Keira&Phoenix

Yes I agree lots of room doesn't mean an excercised dog because most dogs don't self excercise anyways. I live on a quarter acre. The girls will do one walking lap every couple hours to sniff and then just go and lay down. They will only run around the backyard if I am throwing a ball for them etc. I think setting up an agility course in your backyard is a fantastic idea (I might even do it myself!) and just do as many 5 - 10 min training sessions during the day in your house or backyard as you can, that will give the dog mental stimulation which is just as important as physical excercise. Then for excercise do what others have suggested and drive to a more secure location to take the dog for a walk. Do you have a partner/husband etc? Maybe your OH can help with the walking if you are uncomfortable doing it? Obviously if your a single mum this idea isn't going to help. Mental stimulation will do you the world of good. Your dog is also in an adolescent stage things will become better as he matures. If you do go ahead with rehoming then you need to remember he is your responsibility so it is so very important that you make sure he goes to the right home. That includes full disclosure of him biting a child, of his bad behaviours (ie; nipping at feet, chasing children, throwing himself at window) and of him being attacked by another dog. This way you ensure he is going to a home which fully understand his problems. And it would be best to do a trial period of 2 weeks or so with a new home. I do hope that you can figure something out that is best for you and the dog. I hope you give it a working chance at home first. I am sure with some extra training and help from a behaviouralist and a therapist for yourself things could improve for you. Good luck.

Using the police as an excuse for the incorrect reporting is pathetic. Police are not breed experts. A reporters job is to fact check before reporting. If the reporters had checked with the owners prior to the report then maybe it would have been right in the first place. They need to learn to do their job properly. Now they have done further damage to the pit bull name and then in the process of trying to cover their asses have condemned American Bulldogs as a "pit bull" type breed which just puts another breed of dog in the firing line.

Yes, yes and yes. The cost works out at something like this : $50 - $70 for your own Vet to draw the blood and have it spun down to serum. $70 - $80 for Fed-Ex Courier (if you can take to a Fed-Ex drop off point yourself - I tend to find this is the most trouble free method. They have contracted couriers who pick up and take to the drop off points but I've never had this happen smoothly and without stress, so I don't bother with that anymore.) $125.00 USA for Dr Jean Dodd's fee. Have responded to your PM. The test you would want is the "Thyroid Profile 5 Plus". Follow up tests (Profile 5 as opposed to Profile 5 Plus), if you need them, are about $75.00 USA, so a bit cheaper. Also, our Aussie dollar is worth a tad more than the USA dollar at the moment, so if you're going to do this, now is a good time. I wouldn't be satisfied with a negative result thyroid test unless it was conducted by Dr Jean Dodds. And I trust her medication prescription more too, because her analysis takes into account size, age and breed. In Oz, only size is taken into account. Thanks Erny I did get your PM! Thank you also for breaking down the cost, I am glad that I get 4 weeks holidays paid out next week (because I have left my job) and will have the cash to pay for it. She is my million dollar dog (ok thats a bit exaggerated but she is expensive ) Oh so she tells you what medication the dog should be on also? I assume you then have to get your vet to agree and give you said medication? ETA Looked up fedex drop off points and there is one at Bris Airport and the other is at Burleigh Gold Coast, both are a pain, would help if I had a day off between finishing old job and starting new job but no such luck. Will have to try to race it to one of them one day. Uveitis just a term that means the iris, ciliary body or choroid of the eye is inflammed, from any cause. Whereas KCS is an autoimmune condition where the tear glands are destroyed by the dog's own body. Both conditions need a vet diagnosis (uveitis via an ocular exam, KCS via a Schirmer tear test). Luckily there are lots of far more common and far less serious reasons to have gunky eyes. Thanks Staranais, it is just another issue that has shown up in the past 12 months and I feel that they must be connected in some way. I will be seeing Dr Rowan Kilmartin at Animals Options tomorrow so will be running everything past him and will get him to check her eyes out also.

She is gorgeous. Poor boofer must be feeling out of sorts and sore all over. I am sure you are taking good care of her. Good luck with your referral.

I see Rowan tomorrow too with my girl :D I am so very sorry for your loss RL1. What an extremely hard decision you had to make but you made the right one. I am sure you gave her the best last days a dog could have. Lots of hugs from me and my girls. RIP beautiful girl

Thanks Tassie. Keira previously had demodex as a puppy and I know what that looks like this is definitely not demodex. The hair loss she is experiencing is along her spinal area and on her tail mostly well thats more thinned out lots. She has a patch missing on her lower chest right in the middle and the back of both of her ears have some missing hair. And yes she has dark lizard skin in several spots. Yeah I think I will find out what the cost is just to have the test done over here and if it isn't over the top go with that and see what the results are and then might look at sending some away. Thanks GG. Will PM Erny to see which of the tests is most suitable.

