Staffyluv

He loves having visitors Moops... He was buzzing around the place for an hour after you two left. He is really good this morning too. He is desperate for a walk but he has to wait until those stitches come out and then we will ask the vet what he thinks about going out. Hopefully next Wednesday as the stitches come out on Tuesday.

Kaz I am so very sorry. Rest in peace Xander, what a gorgeous lad he was.

Rest in Peace Kareese So sorry

I know, isn't it the most pathetic look you have ever seen... He is doing very well - they were taken the night of his surgery, so he was not feeling the best anyway but when I put the bandage on he was mortified...

How is this for a miserable face - the also fixed a small lump that has been on his eyelid for ages and he kept scratching it so I bandaged his head the other night. He is much better and has not scratched at his eye since I did this

I am so sorry. What a gorgeous old man. Rest in peace Clapton.

I might give All Natural Vet Care a call on Monday and see if they can recommend anything for it - even though it has stopped now, thankfully. He is doing much better today. He still does little cries in his sleep but it has only been a few days. I think he must roll onto the incision when he is asleep or it hurts when he tries to move into a more comfy position. He is much brighter and bought a toy to play with yesterday but I did not play toys because he just wants you to throw it so he can chase it or play tug with it and neither is the best game at the moment. So I just sat on the floor with him for ages and tapped each side of his mouth and he growls like he is going to grab your hand but does not - silly game he has played with me since he was a tiny baby. Still it amused him for ages. He got up this morning and headed for the front door like he was going for his regular walk - stitches don't come out for 10 days so he won't be going before then (to many off lead dogs here)... Cheers and thanks for the support

So sorry for your loss - it is never an easy time. RIP Gav

He had a shocking night - he walked around nearly all night (with me following him, half asleep). But he is resting now and sleeping on the couch in my office. I think the pain killers the vet gave him after surgery wore off a lot quicker this time than before. He was crying a bit last night as well and it was like he could not lay down or get comfortable, poor boy. The blood has gone this morning but it was still very runny poo but I don't want to take him back just yet -will give him til tomorrow or later today and see how he goes. I think he will be fine. The vet said he is a sook

He is home and none too happy. He passed a bowel motion while on the table and it had blood in it - he has gone again since coming home and it still has bright red blood in it. Vet said not to worry (but sheesh) and if it is still bloody tomorrow to bring him back. Going to sit with him for a while now

Thanks Helen, I must admit I am nervous today - I hate it when he is away from me

Today is the day - more surgery. Please wish us luck.

All Natural Vet Care in Sydney are happy to deal with you via email, phone consult and you can get your vet to fax all test results to them if you want the opinion of an holistic vet. That is who we use and we are in Canberra. All Natural Vet Care You will see a big difference in his arthritis when he loses some weight - excess weight really puts strain on already strained joints. Can he take joint guard or sashas blend type products to assist with it? As for how fast he would or should lose the weight, it will depend on a lot of things - how much food you cut down to, how much exercise he CAN do at the moment, his medication and or illnesses may slow or speed up the weight loss too.

Based on the information supplied I have assumed that the 'kidney disease' is from the oxalate stones only. That is why I made my suggestions because that is what we have done and it worked for us. BUT I did suggest that the OP seek the advice of an holistic vet to do this as they will make the diet animal specific :rolleyes: Agree entirely PF - I believe the OP would benefit from the assistance of an holistic vet. Most conventional vets will just suggest the use of HSD-UD for oxalate stones, I have not met one that has suggested a diet change. Once again though, diet should only be changed slowly and with the assistance of a vet/holistic vet ;)

