k9angel

Have you contacted the rescue you got her from? was she doing it whilst in care with them? It could be change of diet, it could be something else, I'd be getting her to a vet for a good check up. And just out of curiosity, what are you suppose to do in an emergency if the vet only visits once a week?

How did you go MS? How is Ruger doing?

Sorry I might have too many letters in mine, but here goes: Girls Sweet whispering willow Sweet Rose of Agness Sweet St. Agness Sweet dreams and whispers Sweet Angel of Agness Sweet sugar and spice Sweet stars and diamonds Sweet stars afar Boys St. Far from it St. Stars in the sky St. Stars in my eyes St. thinkofaname St. Stars n stripes

Well we went off to the vet ok but are still none the wiser. The vet said he has never seen anything like it, well his feet his hasn't. He even got the old text books out. He is going to go home tonight and do some more reading through his books and let me know tommorow if he has come up with anything. He is also going to discuss it with his daughter, who is also a vet. If he doesnt find an answer, he is going to take a skin sample from Zuey's paw and send it off for analysis. He said it could very well be zinc deficiency, but he hasn't seen feet like Zuess's before, which has him puzzled.

Ta Guys. I got a reply from Dr Jean Dodds. It reads. Dear Rachel : Hello ! These photos are very helpful. The crusty red skin lesions are rather typical of hypothyroidism and/or superficial pyoderma from inhalant allergy (atopy) , food hypersensitivity or bacterial skin hypersensitivity to the normal Staphylococcus pseudointermedius on the skin of dogs. What do you feed him ? It should not contain grains such as wheat, corn or corn starch or soy. Most vet prescription diets would not be suitable. Have you had a complete thyroid antibody profile measured ? [They do not typically offer this test in Australia]. We regularly receive serum samples for this testing from all over the world. See the link to our OnLIne Test Request Form and Instructions below , or use the attached . You’ll need to order Hemopet ‘s Thyroid Profile 5. for USD $75. Lastly for the dry and cracked feet, you can gently sand down the dry thickened areas with fine sand paper and then put vitamin E oil or cream on them. I’d cover the oiled/creamed paws with a light sock when you’re with him, to let the lubrication sink in before he wants to lick it off. Best regards, Jean I am getting ready to take him to the vet for our appnt. I will update when were back.

I won't rest until he is seen Pers. The more I think about it, the more I worry myself. With my luck of late... I will not risk his health or my heart being broken all over again. I couldn't take it. And thanks for the well wishes for the shoulder.

The only change was that collar he had on.

two VERY different conditions mentioned in this paragraph It does not make me confident :0 We have an appointment with the vet tommorow afternoon Pers. It would of been today had I not buggered my shoulder sleeping the wrong way last night. I woke up with it sore as buggery this morning, and it's still very tender. I was still going to take him when OH got in to look after the kids but by then the vet wasn't answering his phone, which is odd because he is usually there until 7pm. Some days he does knock off early though, either that or he may of been in an emergency surgery? so I got on the phone to my other vet, (who was Gypsy's vet) and made the appointment for tommorow afternoon. I will update once he has been.

Ta Erny. I have sent an email through. This was my worry. That it was the thyroid and not zinc defic. I have been doing some googling and this link I found interesting. Is it true? that you're better off treating it naturally as opposed to convential treatment? If so, any suggestions on what I should use? I note kelp has been mentioned a fair bit. Is there a natural remedy here in Aust. I can purchase? http://www.holisticpetinfo.com/conditions/hypothyroid.htm ETA I have just bought a bottle of this stuff to try. (Thyro-pet by Petalive.com) I was also just reading this link and one symptom in particular caught my attention. The intolerance to cold. I have noticed him shivering on a few occassions. I did speak with the vet about it and he said "Well it is cold isn't it? maybe he is feeling it too?" I knew straight up that that wasn't right and thought maybe it was because of the pain his feet are causing him. He is a husky and usually handles the cooler weather fine. I am now convinced it is his thyroid.

I'd be getting a second opinion on that and quickly. I'd suggest you get some help for his behavioural issues also. Same and same, it doesn't sound normal to me.

