Danielle

Sorry for the lateness of my update, the dog is still alive and doing well, but I'm yet to hear what the final outcome was of why it happened. As soon as I find out what it was I'll be sure to let u guys know! Thank you so much for your kind words and prayers! You guys are awesome!

It does sound like a cane toad, but do cane toads cause massive swelling? She said the dog vomited to begin with, was pawing at it's mouth, swelled up and it's tongue turned blue. She was thinking snake but I thought obstruction. I just hope they get her seen to fast enough. And a big thank you to the lovely Doler who just rang a minute ago to offer assistance! You are wonderful and very thoughtful! Thank you!

Ok I'm back! Someone managed to get in touch with her husband and he's racing home from work to take her to the vet now. Thank dog! Doggy is currently propped up on the couch with frozen peas on her face, she's being held up in a sitting position to help her breathe. She's had the phenergan. Will update as soon as I know what's going on. Please send healing vibes for this bitch, she's got a litter of pups. Thanks to everyone who replied and gave advice, you are all so wonderful!

I spoke to her, she's got phenergan, she's giving it to her now, I just hope she doesn't choke on it! Poor doggy! My poor friend is a wreck!

PF I'll ring her and ask. What kind of AHs are suitable for dogs? Suggestions? RP she can't get thru to her vet. I'll try mine. I'll see if she knows anyone that can help, she can't get onto any of her mates at all! I'm freaking out!

Is there anyone on the northside of Brisbane who can help? A friend of mine who lives out at Wamuran (past Caboolture) has a bitch in respiratory distress! It can't breathe, it's tongue is blue, it's tongue and mouth and face is all swollen and it is weak and drooling! She can't get it to the vet as her hubby has the car at work, he left his phone at home and can't be contacted! She has tried to get a vet out with no success. I'm two hours drive away from her so I cannot help. Is there anyone local to that area who could please help out? I know it's a big ask but we are desperate. The dog needs help! She lives too far out for taxi service and there are no neighbors within walking distance to help. Please call me on 0447000523 if you can help! Thank you!

That's awful! Poor honey! I'm glad she is okay, poor girl. I've had this happen to me many times especially when riding my horse. Once I was out riding my Arab who was a flighty bugger and we got rushed by two crossbreds. Of course my Arab freaked out and bolted like a mad thing with me desperately trying to steer him and pull him up. We were on the road so it couldve ended up very bad for me if there had been a car coming. I left a note in the ladies letter box telling her off and leaving my number, of course I got no response. I avoided riding on that street for about six months until I bought my quarterhorse. He's a lit calmer and self assured so one day I decided to ride down there again. Once again the dogs came charging out and nipped at his heels, he stood still and double barreled one of the dogs, they took off back into their yard and the owner came out yelling at me for letting my horse kick her dog! I politely told her that her effing dogs need to be in their effing yard and if the wanted her dogs heads to remain on their bodies she had better keep them secured when I ride past as my horse wouldn't put up with being attacked. We moved shortly after so I have no idea if she did indeed keep them locked up or not.

It's not about the mess they make, it's about shedding the virus. A bat with hendra may do it's business without shedding the virus. Stress that animal and it's immune system will weaken therefore the virus will be shed into the droppings. So the thing is we need to avoid stressing those animals to lower the amount of virus they are shedding. Make sense?

It's not so much the bats straying into populated areas, but more so humans encroaching onto their land. Sadly development of land is causing bats and humans into closer proximity to one another. Culling bats won't help and will only exacerbate the problem. No you cant quaratine the bats but you can cull the ones straying from their 'native habitat' into populated areas - apparently the fruit growers had done that in the past and the bats stayed away probably back in the wild but once they were stgopped from culling one or two whole colonys moved into areas they hadnt been before. And now that natural disaster has driven them into areas where people live still cannot see why they are not culled like kangaroos and other natives that wander into to towns and cities.

As I've said, the virus lies dormant and can be shed years later. Dusty was a ticking timebomb. As yet we still don't know if canines can transfer the virus to humans so it's better to err on the side of caution.

Dusty the kelpie has been PTS as further tests concluded he was indeed a danger to his family. Rest In Peace pupper.

