Staffyluv

Oh I am so sorry cazstaff. Rest in peace Buddy.

That is adorable. The dog looks like it is looking at whoever is filming to me

Same here. I just can't trust that anyone but me or my Mum will look after them the way I expect. I wish I had that luxury I have no family here but I guess even if I did I wouldnt trust them to care for my animals as they aren't animal people at all. This is the first time I have boarded these dogs and only the second time Ive boarded at all. I left the Pug with a woman who does in home care and she was great but I wouldnt leave my SBT with her (plus she wont take them). I cant board her on her own as she is a nervous girl in new situations so the Pug will board with her to help her anxiety. Ive been here for over two yrs and havent managed to get away for a weekend yet. I really need a break. My neighbours will come and do the poultry and feed the MAremmas. But I wont leave the Pug and Stafford loose when I am not here. It really is my only option to get a break. In June I am going away for two weeks but have trusted friends travelling here to stay. I used them a year ago when I went away for 5 days and they were awesome. It's hard for them though as they have 6 dogs and need to find someone to stay at there place to mind their dogs in order to come here, so they arent available for the odd weekend etc. Luckily though they see the longer breaks here as a holiday for them so it works well. Back in 2005 Ollie had just been dxd with MCT and was due to start chemo in the January of 06. We had tickets to go to Hervey Bay for Xmas with the whole family. We advertised in October and November in the Canberra Times for someone to dog/house sit. We got some complete loonies but I also interviewed a lot of really nice people. We ended up with a 3rd year law student. She was amazing and actually looked after him a few more times on weekends for us, so we could go away. If you advertise with plenty of notice and have the luxury of time to go through the applicants, you could end up with someone as great as she was. If I was to advertise again - I would probably just do it through the Uni. Most of the more 'normal' people I spoke to were from there.

That is just terrible - you would think the kennel staff would have at the very least told you of an altercation (if the dog wasn't with others, surely they would have to know about it).. I put Ollie in a kennel once and never did it again. When I collected him, it was 2 fourteen year olds at the kennel who got him from out the back. They couldn't find all the containers that had his food, had lost his meds container and the container they gave me back still had all the food in it (he was on a special diet at the time). To top it off, he was covered in his own faeces and fleas (he had never had a flea in his life and wasn't kennelled with another dog (as far as I know). I explained when I called to book and again when I dropped him off the importance of his meds and food regime. The poor lad was so ill after 4 days in that hole that I swore I would never do it to him again. I have heard of good kennels (including the one I left Ollie in, it had rave reviews from lots of people).. The next time I had to go away, I left him with our vet up there and he was well treated.

Haha.. I get the same look from a dark brindle staffy cross on my bed at 6am each morning.. There is no defence - you just have to go with it.

Ollie had so many IVs that the vet said he used to put his front leg out, waiting for it to be shaved.. The last MCT that we didn't operate on when up and down in size for the last few years of his life. MCT will do that, they swell when releasing histamine - that is why the antihistamines are so helpful with MCT management. Is Kobe having chemo as well? If so what protocol are they using? Ollie had a 3 week cycle - week one was vinblastin via IV, week two was lomustien (spelling??) via tablet and week three was nothing - then the next week was back to week one of the treatment and blood work to make sure he could go again. We did this for about six months. He had lots of holistic treatment along the way and I really believe that is what kept him well enough to keep going.. Good luck tomorrow Anne and Boof..

I always accept extra fluids for the dogs. Years ago Ollie had a procedure and didn't get fluids (it was done at a different vets to our usual) and he was not a well boy recovering. When I asked our vet about it, he checked and said it was possibly due to him not getting the extra fluid and that he always does it because he believes they do better with it. When we first got Zig, we also had Gussy (foster kelpie cross) and they were desexed on the same day. Zig was done at my usual vet and Gussy had to go to the vet that the foster people use (understandable as he gives them a discount). Zig got the fluids and Gus didn't - the difference in recovery was noticeable.

