kirsty79

So, got home yesterday. Pulled into the driveway and straight away I hear Jessie boofing - which she hasn't done AT ALL in the past 3/4 days she has been poorly. Hopeful, I rush inside and low and behold there she is at the back pation door, hopping from paw to paw, trying to barge my 3 year old 25kg basset hound Fred out of the way. I let them in and for the next 10 minutes they are playing. I am astonished. WTF?! What happened to my sick dog who yesterday couldn't stand up for her dinner??? Of course, I'm not complaining - I was so relieved I felt like crying, but there is also part of me that is now wondering. Yes, she might felt better for the time being, but is there something underlying that means it might happen again. I guess I'll just have to keep a close eye on her. Either that, or Jessie was aiming for an oscar for best acting and was actually faking it just so she could cuddle in bed with us I just wanted to also say - thank you for everyone's thoughts and best wishes.

Two things had crossed my mind: The beginning of dementia because she genuinely seemed confused and disorientated. However, she has full bowel control, and the vet seemed to think that would be a major sign. My second was a stroke or seizure etc. The weird thing is, she couldn't get up to get to her food bowl, yet once she is up, she is walking ok??? Would she be doing this if it was a stroke?

So, I got home Friday lunchtime. Whenever I arrive home Jessie is at the gate woofing and wagging her tail. I fly into an immediate panic – its silent. I dashed out the back and find Jessie kind of wandering. Anyway, the afternoon she basically sat down inside, didn’t move, just lay there panting. Off we went for our appointment at the vets. Had a thorough looking over but seemed to have the vet stumped. She took some blood and said she would send them for urgent test (intestinal mainly) and she would contact me the next morning. She gave her a painkiller injection and said that would help if she was in any discomfort. We leave the consultation room and come face to face with another collie. Jessie’s ears prick up and the tail is wagging furiously. I’m starting to think she is putting this all on! Lol. We get home, she lies by the backdoor. She doesn’t want to go out but there she stays for most of the evening (she normally sits in the lounge with us). Later that evening she gets up, I call her over. She starts walking very quickly in all directions. Looks completely disorientated and confused – to the point she actually walks into me. She eats her dinner but is not excited like she normally is. She lies back down, again panting and trembling. Saturday morning we have a repeat of Friday morning – she wanders off into the garden and paces back and forth. She then did the strangest thing – she sat on her haunches (she never sits up, she lays downs). Her front right leg/paw starts to violently shake. I’m in panic and so call the vet. The receptionist tells me the vet will call me back as soon as she finishes the consultation she is in. The vet calls and says nothing has shown up in the blood tests. I told her about Jessie getting disorientated and her trembling. The vet is completely stumped. Yesterday she seemed perkier, however we went to feed her in the morning. She was lying about 2 metres from where I placed the food bowl. She is licking her chops (she always does that where food is concerned) but she is not getting up. I try to coax her, she looks like she is struggling to stand so my OH gently lifts her back end. Clearly gave her some kind of boost because she was straight to her food bowl. Exactly the same happened last night. I placed the food down, she didn’t go to it. I even walked away and just left it there. Again, 10 minutes later we helped her up and straight to the food she went. I’m so confused – I know something is wrong but I haven’t a clue what – unfortunately, neither does the vet. She said the next step is to do further test (neurological). Does anyone have any thoughts?

No I haven't long been in Australia (I come from the UK) and I don't really know anyone and have no family here. 1pm isn't that far away now....and we're thinking of you and your little Jessie...just hang in there until it's time... Thank you everyone for your kind comments, it means alot. I decided to take a chance at work (hey, who needs a job anyway!) and told them I needed to leave asap and why (I'm a hopeless liar!). Just finishing one last report and then I should be outta here by 12pm. Its going to be a long 1 hour train journey home I don't have the internet at home - but I promise I will be back on Monday morning to let you know what happens. Please keep all fingers and paws crossed that my little Jessie girl isn't sick.

No I haven't long been in Australia (I come from the UK) and I don't really know anyone and have no family here.

Oh god, I feel awful now. I knew I should have gone with my instincts I was positive something wasn’t right and was going to stay off work and take her straight to the vets, but OH thought I was overreacting!! She and my other dog are outside whilst we are at work (we are gone 8am till 6pm), but it’s a large shaded patio area, along with a big back garden. I’m torn now, I work about 75 minutes from home, and my job is barely secure atm – but I can’t stand the thought of her being alone if she isn’t well. Trouble is my dogs are like my kids (like so many of the Dolers) but no one at work understands that! They won’t understand my panic to get home.....