So sorry to hear of your loss Deek, thinking of you and your family. R.I.P. boy

Thanks Sandgrubber. I will give the boots a try. I still have some here from when Yellowgirl kindly sent some for Whitey. It's a just a matter of whether he will keep them on. I have also just ordered some Mushers secret from an ebay seller (Hilenka) in the US. The store is called Happy dog place and they have plenty of good feedback. They've sold 178 jars of the mushers secret so it must be good stuff. I'll still be taking him to the vet tommorow, just incase something else is going on in there but I will definately give this cream a go too.

I updated the cross I made (for my other furbabies) with Gypsy's name the day before yesterday. They're all on it now. I was so nervous as I held the magnifying glass in the sun. My hand was trembling, it was just something I had to get right. I have my ok days and my bad days. The kids and furkids help to make me smile and keep me going but inside I still feel empty and lost without her. when it all gets too much I dissapear to the bathroom or take one of the other dogs for a walk to have a good cry. Most nights I cry myself to sleep thinking about her and fretting for her.

Just a question regarding one of my huskies, Zeuss. For the past few weeks his paw pads have been drying out really badly. It started after I lost Jay Jay. Him and Jay were very close when she was here and it hit him really hard when she passed, as it did with all of us. I took him to the vet and the vet seemed to think he was zinc deficient. So he told me to give him 1 centrum a day and rub eucerin cream into his feet daily which I have been doing. (I also double checked with a 2nd vet to confirm it was ok to give him centrum). In the past week or so I have also noticed he has developed red, scaly skin patches under both his front legs (in the pits) and on the inner creases of his rear legs, that appear to have brown crusty skin peeling off. His paws aren't just dry, they are getting hard and flat and appear to have the same sores between his toes. The paw pads themselves are very feathery/flaky in appearance too. see pic. He also has a little sore either side of his nose now. I am taking him back to the vet tommorow as I fear it could be more than just zinc deficiency. I could be wrong but I prefer to be safe than sorry, for his sake and ours. Also, at around the time Jay Jay died I put a new collar on Zeuss. It had an orange rubber strip on it. I am wondering whether he could of been allergic to that? I have since taken it off. His feet are really sore and he isn't running around & playing as much as he used to, which is understable considering his feet are so cracked. He was also having difficulty eating bones so I had to change his diet to VIP rolls and chicken necks for the time being, so he can eat. (He can't use his feet to grip the bones to eat them properly). Has anyone else experienced anything like this before? and if so, what did it turn out to be? Many thanks. His paws. As you can see they are very dry, to the point of cracking. All 4 are like this. Those dark spots are the brown crusty sores I am referring to. You can see the brown crusty skin peeling off. It is painful to touch too. I tried cleaning it all off again today but he wasn't too keen on me prodding at it. On the crease of his rear leg. I managed to clean this one up somewhat. When the brown scales come off, it is red raw beneath.

I grew up with pekinese, poodles and chihuahua's and couldn't wait to grow up to have a big dog of my own. My breed found me when she accidently came into my life. She was wandering the streets and followed my brother home, train and all. I remember opening the front door and seeing the most prettiest bluest eyes looking up at me. It was love at first sight. I love huskies and will always have one (or 2 or 3 ) in my life, they're the best.

Ta Pers. I picked her ashes (and fur) up today. I not long got home. I tried to be strong but lost it even before I got there. I was talking to a lovely older lady who had her older lab girl there at the vet, getting meds for her athritis. Her girl was smelling me and wagging her tail as I bawled my eye's out. I gave her pats and knelt down and gave her a kiss. Her human Mum says "She'd take that all day". lol I told her how much I missed my old girl and what happened to her. I told her to love her girl like there is no tommorow, because they can be here one minute, then gone the next. She agreed and told about her sisters dog, a 2yr old dalmation who also died very suddenly and unexpectedly. Can you believe when I got home, I carried her ashes in and the first thing I did was to go and look for her.