They know how the virus works in horses and humans, it's not unlikely that it would do the same to another infected mammal. And why on earth would the authorities risk human fatalities just for the sake of one dog? I love my dogs just as much as anyone else here, but there's no way I'd risk my child, my husband, myself or my local community for the sake of one dog. Nope, no way at all. The point you seem to be missing lavendergirl, us the fact that this virus kills people and fast. We have NO treatment at all, other than to try to alleviate symptoms or turn to life support, that's it. And as ice already stated a few times on this thread, culling the bats is a pointless exercise. I'll repeat, bats are the most prolific animal on the face of the planet, cull one colony and it will recolonise within days. You may as well say cull all green ants, impossible, pointless and a waste of time, energy and money. We need to focus in a vaccine for horses and dogs first and foremost to cut out the intermediate host, then a vaccine for humans if need be.

The reason for putting the dog down is pretty clear. Once infected a host may recover and go into remission but the virus will sit dormant in the cells of the body. Once the host is stressed or the immune system gets low due to another reason, the virus will awaken and ravage the body again. The virus attacks either the respiratory system causing pulmonary edema / septic pneumonia, or it will attack the brain causing encephalitis or meningitis. The inflammation and acute swelling of the brain can indeed cause rabies like symptoms. The victim is in excruciating pain, disoriented and can be aggressive. So in conclusion the affect of hendra virus on a dog would not be unlike a rabid animal, therefore humane destruction is the safest method for the dog, it's family, and the local community. Not to mention, if the dog does get sick again it will shed more virus, possibly infecting it's family or other animals on the property. I don't understand why people are finding this so hard to comprehend! I know it's sad for the dog, but we aren't talking about kennel cough here, Hendra Virus is Australias very own version of Ebola, the mortality rate and speed of the virus is comparitably similar to Ebola, it's not something to be played with!

The reason they won't cull the bats has nothing to do with the greenies etc. Believe it or not, bats are the most prolific animal on the face of the planet, they are more common than ants. There is no point in culling colonies, they would re colonise within a few days, it's a pointless exercise. Ben Cunneen was my vet, he did the EI shots and microchipping on my horse Zac, sadly Hendra virus killed him a few years ago. His assistant who contracted Hendra virus but survived is still sick, she suffers chronic pain and fatigue, she has never fully recovered and lives one day at a time. The virus could come back and claim her life at anytime and she's fully aware of this. It's incredibly sad. The only thing we can do is work on a vaccine. Culling bats won't work. A friend of mine works for the CSIRO and has told us that a vaccine for horses is the best measure as it cuts out the middle host, therefore protecting both horses AND humans.

The hendra virus Is a retrovirus which lies dormant but can reappear and rear it's ugly head again. When a virus like this comes back, the host then" sheds" the virus, making the virus contractable to those around it. This is why the recovered horse was put to sleep and it's probably why the dog will be put to sleep too. A man in mackay contracted hendra virus and recovered, only for it to come back a year later and claim his life. All this information I got from a Hendra Virus Seminar run by the CSIRO, Biosecurity QLD and the DPI a week ago. The dog should be pts.

Oh SF! I'm so sorry this had to happen mate but rest easy that you did the right thing. I'm glad he got to have so much fun in his final days, just picturing him chasing the kangaroo makes me smile. I pray that when Abbi goes it will be a similar story and that I will be able to hold her close and tell her how much I love her. Big hugs to you, you are very brave and he was a lucky little man to have such an incredibly caring and devoted mamma. Take care of yourself in these hard days and remember that he is looking over you, ever watchful and waiting. xxxxxxx

Omg I just hose mine.....hardly ever! Lol! Now I feel ultra guilty knowing there are ppl out there who disinfect theirs in Milton solution etc! Bad doggy owner here!!!

If u r so concerned Jake why not delicately bring it up. Try to do it in a sensitive way eg, make him a cuppa and ask him to sit down for a chat. Tell him you have noticed doggo has a strange lump that you are concerned about and that you would like to help him out by taking doggo to the vets just to get checked out. Don't mention cancer or anything, just say you would like to get it seen to for your own piece of mind. ;) Assure him that you know he loves doggo and does a great job caring for him but you are just a bit worried that's all. Dont make a big deal about it, just bring it up over coffee in a general chat kind of way. Ask him to come with you, that way it won't seem like you are taking over his dog. It can't hurt to try Jake and as long as you are sensitive and careful with your words it should work out. If he does get uppity or sad etc, it's not your fault, you've tried to do the right thing by doggo and your flatmate. Give it a shot and let us know how u went. ;)

Don't know where Londonderry is but I have one she could borrow. I'm in Brisbane. Is that close?

