Staffyluv

Parvo is a horrid disease - the poor babies suffer terribly with it and then most don't make it. We lost a wee bull terrier pup at 12 weeks because of it - to see what that little tyke suffered was so horrible. Anyone who says parvo is not as bad as it is made out to be, obviously has never seen it first hand in all its glory.

I agree a vet is important here. From experience my old boy got some bug stuck up his nose (I have a stafford who was a beagle in a previous life) and the vet had to flush it out - it came out OK but he sneezed the whole time until it was.

Rest in peace Benny Such a beautiful boy Sorry Warls. It is a terrible day today Jodie

Rest in eternal peace our regal rotty... I am so sorry Anne Hugs Jodie

I could not be here earlier but I just wanted you to know that you have been in my thoughts all day. Hugs

I agree - I have a stafford that used to suck down the whole ones and get them caught in his throat all the time - needless to say, I had to retrieve one too many and he no longer gets them at all.

My thoughts are with you and Sophie tonight and tomorrow Anne. Hugs Jodie and Ollie dog

Goodbye Kirah, rest in peace. Hugs to you today sheree_e4

I totally agree with the wait and see approach - if I had listened to the first vet (our regular vet was away on holidays) our lad would have been operated on a few days after being diagnosed. He does take supplements (not just for the leg) Fish oil 1000mg a day A blend of chondriton and glucosamine (you get it from the chemist) He used to take 1000mg of vitamin C but we recently changed to Ester C and he has 3mg a day in 2L of water (which he drinks over the course of the day). There are a couple of other things he takes but they are not related to the leg (he also has MCT and a thyroid condtions from the chemo) Wishing all the limping dogs a quick and pain free recovery.

Sorry to hear about Harley - it is very hard when we hear our muched loved dogs will be taken from us before their time. What treatement are you using for him at present? Sometimes vets just throw their hands in the air because it is easier for them. There are plenty of supplements available to keep Harley as well as possible for as long as possible. Our boy has a different cancer to Harley but we were told 18 months tops, that was nearly 3 years ago - he is only treated holistically now (although did have chemo in the very beginning but did not finish the whole course). Find a good holistic vet and have a chat, it is amazing what they can do for us and our dogs. All the very best to you and Harley

Oh Anne, it is devastating when they say the cancer is systemic but it is not the end. I know that Ollies cancer is very different to Sophies and not as aggressive but I am confident that with you doing everything that are doing, she will be with you as long as she can. My heart just breaks for you and Sophie because I know that feeling of looking into her eyes and knowing - I do it with Ollie too. I know how your heart sinks and feels like a rock in your chest and then the tears well up - it hurts and nothing anyone can say will change that. I take one day at a time and am thankful for each and every day we get together (as I am sure you are with Sophie too). I wish you both many more days of frollicking in the park together. Hugs Jodie

Poor baby, I hope she is alright now. That must have been very frightening for you. I don't know anything about it but I certainly would not be breeding with an issue like this - just a personal opinion (and I am not a breeder). Maybe if you post this in the breeders section of the board you might get more help - I know it is a health issue but the breeders will know more about it (we have a few wonderful Stafford breeders here on DOL).

Ollie has medication 4 times a day, so he gets fed morning and night (because some of the meds he takes are better taken before meals).

I keep coming in here to see his pics and thank everyone for the condolences and I cry every time. My sisters dogs are like my own, I love them so much - the only time they are allowed on the lounges is when I am at her house (because I sneak them on and under the blanket with me). He was such a beautiful dog and his death was so avoidable, if only he had been desexed he would never have been interested in the ladies. Thanks again for the condolences, I have passed them on.

I am so happy to hear that the girl is doing so well. We were fortunate to have a really good result from our check up last week - to the point that we can now reduce one of his meds. We will be 3 years from diagnosis in November (and they gave us 18 months). It is just the day to day stuff that keeps us going. As long as they are pain free and still loving life, that is ALL that matters now. Wishing you and Sophie a really good result (just like us) at your vet visit.