So sorry that you, your OH and poor Havana are going through this. I have no experience with cancer in dogs or people really so no advice just well wishes. I hope that your vet is able to give you some viable options to help Havana. Also its mandatory to post pictures of new dogs and also to keep us updated on progress. Again all the best with her treatment.

LOL yeah it isn't far Well the forest is less than 10 mins drive from the Hyperdome. But yes it is about 2 exits before the Hyperdome exit heading from the city. well Its Daisy Hill Logan area near the hyperdome. And will look at going about 230/3ish again I might come if I feel up to it after my drive home no location decided yet for the April meet? Awesome. You have my # so let me know Nope not yet. I am not fussed either way. I just know there was at least 1 DOLer who was from out west who wanted to make a meet so thought we could do something out that way. Otherwise there is that park just recently done up in Logan Central that we could try out. I posted a link to a news story about it prior to that March meet when I was trying to find somewhere good. That might be ok for Westsiders??? ETA: here is the link http://www.thereporter.com.au/story/2011/0...a-dogs-day-out/ I don't think you'll want to go to that one (at least not at the usual meet times). That is the new location for the Husky and Malamute meet ups that used to go on every Sunday arvo at Oxley park. They've now moved to that new Logan park (so they'll be there at the same time) We've been to one meet with them when Kyojin was younger but it probably wouldn't be suitable for a meet for all of us since it's a very large group of huge dogs with strong personalities. So you might want to try that one on a Saturday or something. Ahh thanks Kyojin. I was wondering where they were doing there stuff now as Oxley got flooded. I was hoping to go to their next weight pull for a look see. Wonder if they will be holding it there....hmm

Also found another symptom she is showing which is Uveitis Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca or sometimes called Dry Eye. I have noticed recently she has had a lot of discharge (like gunky sleep) from her eyes but all the time during the day etc. Would it be worth sending blood to Dr Jean Dodds? Has anyone used her, what sort of cost was it? Was it worth it? Also does anyone know which of Dr Jean Dodds tests should be requested? Thanks

Thank you both. Will PM Erny and google Jean Dodds. Cheers

Hi All, Well after some research I have a strong feeling my 3yo Keira might have hypothyroidism. Which I will be discussing with our vet tomorrow afternoon at our appointment. What led me to this assumption is as follows - Firstly my vet gave us some homeopathic medicine called Volcomin, which I googled, it is used to treat Thyroid problems amongst other things. From there I searched thyroid problems in dogs and hypothyroidism (not to be mistaken for hyperthyroidism but has similar symptoms) came up I looked at the symptoms and she has several that are listed as follows - Loss of hair/Patchiness - She has this along her spine on her tail and patchiness in various spots on her body Dry skin/fur - This is true around the area where she has lost hair etc Hyperpigmentation of skin - She has patches of skin which are much darker than normal, on her legs, where she is losing fur, on her stomach etc She is also skinny and lost weight over the last 12 months or so even though her food consumption has been the same. It was the same time she started losing weight that the above symptoms also started showing. She also had a bout of pancreatitis late last year which we couldn't figure why when she hadn't had a change in food but I just looked it up and pancreatitis can be caused by hypothyroidism because of the hormone inbalance. Anyone have experience with this?? What did you do to treat? Homeopathic medicine or thyroxin? As I said will be speaking to my vet but want to see what sort of options I should speak to him about. It also says that dogs with Hypothyroidism can be hyperactive and aggressive, Keira can be both of these (only aggressive to dogs on walks, which I have previously posted about)

Well the forest is less than 10 mins drive from the Hyperdome. But yes it is about 2 exits before the Hyperdome exit heading from the city. well Its Daisy Hill Logan area near the hyperdome. And will look at going about 230/3ish again I might come if I feel up to it after my drive home no location decided yet for the April meet? Awesome. You have my # so let me know ;) Nope not yet. I am not fussed either way. I just know there was at least 1 DOLer who was from out west who wanted to make a meet so thought we could do something out that way. Otherwise there is that park just recently done up in Logan Central that we could try out. I posted a link to a news story about it prior to that March meet when I was trying to find somewhere good. That might be ok for Westsiders??? ETA: here is the link http://www.thereporter.com.au/story/2011/0...a-dogs-day-out/

well Its Daisy Hill Logan area near the hyperdome. And will look at going about 230/3ish again

Yes, and lets remember Australia tends to follow in the footsteps of America and the UK so if things start to change over in those countries things will start to change here also. It is sad we rely so heavily on the laws of other counties. I think as PitBull/Pitbull X lovers we should start to really try to enact change here. Peaceful protests, letter writing, asking the hard questions of Politicians who want to be elected as our local members/premiers etc. I can only hope to see the hard work of many come to fruition during my life time.

