wormed them last month, but could it be tapeworms? I have an Excelpet flea collar but expired 7 months ago, not sure if flea meds are safe to use if a biopsy may be done. I'll need to do more reading on fleas - I have always thought I didn't have to worry about fleas/ticks in Canberra Would vets take a dog in if it has fleas? Appreciate any advice, Kat

Thanks for the responses. I only noticed it when it started sagging quite a bit so I hope whatever it is, it's not too late to fix dogmad, is the sagging with Cushings meant to feel lumpy, or is it just excess skin? I did some experiments last night, and think he could be afraid of the lights going out, hence wanting to sleep under the stars? This must have occurred after some drama they had in the dark one day :\ I'm going to get a nightlight - he deserves a peaceful sleep indeed. If we had to, I hope my vet can do needle aspirations - that sounds less risky than a full biopsy.

Dear all, Bob my silky x who is ~10 years has developed a sagging belly about 1-2 weeks ago. I took him to the vet today as it looked particularly larger last night. The vet said that there is a hard mass in the area between the guts and skin. My vet felt the are and described it as a swelling to the pizzle and prescribed us antibiotics to try for the week, and the swelling does not improve, a biopsy has to be done to find out what it is. Has anyone any advice on what this could be and what I should look out for? It does not seem to hurt and he is eating and behaving normally. He has been slowing down though, he trails behind during walks, and does not jump as high as he could 1 year ago (although he can definitely run and jump for the squeaky toy like a crazy dog at home). He had been skipping a little during walks but that does not happen anymore since I moved to Eagle Pack in November which has glucosamine + warmer weather - which made me think it's arthritis afterall. I also didn't think too much about the swelling at first thinking he was just losing weight. I was trying to feed him 25% less in the past week thinking I should feed less with EP. He has also been gaining weight, about 1kg over 2 years to become 7kg and becoming rounder. But I *think* this roundness went away a bit from the dieting. Besides his 'normal looking' ageing behaviour, the unusual thing happening for over a month now is that Bob seems to prefer sleeping outside every night. Every night I will put him and his housemate Daisy, also a silky cross (with minor territorial aggressiveness at times), to bed i.e. dog beds 3 metres apart, I noticed that he will go outside to sleep, and come back inside to sleep in the mornings. Because it's warmer now I did not worry too much about that until now. However he has been sleeping on some gross pillows with dried up green fungi that I've left outside on the patio. Would that be a problem? Sometimes when he sleeps he leaves a small 1-2 inch diameter pee stain on the dog bed, but I think it could be residual pee. Otherwise he is a happy looking fella. I don't like him sleeping outside, and will try to get him indoors by moving Daisy in a different room to sleep as she's not a fussy sleeper. Does anyone have comments on this bizarre sleeping preference Bob is having? There were times during the night when Bob carelessly stumbles into Daisy's bed and gets snapped at, so I guessed this might be the cause of his concern during bedtime in the same room as her. What do you all think? Kat

I do not think vet has checked for patella luxation. He did some pressing in the legs area and saw that nothing hurts and his legs 'feel' normal. I'm thinking of either patella luxation or arthritis or both too - my dear boy is most likely slowing down. Will do a bit more research - thanks heaps for the quick response

Hi all, I have a silky cross, Bob, for 2 years now. I adopted him from the RSPCA, and am not sure how old he is. But from his calm mature manner and from what others tell me, he is most likely around 10. I only just noticed a 3-4 weeks back that he has been skipping a bit during walks. I could not remember if he's done this before - it's like a halfway between a walking and trotting/running, and skipping a step or two on the left hind leg, sometimes the right hind leg. I took him to the vet who said that both his muscles in the hind legs are even and strong, and upon physical inspection, he does not seem to be sore or in pain at the joints at all. He asked me to keep an eye on him, and if there are no improvements he can do an x-ray. I think the skipping is worse in colder weather, but can't be sure. At home, when I get the squeaky toy out, he will marathon run around in circles for it, jump, etc with no issues. He does not seem to be hurting, it's only the skips during walks that's bothering me. On a couple of occasions he has scared me by walking really slowly behind me (no skipping or running). But this has not happened since as I try to walk him when it's warmer (where he's full throttle ahead). Can someone point me to the right direction? Is this normal signs or aging or arthritis? Is there a way to tell for sure? If he doesn't seem to be hurting should I wait and see, or is x-raying the only way to find out? many thanks, Kat