Sam&Saki

Find a vet who can give you a payment plan, hold some sort of fundraising thing, ask every single person you know to donate $5 to the cause, and get the dog to the vet (or the vet to the dog). Ask you father if he'd match you dollar for dollar, so he's not the bad guy in the situation, perhaps he'll help out if he releases you just want to ensure the dog is comfy for the time it has left, rather than wanting last chance expensive surgery or anything. (Or you could remind him it's illegal to not give a pet appropriate veterinary care, if you really have to.) If you have to rule out exploratory surgery and the like, fair enough, but be sure your dog isn't suffering and is on whatever it needs to be on to feel comfortable. Again, in this situation I think a palliative care vet might be best. Be aware there will be expense involved even in making that final decision for your dog, but you CANNOT let the dog suffer in death just because nobody wants to put another cent into its wellbeing.

Hmmmmmm *considers dying Saki pink all over*

I've finally started recharging the camera battery now. Somehow I suspect the fluro pink stain of doom will still be there when it's charged

Thanks everyone. In the end it was: -Chewing gum in Saki's coat -WD40 to get chewy out (didn't work) -Dish washing liquid to get WD40 out (did work) -Eucalyptus oil to get chewy out (works on chewy but caused colour to run out of chewy and into her coat!!! ) -Dog shampoo to get eucalyptus smell out (sorta worked) & pink out (so didn't work at all) -Rolling in the dirt and grass to get eucalyptus smell out (worked some more) -Hosed down to get dirt and grass off. & so Saki now has been washed a bazillion times, has no chewy on her, but does have a small, stubborn fluro pink patch of fur

Didn't get any this morning, had to run off to work; but might get some photos when I get home

Ah cool spanx Haha oh yeah there was an episode on gum in Lisa's hair, wasn't there? Peanut butter to get the gum out, honey to get the peanut butter out, mayo to get the honey out... This does feel kinda similar

I've been told eucalyptus oil works so might try that first, then baby oil. Don't want to cut if can help it! But HuskyHeaven - LIES ALL LIES!!! Was it YOU that wrote the article that my Dad read and believed? The elderly can't always differentiate between good internet advice and bad internet advice, you know

Thanks Poodlfan, I can get some baby oil on the way home, if you think it will work on a Spitz coat? It's on the top hip area of her rear leg, really is very large and obvious, would much prefer not to cut her coat if at all possible! Thanks HuskyHeaven I'm now imagining I'll have to get something else to get the dishwashing liquid off and then something else to get that off and then something else to get that off and at the end of the day the chewy will still be stuck there

So this morning, while eating breakfast out in the sunshine with Saki happily running around, I noticed she had a large, dirty pink congealed patch of fur on her upper rear left leg. I just about had a heart attack, thinking it was a big messy wound, but upon closer examination it smelled like strawberry flavoured confectionary. It was chewing gum she'd somehow gotten out of the rubbish bin and on to herself I usually work from home but since I'm at work today I didn't have time to get it out of her coat before leaving, and my Dad is dogsitting her for today. Now it seems my Dad googled how to get chewing gum out of a dog's coat and some idiot has put an article online about washing your dog with WD40 So that's what he did. I went nuts at him over the phone about how if any of the WD40 gets absorbed into her skin or licked off by her it is toxic; so insisted he wash THAT out with dish washing liquid immediately, which he grudgingly agreed to do. So when I get home from work tonight I'll have a dog who has has chewing gum, WD40 and dishwashing liquid in one day - would I be correct in assuming the dishwashing liquid will get the WD40 out? But not the chewing gum? How do I get the chewing gum out of her coat? & also ensure there's no WD40 (or dishwashing liquid) left in it?

Can she tolerate fish? (My previous dog couldn't tolerate red meat protein, but chicken and fish were fine. Current dog just loves fish on top of regular red meat diet!) Mega Pet Warehouse stocks loads of different fish-based treats, I daresay they have vegie treats too but I've not looked for it so not sure. They have loads of dog foods and treats the other stores don't stock.

