~Anne~

Olivia is continuing to deteriorate. Our vet will be visiting us tomorrow afternoon to give her, her wings.

How do you find out about breed club show days? You could try Dogs Victoria or the Maltese breed club. http://www.malteseclubvic.net/puppies-for-sale.asp http://www.dogsvictoria.org.au

Thanks PK, we don't have much by way of emergency vets here where I live. We have two vets and one of them does all of the emergencies. I have his mobile number. I only ever had to call him once, and that was when Monte went onto status just before he died, a few years back. David, the emergency vet, was in Sydney and couldn't help me! I really should ensure I know of the next option in case that happens again. At the moment, my husband and I are talking daily about when the tiem will be that we have to make the decision. I'm hoping we make the decision at the right time, and just like with Boofy last year, I'll have the vet do a home visit to do it. It's the worst appointment to make but I know it has to be done. .

Thanks Helen. She's being made as comfortable as possible but her condition is such that we're measuring days left, and there isn't time to get back up to Sydney to consult anyone else. I've been reassured she's not in any real pain, it's more that's she's feeling weak and unwell. She's still having good moments and when those moments disappear then it will be time. We've not long come back inside from laying in the sun on the grass. She had a bit of a roll and enjoyed it. It was only short - maybe 10-15 minutes but I could see she was enjoying it. The weakness and wanting to sleep is not overly worrying me, it's more that her breathing is more pronounced. Kirty, she's on prednisone, Losec (an antacid) and Carafate (a gastro protectant). The specialist had suggested we have her red cell count tested again on Friday but I just don't see the point. Yes, we will know if it's changed or lowered further, but it is just more tests and stress.

Ahh, ok. Thanks. As I said, I've struggled to understand why ever since I first heard of the issue. I agree with the bonding with each other more than you, but I think that can happen with any pairing.

I think competition and choice is good. Melzawalza - I'm not sure of the validity of the statement that PetRescue is well known to the public. Before I became just another person, and not a rescuer, I would have thought the same but my conversations with people about rescue dogs, in the last few years, have made me see otherwise. I don't think rescue is understood, nor do I think PetRescue is a platform that is well known. Although it surely is the most well known single source, because it is the only single source. The new one has a hell of a lot of catching up to do to get itself out there in the marketplace. . I'd like to see what the awareness percentage actually is. If I were a millionaire I'd actually undertake a huge amount of study, research and surveys to define multiple aspects of the rescue industry. One day I might just win the lottery. :laugh:

The sibling syndrome has always got me too. I've had numerous siblings over the years and never had an issue and I've known (and know) many others who have two from the same litter and they don't have any problems? it's only been the last couple of years I've ever enve heard of this issue. Genuine question - Why would siblings have any more or less issue than any other pairing? Surely temperament would play a far bigger role regardless of parentage?

Thanks everyone. We're not so good today. She's mainly just wanting to sleep. I got her to eat breakfast and she went straight back to bed after it. One side of her face is swollen a little more and her eye on that side looks sore. I think there is something happening underneath that I can't see. Her breathing is more pronounced too.

Eliminate the treats and snacks. Easy. I've had pugs most of my life and I've always managed to keep them on the lean side. I do this by not feeding anything but their meals. No snacks or treats. They know not to beg because they never get anything.

My advice always, to anyone wanting to buy a pug puppy, was to visit breed club show days. At the very minimum you will learn about the breed in Australia, meet a great range of breeders and see their dogs... sometimes even their puppies, and you'll get a broad range of advice. Think of the breed club show day as your first step and work your way from there.

Catching a few rays in the bedroom.

I'm so sorry, Boronia. I'm glad to read that he's happy and cruising. Enjoy him and spoil him. ❤️

Tootsie, while I understand the need to write about it on public forums, the only way you can change anything is to take appropriate action. If there is evidence that they are breaking the law (as has been stated in this thread, there are a number of Acts and regulations that the rescue is bound by) then report it. From experience, threads like this and narky social media campaigns don't do much to help the dogs unless it is combined with taking action along appropriate channels.

