Little Gifts

Great news Rebanne, but given I'm battling hemangiomas with Jonah (on the verge of needing surgery on one on his front leg again), if you happened to message me about how you found the name I would be interested in doing some research of my own. I can then discuss with Jonah's vet and oncologist. I feel like I just need a couple of days where it doesn't get knocked or pressurised and it would resolve but we are getting a bleed every day now and I can't even blame Jonah for licking it! Thank you

I had to stop watching it on the news. Just can't fathom it. Does anyone remember that Thredbo landslide back in the 90s. I was so invested in that I set up a tv next to my desk at work. Disasters like this where people are trapped in some way and need assistance or they will die gets under my skin and I become too invested so have to give myself time outs.

@pesh Id previously thought when my old stafford girl passes that I will get some buttons for Jonah as I reckon he would take to the idea. Wellmy old girl passed 3 weeks ago and I bought a 9 pack of these today. Got them cheaper on AliExpress (same brand) as these are in US dollars. Will let you know how we go! https://www.mewoof.com/products/dog-button-for-communication?spm=..index.product_list_1.3&spm_prev=..order.header_1.1&variant=42cbbb34-6887-4ad4-ba1b-1e5145de3338

Our RSPCA (at the old location) used to also be the type where they opened the gates at a certain time and anyone could come in and wander around. There were never any staff around (even for us vollies to find) so only the really serious potential adopters stuck it out to find a staff member. So appointments could actually be a sensible idea all round.

When I was a kid (back in the 60s) my parents rescued and rehabbed a lot of animals, usually word of mouth stuff. My mum was a human nurse and that was literally the only skills they had. They eventually opened an animal fun park with many of the unreleasable animals. Some animals were able to be engaged with and others were in cages and enclosures (fairly decent ones). We had lots of staff to care for them and monitor them but till noone had any professional animal care skills. My parents would take in anything - I remember we once had a sick penguin in and it lived in the big outdoor run with the guinea pigs. Is that good? No idea but it was rehabilitated and released. That was the start of my animal loving journey. Later, in the 90s I was a foster carer for the RSPCA who also went and cleaned and socialised the animals (mainly puppies) at their main shelter. I did that for many years until I could no longer stand the neglect that was happening. They allowed us less and less responsibility and the staff were never around to do the important stuff. I was guilted into things I didn't want to do too. We were no longer allowed to feed the animals so we'd have poor puppies starving for breakfast and we were allowed to 'socialise' them when all they wanted was food. Same with the adult dogs - we could take them for walks but it was heading on to lunchtime and still nothing to eat since the afternoon before and they were scared they would miss out if they left their run. None of those dogs was presenting themselves well for potential adopters either. Saw lots of other horrible stuff happen that I wont go into, but they are supposed to be our animal welfare standard and enforcement agency. What hope do we have with independant rescues when they are the yardstick? And I've said it multiple times before - if the RSPCA was doing what the general public thinks it is doing for all creatures great and small then we wouldn't even need all these hundreds of independant rescue groups. Nope, we would have a great agency that we all looked up to knowing animals in need were in safe hands. Instead we can't even rely on them to do their statutory functions effectively and in a timely manner.

Stussy was her crazy, weirdo, into everything self while on it (maybe the last 1.5 years?). It just lessened the Sundowners carry on and duration. She'd still wander inside and pant but much less intense than before and less dragging around of the dogs beds and being right underfoot and rarely going outside with it. Before she would wander the whole yard with no purpose in mind. So still the same dog (positives and negatives) but the negatives were a lot less intense and shorter in duration. She was happier and more balanced on them but not doped out at all.

For quite a while we were using Vetalogica Tranquil chews for dogs for Stussy's Sundowners. We also tried Adaptil (collar and plug in) but no real change. But the Vetalogica worked for her and whenever we ran out after about 2 days off it she was definately more angsty. I got mine from Pet Circle. They are like a piece of kibble. Stussy was around 16kg and had 2 with brekkie and 2 with dinner.

Just horrible. What the f*** is wrong with people?

I reckon this is how Storybook Farm changed for the worse too. Took some high need rescue/surrenders in and suddenly they were coming out of the woodworks and her children were all dragged in to help with the realities of owning that many high need animals and it got out of control fairly quickly and she just started hiding it. The reality is who does a rescuer reach out for help to in this instance? If they go to the RSPCA the animals are likely to be seized and euthanised and they may even be charged with an offence. I think that is why they hide it and hope they get on top of it all again. Even if you are attracting donations (like Storybook) that doesn't equate to extra time in your day and who do you pay to come in and help who may not also report you? It's really a vicious cycle and of course it is ultimately the animals who suffer.

