DerRottweiler

Thanks Grumpette. Last night I chopped up some Silverbeet very finely and mixed it in with his chicken mince. He ate it without a problem. 03/04/2012: Still all good, no side effects. Energy levels...very high. I had to play his favourite game with him this morning to calm him down a bit: wrestling. I don't know how much I should be exercising him, I keep thinking that I should try and get him to rest as much as possible and conserve energy, but being a working breed, he'll go mental.

Thank you! I'll give them a call tomorrow. I need to speak to the oncologist first to make sure that the supps are compatible with his chemo treatment plan. 02/04/2012: Bison is still doing fine, full of energy, appears generally happy, swelling has gone down further and is almost completely gone. No side effects still.

I agree with others it seems very sus. I'm thinking outside the box here. But what if he doesn't like Ziggy and maybe wants to poison him with food in the future. Either way, this isn't a good situation. I'd call the police and inform them of what happened.

Thank you. Yeah on the brochure I recieved, it says the side effects normally start around 48 hours after the treatment and can last up to 7 days. As of yet, there haven't been any symptoms. I haven't been checking his temperature in fact. How do I go about doing that? This is great, I just keep learning. Thanks mate, appreciate the kind words.

Thank you! I (my mum rather) am going to start cooking his meals for him, at the moment I'm feeding him lean mince only, meanwhile I figure out supps and vegetables. The vegetables you mention, should I just cook them in with say, chicken mince? And then add the supps on top of that? Or would it be better to keep all food raw? Thank you again, you've been very supportive and your advice has been great. And that goes to everyone who has been PMing me with advice, or posting in either of my threads with comments, links etc. DOL is a wonderful resource and given all the information I have at my disposal, I believe I have a better chance of success by combining the chemo, with an anti cancer alkaline diet and natural supps to boost energy levels, appetite and his immune system.

Thanks all. I decided to start this thread for a few reasons, one to create a log of what happens to him and the entire process. Another was to benefit others, should they find themselves in a similar position in the near future. I found some of the old threads on here very helpful. :) He is still doing well, have been watching him closely all day. He weighs 50.5kg still and is rather energetic, playing with his toys, guarding etc. A few pics I just took, behold, the ferocious Rottweiler devouring his next victim:

Thanks for all the comments/support. :). 01/04/2012. He is still doing fine, it has been roughly 48 hours since his first chemo treatment. He still has plenty of energy, is eating well and hasn't had any side effects. I can't wait to get him started on some natural support to help him through the chemo. I'll be consulting with Dr Robert McDowell: http://www.herbal-treatments.com/contact-us/robert-mcdowell-s-herbal-treatments.html Also, a few members here have used the following with great success: http://www.dogcancer.net/k9-immunity-plus.html http://www.dogcancer.net/tf.html Further opinions on the above products are appreciated. Also, if someone knows a local Australian supplier, that would be great.