It has been almost a week since Gyps left this world and I am still struggling to come to terms with the fact that she is even gone. I've been trying to keep extra busy to keep my mind off things, but it's hard. There are reminders everywhere. I Still see her at the corner of my eye, I still hear her. The night before last Jack calls me into the room and says "Mummy can we give a bead to Gypsy?" (We've been making suncatchers)I said "She's not here anymore, she is in heaven". His reply "Can we send it to her?" I told him "Ofcoarse we can, she'll love it". Then yesterday he was bouncing on the trampoline and says to me "Where's Gypsy?" as his eye's scanned the yard. I looked to the blue sky and said "She is up there Son, watching us from Heaven". He looked to the sky as if trying to see her up there then says "Oh Ok". He is so used of her being around too. Jasmine's still a little quiet, but she is eating better now. Logan has quitened down too. Not howling as much now. I pick Gippi's ashes up tommorow. The day she died and was dropped to the vet, I called up and asked them to please shave some fur off her so I could keep it. They did. I didn't even think to do it here. I was too shell shocked at what had happened. A few days before she died I sketched a picture of her as she slept at my feet. I have only just been able to look at it. Eerily, the picture looks exactly as she did after she had passed. I also had a dream about a week before she crossed the Bridge and said to a fellow DOLer (Marion 01) via PM that I was worried I was going to lose her. Marion asked if she was sickly or whether I was just being paranoid after all I had been through of late. I replied that she wasn't sickly and that I probably was just being paranoid. Gypsy 17.7.11 "Sleeping" "Miss you more than words can say Bibi girl. I just wish you didn't have to go so soon. I wish you didn't have to go at all. You were such a huge part of my life for so long. I am so lost without you. Love you forever and always, You'll forever be in my XXXXX

R.I.P. Mushi Run free girl. I am sorry for your loss Poo-fong. I feel your pain and know exactly what you mean. We have 8 other dogs here but it's still not the same without my old girl (lost her on Wednesday) the house, the yard and my heart feel so empty. Hugs to you at this sad time.

I am worried about Logan and Jasmine. Both haven't eaten for 2 days and are fretting bad. I cannot console Logan, he has been howling on and off since Gypz departed. When he's not howling he is quietly crying. It is so heartbreaking. I woke up this morning as I did yesterday and looked at the spot where Gyps used to lay on the bed. It was empty and cold. Then when I went to let the others out the back to go to the toilet, I waited for her to run out too. I keep going to look for her. I keep thinking I am seeing her. Like today there was a garbage bag (mum dropped in some dog bedding) sitting under the kitchen table and for a split second there, I thought it was Gyps at the corner of my eye - as that is where she used to lay at my feet. But then I realised....and it hit me all over again. And today, Buddy was sitting up on the lounge on the pile of clean washing that has been sitting there since the day Gypz died. The day she died she was sitting up there like a Queen. When I saw Buddy doing the same today, I thought for a second it was Gyps. It made me feel sick to the stomach and I quickly folded it and packed it away. I just can't believe this has happened, that she is gone. After all those years. I was so used of her, for looking out for her. It is like the worst nightmare that I keep waiting to wake up from. What I would do to have her here now. I was thinking of her as I cried myself to sleep last night including to back when she was a pup and would steal my mobile phone (whenever it rang) and run off with it up under the house. Cheeky bugger. I couldn't tell you how many phones I went through. She would hide up under the smallest spot so I couldn't reach her and her new found toy. Dog love her. I remembered how she used to jump the fence (they were only 4ft) and play with the neighbours dog and vice versa. And when she had her pups. (she only had 1 litter and I kept all 3, Cassie, Claude and Jay Jay) I would ask Mum to keep an eye on them and leave them in their pen all day (it was part of the yard sectioned off) while I went to work as I worried my brother would accidently leave the gate open and they'd escape. I later found out, after Mum confessed, that she used to let them out as soon as I left for work and put them back in just before I got home. Apparently they had a ball up under the house. I remembered how we used to listen to music together. My song for her was and still is Leanne Rimes "How do I live without you". I would sing that to her over and over again. (well try to). there is no way I could listen to it atm. She knew it was our song. She would always be there when I got home from work to greet me with a smile. She had a way of turning a bad day into a good day and always made me smile. I have pics of Gyps and her/my 3 babies, a whole album of them. I might post a few later. I haven't got that album out for a long time. Since Claude died 4 years ago. It will break my heart to look through it, knowing they are all gone now but I will try. Whenever I had friends or family over, I would dig the album out and show off my babies, all 4 of them. They were my life. It took me a long time (14 yrs) to be able to have a baby (human one) and so to me, they were my children, my family. This morning when I was crying the other dogs were trying so hard to cheer me up. Depsite being sad themselves. Jasmine was playing with a toy, and throwing it around to try and make me laugh. She never plays like that. Leela came up to me as I sobbed and cried and leaned against my leg with her eye's closed, as if to say "It's ok to cry". I was standing within reach of the camera and took a pic. (ofcoarse she'd opened her eyes by the time I took the pic)

