Dave73

Rangers, I do not have a high opinion of that bunch. My mum had just got a Bull mastiff x rescue dog female 5 yrs old a absolute gentle giant. I had picked her up and when got back to mums took her for a walk as she had been couped up in a pen for god knows how long. Anyway 2 days later my mum calls me that a ranger had left a note that they needed to speak to her about a dog attack by her dog. Anyway I went straight down and lucky I did as this punk was trying to bully my 70 yr old mum, luckily for him he got away from me and hid in his car and called the police. Anyway the attack happened 2 days before we even got the dog this fool would not listen wouldn't look at the receipt a witness had said that they saw me walking it and it was the dog. Anyway the police cleared it up but they have no idea!!!!

Yes its a easy fix, just rest hopefully . Will re check it Friday if its no better the nail may have to come off. She is moving fine know just occasionally she hits it and she sort of rocks back on her hind leg but that's only on turning, straight lines she is fine. Sorry to hear about your dog. Its a horrible cancer this Haemangiosarcoma. I know what you mean we had the struggle with the surgery but she was only five so it was a no brainer. I have the guilt's every 3 weeks when she goes in for chemo, but the chemo has no side effects for her only a bit of tiredness for the first 7 days but that could also be due to the regular sedations at chemo time as well. That's why the vet wants to try rest to manage this nail as she has had so many generals and sedations since November 13 he only wants to go further if its absolutely necessary.

My two will be inside with the A/C on.

So was I !!!!

Its still there and attached but its pulled so to speak. She is on anti biotic cream for it as they feel she is on enough oral medication. They seem to think 5 days she should be fine. If its still tender on Friday I will take her to my usual vet. She went to the natural vet today at Russell Lea for her check up after chemo so thought let them have a look while they did her chiro and acupuncture as it was already booked.

Well had a scare yesterday, She couldn't put wait on her one and only back leg. Thought the worst but after settling down had a look and its a damaged nail. Had her to the vet this morning they don't want to touch it at this point as she has had so many generals and sedations they have asked me to keep her quiet and check it in 5 days and with some antibiotics. She is hopping around know she has learnt to turn her paw slightly to take the weight off it.

chemo number 3 today. All good blood tests were good heart scan was perfect,she has to have her first scan in 4 weeks just to check all her organs for tumours. So that will be a tough wait when its done.

Just a disgrace! I think you were very restrained. I wouldn't of been and probably would of ended up in trouble with the law!!!

Another thing with ridgebacks they love the heat. Our RR hates winter but he loves summers in western Sydney he goes outside on 40+ degree days and prefers it to the A/C inside. While the shepherd loves winter and on those 40+ days she is straight out goes toilet then back at the door wanting to get back into the A/C.

I also have a Ridgeback. He is very protective of any territory car, house. Mine will not take a backward step from anything. But I agree he would more than likely bail you up and hold you there than straight out bite. He is quite aloof which is a breed trait he is great with kids know he is 7 but when younger he was just a bit boisterous. Coat is super easy for ticks next to no grooming. He is intimidating 49kgs but people still are more afraid of our female shepherd than him.

My preference would be a GSD great with the family and kids but protective of property and family members. If you get one make sure its from a registered breeder with hip and elbow tested breeding stock.

Don't worry I have a GSD and a RR and people have always been scared to come near the shepherd but were quite happy to go straight up to the ridgeback but he is the one you have to watch, my female shepherd is very good with people. But she know has 3 legs and gets weird looks and comments that its cruel to amputate its leg. The poor girl cant win.

Best present of all today was waking up and having Jazz waiting for me at the base of the stairs.

she had her first natural vet appointment this arvo. I was a sceptic but after a few treatments chiro and massage she is up and about tonight which she would normally be on her bed and sleeping. New diet to try and a heap of herbs/ vitamins and they work in with Veronika which is great.

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He is a gentle giant the RR, he takes all her crap and doesn't bat a eye lid. We have found that out and about he is quite protective of her, if another dog comes near her he goes ballistic which he never did before. He also doesn't like to be more than a few metres apart from Jazz. Yesterday morning we went for a short 10 min walk 5 min out and 5 mins back her allotted time at the moment. When me and Jazz turned to head back the wife and Zeus were going to continue but Zeus was not leaving his sister and dragged my wife back to his sister. He wont leave the house without her tried this morning to take him for a walk and no go he chucked on the anchors and wouldn't move.

