Staffyluv

I am so very sorry for your loss Helen Goodbye sweet girl, you will be very sadly missed by those that loved you and those that only knew of you, Rest in Peace Lucinda Jodie and Ollie dog

I agree with persephone - get rid of the rawhide and give good quality uncooked bones from the butcher.. I would like a dollar for the amount of times I had to put my hand down my staffords throat to retrieve a half eaten rawhide when he was younger. I was lucky, he did not mind me doing it - my sister was bitten when she tried to retreive one from her staffords throat. Good luck and if it keeps up, I would be making a trip to the vets to rule out any tummy issues

Oh Moops I just saw this (been busy with work and Uni as usual)... I am glad that the lad is feeling better now. That is great news about the MCT though... I hope he stays well for you - they do worry us don't they!... If there is anything I can do, don't hesitate to call (I think you still have my mobile number)... Big hugs to the boy for me

Read the unwell Rotties thread - there are a few Rott owners who have battled this disease. The first thing I suggest is changing the diet - get rid of all carbs (carbs feed cancer). I know this sounds funny but it is true. If she is on commercial food, wean her off it over a week or so and give her chicken, beef, turkey, roo etc. Yoghurt, cottage cheese, flaxseed oil, Vitamin C is a big help (my lad takes 1000mg a day - just the normal one from the chemist). Look up cancer diets and dogs on google - there is heaps of info out there. The other thing is see an holistic vet (make sure you have her test results with you) and ask their opinion. They can help heaps with supplements to help keep your girl as healthy as possible. Sorry but I can't help much with this type of cancer as ours is MCT and nothing like osteosarcoma. cavNrott is a world of knowledge, you could try to send her a private message... Be prepared to sit in front of the computer and read, read, read... Good luck and keep us updated

To be honest - I think every lump should be investigated. Most of the time it will be nothing to worry about - but there is always that percentage that are something to worry about (take it from someone who knows)... All it costs is a vet visit and a fine needle aspirate (a few seconds) and a quick look under the microscope to see if further investigation is needed...

Ollie has been really good but had a bad day last Saturday and Sunday morning. He started to pick up around lunch time on Sunday, I have pain meds here for him and administer if he looks like he needs it and we used them on Saturday. These days are so few and far between now that the vet is happy for me to deal with it unless I think he needs to go in. He just gets real flat, won't eat and seems to have some pain (he drools really bad). So he just curls up on the lounge or where ever I am and stays with me until he feels better. I never offer him food but tend to put some manuka honey in his bowl of water as a sweetener for him to drink some more. The only meal he missed was breaky and dinner on Saturday. I gave him some breaky on the Sunday but it sat there til lunch time when he scoffed it (was a chicken thigh fillet). But he is back to his usual self now.

I am so sorry carlibud - buddy sounds like the perfect pooch. At least he spent his last years happy with you Rest in peace Buddy

A second for All Natural Vet Care in Sydney. Ollie has MCT and we were originally told he had 12-18 months. He is still here more than 3 years later thanks to the wonderful holistic vets here. Ollie did chemo for 6 months and the holistic vet gave him stuff to help his immune system and to keep him as healthy as possible while he was going through chemo. Then we just continued with their advice and well his longevity speaks for itself. You will need to look at diet as well - go for as natural a diet as possible. Remove all carbs (carbs feed cancer). You will have to cook the meat now (cooked is safer for sick dogs). Vitamin C will become your best friend - we give Ollie 1000mg a day still. When he got really sick a few times while undergoing chemo, he had Vit C via a drip - it is an amazing tonic for sick dogs and you really won't believe the difference it makes. Wishing you all the very best and although Ollie's cancer is different I am happy to chat about it if you want.

Baked and cut into chunks or steamed and mashed...

Oh no, I am so sorry Rysup. Rest in peace beautiful girl

We use malaseb shampoo for washing (fortnightly) as our lad used to get grass allergy every year in spring and summer. We also used to dilute it (one part shampoo to 30 parts water - but 50 parts water is fine too) and use that to bathe areas in between baths. I put some in a bucket and dip his paws in and use a soft cloth to wipe around his ears (dont get it in or near the eyes though). He also has a diet that consists of mainly chicken/turkey/beef and fruit and veg - no cereal products at all. He has yoghurt or cottage cheese every couple of days with some flaxseed oil (a couple of teaspoons) - he thinks it is a treat and loves it. His diet changed to the above when he was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and his allergies have been gone since his diet change.