Thanks everyone. It's amazing how quickly it is taking over her body. It all started only about 8-9 weeks ago when I noticed what looked like a rash on her belly. The vet thought it might have been a contact allergy of some description. I searched the yard for suspect plants, and tried to think of what it could be. I'd not changed washing powders, we had no new rugs or carpets, her diet was the same and our routine was the same. I couldn't think of anything to pin it on. We came home with neocort, antibiotics and she had a shot of cortisone. Then she had an issue with her breathing a week or two later. We're still perplexed about this. I rushed her back to the vet but they couldn't find anything that would cause her to be breathing in the way she was. She wasn't struggling as such but she was breathing a lot harder than normal. More tests, X-rays and once overs. Meanwhile, her skin wasnt improving. The 'rash' was even more red and had spread a little more. Another injection of cortisone, more neocort, and antibiotics were prescribed. By now it was lightly showing on her chest and in her armpits. Another week or two later and it was very evident that the prescribed antibiotics, cortisone, neocort and bathing in malaseb was having little affect. Further testing was undertaken. Scrapes and cultures showed nothing. Lumps were coming up all over her body and her skin was by now blistering in places. A stronger cream was prescribed and she was put on prednisone and more antibiotics while a biopsy was undertaken. She was not eating well, was lethargic and obviously very unwell. It took 2 weeks for the results of the biopsy to come back. The progression of her disease has been lightning fast. From what seemed to be a simple skin rash 9 weeks ago to her condition today. It's hard to absorb.

If you can show evidence that they have breached the Companion Animal legislation you can seek to have the 16d exemption revoked. In having sad that, it may not stop them from rescuing. You don't need a 16d exemption to rescue. The kennelled dogs should be registered to them by now. There is a time limit of how long you can keep a dog unregistered, even if you have a 16d.

Thansk, that was really interesting. Unfortunately, the specialists have concluded Olivia's cancer has metastasised due to the changes in her liver and lymph nodes and her anaemia.

Does anyone have any experience with palliative care of a dog with epitheliotrophic cutaneous lymphoma? I'm unsure of what really to expect with Olivia. Today is a good day and she's eaten with gusto, which I'm ecstatic about! Her skin worsens by the day though and it has now spread to about 2/3 of her body. I'd love to chat with someone who may have been through it with their dog but, as its not common, it's hard find anyone. This is Olivia today. Her face is worsening by the day too and she has a large lump under one eye at is beginning to grow very rapidly.

We now have a conclusive diagnosis. Olivia has come back home for her final days. Her skin problem is actually cancer and it's invading her body. She's been diagnosed with epitheliotrophic lymphoma. The hospital rang this morning to let me know her red blood cell count had dropped even further. Her red cell count is down to 17%. She also has an antibiotic resistant bacterial infection in her ear that they're not sure how to treat. She's comfortable and sleeping a lot. I've bought heaps of favourite food for her. All the things she's never been allowed to eat - roast chook, ricotta cheese, flavoured yoghurt and even little sachets of puppy food and adult dog food 'with gravy'. Looking at her skin, and her energy levels, I'm expecting we're talking days and not weeks. I can take some solace in the fact that she's apparently not in pain, just not feeling well and she's very, very tired.

We've got good and bad results so far. Her red blood cell count is very low but the good news is it hasn't dropped any further. They were considering a transfusion if it dropped any more. She's off the oxygen and she's apparently a little brighter. She's also been on fluids and glucose as her glucose levels were very low so this would explain her feeling brighter . There are other blood results that are also not so great but most have improved. The bad news - an ultrasound shows her liver is enlarged. This could be from the prednisone she's been on for the potential lupus diagnoses, but the lymph nodes around her liver also show change and this they believe means there is a strong possibility of cancer of the liver. They're reluctant to do any aggressive testing as test results also show she's having problems with her blood not clotting so the ultrasound is the best they can do at this point. The meds she's been on for the skin issue is making everything worse and she's not able to tolerate them on many levels. This means if it is lupus, it's a possible death sentence unless we can find other solutions to treat it . If it's not lupus and it is something we can treat that won't kill her, or complicate the fact she may have cancer (in her liver or somewhere), then we can keep her going until the cancer issue gets her. It's a mixed bag.

