~Anne~

Hi everyone, I hope it's ok that I join in. I've missed the first few weeks so mine will commence from week 5 (?). My new babies, Obi and Daisy. Definitely ying and yang.

Omg, the poor dog. I hope someone locates it and soon.

I don't believe there is any mandatory testing done, although it's been a while since I've looked into it and it could have changed. Pugs can and do have multiple health issues. Some worse than others. You cannot breed a pug without some degree of brachycephlic syndrome as this issue comes with the branch skull shape. If your friend is looking for a beautiful affectionate dog, that will be indoors and they're prepared for the fact it's not a dog they can drag out in the heat of the day for a walk, or take for a 3km run, then they'll be fine. Pugs are not for everyone though. They shed like demons, snort, fart and generally smell more than most breeds, and will cost the average owner far more in vet fees than many others breeds.

Thanks Maddy.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know is behind the group called: Tail Piece, Animal Advocacy, Discussion and Research? It's a fb group. Not sure of what else. Feel free to message me.

Totally agree.

Yes this. I don't ever worry that it is too soon. What is too soon? It's just too soon for yourself, your pet doesn't know, because your pet is not on this earth anymore. But being too late - that haunts me. That's the crux though. It's an individual's perception of when the right time is. We're all different and so when you think it's the best time, the person next to you may have thought it was too late or too early. It's not an exact science. I've euthanised 3 dogs in as many years. I still don't know if I made the decision at the right time for each of them. As the person who makes the decision, I guess this not really knowing feeling will always haunt me.

There's a nsw rescue that could do with reading Shel's blog from what I've witnessed on fb. Koalathebear, you handled yourself really well in that email exchange. As for regulations, in nsw, rescues have to abide by multiple legislation. Most of them simply don't know the legislation they're meant to operate under. I find that only a handful even understand the Companion Animals Act, let alone POCTA or any others.

Maddy, you're not telling me anything new or different, and I know you're not trying too. I'm the personality type that needs consistency. In the cat world I've discpvered that a moggy is most acceptable... I'm about to buy two purebred Burmese when I have the choice of thousands of moggies. In having said that, it is my personality type. I like precision. I like the expected. I like to know exactly what I'm getting. That's me. However, back to the point of oodles vs purebreds. All in all, a dog is a dog as a cat is a cat. Most oodles are not walking disasters, and neither are most purebreds. In the end it comes down to the fact that it is just a dog and people just want a dog. It's also easier to buy a cross bred dog. This bizarre situation we now have where 'responsible' means that a breeder has to put the purchaser through the 5th degree is crap. Most people just want to buy a dog. Most people are responsible enough to be able to do this without being treated like they are idiots. Every time I read ethical and breeder in one sentence I want to feckin scream. We've made it such an ordeal. We've made it so hard for ourselves. Most people still just want a dog.

Whoa there, Gruf. You're mixing the sensible with logic. :laugh:

Good luck. I'm getting an Oscillot fence system installed in the next few months. That should solve my problem once and for all, and it will keep my guys in my yard.

I'd have thought that as a rescuer/former rescuer you wouldn't think it funny to shirk your responsibilities, Tdx. The money taken in through registrations helps councils emfroce the companion animals act, provide leash free areas and other companion animal programs and activities.

That was hilarious! :laugh:

I have a neighbours cat that enjoys pooing in my garden. I buy moth balls and place them in the areas that it toilets and it stops it. You can buy the moth balls in a yellow tube. I cut the tube open amd just use the balls. When the balls slowly distengrate, it comes back so I do it again. I usually have to do it every 3-6 months.

Or a normal length tongue with an excessively short head to keep it in. Bingo. I absolutely adore the breed and have had a very long association with it, but I'm realistic to the problems that smoochable face has.

Many years ago I was banned from debating anythign related to the issues with pugs when I stated that a pug, regardless of who bred it or why, is inherently defective simply due to the very fact that it has a brachycephalic skull. Now we can say that with ease. How times change. :laugh: Troy, are you reading this?

Oh, and FABULOUS WORK PERS!

Personally, I would never buy a dog or cat unseen. If you need someone to check on a pup in another state, and go meet it, perhaps ask here if anyone can help.