Super remorseful? I don't get it. A very expensive fine and an animal cruelty conviction might at least get those idiots sharing their story on their socials and with their family and friends and then all the other animal owning idiots who read their story and can say they know someone this actually happened to might actually get the message! I mean come on, a Qld summer and you come back to your car and everything inside is hot to touch so you immediately crank the air con up for 5 minutes - well what the f*** did they think it would be like for the dogs in there for several hours??? How is the message going to get through to people if there is no real personal impact?

Jonah is covered in hemangioma's. They get bigger in certain spots (mainly his legs) he starts licking them and they bleed and never want to stop. Healing has been made more difficult since he started chemo and one problematic one is why he stopped chemo early so it could be removed (tumour also removed at same time). I've never known if there is a topical product I can put on them to stop the bleeding (have asked and been told just pressure). But once I get ours under control I put fresh aloe vera gel (the green stuff inside the leaves) around the outside of the wound and then I put a big XL wound dressing over it (which will soak up any oozing but not stick to the wound) and usually I have to use some medical tape (milky white coloured stuff) to keep it on (I get both from chemist wharehouse). That stops Jonah being able to lick it but also protects the wound from sticking to another part of his body while he sleeps and stops his spiky little hairs from irritating it. I usually have to do this for about 4 days and by then it is healed over enough. The dressing can become loose (designed for human skin and not dogs!) but as long as he is not touching it it doesn't matter. I usually change it over once a day. I add more aloe gel around the outside each time and it is enough to help it heal under the dressing.

The owner is ultimately responsible for all this, including the death of their dogs. How does one person even source and safely contain that many human aggressive dogs for the entire span of their lives? Do they never come into contact accidentally with a stranger? What about a visiting child who runs over to their cage to say hello? What if they end up in hospital - who can safely feed their dogs? Do they inspect their fences every day to ensure they are fully contained? Are these people hermits? Did they train them to be human aggressive and why? Anyone on here who has had a dog with behavioural issues knows what a juggling act it is so owning 4 like this is a full time job. He chose to keep these 4 dogs and try and keep them hidden from authorities by not registering or chipping them. That is on him. What else didn't he do, like vet care for things outside of not desexing? Seriously, it's like a person wandering the suburbs with a semi-automatic except they still had the safety on. No intention to shoot my arse. Why have it and why have it out in public then? Both scenario's are disasters waiting to happen. I'd like people like that charged with animal cruelty too. Their failings led to the death of those dogs.

I guess I've been worried only because hers does normally grow back quite quickly and I expected this area to be the same. Along her back/spine is still totally bald. Hopefully she has it back for next winter!

Wow! Hers has always grown back quickly and normally. Can't even tell she had TB surgery this year and the shave area for that was fairly decent too.

Hi everyone! My stafford girl has had a big year health wise. She had tie back surgery for laryngeal paralysis in April and then a large low grade sarcoma removed in September (too big to be left). Same specialist surgeon did both. He did unfortunately go a little crazy with both the shaving and lumps and bumps he removed. She turned 15 in November so lumps and bumps are the norm for many of our oldies. Anyway, we are almost 3 months on and this is all the hair that has grown back. It seems very weird to me. She had a previous sarcoma removed near the same area on her back (a couple of years ago) and the hair grew back normally. It grew back at her TB site and all parts of her legs that have been shaved for sedation meds or bloods this year. But there are sections of her back that are still totally smooth and many other areas just have one long hair sprouting just here and there. I've added a pic from just after surgery and today so you can see things haven't grown back much in 3 months. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Could she have been shaved too low and now have damaged hair folicles? It's quite a large area and I'm just not sure if there is anything I can do to help it return. People comment on it asking what's wrong and I just want her as back to normal as she can get after such a scary year. Thank you!

I think this process is going to need to be much stricter after this. Meters that can be read without entering the dogs turf would be ideal but not always possible. Alternatively a text to technician from owners advising all safety measures have been taken for the visit. If not they get an estimate read. There is too much at stake for humans AND dogs to not lessen the risk now. First time ever at my house I was expecting a gas delivery when noone was home. Had to lock the dogs in (summer so not ideal) and leave the side gate unlocked. Even left a note on my front door for the gas guy so he'd know. If I had text to technician option I would've felt safer sharing that info. There's got to be a better and safer way.

I could have sworn it said owners were home when I first read it so you may be correct - an error they rectified. Not saying the owners should've done more either if they were home as they could have been seriously injured too trying to intervene. In either scenario it is a traumatic event.

Apologies- I actually read it totally differently - obviously not reading it properly. Sorry!

