jessg

Thanks everyone for the replies! I went and saw the vet who does the implant and he suggested I hold off as he is still too young! I could do the implant after at least 18months but best to leave him entire (so prefer no implant at all). After listening to the risks of bone cancer which increases 6 fold and all the other issues I am not going to desex. I still want to be a responsible owner though. I am going to continue with my training with a new trainer as I now think a lot of his behaviour is due to anxiety. He is also on some herbs to help with that too. I do still worry a bit that he may start wandering. We are on 5 acres with horse mesh fencing which I think is 1.2m high. Was thinking of adding the invisible fence too maybe.

I have a 12 month old rottie who I am considering desexing. I am having conflicting advice from vets so really confused! We are having some behaviour problems and I have been taking him to a trainer which doesn’t seem to be helping. He is very ADD! I am also worried about health risks, cancer etc with both options. One vet said desex him is the best option as it will stop him looking for females and any aggression (which he hasn’t shown any). Will also stop testicular cancer and there is no health benefits with keeping his testes. The other vet is saying keep his testes and try the implant and a vasectomy. There is only one vet in WA that does this so wasn’t a bit concerned why more don’t do it. I am completely confused!!! Just wondering if anyone has some advice or similar experiences? I do plan on collecting his semen just in case I ever wanted to breed from him as he comes from very good bloodlines and when he is calm is the best little guy! Thanks!!

I also want to point out that I am not OK with him getting out and potentially mating for many reasons. I have a cat with FIV and have fostered both cats and dogs with illnesses they have caught whilst out on the street and have seen how sick these animals can get so I am not ok with that.

I have an older female rotti and have had 2 prior to this pup so I have not taken on this pup without knowing what's involved with owning a rotti. The only thing I haven't had is an entire male before and that is why I am trying to learn as much as I can to keep everyone safe. My horse fencing is high mesh so the dogs cannot get in there with hot wire. I have had them there for 3 years with no issues. I also was going to run the containment fence around with the collars. At the moment while I have construction going on they are in a dog yard with a high fence and dug into the ground.

Nehkbet the reason I was thinking of the vastectomy was Incase he did mate with another dog there wouldn't be pups not to prevent cancer. I didn't want to desex him to prevent cancer. Sorry it that was confusing. I am leaning towards leaving him entire. I didn't think that he would still have those urges and behaviour. The vet had suggested coming in and discussing all options but he is against sterilisation unless needed for medical reasons. He also said we could see if it was even worth freezing the semen but if I am going to keep him entire that may not be an issue. I was worried about keeping him entire as I have never had an entire male dog and people keep freaking me out with stories! I live on 5 acres with good horse fencing but might get him the electronic fence too. Plus some training. Not sure what else I can do to keep everyone happy!

Thanks for your reply. From what I have read so far it reduces the risk of lymphoma and haemangiosarcoma and other cancers. Haemangiosarcoma is what I lost my boy to and I don't want to see another one of my dogs go through that. If this could potentially lower his risk I am all for it. I want him to continue to have his hormones that will add it in his growth and good health but am concerned about him having pups or wandering to find a female and getting hurt. He has the most beautiful temperment and is the biggest sook so I am not concerned about aggression or anything like that. He is so gentle with my cats and well behaved around the horses. He is an awesome little guy! I might take him to the vet that does the vestactomy and have a chat. I am thinking though if I do choose to go down that path I would like to collect and freeze his swimmers Incase I ever want to breed. Not sure.

I am looking at getting a vastectomy for my rottie and was wondering if anyone has done the same for their pup and how it has gone? I have looked into it and I am so paranoid about cancer after losing my boy last year I want to try my hardest to prevent it and look after my new pup. There is a vet in perth who recommends them but I haven't actually spoken to anyone who has had it done. Thanks!

thank you for your replies. Its so hard when you have different opinions and one is saying dont leave it get the amakcin cos we have no other options and then if that doesnt work we are out of options and the other one is giving more hope. I am just scared that I may choose the wrong thing and make things worse for him. He has been on the cephalixin for 3 days now and there is a fair bit of snot but the colour is changing. Not green anymore, more yellow. Not sure if thats a good or bad thing! Rappie he did have some bone destruction from the fungal infection only a small amount though in his nose not near the brain. Can I ask as my normal vet said that letting the cephalxin work and destroy other bacteria is not a good thing as then the pseudomonas will take over and spread. Is that correct? We think the fungal infection has nearly gone (the last rhinoscope looked 10times better) so its just this damn pseudomonas. Wundahoo when your dog got sick did they say what would happen if you were out of options? I think the specialist is hoping what happened with your dog will happen with mine. I know I am!! I am hoping for the best but really scared as we only have the one drug left!