Hello everyone, Meet Bison, he is an almost 5 and a 1/2 year old Rottweiler. Here he is kickin it on the grass near my house, this was about 2 months before his diagnosis: On the 28/03/2012 I noticed that Bison had developed a massive growth underneath his neck. This literally happened overnight, because I specifcally remember patting him the night before. I did think his breathing was amiss but I attributed this to an incorrectly diagnosed 'infection' by another vet. You see, about a week earlier I took Bison into the vet, because his eyes appeared blue and infected/inflamed. This was attributed to an infection and his heavier than usual breathing was also considered to be the result of infection. Clearly, that wasn't the case. After observing him the night before, I didn't really see him on the morning as I left the house early in a rush, but on returning home I was informed that his neck appeared to be very swollen, to my shock, he appeared as in the photos below: I freaked out. I knew something was very wrong as the growth was fast...very fast. I rushed him to the emergency vet who examined him and gave me the bad news. On first appearances, it seemed that all of Bison's lymph nodes were swollen and that it was highly likely that he had developed Lymphoma, an aggressive and common cancer in canines. Fortunately, it also happens to be one of the most treatable cancers and responds well to chemotherapy. The vet took a sample from a lymph node on his leg, just to be sure. I was in shock. I was very upset and felt shattered. Overnight, the swelling increased. His abdomen also started to swell and felt very tight and appeared distended. I didn't sleep that night. In fact, I woke up at about 4am randomly and my heart was pounding rapidly. I felt anxious. I had to wake up early and book the oncologist appointment. On the 29/03/2012, I took Bison to the oncologist at the Melbourne Vetrinary Speacilist Centre. The oncologist confirmed that Bison did indeed have Lymphoma and he conducted a number of tests to see how healthy Bison was and what approach should be taken. Bison's bloodwork and urine analysis revealed that he was healthy and a good candidate for aggressive chemotherapy. Here are a few pics of his first battle scars, these were due to some of the tests that were conducted: His lower back: Front leg: I was informed of the costs involved and the different types of treatments available. The general prognosis for a dog with lymphoma is around 10-14 months (depending on a number of factors, mainly the T cell/B cell difference, which I won't know till next week sometime) with treatment and around 1 month without treatment. About 1 in 4 dogs will survive for 24 months and 1 in 10 dogs will be cured all together. Given those odds and given that Bison wasn't too old and still a fit, strong dog, I decided that the chemotherapy treatment was approrpiate for him. This treatment is costly, but fortunately I'm in a position where I can afford it. I can see why many people would simply not treat a dog due to costs alone. The initial testing itself cost around $2000 and the chemo will cost around 6 to 7000 dollars, assuming no major complications. Hospitisations and so on, would be extra and add to the costs. Having considered all the relevant factors, I opted to begin the 25 week UW-Madison protocal ASAP. On the 30/03/2012, Bison went in for his first chemotherapy treatment. He seemed pretty active before going in and was very happy/excited coming out. He likes the staff there, they are all friendly and actually care about dogs. As of the early hours of the 01/04/2012, he has had no side effects. On the plus side, he seems fine, he is very energetic and playful, he is being very affectionate (as per usual), he is being spoilt rotten....oh and the swelling has gone down...considerably. His abdomen doesn't seem swollen at all anymore and the swelling under his neck is almost gone too. I have a positive feeling that he'll respond very well to this treatment protocol. Some pics of him that I took earlier, note the reduction in swelling: That's pretty much all for now. I'm trying to tweak his diet to perfection, I'm also trying to find out which are the best suppliments to order. I'll post more about that as soon as possible. Getting his diet right will be essential. I aniticpate I'll update this thread regularly. Thanks for reading and thanks for all the support that I've been getting on DOL, it really helps. :)

Maybe your dog was giving off some aggressive body language? As this isn't the first case of this happening...?

Good video. Often the breed standards are viewed in a particularly subjective manner resulting in a lack of emphasis on 'function' and too much emphasis on 'looks'.

Ethical breeders......a dying breed. It might not be just about the $$$ these days, but a lot of damage is being done in the name of 'showing'.

Depends on the dog. My dog does a few of those things, but he wouldn't dare challenge me....at all. Other dogs, different story, he will try and dominate if he gets the chance and would never submit. Rottweilers are very dominant dogs, the majority would dominate in the absence of a strong pack leader. Your dog is still a puppy, he seems fine from what you've described, if problems do manifest, they'll do so when he's a bit older (and more confident).

The Government thrust behind the legislation is to make dog owners more accountable. So while the attacks will still occur, owners face greater penalties. Thus the theory is that owners of dangerous dogs will surrender them, dangerous breeds will die out, eventually number of attacks will decrease etc. It is too early to tell if the legislation is working or not. (It probably isn't, but I'm just trying to present an objective viewpoint).

They don't look 'that' similar to me? In those pictures its more their position than their actual features.

Good thread. Looks like you did a great job. I love the darker working GSDs. If the dog doesn't graduate, it won't be your fault, that largely comes down to genetics (and given that the dog was bred from working lines, the genes are probably as good as you'll get from a probability POV).

