stellnme

Thinking of you both and hoping for good news today.

Sleep well, Toby - you were loved. I'm so sorry, RallyVally.

It was an honour to help in my very small way by donating and buying. Thank you for the amazing help you gave to those in need. As we can see by the replies already, many felt the same way. I hope a small rest is coming your way, Julie - you have done great things.

Sometimes I do think people don't know the procedure to look for a lost dog or where to look. Perhaps elderly people have no transport, are unaware of where a dog may be taken, especially in the cities. I know I would move heaven and earth to look for mine, but I have the means and the information to do so. I remember working with a lady who had lost her dog and was totally clueless of what to do, and I suggested the pound (frequently), every vet clinic in town, the local radio station's pet service, etc. The dog was handed in to a vet clinic who she had subsequently contacted and left a description, thank goodness, but this was a professional person who just didn't know where to look. Nawnim, I'm sure your dog is very happy with her second home :) I'm equally sure that if we knew our dogs' past, it would help to understand some behaviours, but wouldn't explain everything. I know mine was neglected and that's all I needed to know - she was safe and loved for as long as I had her.

Totally agree Pav Lova. By the way BigDaz, some people wanting their dogs to have just one litter may be ignorant of the risks and not informed but they are not all "morons." One of the kindest, nicest person I know is wanting their dog to have pups "just once." and we are trying to change her mind by letting her know exactly what Pav Lova is saying. Sometimes that is the only advice that may work.

Love the top photo, Donatella. Your dogs look like little cuddly toys!

Got mine today too and they are such good quality. I got the second pack as well which can be used for general purpose cards (if they last past Christmas, that is!) Well done, Ams.

I'm sorry the diagnosis is so confusing, hope the next blood test sheds more light on the problem and that the meds help. It does make you wonder where she could have got it from if it is reactive hepatitis. Hope she improves and you get somewhere with it all.

Thanks, Jules. Good luck for tomorrow and please let us know how Renae is. Please don't blame yourself, whatever it is, with a well-loved and looked after dog like I'm sure yours is, you have done everything you can. Always good to know what you are dealing with, though.

Jules, I lost my old dog 5 weeks ago. She showed very elevated liver enzyme levels on a blood profile which she needed before an eye operation. The vet suspected Cushings Disease and the best way to get a positive diagnosis of this is a Dexamethasone Suppression Test which entails taking blood at regular intervals during the day at the vet clinic. After Cushings was diagnosed, the vet was going to do an ultrasound to determine what tumour it was -pituatory or adrenal, and if anything else, i.e. liver issues were going on. Unfortunately she became very ill before with other issues and we sadly had no choice but to let her go. She was eating a lot and didn't have the excessive thirst which is a feature, but not all dogs have the same symptoms. A Dexamethasone Suppression test is the best positive identifier of Cushings. My advice would be to talk to your vet and have this test first if he suspects Cushings. Just a point of interest, my dog was a rescue and I had a blood profile done in January which didn't show elevated levels, yet in just 9 months they became very high. Addisons disease is the opposite of Cushings - humans can get both these diseases as well. If your dog is diagnosed with Cushings, get in touch with Sheridan - she gave me some excellent advice and information as she deals with it with her own dog. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to use it with my own dog. Sending all good vibes for your dog.

One pack of each, please Ams. Will PM you with details.

Friends of the Hound have a good A4 wall one in colour of rescued greys for $20.00.

Thanks all for your support and kind words. I just want this week to be over, this is so hard...

This morning my little dog Marlie passed peacefully away. Marlie had been in a pound then a shelter when I took her home in January. She was very old, had cataracts, little hearing, a curious eye lession that would not heal and very bad skin condition. Probably because of all this, no-one wanted her so I brought her home. It soon became clear that she was very anxious and would cry if she could not find us. She had a warm bed, good food and vet treatment and was booked in for any eye operation with the specialist when a blood profile revealed very elevated liver enzyme levels and after further tests, Cushings Disease. She was going to have an ultrasound to determine what was happening, but she had other plans and it broke my heart to lose my second dog in a week today. Sleep well little Marlie - you were loved. "So, I am glad, not that she's gone But that this earth she roamed and lived upon was my earth too. That I had closely known and loved her and that my love I'd shown. Tears over her passing? No - a smile That I had walked with her a little while."