Thank you so much for this info! He has has the stones for a long time and had them removed once before. I am under strict instructions not to give him raw bones as he's not allowed any meat - especially red meat but I will def. ask the vet about this and do more research one it. Using the u/d food is only something I have been instructed to do - I am very open to trying new things and will do anything to help the old guy out. My dad never had him on any sort of glucose powder (like saschas blend or glide) for his arthritis and I was thinking of adding some to his food, but thought it may be best to ask the vet first? My 3 yr old rescue has glide mixed with her food as I have been told she will develop bad arthritis in the future due to horrible neglect and abuse before she came to live with us.... her joints already get sore and she's only 3 - its very sad... i wasnt sure that this was the right section for this post - I am more than happy for it to be moved (which i said in my initial post). I am not 100% on what constitutes terminally ill other than I have been told he will be very lucky to live out 2009... I am very sorry if I have offended anyone with my thread placement. We gave up the UD food and changed to turkey meat, chicken, tuna, kangaroo and a small amount of other red meat each week (all human grade) with sweet potato and zucchini as the main vege component. We cook this for our lad and he does not get bones as he won't eat them raw - I suggested bones as something to do as he will be hungry and used to getting more food and bones won't add that much to the calorie intake. Our lad has not had a recurrance of oxalate stones since being put on this diet - recommended by an holistic vet. Find a good holistic vet and take your lad in to see them - they can make a diet specifically for him and it will be cheaper than UD.

I am so very sorry for your loss. A truely beautiful tribute to a gorgeous boy. Rest in peace Jaeger

Oxalate stones are often diet related. My stafford contracted them years ago and we changed his diet to all natural (low oxalate) foods. I did use the Hills UD for a while but it has lots of cereal and to be honest, I although it did not hurt him, I don't really think it did much good. Raw bones will let him feel like he is eating without adding too much to the diet. Can the stones be dissolved/exploded and passed or removed (our lad had to have them removed via surgery - not cheap but necessary). We found once they were removed and we adjsuted his diet, there has been no further issues with oxalate stones. There are plenty of websites on canine oxalate stones and low oxalate diets for dogs - use google. As others have suggested, lower his calorie intake and he will lose weight - this will help with the arthritis as he won't have so much weight on those joints. Ester C (powder) and fish oil also help a lot with athritis. Good luck with him. To be honest though, you have put this in the palliative care section for terminally ill dogs and I think it should be moved because he is not really terminally ill

Sorry Springy.

I am so sorry for you and his mum and dad. RIP Simba

Oh, I know he is... This has been a recurring issue (lipomas). According to the vet, some dogs get them and some don't. I figure because he has had allergies, bladder and kidney stones and mast cell cancer, then his immune system must be an issue and he is going to be prone to other 'things'. On the up side though the vet is convinced that although he actually has 3 MCTs his remission is the longest in history and that he will live to a normal staffy age, against all odds OH has taken to calling him the 'money pit'

Look at those eyes - what a gorgeous old man he was. I am sorry for your loss. Rest in peace Bomber.

Thanks guys, I wish I was as confident as the vet - I guess I am worried because the fat boy is closing in to 12 years old now but the vet did say he was not concerned about putting him under as he is as well as ever (that is a good thing). Cheers

We have been keeping an eye on a lipoma that has been growing inside his rear left leg between that and his penis and it was measured a month ago at 7cm, it was 10cm this morning at his checkup and the vet wants to remove it. He has convinced me that Ollie is definitely well enough to undergo surgery for this and he has no issue with putting him under. His heart and major organ function are all fine and the MCT is STILL in remission. He even said this morning that based on all evidence to the contrary when Ollie was first diagnosed, he expects him to live a full life So he goes in on December 3 to have it removed. Wish us luck, I am sure he will be fine. I really don't think our vet would suggest it if he did not think it would all be OK. Cheers Jodie

Rest in Peace Hazel... I am so sorry Karen, big hugs.

I agree with the others - a lot of commercial foods (especially the cheaper ones) are filled with cereals to bulk them out. Not good for dogs at all IMO. There are some really good commercial foods but they do cost more, hence the reason I personally feed fresh. As all dogs are different too, sometimes it takes a few different foods to find the one they do best on. You wil know when they are doing well - eyes are bright, coat is shiny, teeth are good etc.