Staffyluv

I am hopeless - I completely caved with our guys... I just can't do the tough love thing, they were way to cute

Staffordshire Bull Terriers (not 'english staffys') don't like being kept in a pen - they prefer human company :D She has just been taken away from her pack and now needs to adjust to a new pack (yours). With time, training and a lot of patience she will be fine. Our first boy did this, needless to say, he ended up sleeping on the kids beds. Our second boy (the guy in my avatar - Ollie) was a good lad, he was never a whiner, so he gets to sleep on my bed. I know letting them sleep on your bed is not everyones cup of tea, but it sure beats sleepless nights and going to war with the neighbours Good luck Jodie

Ollie was at the vets this morning for his monthly lump checkup and I asked the vet about it. He said he would not desex her until she was six months old. And to make sure that she is not taken out at the moment because he has had lots of parvo cases the last two weeks. Just in case you know anyone in the Canberra/Queanbeyan area with pups. Thanks

Firstly - the bolded print is not a joke.. I am still seriously holding my breath about this one. OH reckons she has put on that much weight that they are going to 'surprise' us at Christmas with some 'happy news' (NOT)... I will try and get some pics - she is a cute little thing (then again all puppies are) - she reminds me more of a Pom than a Jack. Cheers

Thank you Norskgra. I am going to print it all out and give it to them, so they can see the costs involved with owning and being responsible for it. Cheers Jodie

After years of listening to me carry on about BYB dogs my son and his GF have bought a Jack Russel x Pom... They picked her up last week and she was 7 weeks old. They have been asking me heaps of questions about when to do this and that - well Ollie is 10 years old and I cannot remember - needless to say the 'breeder' is of no help at all. Worming? when to start and how often for a pup? Flea/tick treatments? how soon can these be administered? Bathing? how soon can she have a bath? Desexing? She is so tiny, how soon can she be desexed (I am paying for it, so there is one less accident in the world)? Many thanks for your help J

As one who has learned the hard way on lump checks, I always say - get every lump checked. If it changes, get it checked again. The time and cost to get a lump checked is nothing, compared to the time and cost of chemo. Best of luck, hoping for lovely fatty lipomas for your pooch Jodie

Elimination is probably the only way you will determine what is causing the reaction. Change his food for a couple of weeks back to what he was eating and see if they disappear - if they do, then he could have an allergy to some ingredient. Keep him out of the external envirnment for a couple of weeks to see if they disappear - if they do, it may be something in the yard. You can use polaramine tablets (from the chemist to ease the discomfort - he will probably be a little uncomfortable, even if you can't see it).

Ollie won't eat anything raw or slightly cooked either - he likes his tucker cooked, meat and three veg every night and dry in the mornings... We tried all sorts of things to get him to eat raw years ago and finally gave in and just cooked it... Good luck Jodie

Ollie is having the set of 4 cartrophen injections and the total of 4 injections (all one week apart) is $47.00 - I don't think that is expensive for the relief it gives... Sashas Blend smells really bad (like mussels that have been left in the sun) and I know a lot of dogs that won't take to it, Joint Guard does not smell and can easily be added to dinner without the dog turning up his/her nose.

A dry nose can also point to a medical condition with the thyroid. Best to get it checked right out, I think.

So sorry Horus... RIP Cleo. Jodie and Ollie dog PS I hope Ellie is feeling better soon.

If it is just clear like water, she may have just had a bit too much to drink... If she looks flat or unwell, take her to the vet. Good luck

Ollie gets the same thing when we walk at the park after they have weeded and fertilised.. We have always had great success with dipping his paws in a solution of 1/30 Malaseb and water - I believe the breakdown is now 1/50... As soon as we notice it, we bath his paws and he is fine. Jodie

Our friends old boxer girl was given her wings this week. Goodnight old girl, you will be missed...

I am so sorry for you loss... RIP Max Jodie

I just saw this, I am so sorry for you and Flash... But it is good news that they removed it all. I have had great success with both conventional and holistic therapy for Ollies cancer (Grade 2 Mast Cell, with no clear margins). He had chemo as well as herbs, vitamins and some other support drugs and he is now 2 years post diagnosis. Our vet uses Ollies case to talk to others whos animals are diagnosed now, to give them some hope... Good luck with it Jodie

Gotta love those fatty lipomas, hey Clover! Jodie

I know I push the issue but lumps can be dangerous... I know they are not all serious but I have seen enough lately to be of the opinion that they should be aspirated to be sure... Ollie had a lump that we were told to keep an eyeon it and it turned out the be mast cell cancer... Now every lump is needle aspirated - every lump, no exceptions... All lumps should be checked IMO... I tell everyone to do the same with their dog - if you find a lump, have it aspirated - at least you know and then you can decide if it needs to be removed or what ever...

Hives is a reaction to something, it is usually due to histamine being released... I would suggest polaramine frm the chemist (an antihistamine)... Cheers Jodie

So sorry for your loss GR... RIP Sambucca

Personally, my first obligation is to the dog and making sure he has the treatment he needs and then I would follow up to get the money back for the first operation and perhaps follow the pain and suffering route... I would not let the first vet anywhere near my dog after what happened... Jodie

I would like to know who told you that rubbish... (in bold). It is simply not true. If the cancer is systemic (spread) it will show up in other areas but if it is localised and has not spread and the full tumour is removed with clear margins on the excision, there is every reason to be positive about the outcome.

Moops they can get clear margins on an excision but that is no guarantee that it is the original site - you need to get a buffy coat test done and I would be asking for the lymph nodes to be aspirated (the ones near the site of the tumour) - don't accept they feel OK - get them checked.. You can never be too sure. Sorry to hear about his grade 3 tumour but good news that it was all removed. You know where I am if you want chat or a glass of wine... J

Dani, When Ollie was on chemo, he did not really have any problems either (from the chemo). The reason that dogs and cats do not react to chemo like we do is: Our doctors bombard our system to kill the cancer - this can kill off our good cells as well and we often need bone marrow transplants. Unfortunately vets do not have the luxury of doing bone marrow transplants on animals, so the dose is much lower and is only designed to give the animal longevity. Cures in animals comes from catching it early and removing the offending cancer... Chemo definitely has its place in the treatment of our animals IMO... As does holistic medicine... Jodie