Oh really? I've only seen another Akita there once. It was standing in the water completely ignoring the other dogs. Obviously not a close relation to Saki

Awww adorable I gotta come along one time with Natty and Raider. Saki can pretend to be a long haired GSD for the day haha x

Awww, what cuties. How wonderful for the rescues to have been saved by you. Welcome to DOL x

I agree with others above, first be sure of the diagnosis and explore all options. If after that surgery or chemo aren't options, there are a number of different medications that slow tumour growth, if I were you I'd get the dog onto the most appropriate type of these asap. There is also a type of Hills Science Diet food which is designed especially to feed the dog and starve the tumour, I'd put the dog on this immediately too. There are palliative care vets who can come out to your home to treat your dog, to save your dog the stress of having to go out to the vet, and also their focus is on making your dog comfortable and happy rather than radical intervention. Google and find one in your area, or google 'My Best Friend' in Melbourne and email her and ask if she can recommend somebody who does the same thing in your area. Finally, make sure your dog is comfortable, happy, and has a good quality of life. The second you sense your dog may be suffering, consider doing what's best for the dog, rather than keeping the dog alive to keep you happy. I remember when my previous dog was given only a certain amount of time to live, it was such a heartbreaking time. Hugs and strength to you and your doggy. x

Oh! I've only seen pics of the outside pools at Kepala. Thanks, really must go there one day x

Oh wow! Where was this?

Awww I love this thread Everyone looks so lovely and happy with their doggies!

Naww he's so cute, congrats x

Daphe, I live around the same area as you and have given up on the local vets and travel out to the Monash vets on the corner of Dandenong Rd and North Rd. They are great and they are a lot cheaper than those in our area, too x

1. Saki loves cuddles - but only in the morning. I have to set my alarm half an hour early so she can have spooning, cuddling, getting belly rubbed time 2. Saki loves water - she loves having baths, she loves going swimming, she loves playing in the rain and she will detour to jump in every puddle she ever sees :p 3. Saki loves licking - if you ever ask to pat Saki, expect to get your hand licked. In fact if you walk to close too us while I'm walking her, expect to get your hand licked :cool: 4. Saki loves black labs, huskies, mallies and bernese mountain dogs - every one of any of these breeds she sees, she wants to play with! 5. Saki is silent - she has only ever barked, whined or growled a handful of times in her whole life. Doesn't stop me from making dog noises at her when playing, though 6. Saki has a doubled curled tail - it curls up and over her back, through the middle of the loop and over again. 7. Saki gets stuff stuck in her double curled tail - particularly the cord of the mouse of my laptop - I've lost count of how many times she's accidentally pulled the mouse out of the computer and tried to run away from it, while it's stuck in her tail :p 8. Saki watches TV when it shows dogs or horses or certain other animals - her favourite movie is 8 Below, which she's watched intently, start to finish, twice. 9. Saki isn't food crazy - she really has no interest in most human food, and would prefer some fish to a meaty bone. But for some reason she loves frozen bread 10. I'd be lost without Saki. When I'm unwell, or upset, or stuck at home or stuck on bedrest, I'd be miserable if it weren't for her furry little self in bed with me, bringing me toys to throw to her, and her sudden licking attacks - she makes my life so much better.

Some DOLers may remember when my Akita had her chest ripped open by a Staffy. My Akita has been attacked by small dogs 5 times now that has involved the smaller dogs actually biting her. Many many more times if you count being rushed, growled at, air biting around her face, etc. If she ever reacted; that smaller dog would be dead. I wish all small dog owners would realise that (a) small dogs CAN cause serious damage to large dogs and (b) letting their dogs get away with such aggressive behaviour to dogs so much bigger than them is VERY dangerous to their own dog. I understand that most small dogs will see the Akita's naturally upright ears, tail, and ruff and interpret it as aggressive body language, however fear aggression is not an excuse IMO. Not an excuse for my dog being attacked and not an excuse should your small dog attack the wrong bigger dog and wind up dead. :D :D :D :D ;) ;) ;)

My girl has slept in a dog bed on the floor next to my bed since she was a pup, she's always been quite happy there and never wakes me in the night nor has 'accidents.' Now that she's bigger she can get on the bed with me when she's invited. Works for us x

Good for you for being brave enough to speak to your doctor about this You are not alone, I completely lost it when my dog Kia passed away. However 2 years on and I have photos of her up everywhere around the house, and remember the happy memories. I was even able to get another dog who I love just as much, although she will never replace her. I am SURE in time you will cherish the memories of your lovely wiggle-bum dog and get on with feeling good in your life. Our doggies want us to be happy. Hugs and strength to you. x

What area do you live in, pumpitdog? You can talk as much as you like about how you're feeling here on DOL, but maybe somebody to speak to in real life would help too. x

What state are you in? Let us know and maybe we can find some local contacts for you. Have you spoken to your GP? Your GP can refer you to a psychologist, psychiatrist or counsellor through Medicare so it's affordable; I'm sure your GP could make sure whoever you're referred to is a "dog person" who understands the grief of losing a beloved pet. Hang in there *hugs*