Weird start to the morning and I'm sitting here at my desk worrying. Jessie is our 12yr cross breed (don't know what, a bit of collie I think) from a rescue shelter. When we are preparing her food she normally has a little chat. She woo woo's, gets all excited, hops from one paw to the other. This morning doing her breakfast she is nowhere to be seen. I go out to the garden and she is frantically walking around. 3 times she sits and then gets straight back up again and paces. Her ears are flat back against the side of her head and she is panting as though its 40c. I coax her inside, and stoke her. Her body is cool but her skull is hot. Literally felt like a radiator. This really sent me into a panic. She got up, her tail wagged a couple of times, we put her food down and she ate it. I always kind of though the best way of telling if a dog isn’t well is if they are not interested in there food but maybe I was wrong. Something isn’t right, I just can’t put my finger on it. We had to go to work, she is normally at the patio door giving her sad puppy dog eyes but as I locked the front door she was nowhere to be seen. I finish work at 1pm and have booked her in at the vets for this afternoon. Do the symptoms sound like she is uncomfortable or in pain?

Hey everyone, OH and I are going away for 4 days. As such a short trip I didn't really want to make the long trip to Samford Pet Resort, so I'm looking at nearer alternatives. Can anyone recommend any other good boarding kennels, north Brissy, or has anyone ever used Lakeview? Thanks

I'm in Petrie.

I have finally concluded my anti-social, stubborn, pig-headed, diva-type basset hound needs to be taught some manners. OH was taking Fred (Basset) and Jessie (god only knows what breed) for a walk. Reaches end of our driveway and is faced with another walker with a HUGE boofer. The owner tells his dog to sit, no fuss, not a single bark, he just sits obediently. Fred meanwhile is woofing (in his deep throaty manly basset way). He is going mad. To someone who does not know Fred they would think he was being aggressive he was going so crazy. OH and I know full well he is all mouth and has even been scared by his own shadow. Anyway, he has figured out how to slip his collar, which he does and heads towards the other dog, leaving my OH to pretty much dive and grab him before he comes snout to snout with this dog 3 times the size of him. So, please dolers, can anyone recommend a good (but affordable) way of training Fred. He is almost 4. I like the idea of obedience classes because it will socialise him as well, but would we be allowed in considering he can appear aggressive (even though he isn't)?? I have a feeling in the classes I will be humiliated "Marley and Me" style.

I’m a little worried about saying what I feed him on – I don’t want to be shot down in flames but……… He is fed on exactly what he was on when we got him from his rescue foster carers – a mixture of dry and wet pedigree dog food. I am in no means an expert on dogs and I am aware there are so many better things to feed him. Two reasons why I have stuck with this – Firstly is budget but secondly and more importantly he enjoys it – he loves his food. Mmmm. Maybe that’s just all dogs!! . He is in excellent health (bar the skin episodes), an ideal weight, good bowel movements and has a lovely shiny coat. Having had a Bassett before who had a very sensitive stomach I decided to stick with what worked. Obviously, in hindsight, if there is a possibility this is causing his skin problem I want rectify immediately. I can’t stand seeing my little boy uncomfortable. Do you think the food is probably behind it? As I’m here, and after some sound advice, can you tell me why pedigree is frowned upon? I haven’t read the label – I unfortunately wouldn’t have a clue what to look for but I assume it is the equivalent of a humans ready made microwave meal. Preservatives? Additives? Etc. Can you suggest what I could feed him on a budget? Thanks everyone for your advice.

WOW!! Fantastic job PRS!! What a difference. She looks stunning!

Thanks for your replies FTPO & PRS. Gosh! Its a bit more complicated than I thought! So, you seem to think megaderm would perhaps be better?? Those ingredients sent my brain in a whirl - what exactly is the difference between the two?? (Imagine you are explaining to a child as I really haven't got the foggiest what any of the ingredients are or what they do!) I believe the vet said it was a yeast infection on the skin - its all the folds. If left untreated it gets that notorious smell which just lingers wherever you go! I hadn't really thought of allegies. I guess I just presumed as its the same as what my previous bassett had. May be worth looking into - how does the testing work? His coat and the rest of him is in excellent condition. But under his legs, under his neck and occasionally the outside of his ears and in his paws can look very inflamed sometimes (once he scratched it so bad it bled) and gets like black oily bits in between the skin.

Fred my bassett hound suffers from skin problems as most wrinkly doggies do. We have him groomed every 4 weeks, using either an oatmeal based shampoo to soothe the skin or maseleb if looking very sore. I always make sure he is dried thoroughly. He is fine for the following 10 / 14 days but then his skin seems to get irritated. By the 3rd week after his groom his skin starts getting very pink, and oily in between his toes and under his legs. The vet has given us a steroid spray to use when its does get bad. I have previously owned bassetts with the same problem and tried bathing more often but this seemed to actually make it worse! One of my boys was previously put on tablets (sorry can't remember the name) but prolonged use could cause liver damage so I'm reluctant to go down that road. Anyway, have seen Canine Omegaderm suggested as a supplement and I was wondering if anyone can give me any further info as to whether its recommeneded or actually assists in healthier skin. Or, for any dog owners who have encountered skin problems - any suggestions? Thanks

Fred___Wayne.pdfNot me, but this is my fav of Fred and my OH.