I've actually lost 3 now Fifi, only weeks apart. I lost Jay Jay, aged 10 on the 29.5.11, Whitey, aged 6 four weeks later on the 28.6.11 and now Gypsy. I still cannot believe she is gone. It was the last thing I expected and has come as such a shock. I have never seen a dog die like that before. I always thought and hoped Gyps would go in her sleep. but I guess we all hope that for our furkids. It feels so quiet and empty without her, Jay and Whitey boy. I keep going to call her and look for her. Gypsy was by my side all day, every day. If I stayed up late, she stayed up late too and would only go to bed when I did. She'd greet me every morning with a wagging tail and smile from ear to ear. She used to do what Whitey did and creep up on me in the mornings and be standing there staring at me. She did that for years as a youngster. And it wasn't only me she did it to. If we had friends stay over, she'd scare the crap out of them too by waking them up the same way. It was waking up to those blue eyes in your face. At first it'd scare the crap out of you and then you'd realise it was just Gyps and not some intruder. Also while we lived in Manildra I entered her in the local show and she won best kept bitch and best overall something or other. I was so proud of her. It was nothing big or official but it meant alot to us. Oh and we made it into the local paper. I tried to google it a while ago to find a copy but couldn't find it and I have since lost the ribbons she won. I remember it like yesterday though. She made me so proud.

Thanks everyone or your kind words. Thanks for caring Pers, but there isn't a Doctor in this whole wide world who can help me at the moment. It has hit me hard, much harder than I thought it ever would. I have lost 3 in a matter of 2 months and my heart is broken, literally. I don't know if it will ever heal. Gypsy was like my daughter. All of them were. It's like I am losing my fur family, one by one. Sorry to sound so down but I cannot stop crying, it hurts - so bad. It just happened so fast and there was nothing I could do. When she started whimpering/crying I jumped out of my chair and held her head calling her name and begging her to come back, but instead she died in my arms. Jasmine is fretting bad. Gypsy was like the big sister she never had. She followed her everywhere. When Gypz started crying, all the other dogs howled and carried on. They knew...

I had only just made Gypsy a name plaque too. I had to alter it this morning to add RIP.