Maybe also contact the AWL in Ipswich and the RSPCA in Brisbane just in case the puppy is dumped there?

Now guarding the gates of Rainbow Bridge and bossing all the occupants inside as all good Jack Russells do - gone much too soon at 10 years but now free from pain. Who will now alert me to the sounds in the dark, sit in the middle of the grandchildren's games, walk beside me through the gullies and paddocks? Gone where all good dogs go - within our hearts. Sleep well, little brown dog - you were loved.

Sleep well little Toasty - you were loved.

Thanks to all for your replies. I guess we all have our own experiences with our dogs that colour our opinions and I respect that. I should clarify that this little dog is from a shelter and I have only had her since January. I took her on with a serious eye problem as well as the cataracts and nobody was going to adopt her with all her issues. She was booked in with the visiting eye specialist in a couple of weeks to try and repair it, but they now cannot operate with her diagnosis of Cushings. She has separation anxiety which I had worked on and it was steadily getting a little better, but the recent tests and separation from home has made her regress. I had a good talk to my usual vet yesterday who gave me a lot of information about Cushings and discussed the pros and cons of treating this particular dog. Whatever we decide to do will be done with the best intentions and a lot of love for this little one. Sheridan, I will say that I think Grumpy will live forever - what an amazing dog!

Have just had my old dog diagnosed with Cushings after the Dexamethasone Suppression test. The vet wants to do an ultrasound soon to determine the cause. We have read quite a lot about the treatments and that they improve the quality of life but not the longevity, and the associated problems with getting the right drug, dose, possible high expense and follow up blood tests. My little dog is old, has cataracts, is more than a little deaf and has an unknown history - do we put her through it all for a little more time with her or just let her go peacefully? I know some of you have Cushings dogs and would be grateful for any advice, please.

So true Padraic. My local pound charges $49 for the first impounding and $18 a day for "sustenance." Put together a few days in a pound and that is serious money for someone who can't afford an extra bill in their lives.

I am also concerned about the rise in rescue "cowboys" over the past couple of years. Shmoo put out an excellent fostering manual a while back - how good would it be if someone experienced in rescue put together a rescue manual which helped newbies realise the dangers of rescuing everything, control of parvo and other diseases when taking dogs from a pound, temp. testing, how to vet a foster carer (and not let the first person who puts their hand up foster without investigation.) There are many more issues to cover as well. When I first came to DOL, I used to offer money for dogs in the "urgent rescues" section as my way of helping. Along the way I met some very ethical and good rescue people, but now I wouldn't be game to give money away to unknowns. The problems of money going to who knows where is a big problem unfortunately and I think Pound Rounds and some others have a big case to answer in that. So hard for the good rescues these days.

Sleep well, beautiful boy - you were loved.

Many thanks, I will investigate Milk thistle, interesting info. Have since learned from the vet that the Alkaline Phosphtase level (the main elevated) was 668.

The PIAA man said they "ask a lot of questions" when people adopt from pet shops. I thought the only question they ask was "cheque or savings?"

Thanks, SchnauzerMax, for the info. One of my other dogs has pancreatitis so all four are on Hills Science Diet with no/low fat treats, etc., so that is all good. The vet didn't suggest a second blood test, but this dog is a rescue (in January), and the blood test I had done when I got her didn't indicate anything unusual, so this one now is a bit of a worry. She is quite old with an unknown past. We have no choice but to wait for an ultrasound as my vet doesn't do them and the bigger animal hospital has their vet( who does them) away. That's interesting that it can just be due to old age, and yes, it could be because of the low white blood cell count that she is opting for the ultrasound. I appreciate your reply.