Marion 01

My thoughts exactly dogmad, she looks fantastic, but if she is worried about herself or feels that something isn't right, she would get clingy. Dementia brings all sorts of new things to them. If you are worried about her talk to your sister and suggest she take her to the vet for a complete examination or even bloods but don't do it without her knowing.

Mine get meaty beef neck bones cut in half or thirds, they can get all the meat they want as well as plenty of chewing and no fear of choking. Had an instance when one of my Tibetan Terrier boys got to the end of a nice brisket bone and thought he could swallow what was left, he had to work to get it down and his eyes were rolling back in his head, and me panicking as we are 40 mins away from our vet, so no brisket bones ever again. With oldies the bones can play up with their gut too, so playing it safe with the neck bones and Dentastix.

Been following this on my fb page, was so sad to read that Shoep had passed, John has lost his best friend of many years. Wish all animals could experience this kind of human love. RIP Shoep.

Just beautiful Rach, would love to see what the other "T" pups look like now.

That's great yg, he just needs time now for the meds to do their work, and he will be as good as new, he must be one tough little cookie.

How is young Chester this morning yg ? Hope you and he had a better night.

Wonderful news Jo. Good to get some answers at last for the little man, persistence pays off. He won't know himself when he is back to normal again. Hugs to you, Chester and all your Little Legs kids. xxx

Hello yellowgirl, I emailed you via facebook. I have been following Chesters problems since you got him, and he has exactly the same symptoms as our 13yr old Tibetan Terrier who started off with a runny/stuffy nose and loud snoring breathing, went to the vet who thought she might have had an infection so gave her a course of abs, they did nothing, so back for another visit, and this time he looked in her mouth and saw a big lump on the soft part of the roof of her mouth, we left her there so that he could have a good look under GA and do an aspiration test, he thought a biopsy would be too dangerous where it was, the results came back that it was lymphoma, she was put on a course of macrolone tablets, but about 2 or 3 days into taking the tablets, she started getting weak in the back end, and by early one morning she could only drag herself along on her rear as her back legs were between her front legs and even if we stood her up she would go back into that position. Her breathing all through this was horrific and many a night I would sit up with her just like you are doing with Chester, unfortunately she had to be given her wings, and the fact that it was so far advanced before showing any signs was a shock to us. Chesters symptoms sound so much like Mindys, also taking into account that Chester is a much smaller dog, so a much smaller mouth and throat area. Hoping it is not what Mindy had and you have a positive outcome for little Chester.

Hi Leah82, it may take a lot longer than 2 months for her to come around, it depends what sort of treatment she has had from a male person. I have an 11yr old TT here who took 12 months to let my husband touch her, and even now she can be a bit funny if she gets a fright and he is near her, she blames him. We think that one of the male persons who was looking after her when she was in the breeders kennel from the time she was born until she was 7 months when we got her, must have done something to make her distrust men so badly. Let her come around gradually, like the quick licks you were talking about her giving Rick, that is a good start, she is trying to learn to trust him, just talk to her and include her in any play or conversation, given time she will respond, but it does take time and patience. Tell Rick not to give up on her , it will happen.

I saw a brief news segment on The Project to-night. It referred to these dogs rescued from the puppy farm. Bless the commentary .... because they said the 'business' was to supply puppies to pet-shops. 'Say it again ... & again!' I thought. Poor little mites. The dogs & puppies in that tiny glimpse looked like little spaniels. The commentary also said the RSPCA SA had been flooded with offers to take them. Gallery of pics here: http://www.adelaiden...61433778?page=1 mita, this one looks awfully like a Tibby to me.

Looks yummy Rach, hope Lucky and his friends had fun.

Thanks Marion - it's a good thought - which is why I'm thinking of the cheapest but still safest solution possibly to start with is the way to go, in case it doesn't work - I really don't need to get stuck with more new unusable dog paraphernalia at the moment. So a $20 Portacot, Steelcraft (which has good reviews) from Gumtree is winning at the moment. But I have to do something - the pacing is killing my sleep and I have to work... but I so don't want to banish him from the bedroom if I can find another solution... It's so hard, trying to think of ways to keep them safe and comfortable at the same time. Is there another med other than vivitonin that would help his pacing. You're right - it is hard to know what to do - maybe some sedation... but that has side effects - I think I'd rather try the portacot first... Whatever you do I hope it's a good result for you and for Mac.