I've driven her up to Sydney and she's been admitted to the ARH. She's on oxygen, in a closed in perspex cage thing, and they're testing her. I was getting too scared I'd lose her and rang my old vets at West Ryde and spoke with David. I wish I had spoken to him earlier. Anyway, I feel relieved she's in good hands. Fingers crossed for my miss muppet.

Thanks everyone. Showdogs, we've ruled out allergies because of the presentation. Her skin isn't itchy, it's sore and blistered and it's not just her skin. She's losing interest in food, is low in energy and I'm scared that I'm losing her. Staff - I live on the south coast of nsw. If the pathologist can't give me an answer on Monday or Tuesday I'm heading to Sydney to find someone who can help before I lose her. I'm sure SASH or Sydney Uni will have someone. A Canadian friend is currently treating a dog with mrsp and pemphigus. I'm wondering if she could have something coupled with mrsp too.

Thanks staff - just read your edited post. She only has one functioning kidney and is on cd Prescriptives. I've been trying to encourage her to have this by adding freshly steamed chicken. The creme cheese is for the medication. Any suggestions of food types for her? Thanks, Kavik. I was washing her with malaseb but can't at the moment because she has sutures from the biopsies. The other issue is the cold. Hair dryers on hot will hurt her skin more nad it's far too cold to leave her damp. I've begun to use cold cloths on her skin to try and ease it for her. It's awful. She looks like she's suffering burns all over her body. .

Thanks. I've read similar documents and she's been on the appropriate treatment for DLE for 9 days now and it's still getting worse. It initially began to improve but then flared up wprse than ever on Thursday. The pathology lab can't give any answers yet as they're now consulting with another specialist lab because of the 'unusaual' results. The vets are hoping for an answer on Monday. The biopsy was taken Friday before last.

Hey everyone, I haven't really been on for some time and im back because Dol is the only place I can think of where I might find some answers. Olivia, my now almost 12 year old pug, is suffering badly at the moment and my vets are scratching for answers. It seems that the veterinary pathologists are also. Approximately 8 weeks ago the skin on Olivia's abdomen became very red and inflamed and small hot spots began to spring up all over her body. This began to spread to her chest and under her front legs. It has continued to intermittently worsen. It's spreading slowly and is far more severe than ever. Her skin is blistered in places. She has some days of respite where it begins to clear and then it comes back, worse than ever. She's had 2 cortisone shots, is on prednisone, antibiotics, and various creams including neocort and Novasone. She's miserable and not eating very well. I've managed to keep her going on chicken and cream cheese but this becomes harder every day. She's a pug and not eating is really unusual and a measure of how unwell she is. She's drinking more water. The vets finally pegged it as discoid lupus erythematous and have taken biopsies. The tests were sent to a specialist laboratory as it requires specialist diagnoses. They've now sent it to another specialist laboratory as the results are unusual. I'm not sure yet what that means. Meanwhile, a week after the biopsy and 8 weeks in, she is still suffering and it's worsening. Her spine is showing, her ribs are beginning to show. She's flat and miserable and I feel useless. It's not an allergy. There is nothing that suggests she has suddenly developed one. The pred tabs, cortisone injections, and crimes are not working. Does anyone have any clue? Has anyone got any experience with lupus?

Hi all, I know we have a lot of members from New Zealand and I'm hoping they can share this around so this guy can make it back to his family. He is registered to Hastings, New Zealand. He is listed on the Sydney Cats and Dogs Home Facebook page and was found in Hurstville, Sydney.