I am so sorry - I hate MCT.. Ollie's first round of tumours were all tested. Then 2 days later they had to go back in on the one on his rump as they didn't get clear margins. So the second time they took a lymph node as well and there were issues with that. He had multiple tumour sites. The next lot were found on his rump on the other side (3 years after the first lot were removed) and the needle aspirate showed Mast Cells - I decided he had had enough surgery and we left it alone. It went up and down as they do for 3 years before it eventually caught up with him. Grade 2 MCT, multiple sites, no clear margins on the first round of operations. No clear margins on the second op.. We treated with chemo (vinblastin and lomustein sp??) for 6 months. He was also treated holistically with 5 mushroom drops, lymphodran, Oxi something (it is in his thread), vit C (loads of it), fish oil and some other herbs.. The chemo damaged his thyroid and he had to have thyroxine for the rest of his life. He also ended up on carafate for his stomach (due to the chemo or the cancer, we don't know).. But he lived a pretty good life for over 6 years from his original diagnosis. Lots have changed since he was dxd.. There are so many new treatments available. Dogs can live with MCT these days even better than Ollie did.. Find a good holistic vet (we used Vets All Natural in Sydney) and a good oncologist is really important. Good luck for you and Boof, I hope it all goes well for you. Hi staffy luv and my apologies Anne for slightly hijacking your thread, I noticed you mentioned Ollie had lots of vitamin c....was it IV or administered orally? If it was IV, How much and how often and for how long did you do that for and what noticeable benefit did it provide? Thanks Both, he had 1000mg a day orally all the time and when he got flat he went to the vets for a while and had it via IV. From memory we did this about 4 or 5 times over the course of a couple of years (so not that often really). Huge difference. I would take him up, honestly expecting the vet to call with bad news, and pick him up as a completely new dog. It seemed to be the pick me up he needed and it lasted until the next time he was flat. When I say flat, you just know when the dog isn't themselves. He became lethargic, not eating, not really interested in much but a cuddle. So a call to the vet and an IV later he would be back to 'normal'.

All Natural Vet Care Good luck with the second surgery - poor lad.. And poor you, I know how hard it is to stay positive sometimes.

I wish I had the photos to show you but our old Dobe used to do that on command - we would say smile Dylan and he would pull his lips back over his teeth. He also used to do it if you said, show us your teefs.. To me, there doesn't appear to be aggression in his eyes at all - he is just looking at someone or something.. God I hate the media..

Anne, when we decided not to operate anymore, he was left with an MCT grade 2 tumour - we never had it removed. We had done chemo and all the other stuff so decided to just go with a wait and see approach.. This last tumour went up and down - some days it was a prominent bump and other days you had to feel for it.. It felt like a ball bearing below his skin - it was really hard and a needle aspirate confirmed it was MCT, as all his other tumours had been grade 2, it was assumed this one was as well. The vet used to keep a check on it as he had regular visits for his thyroid and stomach problems.. We continued holistic treatment through chemo and further on. He took polarimine every day to reduce the histamine of the MCTs. Ollie was 12 at his last operation to remove a toe that had an aggressive round cell tumour - this was his last operation. He bounced back OK from this op but we made sure he had all the necessary tests, fluids and pain meds he needed.. This was done because the vet said he would be OK if it was removed or if it stayed he probably had 6 months because it was an aggressive type of cancer.. He lived to 14 years, 4 and a half months.. He had a good innings and we bought him much more time than he probably would have had otherwise. He still had that last MCT when he was given his wings. I think it is an individual decision - talk to your vet and oncologist (and holistic vet if you use one) and find out what they think his chances are, then weigh up what you believe his chances are because honestly, if we had gone with what the vet said - Ollie would have only lived until he was about 9 and a half.. It has been a long time since Ollie was dxd and treatments have changed so much. But one thing I do honestly believe is that the holistic vet in Sydney helped me keep him as well as possible (through all the other treatment) for as long as possible. We liaised through phone, email and our vet (he used to email and fax her all of Ollie's results, so she could tailor a program for him).. Wishing you and Boof all the best.

Thanks Melza, I did know they were different things. I guess if a breed assessment was done, he could be deemed a type of dog. I am pretty confident that we are doing enough training and socialisation with him to make him a good canine citizen.. I would hope to never go through it - I read the anti BSL forums and the horror stories of innocent dogs being held for months on end is terrible. So keeping to the rules and not bringing any unnecessary attention to him is the goal - that and continue his training and socialisation.. He had a few of the staff swooning over him over at Petstock today - we had to go to get a new (bigger) kong. He carried his new kong to the register and I tried to get him to put it up but he just dropped it.

Clean your bin lids with citronella oil or eucalyptus oil wiped over them.. Dogs hate the smell. I wipe our bins out with eucalyptus oil (as my fool actually likes the smell and taste of citronella).. He never goes near them now.

I have been watching Sarge on Facebook DD - he looks divine.. Lucky you getting to meet him in person..

everything crossed for positive outcome Anne..

No flame suit needed - I see exactly what you mean by dog body language.. It can be so subtle.. I have been watching heaps of you tube stuff because I take Zig to leash free parks and although I am far from really good at reading it, it has saved our bacon a couple of times. We went up a few months ago with just a black dog and an older stafford (who Zig has played with before a few times). I said to the owner of the stafford, that we would go in the other side if he wanted to come over but I didn't like the reaction of the other dog - just as I said it the black dog attacked the stafford. The owner of the black dog bailed out of the park and left him to break up the fight with both dogs. I threw Zig into the other area and went to help him by grabbing the black dog while he got his poor old boy and put him in with Zig.. I couldn't believe someone would walk away from their own dog like that. It was subtle but you could see the black dog was not happy about having another dog around. Zig and I left that day, we didn't stay to play. Our trainer is all about body language as well.. teaching us to read the different things they do at different times. It has made a huge difference to the way I train with Zig..