I agree with the others - your dog needs much more protein than only 40%. I would be doubling that figure

Go back to your raw diet and don't give lamb or pork bones at all. If giving beef bones, make sure they are not marrow bones. But mainly use chicken frames/necks/wings for chewing... Sensitive dogs seem to do best with the least amount of grains and preservatives. I am an advocate of hills because it did help my lad when he needed it but we have worked out his diet without it now and he only has human grade foods. Hills does have a lot of grains...

I was just coming back to see if you had any more advice and it is all great advice. I like the idea of a tshirt for her, I will have to remember that for the boofhead next spring. Thanks PF One more thing I would be doing if she was mine - get another vets opinion...

Try using malaseb for bathing and cut it back to once a week, then fortnightly. You can use a diluted mixture of malaseb and water (ratio 1:30 or 1:50) and just wipe the area that is red and itchy to help instead of bathing her so much. What is she eating? Diet can play havoc with allergic dogs. If she is on any commercial foods, I would take them off her and start on a low allergy diet like chicken and some veg, and then add back a good raw bones such as beef/chicken then some good quality kibble. You could also try an antihistamine from the chemist. My boy is 24kg and he gets 2mg of polaramine twice a day when he is itchy. Lots on here use antihistamines in allergy season (and they are cheaper from the chemist than a vet). Hopefully Zayda Asha will see this post for you too...

We have always used sweet potato with chicken and chicken broth when Ollie has been ill (and that has been lots in the past). Mashed pumpkin was what our vet suggested as well as the sweet potato (he thought it was better than rice or pasta) when dogs needed a bland diet.

That is fantastic news IDWT... Congrats. I am so happy for you...

My lad gets 2 x 1000mg fish oil tablets a day, unless he is having cottage cheese or yoghurt and flaxseed oil (one tablespoon), then he only gets it once a day.

Poor little man, I am so sorry. Peace forever little man

What a lovely little guy he was. I am so sorry for your loss. Rest in peace Huckleberrie

Mmm, yeah. He likes grilled steak, BBQ chicken or pan fried salmon or tuna steaks, thanks very much. he is fussy with his veges these days too and I know it can't be a complete diet but he won't eat anything but sweet potato and zucchin at the moment and has been like it for a while. He does have yoghurt and flaxseed oil as a supplement (with fish oil, milk thistle and vitamin C). But I have maintained for three years now, we don't know how much longer he will be with us, so give him what he wants - boy did I make a thorn for my side when I started that (and it is now 3 years later). It is so hard to put your foot down when he has been spoilt for so long. He is happy as larry laying on the lounge in front of the air con today (watching cricket with OH).

I'll add my best wishes to all the sick Rotties. I miss Sophie every day. She is the first thing I think of when I wake up and the last thing before I go to sleep. I wonder if I will ever really come to terms with my loss of her and find peace. There is so much cancer in our breed. So many people I'm in contact with are broken hearted because their Rotties are either fighting this disease now or they have recently lost their dogs to cancer. I was only thinking about you and Sophie this morning and I thought I would just check and here you are. I am so sorry that it is still hard for you but I understand. I don't think anyone would stop missing a much loved pet - they are so much a part of the family, like one of the kids (and I know there are those out there that say don't humanise your pets, but it is so hard not to when they are ill and helpless). Hugs to you and best wishes to all the sick Rotts. Jodie and Ollie dog

Totally agree. My stafford was mistaken for a labrador one day.

He is great thanks H. He spent a lot of the weekend playing with the hose while we watered in the new garden. The rest of the day he spends in front of the air conditioner - he is great, he lets you know when it needs to be turned on Right now he is laying in the kitchen watching his steak cook under the griller How is Miss L doing? Hope the heat is not too much for her... EFS

We have a staffy that used to have skin issues that were seasonal and we use Malaseb shampoo. You can even use it in their ears as a wash 1:30 ratio is what we use. In itchy season he is washed each week and in winter when he is not itchy he is only tubbed once a month. He also takes 2 x 1000mg fish oil tablets a day and a polaramine tablet each day as well - we have found this works for us really well.