Gypsy came into my life on Friday 28th April 2000. She was born on 28th August 1999. One day my brother came home with a dog in tow. Gypsy. I can still remember it like yesterday, opening the front door and seeing her standing there. I hadn't seen a husky close up in real life before and it was love at first sight. Those blue eyes looking up at me, tail wagging. I named her Gypsy after the Fleetwood mac song. She had followed my brother home from Parramatta, train trip and all. I had just moved back to Mums after a relationship break up. It was like it was meant to be. Like someone had sent her to make my life better and complete. And that she did. A week or so after she arrived Mum ordered me to take her to the vet to be scanned. So I put her on the lead and walked up to the local vet. I got to the door, but couldn't go in. By then Me and Gyps had formed a bond. I loved her and couldn't bear to lose her so turned around and walked back home. Mum asked "Does she have a chip?" my reply "No Mum". Little she knew... A short time later Gypsy escaped after my brother accidently left the gate open. I put signs up everywhere and was heartbroken and so worried about her. I was fretting badly. About 2 weeks later I was at work when Mum rang. She said "Your dog is here, someone has found her". I thought 'it couldn't be her'. My boss said I could go home early but I chose to stay, I only had half hour to go anyways. I seriously didn't believe it would be her. As I pulled into the driveway back at home, I burst into tears as I saw it was her. Turns out the lady who originally bred her, picked her up not far from home and took her to the vet to be scanned. Turned out Gypsy was one of the pups she had bred. Her nickname was "Agro". Apparently she had been the runt of the litter. Because the other people who had adopted her hadn't put their details onto her microchip, the original breeder agreed to let me keep her. It was one of the best days of my life. She gave me her microchip paperwork and the rest was history. For nearly 12 years she ruled the roost. She was Queen bee and top dog to all the other dogs, both resident and rescues. She taught the younger pups manners and how to behave around other dogs. She was a gem. There will never be another Gypsy. I still cannot believe she is gone. It's hurts to breath just thinking about her. She loved the kids as much as they loved her and would follow Jack around when he was snacking in the hope of getting a share. She was a funny old bugger, right up until the end. I just took a pic of her the night before last. She had something stuck to her nose and looked so funny. She made me laugh. Her hearing went a little but that was about it. She could still see good and get about good considering just a couple of years ago she had an accident and was paralyzed from the waist down. I thought I was going to lose her back then, but she pulled through. I taught her to walk again. It was a long road to recovery, but she got there. For all those years Gypsy stood by my side. Through the good and bad, she was always there for me. Always made life worth living. I needed her as much as she needed me. She lived with me in Manildra and Orange for a few years and loved the country life. I remember on one occassion Cassie (her daughter) was keen as mustard to get out of the car as we drove down to the creek. We got down there, let them out and Cassie shot off 100 mile an hour. I thought I would let Gyps go to bring her back but they both ended up taking off up over the mountains. I was screaming and calling out to them but they didn't even look back. So I jumped in the car and drove up this rocky little road. A fair distance up the road I caught sight of them surrounded by a herd of cows. lol. I coaxed them back into the car and was so relieved. Another time we were out bushwalking and quiet a way from home. Gypsy took off on her lonesome. We searched high and low. When we finally got home, there she was sitting on the front porch, the bugger. I will miss her rubbing her head against my hair after I had a shower, miss her coming up to me for an ear scratch, I will miss her at my feet and at the end of the bed. I will miss her snoring at night and sharing my noodles, I will miss her rolling around and groaning as she scratched herself on the floor. I am shattered and lost. You know she used to wink back at me when I winked at her. I was planning a big Birthday party for her 12th birthday next month and was also planning on taking her on a picnic this weekend. I knew this day would come One day but never expected it to happen so soon. She was fine and I thought in good health. She'd eaten her dinner, was in good spirits, her normal happy self. I was sitting at the computer and she was at my feet. She started making some crying sounds as she looked up at me, wee'd herself and passed in my arms at 11:55pm. It was over in seconds. I wouldn't of even had time to call a vet letalone get her to one. OH tried cpr and I tried chest compressions but nothing worked, she was gone, just like that. I felt numb and still do. I almost passed out myself. I suspect a heart attack but do not know for sure. All I know is that she was fine one minute and gone forever, the next. One thing I know, is that I am not afraid to die anymore - because I know if I do, I will have her there waiting for me. My Bibi girl - gone forever but always, always in my heart. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Run free with your 3 babies Claude, Cassie and Jay Jay and your Grandson Whitey. I don't how I am going to live without you. You were my heart and my life for so long. I am lost. XXX XXX

I just lost my old girl Gypsy. :cry:

Alaska has now been vetted and goes to her new home tommorow. I was so worried when she went in for her op. I was fearing the worst. She is going on 9 yrs old and also had a small mammay lump that had to come off. I was scared something might go wrong, but it didn't. She handled it extremely well and passed her check up with flying colours. The vet nurse said she was a good girl all day. The vet did a fantastic job. I had to go to Gypsy's vet as my rescue vet couldn't fit her in until the end of the week and also wanted to charge quiet a bit extra for the mammary lump to come off. The vet I went to charged almost half the price. She has 2 lots of stitches and the wounds are nice and clean. Her new Mummy cannot wait to take her home and spoil her. She knows Alaska will have to be kept quiet whilst she still has he stitches in and will be taking her to her own vet for their removal. I was already crying earlier today when I edited her Petrescue listing to say she is going on trial 17.7.11. I am going to miss her alot, but I know her new family can give her way more one on one attention than I can and that is what Alaska needs and deserves. It will be one teary farewell. Penny has promised to send pics and keep me updated so I will post them here when I get them. I still cannot believe she is leaving... I will give her one last brush in the morning and give her lots of cuddles and kisses before her new parents arrive to pick her up. Alaska is not only proof that long termers can find their happy ending - but also proof that there are people out there seeking older dogs, just like her.