Fred.pdfJessie.pdf Thanks rijbiz, Cazablanca, Lowenhart and lawrencefamily. Jessie definitely pulled at my heart strings. She had an elderly owner whom she had always been with. The owner was taken ill and went into a nursing home. Jessie was given to some friends of the family as a new home. Within a week she had been dumped in the local shelter’s after hours cage. She was then rehomed, and within two weeks dumped again with the new owners stating they actually didn’t really have time for her! It has taken a lot of work to earn her trust but now she always greets us with a chirpy howl and a furiously wagging tail! She is the gentlest dog I’ve ever met and she is such a lady – she makes me smile when she lies down because she always crosses her legs just like a lady should! rijbiz – Just like your boy, Jessie gets away with murder! I figure she has been through enough just to let her be spoilt in her twilight years. lawrencefamily – so sorry to hear you just lost one of yours It is a thought that petrifies me and was the one thing against getting an older dog. Snoop sounds gorgeous! Lowenhart – I’ve actually moved a big armchair into the lounge especially for her! And one for Fred the bassett! Its slightly overcrowded in our lounge now with those and our three seater sofa! Cazablanca – Jessie is a Scotch Collie X – at least that’s what the shelter told us but I’m not really sure? Pictures - as you insist……….. I attached but not overly technically minded so fingers crossed it works! Jessie -chilling in her armchair! Fred - looking too damn cute for his own good!

It has suddenly occurred to me that I really don’t have a clue regarding caring for an older dog! I am off in my lunch break to research but thought actual experienced Dolers advice would be excellent. My OH and I got Jessie from a shelter in February and she has just turned 12. I desperately wanted to help a golden oldie because so many get passed up on because of their age. I thought with my heart instead of my head - which I am now scratching because I feel rather clueless She is a spritely thing, will play with my 3 year old bassett and LOVES her walks. Someone who met her recently mentioned she possibly had glaucoma and a problem with her hips. She does struggle slightly when getting up and can be a bit wobbly on her legs. Basically, my questions are: 1.Should I have a special bed for her? She loves sleeping on the couch but should she have an alternative in case it gets uncomfortable getting up and down – or should I be stopping her completely because it will make her worse? 2.I feed her light and mature food but should I be aware of anything extra which is particularly good for seniors? Should she have supplements? Anything I should strictly avoid? 3.My OH and I work during the day and both dogs have beds outside under a large sheltered patio – they are inside the rest of the time and at night. Most mornings after feeding her, Jessie will plonk herself on the sofa and not move. Its not overly cold here in Brisbane – is she just being stubborn?!! Or am I being mean having her outside during the day whilst we are out? After we have put them out and just as we are heading out the door, she is there, by the sliding door gazing at me longingly - I feel so guilty! 4.As I said, she loves her walks, my OH came back the other day and both dogs were panting – he’d had a little run with them - I was petrified she might have a heart attack! Is running bad for an older dog? Should we be limiting her to a leisurely stroll? How much and how often – or just leave her to her own devices and she’ll let us know if she doesn’t want to go any further or faster? I am going to take her for a general health check at our vets, especially for the possible problems with glaucoma and her hips. Should she be having these check ups more often than annually? Is there anything I can do to ease any aches and pains she may have in her legs? Any other tips or things I have not asked – please feel free to add. All advice greatly appreciated!

Grass seed? Sorry if I'm being a bit dense How and why grass seed?

Thanks vjb & persephone. I tend to overeact as far as my boofers are concerned, they are my babies, but its nice to know in this instance its warranted! Looks like its a trip to the vets tonight then!

Jessie, my 11yr Scotch collie x yesterday was shaking her head - alot! and also rubbing her head on the carpet. I had a look in her ears but they seem fine, we are off to the vets for her booster jab this Saturday and I will bring it to their attention. Are these tell-tale signs of an ear infection - even though there is no smell and they appear to be clean? Is there anything else it may be?

We have had Fred our 3yr old basset hound (from a shelter) for 7 months and we have just got Jessie, an 11yr old Collie cross, also from a shelter, 2 weeks ago. The first night they fought terribly, particularly over attention from my husband. We applied a few techniques and they have been perfectly behaved since, playing in the garden together etc. However, last night my husband and I went to have dinner, they were doing their usual hanging around, looking hungry with puppy eyes, and the next thing I know they have gone for each other. I don't understand why they did this? We don't give them food from our plates so its not like they were actually fighting over food? They had already eaten so its not like they were starving hungry? Did we do something wrong or do they genuinely not like each other? In suggestions to separate them I have heard the water squirt technique - however, this happened inside the house and was over in about 15 seconds. Any suggestions on why they might have done this and how to deal with this in the future would be greatly appreciated!