Yes I agree. But I do think he needs to take it easy with this guy. Maybe what Jake wrote about him bleating on fb and stuff was just him venting. I do hope he doesn't say that stuff to his housemate though... I do agree that it's not jakes responsibility to babysit this guy, he sounds like a very busy man with his job etc, but he needs to be very careful what he says to this bloke. People suffering mental illness are not rational and he sounds quite unstable to me. Personally if it were me I'd say nothing about the dog. As Jake has already said the dog is bright and happy, I'm sure the owner of the dig has indeed noticed the lump, he may have already had it checked, but if not it's his dog and his choice. Of course if the dog gets ill then definitely say something but until then I'd just leave it be. The lump may be nothing but an old dog lump. I agree that it was a good choice to come on here and ask for advice. ;)

Keira it's not as simple as giving someone a kick up the ass. From what Jake said this guy has been dealing with mental issues for a while now. Depression/anxiety/bi-polar are not just a state of mind, they are a disease just as real and as deadly as cancer. You wouldn't tell someone with cancer to just get over it or say they need a kick up the ass. I have worked with disabled people, some of whom suffered depression and more. It's not that simple or black and white, there are shades of grey in life and one needs to be careful when dealing with someone who is ill, be it physically or mentally ill. Maybe he does need a bit of motivation to start picking up the pieces and helping himself, but he will only do it when he is ready.

How do you know that he hasn't already taken doggo to the vet? You said you haven't mentioned the lump, there has been no discussion about it, and you work 50-60 hours a week so your not there to see what happens during the day. He may have already had the dog seen to. I think you are assuming too much, how do you know it's cancer? Are you a vet? My old dog had similar lumps and they were as River said, bone calcifications. You are coming across as a bit mean and uncaring. Why do you even care if he spends his days "bleating on facebook", it's not your concern. No offense, but I'd suggest minding your own business and allowing him to care for his dog the way he sees fit. As you said, he loves the dog to bits so I hardly think he's going to neglect doggo or allow him to suffer needlessly. The poor guy has gone thru a rough trot and needs a bit of support. If you aren't able to offer him emotional support then so be it, but don't go putting any extra pressure on the guy, sounds like he really needs a break IMO. For now just focus on your own animals and leave his alone. Of course if doggo really starts to go downhill then carefully mention it but I'd be staying out of it for now. Best of luck.

:(

Big hugs to you noisy and beautiful kaisie. Hang on old girl, its not your time yet! Stay strong noisy, she will pull through, she's just like my old girl, can't keep a good dog down. Sending healing vibes to kaisie from me and my gang. xxxxx

Sunnyflower - I can really sympathize with what you are going through as I've been in the exact same spot. My heart dog Abbi started getting sick a few years ago, after about 5k worth of tests etc we were told she had a brain tumor. She was in a terrible way and I questioned myself daily about what I should do. I wrote threads on here that matched yours pretty much word for word. Everyone told me the same things as what they are telling you now. It helped to talk about it but didnt help me make a choice. After about six months Abbi started getting well again. She still has her bad days but is in a position now to keep going. I'm glad I didn't put her down as she is enjoying life a lot more these days and can still have fun. I know this won't last, I'm not silly, but for now we are just cherishing the time we have with her. Eventually she will go downhill again and I will no doubt come back on here looking for advice again even though I know in my heart what I have to do. It just helps to talk about it to other folks who love their dogs as much as I do. So you see, you are not alone. And your feelings of confusion are totally normal and natural. One day you will see it in his eyes and you will know that it is the time. If you are in doubt now it's because he's not ready. Your gut will tell you and there will be no more confusion, you will know when he's ready to go. Best wishes to you and your dear little pup. Stay strong and cherish every moment you have with him. Spoil him and enjoy him. Don't ever feel any guilt, you are a very loving and fantastic doggy mum, he's very lucky to have you. xxx