~Anne~

This. You need to break down the enzymes, not mask the smell.

Well done Brutus for doing what you can for these little pups. I agree with Mita, you're doing all you can and taking the issues seriously and I think it is fabulous that you are continually seeking advice and information. Rescues don't have a monopoly on the rights of dogs and some of the comments made in threads of this nature are incredibly arrogant.

You could always pay to advertise on Dogzonline. I believe Troy has a number of different packages available.

It may be coincidence or it may be that DOL is monitored by a staff member as I received an email in the last hour or so from Dr Goldrick explaining she had mistakenly included information from another patient in Boof's notes. Pete rang me today to discuss a different plan. He's been discussing Boof's prognosis with an oncologist and the oncologist has advised we may not need chemo at this point. To cut a long story short we are now scheduling Boof for an ultrasound and X-ray to ensure the cancer has not spread anywhere. We will revise the treatment plan again after this. The oncologist believes we may be about to start chemo unnecessarily and she stated that the chemo will not stop further growths. She also believes that because 4 of them were only grade 1 and 1 grade two we might be considering chemo prematurely. There is no indication that he will develop more growths, although it is obviously a possibility, and if he does we will reconsider once again. I'm happy with this and now will have to determine what I should do in relation to the natural therapies. I will consider what he will benefit from and research it for myself. I already know where I can order any and all of the items initially recommended.

Boofy still hasn't started treatment. Pete is calling me tomorrow most likely with a definite plan. I must confess to being very disappointed with the holistic vet. I was charged $180 for a phone consult. I expected for this fee that I would get a back up information. My consult was last Thursday. Dr Goldrick was informative and we discussed quite a few things. At this point I considered the consult informative and beneficial to a degree. I was still a little concerned that it was costing me $180. I pay this to see the top specialist in Neurological disorders at Sydney Uni in person for Monte so I understandably felt there was a lot to live up to with the high cost particularly as it was only a phone consultation. At the end of the consult I asked about receiving back up info in an email to I could absorb it. I also mentioned this during the consult. I was assured that this would happen and Dr Goldrick explained that she had several client notes to write and send. On Friday morning I received a call from a receptionist I believe. She was seeking payment and confirming delivery details for things Dr Goldrick had requested for Boof. I explained that my conversation with Dr Goldrick ended with her stating she would look up the likely protocol for Paladia so she knew how to instruct me on administering the items she was recommending, and she would send notes to me via email. The nurse then said she would just charge me for the consult and wait till I received the information from Dr Goldrick regarding the recommended remedies and support. I was happy for this and I wanted to know what I was being prescribed before I paid for it and or received delivery of it. Dr Goldrick left a voicemail message for me on Friday afternoon. Shortly after I received an email that was poorly written and filled with typos, errors and includied having Boof's name written as Boofa. I figured she was rushed and trying to get something off before the end of the day. She explained also in the voicemail that she would do something up over the weekend even though she wasn't working that weekend. As a specialist in her field, I'd expect this as being normal to be honest, but that's a mute point. Today I received the email from Dr Goldrick explaining what she recommended. Again it was filled with errors, typos and this time had my name incorrect. It was obviously a cut and paste from something she had sort another client as it included another dog's name and it stated that Boof's lymph nodes had been affected and this was news to me and obviously incorrect. I was very disappointed. I had also received the invoice/receipt for my $180 payment and the 'order' of supplements and support medication. I decided to check the price being charged for the products and was distressed to see that most were being charged at an average of $9 more and up to approx $17 more for each item. The end result was that I could purchase the times elsewhere and save myself at least $60. Given I have already paid $180 for a service that has left me feeling I have not received value for I am now very hesitant to continue with any further consults. Don't get me wrong I'd pay anything to ensure Boof was given the best chance but when I am paying top dollar for a service I expect top service. I don't want 'professionals' who offer a less than professional service. I have already paid more than $2000 for medical support for Boof this year alone and I don't begrudge that but I don't want to waste money either.. Sorry, I needed to get that all out.

The same as this, except I vacuum daily (Roomba is a godsend). The dogs are groomed fortnightly, their beds are washed up to 2 times per week and I don't allow them on furnishings. I burn candles and I clean up any messes immediately and thankfully, having adult dogs, this isn't very often. Airing your house is also very important.

Lost pets NSW https://www.facebook.com/lostpetsinnsw?ref=ts&fref=ts

Wow, thanks everyone! I'll spend a few days researching and then determine my best option. I want to give Boof the best chance I can and it will also help Monte and Olivia to a smaller degree as she is in prescriptives for struvites.

Do you have a web link Rosetta?

Thanks trinabean. I've emailed the manufacturers of ziwipeak as the website says what isn't it it, rather than exactly what is. I'm looking up Artemis now. Thanks spotted Devil. Sheena is Earthborn available everywhere or is it only online? I'm off to look it up too. Thanks again everyone. Does anyone make their own little treats?? Perhaps that could be something I could do? Something like croutons but obviously not with bread??