Looks like 3 large breed mixes. Horrible. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-03/man-mauled-to-death-by-dogs-logan/101730890?utm_medium=social&utm_content=sf262475098&utm_campaign=fb_abc_news&utm_source=m.facebook.com&sf262475098=1&fbclid=IwAR1D6bCdae1GcEXPKyyqCp2T3B32g0MbEONs0-XYyKdIjdeh3HHKMETt3DU Edited because I made a big boo boo.

I wonder if they got loose while he was working?

Stussy has Laryngeal Paralysis ( geriatric onset LP - collapse on one side and paralysis on both, which is also nerve related) and I joined a great FB group thanks to DOLers advice. She eats and drinks from raised dishes (shoulder height). Her food bowl is this metal rod thing that you can slide up and down to get the correct height. Ones with set heights may not be the right height. She has a slow water bowl (it goes on a plastic basket for height). It is great as she was always gulping her water and a bit hacky as a result. Both items easily bought on line. Also bought a set for Jonah and he seems to enjoy not having his face falling in his food and water! There is also a water thickener that some people buy that has helped their dogs too. Could be beneficial for you to try since liquids are a problem. Can also add some pics if you think it is useful. Other ways to get fluids in are also to freeze canine bone broth (you can buy it in supermarkets now). It freezes quite soft so is easy for them to chew. I found a little tray that make ones about half the size of a normal ice cube. Maybe you could go even smaller and just aim for a straight swallow? Stussy is never ever fed or watered at ground level anymore, not even treats. Before we had tie back (TB) surgery (which leaves one side of their throat permanently open) my vet said to start feeding her wet meatball foods to avoid aspiration pneumonia (LP) so you could also start doing that. The aim is for the item to be small enough and slippery enough for a straight swallow. It hasn't all been positive though - she has vomited more this year than she has in all her previous 14 years put together but we have not had a single incident of aspiration pneumonia. I feel very lucky for that as so many other LP doggos seem to suffer AP and reflux and all manner of other problems whether they have TB. LP is different of course to Mega and it also affects the hind legs and a lot of the dogs either succumb to AP or lose their ability to walk. Some who can't have TB surgery eventually can't recover from a breathing crisis. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot that will re-stimulate the nerves once the disruption has commenced either. She can no longer wear anything around her neck so no collars. Some of her dog coats with loose necks are fine but I also made her some v neck styles. I also had to turn one harness into a v neck as it sat higher around her throat. Not all harnesses sit the same so you'll have to play with this too and find one that sits in a way that doesn't add any pressure, particularly when pulled on with a leash. I was beside myself when she was first diagnosed and we had some problems finding a great surgeon and then we had some post surgical problems. She also lost a lot of weight on the meatballs but once we got a routine and back on the kibble based diet she hasn't looked back (you can also soak kibble and reform it into meatballs). She is now 15 so has slowed down anyway but this is our first summer since she developed it and we have new skills to learn about how to manage her breathing in the heat, even if she isn't doing much. I'm sure the FB page that stellnme mentioned will have a wealth of knowledge on it for you but some of this may be useful to you as we are going through it now.

Shit Rascal. What is your relationship with this breeder like? If it has been good then when you are feeling a little calmer just send them a message advising what your vet has told you. Don't put any expectations in the email - make it just an information email and if this breeder is at all concerned about the quality of their breeding stock, this pup and you as a new owner of one of their pups then they will make you an offer and you can start some negotiations. I am not a breeder but if it was me the first thing I would be asking for is a report from a specialist and offering to cover the cost of this. A good breeder would want to know about something like this and be concerned and responsive.

Valmae the problem is people lie and they lie with conviction. You can blame them for breeders who actually care about where their pups and older dogs go for putting prospective new owners through the ringer. As living creatures they are not like other items we shop for where you see something you like, discuss the price and say yes or no. The breeder/owner of that 'item' gets the final say on price and who can buy it. If you find a breeder negotiating the price quickly to suit you and saying pick whichever one you want, yes we will send the dog anywhere at your expense then they are either a backyard breeder, puppy farmer or a scammer. All three are to be avoided. Remember the breeder already has a relationship with this dog and they know what type of family and lifestyle it needs. It's not about the money but finding a good match. If your frustrations make you combative then they will quickly move on to someone who isn't. They want it to be a positive experience too - they are giving up and animal they know and love.

No idea but one of ours loved them so much when she was cremated my sister had an empty roll done with her so she'd have one to chew on for eternity.

So glad you took her back to the vet! Pancreatitis is horrible! See we have to trust our instincts and knowledge of our dogs and honestly, a good vet will be happy with a quick phone call and follow up visit if any concerns arise post or during treatment, so never be afraid to voice concerns to them if something doesn't feel or seem right.