How could he do that - was he is shock? Such a sad situation...... RIP Tex. I hope you went quickly. Heart broken and in shock I would imagine - he did go back to get him later and left a note for the farmer apologising for not getting to him in time before he went on the land and saying that if he had known him, he doubts he would have shot him. It is just tragic and a seriously sad lesson to learn and has heart broken as I am over him too - the farmer had every right to do what he did. Tex paid for his owners negligence - I just hope to God that this story saves one more dog from being in this situation. Jodie

My sisters Sharpei was shot on Friday - we are still coming to terms with the loss of one of the most beautiful natured dogs I have ever know. My sisters OH is one of those 'I can't get him desexed' guys and unfortunately Tex has paid the highest price for his owners negligence. There was a border collie bitch across the highway on a farm and he went calling - the farmer shot him. (I am not knocking the farmer at all, it was his land and his bitch on heat). Sisters OH chased after Tex trying to call him back, heard the shot and then saw the farmer dragging Tex toward the gate of his property - he turned and just walked home. He went back later to get his body and leave the farmer a note, saying sorry about him getting onto his property but if you had only known him, you would not have shot him, he was such a gentle boy. He did not even kill the mice he caught in the shed, he would carry them in his mouth, so gently into the garden. I am going to miss the big baby trying to sit on my lap every time I go to visit so much. So very sad you are gone lovely boy.

I have an 11 year old male Stafford that had/has a partial tear in his left hind cruciate. This happened quite a while ago now and although the vet wanted to operate, I decided (because he has MCT and a thyroid problem from chemo) that I would not have the op done unless I had absolutely no choice. I got a a couple of kilos off him, then we rested him with no walks for about 6 weeks and no active play either. I increased his fish oil tablets to twice a day as well as changed him from vitamin C to Ester C powder and also added chondriton and glucosamine tablets to the mix. He can now stand comfortably on the leg and is back walking every day ( we started off walking small walks first and built back up). I am happy that I did not do the surgery and he had his 6 month check up today and even the vet said that he is happy his leg is much better. Don't get me wrong, he still favours it sometimes if he has a bit of rough play but for the most part it is pretty good. Try the wait and see with regular checks with the vet and see how it goes. good luck Jodie

He had some blood taken and we will get the results next week. The vet went all over him and tested the big lump in his tummy that I thought was a lipoma and it is just that - a lipoma. However he is concerned with the size of it - he said if it gets bigger he would like to remove it. I asked if he was worried about putting Ollie under because of his age and he said NO because he is bascially as healthy as a horse. Such good news - we are reducing his carafate medicine to two a day for two weeks and then one a day for a couple of weeks - if he is fine with that we can then take him off it completely. We are going to do the same with the maxalon - he thinks he may only need one day now. He still has to have his thyroid meds and the omprezole for his tummy. I showed him a couple of other lumps that I believe are MCT but we decided against testing because I am not going to put him through any operation unless it was life saving. In saying that the vet believes they may be MCT but feels it would be easier to remove them while they are this small - I don't see the point. We know his cancer is systemic and has invaded his lymph system, so he is always going to get more. I am not really for it. I think he was pretty impressed with the boy and how he is doing.

I had to postpone it until tomorrow (Friday). He is well though and it is just a routine visit to make sure he is actually as well as he seems to be. Thanks so much for keeping us in your thoughts.

Hugs given Thanks The lad is off to the doctors tomorrow for a check up - wish us luck.

That is great news Anne. I think Sophie will do an Ollie and show them that they just can't put a time frame on it. She is amazing and I don't doubt for a single second that she will continue to amaze you and her vets. Give her a big hug for me. Ollies test results went back to 'normal' levels after a few weeks off chemo too (but sadly we have enlarged lymph nodes but we knew his was systemic already). Fortunately his remission continues to hold fast and we are just thankful for every day that it continues. Wishing you and her all the very best Jodie and Ollie

Thanks Dru, I think all these good thoughts and wishes coming from everyone is what is keeping him so well (I am a big believer in the power of postive thought)

I would be getting a vet check, there are lots of things that can make a dog put on weight and be tired (thyroid problem comes to mind). If she is that overweight, it would be very uncomfortable for her to run. Have a look at what she is eating - is it good quality, maybe she is getting a bit too much or eating the pups dinner like already suggested. Personally the vet would be my first stop to rule out any health issues. ETA - starving hungry and putting on weight with normal amounts of food is what my old stafford was like before they diagnosed a thyroid issue.

I was thinking about Lucinda the other day and wondering how she was going - still giving the postman heaps I am happy to hear she is doing well, give her a big hug for me. She is a little younger than Ollie - he was 11 on the 12th June this year. But you would not know it, he was at the park yesterday woofing at the birds to make them fly - cheeky old bugger.