Hi guys well we have had a little rest from the antibiotics and tried to get the cushings a bit more under control. He has put on nearly 2kgs and has a lot more muscle back thank god!! His normal vet says his cushing levels are good and to start him on the antibiotic that its not resistant too, not to waste time (He didnt want me taking a break from the antibiotics in the first place). I went to the specialist yesterday and he went through the blood results are said his cushing levels are still way too high(ACTH stim test - returned, pre-sample 190, post sample 420). He now wants to try him cephalxin (however you spell) even though its resistant because he said that it still will do something, bring the numbers down. Then try him on the amikacin. I thought that made sense and also gave his cushings a bit more time to get better. Then I got an email from my normal vet disagreeing with the specialist saying by leaving it and using the cephalixin it could make the Pseudomonas and dont waste time!! So I am so confused now!!

Well I spoke to the specialist today who made me feel a lot better. The plan has now changed and we are going to let him have some time off the antibiotics for the next 2 weeks to try and boost his immune system and get his cushings under control. He freaked when he heard he has pretty much been on antibiotics for the last 9 months trying different ones. The uni docs were trying him on new ones all the time and so was his normal vet. We are then going to get his bloods checked (cushings) then reassess the best treatment for the infection if its under control. We still have one drug left and he reminded me there was another drug that they couldn't test for as they had run out in WA. So we are not out of options! So for now I just need to do everything to get his immune system improving!!

That sounds promising Raffiki but sorry you later lost him. The idea of drilling into his head freaked me out. I didnt want him going through all this pain with still no chance but if its still an option and there is a bit of hope its worth a try. As disheartening as it has got and seeing him go through all this I am not giving up!! He is still that happy boy who is my best friend and while I know he is happy and not suffering I will keep fighting!! Thanks everyone for your replies. I am going to try and get an appointment with the specialist tomorrow. If I can't get in he normally speak to me on the phone which is good. I will keep you posted!! Fingers crossed!!

schnauzer I am in Perth

I think the drilling into his head is the surgery the general vet was talking about. I am going to speak to the specialist about it though. It's nice to know it has helped someone's dog though!! One of his biggest problems is the fact we didnt know about the infections for so long. Maybe I could try the Jarrah stuff. He is a fighter so I am hoping for a miracle!

Unfortunately it's in his nose not his ears so I think the only surgery my normal vet was suggesting was to drill into his nose and put port to flush directly into the nose. I have has the surgery talk with the specialist yet. I had taken him to the uni doctors and for 6 months they kept telling me it was allergies. Only when I took him to another specialist did they say it was fungal.

I spoke to someone at the heat food shop here an they said that only the super markets have manuka honey and it been diluted. And you can't bring it in to perth. Anyone used it from perth? Am try collodial silver for now

Thanks for your replies. It's so frustrating as he looks a d acts like normal you wouldn't know he is unwell apart from the snot! I am calling the specialists on Monday before the last drug is used to see what they think. I am kinda thinking try and give him another week without antibiotics to try and let his cushings pills kick in and help his immune system but not sure if leaving it will cause issues. I think the vet was not keen on the surgery because of his cushings but if I were to have it done I would get the specialists anyway. My theory is with alternative things they can't hurt so might as well try them. THe final drug is the same as you tried. I am hoping for some sort of miracle but trying my hardest to get the immune system up before!

Hi I am at a loss. My boy was diagnosed with aspergillus a couple months ago after about 7 months of not knowning and treating it as allergies. He then got a secondary pseudomonas bacterial infection. I just got his cultures back today and we only have one drug left to try. He was on Timentin for about 3 days and was improving then the stupid drug became resistant. It is now resistant to everything else (we have tried so many and then they become resistant) but one that causes potential kidney problems. Oh and about a week ago he was diagnosed with cushings! Which would explain why the infections dont want to clear. He has started Vetoryl but dont really think its kicked in yet as he is still drinking heaps! He doesnt have a huge amount of snot anymore just when he sneezes. Before it was constantly running. So something worked for a little while My vet has told me this is our only option and then there is no more. He is not a candidate for surgery because of his age (11) and his cushings. Does anyone have any advice or have they dealt with pseudomonas. Are there any alternative things I could try. I am desperate and will try anything cos I dont want to lose him!!