Feel free to post it. . Public perception is a big part of the problem, particularly so when one looks at all the negative press surrounding dogs recently. A well trained working dog, is actually very family friendly. The brilliance of the dog, is in his ability to tell friend from foe. The dog should be aloof and wary of strangers, but friendly with family/friends/guests etc. If we legislate dog sports (and allow them again, in Victoria for example), you'll at least be controlling what the dogs are taught and how they behave in certain situations. I can't imagine a well trained dog leaving his/her property in order to pursue someone and attack them. Obviously they'd protect their property within reason, but they wouldn't be 'psycho aggresive' like a lot of poorly trained, poorly socialised dogs you see these days. I think police dogs are a shining example of the above theory. How often do you hear of an ex-police dog attacking a child? The dogs know the correct time and place and are wonderful family pets in retirement, with the ability to protect their family/property, if need be.

Too true. I find it amazing that the working ability of dogs is being completely ignored, so long as they have 'strong heads' and 'correct angulations' right? Interesting reading below: Jakob Köpf

That doesn't mean people who knowingly take bad mannered dogs to dog parks should be encouraged to continue doing so. You're right. I've just noticed that lot of people on here complain about dog parks....yet they persist on taking their dogs to them. There are risks involved, bad/rude/dangerous dogs all falling within the ambit of possibility. I take my dog to the dog park, I do realise that other dogs may cause problems, but he's a male Rottweiler. If I had a small dog, I'd never take it to a dog park.

Bad mannered dogs are part and parcel of the dog park scene. If you don't like it and appreciate the risks, don't go there.

It's all relative. We happily kill mice... Personally, I don't care, eat whatever you like PROVIDED it is legal to eat that animal and it isn't an endangered species. The only difference is, some of us prefer cows, others prefer dogs. Killing an animal is killing an animal, I don't see a problem with that, provided the animal is killed humanely.

Nah, a cursory look at the case law should do the trick. I'm sure there's some- I will have a look later today, and the legislation. Stranger things are divided all the time, people own weird, weird things.. It's more in the realm of property and division of property etc, rather than companion animal law. That's all about registering, dangerous dog registration and requirements, requirements relating to business operations and transferral of permits, etc. This is a matter of ownership transferral rather than anything to do with the actual dog. lol. Oh wow, is that all it takes? You must be brilliant with these open/shut cases without knowing the facts....but hey, case law/legislation, you can't go wrong. (FYI, Danois is a Lawyer). I gathered from her response I'm halfway there. It's obviously not a matter of open/shut, but I'm sure there are cases where dogs were divided up between parties, along with other property. It's not something so strange and complex that you couldn't make a half decent stab at it. lol. I figured you were a student given the 'case law and legislation' comment. That was EXACTLY my approach when I graduated. You'll be surprised how pointless a lot of what they teach you is when you enter the field! (I'm a 2nd year n00b solicitor, Danois is def. the go to experienced legal expert on DOL).

Nah, a cursory look at the case law should do the trick. I'm sure there's some- I will have a look later today, and the legislation. Stranger things are divided all the time, people own weird, weird things.. It's more in the realm of property and division of property etc, rather than companion animal law. That's all about registering, dangerous dog registration and requirements, requirements relating to business operations and transferral of permits, etc. This is a matter of ownership transferral rather than anything to do with the actual dog. lol. Oh wow, is that all it takes? You must be brilliant with these open/shut cases without knowing the facts....but hey, case law/legislation, you can't go wrong. (FYI, Danois is a Lawyer).

you possibly shouldn't be taking your dog to dog parks if you know he doesn't like other dogs, might be an accident waiting to happen there Nah, he is always under full control and needs the exercise. As for getting attacked by other dogs, well that's out of my control and one of the risks associated with dog parks. That said, he can handle himself.

Solo dog owner here. My dog literally doesn't like any other dog. He doesn't get along with most females (unless they're on heat, all of a sudden he gets chummy) and he also dislikes other males. If I take him to the dog park, all the 'normal' dogs will be playing together in the middle of the park, he simply walks around the edges and marks anything and everything, being anti-social. That's why I don't have another dog. lol.

RIP. Sad news . Sorry about your loss.