Argh I worry about all of those things and more mostly when I am not home though. And I worry Keira is in pain. It is natural to worry about something you care so much about.

+1 Absolutely ridiculous. We have a nusience barker next door but we know they are working hard on him. Sure it can be annoying, but you zone out after a while. Some people have too much time on their hands. + 2 This is over the top. Can we all say C O M M U N I S M On a side note. I noticed last night on a trip to the dog park that council had put up a sign advertising seminar type things at local libraries on how to stop/control your dogs barking....maybe this is part of the reason they posted it. But at least instead of just threats they are trying to educate people.

Yes, I did thanks Flick. I was trying to get around to emailing you back. Re: next meet what Dandy said 3rd April. I think we were going to do westside because no one by GG really comes from the north and we have a few westsiders who would like to make a meet but still waiting on suggestions of good parks out that way. Yep I will be going for a walk/swim with Phi on Sunday no matter what. Anyone is welcome to join me, just either let me know here or PM me.

The article says the dogs were seized from the owners yard. It also says they received a call at 5:50 an after hours call about an attack at that address (not exact wording) so sounds to me like the dogs where still on their property.

WHAT THE H&%L So it seems the dogs were in their property when they were seized so where is the person who is alleging the so called "attack" say this happened? Did this person stick their hand through a fence and get their hand bitten, if so they more than deserve it for sticking their hand in with an unknown dog. What disturbs me most is a)taking the dogs off the property while the owners are out b) that the council cannot provide the owner with details of what happened...c) that just anybody can apparently enter our properties to seize dogs or apparently pat them without thought and get bitten What is the point in owning a property now, you get no privacy because apparently anyone can just enter whenever they want. This is so wrong in so many ways. Like Christina said we are taking steps towards becoming some kind of communist country, so much for laid back Australia, freedom of speech, so on and so forth. Erny maybe us doggie lovers should get together and make some sort of community out in the bush somewhere away from the crazy government and people who fuel them Like a nudist colony but a dogist colony LOL

The only place I have been too so far that is like that (quiet with room to get away from rude dogs) was Kroll (Redcliffe). But I was reading about one that is like 3 acres....hmm I can't remember where it was, will have to look it up and see if I can fine it again. But that is part of the reason we liked the Reservoir we went to yesterday because its a nice bushwalk to an awesome swimming area for the dogs and us and there was barely anyone around and we only saw a couple dogs, we were able to let Phi and Raz off at the Res to have a swim and a play, it was really good. We are going to try and do it often. Umm I use Energizer batteries instead of regular batteries?!?!? LOL Honestly I have no clue, she was pretty sleepy in the car on the way home from playgroup and at home for the hour we had before meeting Dandy but as soon as we got there she was all go again. She slept like a log last night through. ETA: I am wondering if Phi is as sore as me lol, my legs are all stiff.

He looks like a happy little mite not worried at all about the situation just moving on and being happy. He looks loads happier than some healthy dogs I have seen. I found it inspirational the video made me laugh and cry but mostly because he just looks so darned happy. He has no trouble getting around with or without wheels and plays with the other dogs just fine. Good on them for helping him. He deserves a chance to live and be loved.

OK here we go, I only got a few because it started raining and I didn't want my camera to get wet.

Yes it was fantastic! Raz and Phi had a ball. Phi has already had a nap and the only reason she is awake now is for food. I got a couple good pics, I will chuck them up shortly!

My 3 yo girl is pretty skinny but I make sure to not over feed due to her hip displaxia. But she gets enough to eat and never acts like she is starving. In saying that from your description of the yard it may be underfed. Also the saggy nipples doesnt mean she is or has been pregnant my 3yo has saggy nipples but its because I didn't have her desexed until 18 months. If you have an older male you can take with you to speak with them that might be safest.

I can possibly help out too Andy. I have a Pathfinder so loaddds of room for the dogs and I am in the Logan area. So speaking of the April meet are we going to try and do a westside meet? And if so does anyone have any suggestions?