Thank you, yes was feeling a lot better now I have some answers. He was very sore and an unhappy boy after the soak and they just got some more results back and he has a secondary bacterial infection on top of that. He sounds like he has a cold, all snotty when he breathes. The specialist said if we repeat the soak it will be in 4 weeks but he is going to start him on some other antibiotics for the bacterial one. Thing is my normal vet said to me that he thinks they should be doing weekly soaks to make sire they clear the fungal infection so I am a bit confused. I know I should go with what the specialist says but he just got me worried. Hopefully the first soak works and we wont have to worry anymore!!

Thought I would give a quick update on my boy. Took him to another specialist vet and they repeated the rhinoscopy and biopsies. He had started getting blood noses and was very sore and not a happy boy. The vet was very concerned with the fact it was only on one side and said it is not allergies and its all well and good to say he has rhinitis but you need to know whats causing it. So they did the rhinoscope and his nose is full of white fungal spores! He has aspergillus! They treated it while he was under so now we wait!! Hopefully it will do it and that will be it! At the moment he is very sore and bloodied but it will improve! So glad I got a second opinion!!!

Well we just had another check up with the uni specialists. We are now trying steroids through a face mask and puffer as its most likely allergies. He cant have prednisolone or any of those drugs as he has a severe reaction so we are going the puffer way. His nose had cleared (a clear snot) but toward the end of the week got a bit yellow so they have put him back on antibiotics. I asked why it keeps getting infected and she said not to worry its because its hot and inflammed and wet so more likely to get infected it isnt anything we should worry about. If the puffer doesnt work he is going to be allergy tested to see if we can pick what is setting him off. I am hoping we dont get to that and the puffers work! Oh and he had only just had his teeth cleaned so not an abscess. That would be good if it was though cos we would at least know what to do with it!

I think the put him on the antibiotics as at one stage the snot started going yellowy green. Since being on the antibiotics it is looking better more like a clear yellow but the runny nose is still going. He seems to be worse late at night and in the morning but I cant work out what could be causing it! He sleeps on the same bed day and night, we have changed rugs on his bed but still not improvement. They have reswabbed his nose so waiting on those results. i have been using Fess nose drops but they dont seem to do anything. And he is on antihistamines twice a day. Just a little lost! Are they allergy safe beds you can buy?

Hi I am hoping someone may be able to help me. My 12 year ols rottie x boy has had a runny snotty nose for over 4 months now. He was sneezing and had a constant run of thick mucus. He has had 2 different vets scope him and take biopsies and also had a CT. There was no cancer (thank god!) or fungus and he was put on antibiotics. He has now tried 4 different types of antibiotics which hasnt really helped. He has fish oil capsules, Fess nose drops and caprieve (he cannot have prednisolone as he the worst reactions to it and loses all his muscle mass within a couple of days. The last time he was put on it he dropped to 35kgs (from 51kgs) and we nearly lost him. They are saying its inflammatory rhinitis and they dont know whats causing it or how to stop it. They said if it continues they would biopsy and scope again. Has anyone experience anything like this? I just dont know what else to try! I am willing to try anything to help him!

I know this is a bit of an old thread but was hoping to get some advice. My vet has suggested I try stem cells on my boy. He is a 10 year old rotti x who has spondylosis in his back and arthritis. At the moment he gets monthly cartophen, accupuncture and herbs (plus pain killers when needed). He also has inflammatory bowel disease. The vet thinks he is a good candidate for the stem cells and he does the take your own fat type. I am worried as he is a bit older I dont really want him being cut open and sore. I was wondering what people thoughts were on what was the best option use donor cells or his own? Also has anyone had it help spondylosis?

Hi Does anyone know where I can buy treats for a dog with IBD? Would love to give my dog something new. He used to love his treats and now I cant give him anything. Any ideas would be great! Thanks!

Hi Just wondering if anyone knows about eosinophillic gastroenteritis? I am thinking of adopting a Rottie who had this when she was younger and is now on Hills ZD diet. What exactly is this and is it a long standing problem. It says she has recovered and is fit and healthy but cos I dont know anything about this I am a bit weary. We lost our German Shepard last year and want to get another mate for my rottie x boy. I dont thinkI could handle losing another dog since so want to make sure its not a long term problem or life threatening if it reoccurs. Also if one dog doesnt eat meat is it hard to keep one who does? My boy loves his bones and I just wondered if its possible to have a vege dog and a meat eater? Thanks in advance!!