Staffyluv

Ollie dog did all those things, snored, farted, bed hogged, slept on you etc.. Ollie dog 2006 by jamoore photos, on Flickr Ziggy is much nicer - he will bed hog but that's it. Day 23 Bedtime by jamoore photos, on Flickr

Great advice.. I have Pekins and at first Zig was so interested but now he will lay near the coop, while the chickens do chicken stuff and eat a bone, paying them no attention at all. He is a dog and he will never be in the yard while they are out and about - I love him but simply don't trust him that much where the girls are concerned (maybe one day).. Good luck

Snap, this is what we did, more for cooling my boy, but the added bonus was that he has never pawed his drink bowl since Agree, an alternative water source he can play in and I bet he leaves the bowl alone.. Zig will stand in his water bucket (outside) if there is no water in his clam shell.. From memory, Master Hardware had some smaller sized clam shells. Being a little pup, I would only put about 5cm of water in it..

If he likes the yoghurt a bit sweeter, you could always add a bit of Manuka honey (from the health store, get the 30+) - it has great health improving properties and can be used for if they are feeling unwell (a bit of honey in their water) and on cuts, a little bit on a cut. It is really good for digestion as well.. You're welcome for the advice, that is why we are all here - to learn from each other.

I give cottage cheese or yoghurt in Zig's diet, raw eggs, sardines in oil (cheap homebrand ones a couple of times a week for breaky with kibble), he also gets roo, turkey (I buy it from Woolies now as they always seem to have it).. I have only ever used human grade meat for my dogs.. I use Earthborn Holistic (Primitive, Ocean Catch or Meadow something??) Staff'n'Toller has written some great stuff on food and diet.

Human anit-histamine use in dogs: 1. NAME 2. FORMULATION 3. DOSAGE 1. POLARAMINE (dexchlorhenrinamine) 2. 2mg and 6mg tablets also 0.4mg/ml elixir 3. dogs <10kg give 2mg dogs 10.1-30kg give 4mg dogs over 30kg give 6mg 1. PHENERGAN (promethazine) 2. 10mg and 25mg tablets 1mg/ml elixir 3. 1mg per 10kg of bodyweight 1. TELFAST (fexofenadine) 2. 60mg, 120mg and 180mg tablets 3. 2mg per kg bodyweight NOTE:TABLET SIZE MAKES DOSING FOR SMALL DOGS IMPOSSIBLE 1. CLARYTYNE (Ioratadine) 2. 10mg tablets (also comes in a elixir now not sure of stregth just yet!) 3. for dogs less then 20kg give 1/2 tablet for dogs over 20kgs give 1 tablet 1. ZYRTEC (Cetirizne) 2. 10mg tablets and 1mg/ml and 10mg/ml elixirs 3. for dogs up tp 20kgs give 5mg for dogs over 20kgs give 10mg this is in the general health forum :) It is a very handy thing to print out and keep Skin issues can come from the food they are eating, mites, contact allergy.. I couldn't work Ziggy's out until I started writing down what he ate, where we went and what we did.. It turned out that his flared up every Sunday afternoon and that was right after obedience training, so I figured it must be something at the ground (as we don't train with treats, we use a tennis ball - so not food). Checking the grounds out, the only thing I could put it down to was the paspalum grass.. We don't have it at home and he doesn't get itchy rolling around on it or at the local park but at the grounds there was heaps of it. Sometimes you just have to keep a diary of everything he does for a few weeks and what is causing it will hopefully show up. You might notice that every time he has chicken or beef he gets itchy or a certain type of training treat.. Hope you work it out.

Just because they are vaccinated against something, does not mean they 'won't' get it - pups can still get parvo, after vaccination if exposed (the duration and severity is usually not as bad in a vaccinated dog). My dogs have always been vaccinated for kennel cough but my boy got it (I think at dog training as a few dogs from there presented at our vet the same week) - it just didn't last as long and his cough wasn't too bad. Extended runny poop in a pup is cause for concern - their electrolytes can become unbalanced. It's good he is drinking and wanting to eat. Itches and bull breeds seem to go hand in hand a lot these days. Have you checked your yard for all the usual suspects (wandering dew etc)and the pup for fleas or bites or scabs. My lad gets itchy from paspalum grass - the only place he comes into contact with it, is at obedience training, so I give him an antihistamine (that I get from the chemist - dogs can use ours. I use polarmine and he has a whole tablet) and we don't have any more problems. The light diet like Ams suggested is your best bet until you get the rear end stuff worked out. Best of luck, I hope he feels better soon.

Poor little Feather, I hope she is feeling better soon.