One of my boys is soon to commence chemo and his holistic vet has suggested I remove grains and preservatives where possible. Removing most preservatives and all grains will be relatively easy from their main food sources but I am not sure about kibble. They only get a small amount of kibble each day and it is used to get them interested in going outside when we are leaving in the morning, and at night when we eat our dinner. It is something we have always done for many years and although I could change it, I'd rather continue with the routine of scattering a handful of kibble for the three of them to find and eat. I use Royal Canin Pug Specific at the moment. What brands are grain free and preferably preservative free, if there even such a thing?

Thanks staffyluv. Treatment has been held over till probably Monday or Tuesday while Pete (vet) consults with an oncologist about the Paladia. I've had the consult with the holistic vet and we are still working out his new herbs and things as well. I'm expecting an email over the weekend to sort it out and it should be dispatched by Monday.

Yes, that's it, Palladia! I'm not expecting too many issues with Boof going off his food. Pugs literally have to be dead before they lose their appetite. Still, Boof is a sensitive soul compared to many other pugs, and Monte and Olivia as well, so I will watch for any problems and remember your chook stock ice blocks! Thanks for the support.

Thanks. I have an appointment for a telephone consult tomorrow with Dr Goldrick from The holistic vet clinic you referred me to. I believe my vets faxed his history over today. I've also spoken with my previous Vet, who I'd trust with my own life, and they've actually supported what the holistic vet said in our brief conversation this morning. They've both recommended a new drug, I can't recall the name at the moment, and they both said there are great results from this new drug. Although, I should add, my old Vet doesn't treat dogs with MCTs but refers them to an oncologist at SASH. We don't have an oncologist down the coast. I'll be giving my vet a call tomorrow to discuss the advice I've received so far. We're due to start treatment on Friday.

We also have a bed wetter although it is infrequent. It happened again only the other night. Mine have never slept in my bed or in my room. They've not been allowed on furniture for many years. I can't determine who the bed wetter is because 3 of them sleep in the same bed. I can almost guarantee it's not Boof as he is more of a marker. It is either Olivia or Monte. I have stacks of bed cushions and blankets for them so I can recycle when needed so apart from it being frustrating, we have no worries about clean bedding.

The results are in and are a mixed bag. Both were MCT however they were low grade and we got clear margins. The vet wants to start him on chemo this Friday. He will commence on this regime (Staffyluv and others with experience, I'd love your thoughts if any); Prednisolone daily. Vinblastein (not sure of spelling yet) once a week for 4 weeks then once a fortnight for 8 weeks.

Heart failure/issues causing issues with oxygen levels to the brain? That would explain the weakness, partial collapse and and unsteadiness perhaps.

Great news. So glad to see a happy result to this thread!

Deserving in season carries more risks with excessive bleeding and I believe that is all. I'd do the desex and X-rays at the same time. It might be a little more expensive but possibly it much so as it is only 1 pre med, 1 anaesthetic fee, 1 hospital fee etc.

Boofy is home and bouncing around like crazy. He's recovered so quickly this time! His wound is very long. I'd guess at around 10cm long! They've taken both together as they were close together on his lower chest, towards his abdomen. Now we wait for the results.

Thanks everyone. Staffyluv, once we get confirmation I will also be in contact for the holistic vet in Sydney you gave me the details for.

Thanks. I feel for him. He hates the Vet now and it stresses him so much. It's so hard with Monte as well. They both need so much care at the moment. Olivia is playing up as I think she senses she is missing out. The other night, while we were out, she escaped the pen and got into the pantry! she managed to get her prescriptives kibble off the shelve, tore it open and ate a heap. I came home to 3 no 2s and a wet patch and a pug that could barely scratch herself she was so fat. She looked like a bloody sausage!

After a needle biopsy it seems we have not one, but 2 more tumours. Boof will be operated on, on Friday. They will then also put him on chemo to see if we an stem the tide of these tumours appearing. The poor bugger will undergo his 3rd surgery in 4 weeks.

I'm interested to hear other's thoughts on 'rare' colours of the pug. On one hand I do not like them. There is ample evidence the colours were introduced through cross breeding. However, how many generations later is that line considered a purebred pug again? Part of me thinks that the fact the dogs are breeding true to the standard, apart from colour, the standard should be altered to include the new colours....however as I said, I also do not like the thought that the dogs were crossed and therefore are not 'pure' for a large number of generations and that they were crossed purely for colour, not health.

"As recognised by the ANKC" would therefore also mean you couldn't discuss Koolies or Mini Foxies though. I think you're misinterpreting that rule minimax. Anyway, that is beside the point because didn't Troy already state his reasons and one of them was that the OP intended on promoting their pups or breeding of them via the forum.