My son is like that. :)

Sway's vet waiting room thread got me thinking. If I am on my own and someone walks past with a friendly dog that tries to say hello - I often ask if I can say hi and pat it.. It is all dogs. OK probably more oldies (they just melt my heart).. I was at the vets a few weeks ago to pick up worming stuff and didn't have Zig with me. There were 2 really old little mutts in there. The look on their little faces when I walked in the door and the fact that they both stood up as soon as the door opened, I just had to ask to say hi and could I have a pat.. I did and they were lovely.. Do you say hi to random dogs?

I used to walk my old stafford with an umbrella years ago - when we had some real losers at the park who used to let their dogs off to run at anyone. The scariest day was a bit Rotty coming at us and Ollie wasn't well. I just put myself between them and yelled at the dog to get. It's owner was less than impressed - yelling back that she is really friendly. I told her Ollie was sick and really didn't need a big dog all over him. Some people have no idea.. DA dogs should never be off lead where there is a chance they can run into other dogs..

There is a lady at our park who uses one of these with a stafford. It is one of the thin rope type ones - I really don't think it is suitable for the dog. When the dog sees another dog it takes everything she has got to hold him on it - she actually holds the rope part, and winds it around her hands. You can see it is hurting her but she said it gives him more freedom... He seems a nice enough dog but I wouldn't be using one like that on a stafford. We did have one for Ollie (it was made of the thicker leash type stuff). In saying that, I would never use in with Zig, I think he would break it.

RIP Oi.. Sorry Pers

Our vet has another entry exit door as well as the main door. If your animal is suspected of being contagious then you tell them and they will bring you in that door. I don't worry about other people so much - just concentrate on what I am doing with Zig (or Ollie when it was him and I as we were at the vets so much).. I usually just go in, weight him and sit with him on a short lead. He wants to say hello to every animal that comes in but I don't let him as I don't think it is appropriate at the vets. There are nicer places to socialise your animals..

Dear me, exaggeration much? Hankdog is most likely correct. Happy, normal people don't usually dislike certain breeds of dogs, to the point where they will take a photo and threaten to report someone for having a dog that may look something like a pit bull. The term 'bitter old busybody' comes to mind. Staffyluv, if you see her taking your photo again, I would suggest you take a photo of her, and advise her that it's evidence if she continues to stalk you. It may make her think about her actions. Thanks, I have talked to heaps of people about it, here on DOL and here at home and I sort of think that the poor woman has probably had a scare from a bull breed and thinks (based on media hype over the years) that all bull breeds are supposed to be muzzled (that is what her issue was - she thought he was supposed to be muzzled for whatever reason in public).. I haven't seen her since but if she turns up again, I will make sure Zig sits nicely for his next photo.. :)

Pit Bulls are required to be muzzled too and this is what the lady believes the dog to be. However a dog is NOT a restricted breed in NSW unless it is chipped as a pure bred of one of the breeds, or it has been through the breed assessment / temperament testing process and failed one or both. As Ziggy doesn't tick either of these boxes he's not required to be muzzled. However if, upon the report, the Council believes the dog to be a restricted breed they can place a notice on the dog to force it through that breed assessment / temp test process. I would think looking at Ziggy it would be pretty unlikely for 1. the Council to issue a notice, or if they did for him to fail either section. I wouldn't be concerned Staffyluv but if you have any issues PM me. I got him from the pound melza, they were the ones who originally assessed him as a staffy cross and chipped him as such. Plus he is a good boy and very friendly :D

I am so sorry - I hate MCT.. Ollie's first round of tumours were all tested. Then 2 days later they had to go back in on the one on his rump as they didn't get clear margins. So the second time they took a lymph node as well and there were issues with that. He had multiple tumour sites. The next lot were found on his rump on the other side (3 years after the first lot were removed) and the needle aspirate showed Mast Cells - I decided he had had enough surgery and we left it alone. It went up and down as they do for 3 years before it eventually caught up with him. Grade 2 MCT, multiple sites, no clear margins on the first round of operations. No clear margins on the second op.. We treated with chemo (vinblastin and lomustein sp??) for 6 months. He was also treated holistically with 5 mushroom drops, lymphodran, Oxi something (it is in his thread), vit C (loads of it), fish oil and some other herbs.. The chemo damaged his thyroid and he had to have thyroxine for the rest of his life. He also ended up on carafate for his stomach (due to the chemo or the cancer, we don't know).. But he lived a pretty good life for over 6 years from his original diagnosis. Lots have changed since he was dxd.. There are so many new treatments available. Dogs can live with MCT these days even better than Ollie did.. Find a good holistic vet (we used Vets All Natural in Sydney) and a good oncologist is really important. Good luck for you and Boof, I hope it all goes well for you.