There is no natural water up there, so the people that come to the park bring them up. I bought one and took it up and the one Zig is in (above) is chained to the fence.. Sad that we have to chain them to the fence so they don't get stolen - over the last couple of years the locals have bought up about 8 pools. However, since chaining them we haven't lost one :) The park has very little grass and the trees are all new, so not much shade - but it is leash free and fully fenced. With 2 yards - one for smaller, older and pups and the other bigger yard for all other dogs. I'm sure over time, the trees will grow (and hopefully so will the grass) and it will be a much nicer place. We are thankful that we have an area like this. There are a couple of other areas that are leash free but they are not fenced and reasonably close to roads. I think one of the best parks in the area is the one in Yarralumla - such a beautiful, fenced area for offlead play.

That would be heaven.. Z at the leash free park this morning 2014.2.1 Zig by jamoore photos, on Flickr

Wow, the things some people do... He is completely back to normal today - this morning at the dog park.. Water, mud and tennis balls = Ziggy heaven.. 2014.2.1 Zig by jamoore photos, on Flickr

Zig is back to normal tonight - even eating most of his dinner (kibble only). He has hardly eaten anything since the morning of his seizure. A few tidbits of hand fed stuff but not really interested in anything at all, until tonight.

Thanks White Shep mum - Zig has valium here and that is what we have been using but with the last episode, the valium was useless and did nothing. Thanks Anne - good luck with Boofs path results.. I hate mast cell - despicable disease.

I think deep down, I was hoping someone would come in and say - no way are those symptoms related to seizures (juvenile, I know).. But after 6 years with a dog with cancer, I was really hoping this one would just cruise along - not the hand we are dealt, I'm afraid.. I am also sad for him.. It certainly sounds like all dogs are different with the seizures they have and how they react at different stages.. Thanks all, I will pull my sooky socks up and get on with it now.

Yep LG, that was what he said - I honestly got to the stage yesterday where I was nodding but not taking it in.. They think I am missing the actual seizure because it is so mild but the lead up to it (all the frantic stuff) is what I am seeing and because I am so focused on all that going on, I am missing the seizure itself.. SG, I am hoping to get away with a change in diet but if he has another one, I will definitely start him on the meds. I think we will be safe on the druggie front, we live in a pretty quiet neighbourhood. CK, Zig does just that - he might be just standing there eating the grass (more like ripping it out by the roots and swallowing whole clumps - it is the strangest behaviour) and he will stop and stare - I think this must be the seizure?? But it is so quick, like maybe 20-30 seconds. He doesn't acknowledge me when he is eating the grass or staring, ever. Anne, I can't correlate anything with Zig's reactions - these is no rhyme or reason as to why they start or stop. He has had a couple that lasted no time at all and he went back to normal but he has also had two that lasted hours.. Ari.g this fit disc is the one (the biggest one) that I am getting for Zig. Our vet has recommended a physio here that we will sort some time with to get a program underway.

He has been checked and there isn't any sign of reflux. That is what I thought it was. The actions he displays can be part of a seizure. There are 3 parts, from memory ( I had so much info given today, I may balls this up). Each part can have different levels of severity. Zigs seem to be mostly in the first part, petty something or other and not actually followed by a notable seizure (what we typically see as a seizure) and then there is the after effects, often exhaustion. Ari.g, we are using physio, swimming and I hopefully will have a fit disc fro K9 Pro in the next week or two. Our vet gave us the details of a physio here so we can learn to help build up his core strength and balance. He is also running but it is controlled, not allowing him to do they typical turn on the spot at full speed.. The fit disc is what will make the most difference and swimming. Keeping him lean has made a difference as well. He was just over 27kg and now he is 26.2kg. So about a kilo lighter.

He had his first episode in winter, so probably not heat related.. Zigs episode last night went on and off for about 6 hours. He sits bolt upright (he is always sleeping when it starts) and starts off by sucking air in, then licking the air with his head thrown right back. Then he runs outside and starts eating grass, like there is no tomorrow. I know all dogs eat some grass but he pulls up whatever he can and will even eat the roots and dirt. This lasts for maybe a few minutes, then he settles and a short while later it happens again and again. Last night I think I went out with him 7 times in the 6 hours it was going on. In between he is restless, he tosses and moves position. At around 4 this morning he just slipped into a really deep sleep, he must have been exhausted, I know I was.. The only pattern I can see is that he is always asleep. There isn't a food that I can relate to it, he doesn't drink or pee more, he isn't frightened or stressed.. It is very frustrating not knowing how to help him. Yep, heart and lungs all clear, liver function was fine, there was something in the blood work that suggested low or high heamoglobin (sp?) or something and whatever it was is some indication of epilepsy.. Thanks, I'm not as worried about the drug as I was. I've been reading heaps about it tonight.. I have my vets mobile and he has said numerous times to call but I'm calling him in the middle of the night, when our emergency vet (as overpriced as they are), is just down the road..