Update She has had chemo session number 2 seems good after it. SASH are very happy with her recovery from chemo but also the surgery. Shes up and bullying her RR brother again which is good to see, obviously not for the RR but he is so good with her always has been he lets her get away with murder...

Sure did but we are forever slowing her down. I will speak to the surgeon in a few weeks and see if its okay if we give her a bit more to do as I think she is bored... All she is meant to do for the next month is one 5min walk on lead a day. No off lead walking even in the yard. She has been off lead around the back yard since day 10 after surgery. They did say last week that she was way way ahead in her balance and mobility to the norm.

Well Jazz nearly gave us a heart attack this morning my wife was bringing up something from downstairs and we have a gate at the base of the stairs to stop Jazz when she had all legs from going upstairs uninvited. Know before the surgery on the weekends or days off my wife would let her up to wake me up and get me out of bed. When she moved the gate this morning Jazz took off up the stairs perfectly didn't trip didn't stumble and proceeded to jump on the bed with ease. According to the surgeon she would probably be 5 - 6 months off stairs if she could ever do it. I carried her down much to her disgust, but I bet she would of gone down as fluently as she came up... Amazing...

She had all her stitches out last night (No more cone at night). Had a blood test to check white blood cell count. The count was pretty low but Veronika says its fine nothing to worry about she will just tweak the next treatment in 2 weeks. Bindo and Kynan, thanks for your kind words. Yes she does love life and she is loving having me home all the time. Took her for a 5 min walk as per surgeons instructions this morning and a cattle dog walking past the other way growled at her and she fired up like old days. I have to remind her that she's not quite as tough know with 3 legs.

no nausea! so its day 6 know and she is more energetic than before the surgery. Veronika said she would of been slightly lethargic when the cancer was growing and she was but we just put it down to her getting older, but today she has amazed me so much energy and enthusiasm she is amazing. With the glucosamine we will definitely start something after all the chemo is over, she's on fish oil tablets for the cancer which will help anyway...

thanks for the reassuring words. Hopefully I can remain calm when these situations arise....

Well she loved the coffee run but she hates her special harness that we need to help her into the car and up and down any stairs we encounter. A little white dog took a swipe at her in the outdoor café and to our amazement she reacted the same way before the surgery with venom and speed. I always keep her close when small dogs are around, she never starts anything but if a dog lunges at her or shows aggression she reacts very quickly but I didn't bother as I thought no way is she going to be up to reacting to anything but thankfully the snap of the jaws just missed. I found peoples reaction to her strange 1 woman actually commented to her husband how cruel we are for having a leg removed on a dog and not putting her down. I was in a good mood as I had my girl out and about and I didn't send a comment back to her. Also people want to know how much it cost, I answer does it matter they say well its a dog, and I reply would you pay to save a family member and they say yes well I say she is a family member and the cost isn't the concern it her being happy and having a quality of life which she has.

WSM, Spoke to surgeon and oncologist and they have advised me that there is no need for Glucosamine as her bones and joints are very good. They checked all her joints that would be bearing the extra weight before offering amputation as a option. Also the chemo will apparently help joint and bone strength anyway. She is day 3 after chemo, she is showing some signs of nausea (constant licking) but no vomiting or dry reaching and she still has a very healthy appetite and no2's are all firm. Last night before bed we let her out to toilet and she took off down the back yard chasing a cat and she went past her RR brother (geez she can move on 3 legs) which she shouldn't be doing so we have to be careful as she is back to her usual bully/protective self. It brought a tear to our eyes knowing that she will be the same dog just with 1 less leg and we definitely made the right decision. Today she is bringing up her toys and ushering me to the door to play chase like we always did from a pup but I have to resist. Tomorrow she will be going out for coffee with us which was a Saturday ritual before the surgery.

First bout of Chemo today. A bit groggy as she needs to be sedated for it. Hopefully no nausea but we have anti nausea tablets. Could only take out some of the stitches as its still not ready, so another week of the cone at night when she sleeps, I was sleeping on the couch and had her right next to me but I wasn't sleeping as every time she moved I would wake up to ensure she wasn't licking the wound. 7 night without much sleep meant that I was a nightmare at work and home so the boss (wife) ordered me back to bed and the cone on Jazz...