Geriatric vestibular disease is quite common. Monte had what we thought was a vestibular episode a few months before he died. The jury is still out. His symptoms all pointed to vestibular - his eyes were rolling around, he couldn't stand, and he had a head tilt. He had epilepsy though and his symptoms were quite severe. It took him some time before he was independent again. We helped him by supporting him with his harness when he needed to toilet, giving him small amounts of food often (to help nausea) and watching him for risks. We had to close off all stairs and steps and keep him in a confined area. His neuro feels it may have been more than just vestibular though as it occurred again just over 3 months later and this time he also went into continuous seizures. His head tilt immediately prior to the final seizures was really, really bad.

It's not a company, but the NSW government. Residents in NSW must have their dogs and cats included on the NSW Registry. There is a difference in NSW between microchipping and registering. Two different processes. Microchipping is the identification of a dog or cat and registration is the process of recording their address and which local government area they reside under. Adding them to the microchip database, in NSW, is free. Microchipping incurs a fee, usually by an Authorised Implanter or a vet. Registering them costs - the once only fee is paid online on the new system or direct to a council on the old system.

Maddy - just on a side note. On one occasion Monte suffered from bromide toxicity. His dosage hadn't changed, his diet hadn't changed, but the bromide built up in his system to lethal levels. He'd been on it for many years by them so it was a surprise. He was, however, a very sick little pug for a few days and spent some time in emergency care in Sydney. No-one is sure why the levels built up to such a high extent. I can't recall his readings, but they were triple what they should have been.

I hope we get there Anne, but if not we will give her all our love and comfort. I'm afraid they will get worse, as we are maxed out on meds. Don't be too stressed. Monte lived for 10 years on max dosage. He still managed a cluster of 4 or 5 every few weeks. He eventually went into status and we couldn't stop his seizures. After 18 or so hours of constant seizures, we elected to euthanise him. I'm still heartbroken. He was a beautiful dog and he lived a wonderful life even with his epilepsy, right up the very end. The only time in his entire life I considered euthanasia was that last day, and I knew without doubt, the time had come.

Charles was a member of this forum. I'm not sure if he still is. I had a message conversation or two with him a few years ago on here about my epi boy. I've never met him though. I totally agree with those who have said they don't feel their seizures. It's why I never considered euthanasia of Monte. Humans also live with this condition. It's treatable and many dogs have their seizures totally controlled by medication.

It is a responsibility, that's for sure and if you're not 100% comfortable with it, then I think your decision not take the dog on is a good one. One consideration should also be around aggression. Aggression exhibited by both the epi dog and others reacting to a dog having a seizure. Dogs have been known to attack a dog experiencing a seizure. I've read many forum posts on the epi forum I used to belong to, where this occurred. I ran a rescue while I had Monte. In having said that, it was for pugs and so we didn't really have any issues with others attacking him. Monte looked very youthful for his age. He barely had a grey hair to be seen, even when he died and he enjoyed his life as much as the others.

I also had an epileptic dog. Monte was 12 when he died, 2.5 years ago, as an indirect or direct result of his condition. The jury will forever remain out on that score. Monte began having clusters of seizures when he was around 18 months old. It was why he ended up in rescue and why he came to me. He was medicated with both bromide and phenobarbital daily and was given rectal Valium (not tablets mixed with water but injectable Valium) when he had a cluster. His clusters never stopped however and he was on maximum doses. There is also another drug, Keppra, and he stared on this towards the end of his life, but only when he had a seizure. He wasn't a candidate for the usual Keppra medication regime because it had to be given 8 hourly to have any real affect and I wasn't able to do this. Bromide and pheno have to be given 12 hourly. Compliance with the timing is important because the drug levels reduce in the system and effective control lessens. We couldn't afford to lessen the control of his seizures any more then they were - he averaged a cluster every 2-3 weeks or so and maintained this average for a good majority of his life. He remained under the care of the leading expert in canine neurology in Australia, his entire life. Unfortunately she's in Sydney so it will be hard for you to consult with her. Monte was fed largely a natural diet, but not raw. One of my other guys couldn't tolerate raw meat so it was always cooked. He also had low fat high quality kibble. He lived a wonderfully happy little life though. His drug regime and care was very rigorous and I can't say it was easy, however I wouldn't have changed those years for the world. He never had any other health problems his entire life, only things related to his condition.