T this vet is pretty good, he has loads of clients that adore him - I just prefer the vet we use all the time.. Bloods were done a few months ago at the last episode that he had. They pointed to epilepsy back then but they usually wait until they have had x amount of seizures in a certain time frame before continuing onto drug treatment apparently.. This is Zig's 4th episode in 7 months, which is beyond what they would normally wait to medicate, apparently.. Thanks Anne, that makes me feel a bit better. Yeah he mentioned Bromide today and said that is much stronger than phenobarbital.. He also said Zig would be on a low dose (based on the last bloods a few months ago).. I was really hoping there was a diet solution :) Like change his kibble or give more of this or that...

Thanks Anne, I thought there was something about the liver and this vet today said it never happens.. When I asked if it never happens, why is it mentioned he just fobbed me off.. Weakness in the hind quarters is an issue as well because I am trying to build muscle and tone his hind quarters to help with the HD.. The vet also said that they don't need to check as often and would only check his bloods after 6 months - I would prefer a 3 month check, considering there 'could' be an issue with the liver.. Poor lad, hasn't eaten all day today - he is happy enough but really quite flat today.

It started a while back and now he has had 4 'episodes' in 7 months.. Last nights 'episode' (I don't know what else to call them but they aren't like having a fit, where he shakes etc) lasted from around 10pm and it was 4am before he finally settled enough to go to sleep. We went off to the vet and looking up his history, they now want to put him on phenobarbital (sp?).. I have seen people on this drug and I wanted to check it out myself before just giving it to him (they have prepared it for me, to go and collect when I am ready).. Does anyone have any experience with this drug and how it affects the dogs? My poor rescue mutt, diagnosed with hip dysplasia a couple of months ago and now this (although he had a couple of episodes before the HD diagnosis - it isn't really something that I ever thought would amount to anything).. Thanks in advance

Happy Anniversary HW I just checked my joining date and my 10 anniversary was yesterday.. I joined on 29th January 2004 - looking for a playmate for Ollie dog.. Ollie dog 2011 by jamoore photos, on Flickr Loads has changed for me as well. When I joined I had a husband, two boys at home and a gorgeous stafford, Ollie. My husband passed away two years ago and Ollie dog went just three weeks after him. One son has married and moved out and the other is still here but no longer a kid. Ollie dog battled mast cell tumours (MCT), grade 2 with no clear margins and survived many, many years more than the estimated 12-18 months. He lived 6 years from being diagnosed. In that time, I learned so much about MCT, chemo, holistic support and diet for dogs. Less than one week after Ollie dog was given his wings, I was at the local pound picking up a foster dog and met this lad, when he was about 6 months old. Day 18 - Happy Place (his happy place, the dog park) #fmsphotoaday by jamoore photos, on Flickr Zig has been a challenge to train but a joy to own - he came into my life just at the right time. I agree with everything HW has said about the forums - it is rarely dull. Mostly, I have met (online and in real life) some really good friends.

I have just gotten off the phone with K9 pro their website reads really well and Steve's bio looks great, i will be making a booking very soon to meet with him, thanks :) Another vote for Steve Courtney - the man is amazing and has helped me with Ziggy.. We are very lucky to have quite a few awesome trainers here on DOL.

As an adult, I have owned two purebred staffordshire bull terriers and now I have a staffy cross - he is way too big to be a stafford at 26kg, so he is very 'amstaff' like to me. Growing up, we had staffords, dobes and a gorgeous rotty (the rotty was my brothers but the whole family adored him)... My whole family over the years have had staffordshire bull terriers and between us have had well over 10 of them. The traits we see in them are very similar, although they do have different personalities. But for the most part, they all did the funny stafford things. I see a lot of the same things in Ziggy, that I saw in Ollie and Louis before him. Ziggy is the first dog I have ever had that isn't motivated by food - he has very little interest in food, unless it is attached to a bone of some description.. I love bull breeds, pure and crosses.. But my heart belongs to the SBT as a breed..

Rest in peace Jacko.. I'm so sorry Moops..

I take my boy to the dog park all the time - he loves it. Once upon a time he was that overly friendly PITA but now, he wants to play with me. He is happy to say hi to a dog if it comes up but then he comes back to me to play. I choose who he plays with. He doesn't play with full on over the top dogs because that brings out his over the topness. I keep him with nice dogs that play nice and he has the best time. Most of the time, people are happy to call their dogs away, if you ask them (we tend to play in a particular area in the park, to the side on our own or with a group that we know well) - there will always be a few who get on their high horse about it being a dog park and their dog can go where they like (leash your dog and leave - you can't argue with ignorance, you won't win).. Go to an out of the way spot in the park and play with your dog - go at times when there isn't anyone else there (Zig and I are often there at 6am).. It is early, sometimes cold but it is peaceful because all the numpties are still in bed.. You can always give your dog space - leash and leave.. It may take a couple of minutes but it is better for her and her safety.. Don't allow other dogs to intimidate her..