Staffyluv

Awe he looks so cute in his collar... Glad to hear the good news

Here are some links I found when I googled:) Link 1 from DOL Link 2 Link 3 from the canine health guide Hope they help a bit... From what I can see, you need to make sure that it is generally low fat and work out what gives your dog an attack - things like pigs ears etc may be too strong a food for the dog now. Good luck

There are some very ignorant people out there... On more than one occasion I have had the pleasure of seeing the looks on the faces of some of these morons at our local park (on lead park and signs are everywhere) when their offlead dog comes running at us and they yell out the rover is friendly - and then I yell back, 'mines not'.... They can't call them back quick enough...

As already suggested any addition will depend on the dog you already have. My mother had 2 (a male and female, her male was a bit of a problem child and would attack the bitch occasionally - they were never left home alone together - always separated if mum went out)... My sister had 2 (a male and a female who got along famously, never a cross word between them. The bitch was the dominant dog and the male was a really laid back temperament)... Personally, I like having one dog - he has us as his pack and it works well (but then I am lucky enough to work from home, so he is with me all day in the office)...

When Ollie was having chemo, the tablets every second week used to upset his stomach, so we gave him mylanta to settle his stomach acid... He had 5ml every 4-6 hours when needed. You would be surprised just how many human tonics are OK to use with dogs... Most of his meds these days come from a script written by the vet and collected from our local chemist...

If it were my dog and the aspirate was inconclusive I would want it removed and sent to pathology for a conclusive diagnosis - but that is just me and my personal experience...

If the aspirate was not conclusive why are they waiting to remove it???? especially if there is question about what the lump actually is.. Edited to add that I really hope it is just something simple like an infection that can be cleared with antibiotics

Yes it is a good thing you pushed for it - hopefully it will come back with nothing to worry about... I wish more vets would just do an aspiration as a standard procedure for lumps instead of having to be asked for it...

Thanks so much for the Christmas wishes everyone - we had a lovely time and I think he gets more spoilt as the years go on... He got heaps of toys, most of them squeak so that is an added bonus (not)... We ordered a Turkduken (chicken inside a duck, inside a turkey) this year as a change and he loved it... he had a few slices with some baked veg and gravy... He has had this for dinner for the last few nights and I think he will be disappointed now that it has finished and he is back to the usual old stuff. I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and we wish everyone a happy and healthy 2010 Jodie and Ollie dog

Blimey LM that is no good, poor lilly... Good vibes for fast healing and good path results... Hope she is home soon

Thanks pampa - I am so very lucky to have kept him this long and I wish for many more too... Merry Christmas to all our wonderful friends and supporters... Jodie and Ollie dog

I am so very sorry rmc... rest in peace little lady, you were a very special girl Callie

Yes, contact the Chow Club and ask them for help - most breed clubs are great with this sort of situation. I have to agree with sas as well... Sadly some dogs just don't do well when being rehomed and could become more of a liability to the new owners.. Being give his wings in the arms of someone he loves and trusts is better than being given away to strangers for some dogs...

Just thought I would pop in and see how you two are doing this morning...

Gomez it is probably nothing but if he was mine I would insist on a needle aspiration and have the cells checked.. After my experience with Ollie, I would never just take the word of a vet that it is 'nothing to worry about' again.. Don't get me wrong our vet is wonderful but for months I was asking about this lump or that and was told it was probably a fatty lipoma - when one was finally aspirated, well the rest is history... Gomez's lump does not look anything like any that Ollie had, so don't worry but still get it checked out anyway. Good luck Jodie

Ah the ever reassuring snuggle of our furry friends - isn't it amazing how much better they make us feel just by being close to us.. Hugs

rmc, you will know when... You just will... You will look at her one day and know that she has had enough and you will give her the peace she needs. OH's are funny when it comes to these things - mine can't even go to the vet with me in case 'that news' is forthcoming. Wishing you all the strength you need to get through this... I will make sure I log in lots so I can be here if you need someone...

I am so very sorry to hear such sad news, please know we are all here for you rmc...

from memory I think my vet used to charge me about $45 for the consult and the aspirate on a lump - we have since stopped asirating lumps as we know it is cancer (and for the record, they originally thought it was a fatty lipoma)...

It looks like it has ulcerated... if it has, it will need antibiotics... OK now from my point of view, ALL lumps should be aspirated to be sure that they are just 'fatty lumps'... The vet takes a fine needle and withdraws a few cells from the lump and checks them out under the microscope. I wish I had insisted on this with Ollie's lumps when they first started showing instead of just taking the vets word that they are more than likely 'fatty lipomas'...

I watched a show once about a dog that got car sick all the time and they ended up putting the dog on the back floor of the car, so it could not see out the window (apparently a lot of the time it is seeing that you are moving - without actually moving, that makes us sick and the same goes for dogs)... So from then on the dog only travelled on the floor of the car where it could not see out and was never sick again

Welcome to the addiction of Staffords... She sounds like a typical stafford pup and you have some great ideas and advise to kick start you in her very basic training. She only needs 5-10 minutes of training at a time, it is about all she can handle at her age (a few times a day)... Did I read in the first post she is only 11 weeks old - IMO she is much to young to be taken on walks around the block. General play time is plenty of exercise for such a young pup - leave the big walks for a couple of months when she is much stronger. But you can still get her used to the collar and lead.. Get a soft puppy collar and a light lead and let her wear it when you are training (sit etc), she will then associate it with learning and want to pay attention when it is on. Good luck and I would love to see some pics of the little angel when you get a chance

Agree with Cos but I would be giving him dinner and then giving him the tablet, unless you know for sure he is actually taking it in his food

I am so sorry for your loss Haven. Rest in peace Loki...

I am so sorry for you loss... Rest in peace Dulcie and bubs