Thanks Marion - it's a good thought - which is why I'm thinking of the cheapest but still safest solution possibly to start with is the way to go, in case it doesn't work - I really don't need to get stuck with more new unusable dog paraphernalia at the moment. So a $20 Portacot, Steelcraft (which has good reviews) from Gumtree is winning at the moment. But I have to do something - the pacing is killing my sleep and I have to work... but I so don't want to banish him from the bedroom if I can find another solution... It's so hard, trying to think of ways to keep them safe and comfortable at the same time. Is there another med other than vivitonin that would help his pacing.

Westiemum, how does Mac go at being in an enclosure ? Three of my dogs had dementia, and not one of them like being enclosed they would get frantic. Maybe with Mac, the portacot being round, might help.

Terrific shots Frodo's mum, he looks to be a good size. Kirislin it does look like a spur on his back leg.

Yeh, BC Crazy, Sweetie couldn't believe her eyes and thought it was christmas. The two BC pups love their bones too, & Crystal is a real pro at getting the marrow out.

Yeh Danny's Darling be daring, could put it on a mat, Gussy wouldn't be able to move it around anyway, just have to watch you didn't trip over it though.

Thanks everyone. I told my daughter to go and get her camera, as it was a good photo opportunity. The two BCs being still for a start & Sweetie being awake at that time. She is in absolutely lovely condition for a cat of her age, she must have had good genes or been very lucky, for a pet shop kitten all those years ago.

Each week my daughter buys her dogs a huge beef bone (better than any kong) and it keeps them occupied working away at the huge knuckle to eventually get to the marrow. Today they got fresh ones ($4 each from the local butcher), and her 20 year old cat discovered one, and just thought she was christmas. Her two BCs had no chance of getting it off her. Bella & Harry sharing for the moment, until he settles on the one he wants . 12 year old Toy poodle crystal, has chosen her bone and no one is getting hers.

Just so beautiful Frodo's mum. She looks so relaxed, like her thoughts are miles away.

They do go back to their second childhood, just like humans with dementia. Our old TT boy started playing with the fluffy toys, and he was not a dog who ever played with anything even as a pup, so it was funny to watch him being silly with the toys.

Kirislin would the puppy have access to snails or slugs, Rat Lung worm has many forms of symptoms, paralysis is one of them. Just a thought.

Dogs have been part of our lives ever since I can remember, mostly German Shepherds, then came the littlies, first a longhaired chihuahua, then a papillon, they lived in the caravan with us while OH was building our new house, then we shifted into the house, and in 1988, we added a Bichon, then a year later another Bichon and a toy poodle(daughters), then a year or so later we adopted a 7 month old Bichon boy, and that was our household at the time, our lives revolved around them and we needed to go away we went separately so that one of us was at home with the dogs. Then when we moved up to where we are now, we went from our new brick home to an old home on acreage and no neighbours (heaven). By then we had lost the first two dogs to old age related reasons. Started looking at showing, and got ourselves our first Tibetan Terrier in 1994, and ended with 11 of them over the next few years, while losing a couple of our Bichons to old age during this time, but in all the years of grooming, bathing looking after and loving our dogs I have never once thought of it as a sacrifice. Our "social life" revolved around our dogs. Minimal hours spent out, then back home to the dogs. Our family at the moment includes one TT who is 13 yrs old, the four cross breed girls who are just over 10 years old and the two new TT girls who are now 7 months old and given us and the others a new lease on life I must say. Our house is not a palace by any stretch of the imagination, but it is home to us and the dogs, the money we could have put into the house, we have helped our vet build a lovely new building and whatever else he needs. Would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Yes I think your cropped one is the best one, and so balanced, and the winner is............

I think of the altered ones, I like this the best. But then I'd have even more of an ethical problem because someone else altered it for me! Except this one looks like a lot of the dogs are floating in mid-air as the proportions are wrong, so graphically it's not really one to enter in a photo comp. Actually the only things that have been changed from the original pic, is that the black dog has been hidden and taken from the other pic and placed in this one, the proportions haven't been altered from the original pic.