Cairo1

Hmmm, well that is a very big question!! If it comes up again then yes, more surgery Neither of the two vets who performed the surgery found any foreign body at all. The second incident had an obvious abcess which burst (within a day of coming up) leaving a clear track visible. All the necrotic tissue and a wide margin around it were taken but who knows if the offending body was removed or worse still - moved on!!! The pathology report said that the symptoms were classically that of a reaction to a foreign body, but what and where?? It leaves me a little anxious about things given that it isn't really resolved. . . . Cheerio Cairo1

Definitely a horrific bit of footage! The bit that I found confusing was that it appeared to be an American video BUT the handler was talking to the dog in DUTCH!!! 'Nee' means 'no' and 'Fouie' means naughty!! I found it quite incongruous!!! It's not something I would want to show the world - there is nothing to be proud of in that piece of footage!! Cairo1

Hi All!! Just a quick update for those that replied to my 'Dermoid Sinus' topic! The pathology came back describing the tube as being a mineralized blood vessel caused by high levels of localized infection. They called it 'Paniculitis'. Unfortunately no foreign body was found so the jury is still out as to what is causing these episodes. So it's mostly good news but frustrating in that the issue isn't quite resolved. As for Shiva, she is mighty well and finally allowed her to have her football back and to romp and run like a lunatic. It was very difficult keeping her quiet so I am relieved we have overcome that aspect of her healing!! So thank you to everyone who responded! I am glad that I wasn't the one to lurch into the records as having the first GSD with a DS :D Kind Regards Cairo1

Thank you for the responses! I have read up on DS but I really wanted some info on the practical aspects of the surgery. I guess I am afraid of going through the process without being prepared. My fear is based on a case of a Goldie puppy with DS at the base of the skull. He was operated on at 3 months and was screaming in pain from the moment he came out of anaesthetic. I knew the vet who had done this surgery and he questioned himself for attempting the surgery at all. He said he had to keep the pup sedated for nearly 4 days before it could cope with the discomfort. I actually saw this same dog at 7 months old and he was a wonderful happy dog but the horror story preceding it is making me cringe. . . . . I don't want my girl to go through that??? As mentioned, the vet has no idea as to how deep the sinus goes other than to say it disappears down between the shoulder blades. And yes, it has so far been undocumented in GSDs. Either way, if it IS a DS then I will spay my girl and not breed from her. Fortunately she hasn't had a litter yet. I feel ill at the thought of more surgery because she has already had two major surgeries in that area and has a total of about 14 inches (yes inches!!) of suture lines and current wound. Anyway, it will remain a question mark until I get the results from pathology which should be the Wednesday. Thank you both for taking the time to visit my topic!! It is appreciated! Kind Regards Cairo1

Hello there. . . . I have a purebred German Shepherd girl of 4 years old. She has been healthy, lively and happy most of the time. However in the last four months she has had two lots of extensive surgery on her neck and shoulder. Both were due to abscesses. The first surgery found a lot of deep under-lying necrotic tissue which was removed and then I had terrible trouble getting rid of the associated seroma. A long and stressful time for both of us. Anyway, all finally healed after nearly three months and then last weekend she came up with a huge golf ball between her shoulder blades. Back she went for surgery with the vet fully expecting to find a 'foreign body'. No such luck! Once again, after removing a heap more necrotic tissue he came across this tube which headed down towards her spine. He took a sample, tied it off and we are now waiting to see if it is indeed a dermoid sinus. According to my vet he found no information of this condition in the GSD so we are all rather stumped. My question is; has anyone on this forum had experience with a dermoid sinus and if so, did you have surgery??? I have heard that it can be excrutiatingly painful and of course expensive. The 'excrutiating' bothers me more than the expensive! Looking forward to hearing your experiences. Kind Regards Cairo1

Hey!! You could go to St Vinnies or the Salvos and buy an old coffee table or something?? Then cut the legs to the height you desire!! Too easy!! In fact! You might even find some other 'useful' doggy equipment there too!! Good luck Cairo1

That didn't happen to be Mayo, did it??? Sadly, he was one in a million and I was the luckiest dog owner on earth!!! There will never be another like him. . . . He is my 'heart dog'

That was a joy to watch!! Thank you for sharing - I am still grinning from ear to ear!! Cairo1

Foster failure, foster failure. . . . . . I love the photos you take of her! Isn't it great to have such an elegant subject?? She does look VERY sweet and also appears to have a sense of humour too Cheerio Cairo1

Hi Jazzygirl!! Welcome to DOL!! I used to live at Allen's Rivulet!! There used to be great riding and it has a lovely community!! I think with the sale of some of the bush blocks up Maudsley's Rd, access for riding and walking dogs diminished rapidly. I now live at Summerleas Rd. I love your big red pup! He is just lovely!! Do you know that there are herding workshops at Penna from time to time??? PM me if you are interested. Nice to have another Taswegian on DOL!!! Cheerio Cairo1

Are you in Tassie or did Loki come from Tassie?? I know of an excellent vet practice that has a variety of approaches to animal health care ie there are holistic vets as well as traditional practitioners. They are based in Hobart. I am with everyone else in that I really believe your dog needs a full blood panel done. If you can at least rule out medical issues then you have something to work with. You have lots of resources at your fingertips, how about picking one and maybe nutting out a working plan? I know that sometimes you can't see the wood for the trees but if you break the issues down and at the very least try and rule out some things, then you can put together a bit of a framework to work within. Often a multi-pronged approach won't help you isolate the issues. . . . you need a plan more like an elimination diet!! I wish you luck and if you want more details about the Vet Practice in Hobart,pm me Wishing you well Cairo1

Got enthusiastic again and had a play with my Shelties this weekend. Wish I had more time to 'play' but anyway, here is an interesting study. Cairo1

Hi Krislin! I guess some of it has to do with the quality of the lens too. I think those images are beautifully sharp and the depth of field is great!! What sort of lens did you use? Also, how many frames per second does the 7 D take?? I went from the 400D to the 30D which is now of course surpassed by the 50D. I would still be pleased with those images! Cheerio Cairo1

I have tried this numerous times but have never been able to have the image accepted! Here I have edited in Lightroom and saved it for email so hopefully it will attach without any trouble!! Please meet Ruby, 4 months, Sheltie!! Love the photos BTW!! Wish I had more time to 'play'!! Cheerio Cairo1

Oh Crap!! What an awful situation to be in. . . . You made your fence safe and suitable for your dogs and really, your neighbours should have done the same when they got their little dog. Having said all that, there is great value in having good neighbours and this is something that could well have been ugly. Yes, I agree with many of the posters. I think $1000 is too much, $400 too low. . . . I think if you offer to pay $800 then that is a good compromise. It appears that your dog probably did no harm and it would have been a bitter pill to swallow had any demands been made. The other thing I would do is, find out where the dog was treated and pay the $800 off at the surgery rather than handing it over to them. Then I would hand them a receipt. I know that if I were the owner of the little dog, I would be extremely grateful for any help with a bill that large! Good luck with it and go with your heart!! It is usually right!! Cairo1

Yep, GSD X lab. I think if there was Mal or husky in there he would have prick ears without a doubt! The fact that they flop makes me think not. He is lovely all the same!!! Great expression!! Cairo1

Sheesh! I had better get with the program! This was taken a few days ago but I wanted to add it here because I only just found out about the 'Challenge'. From now on I will post current shots And I don't quite have the hang of attaching files yet either!! I hope this works Cairo1

I have had first hand experience with a tiger snake bite and treatment was successful. I had a lovely young doberman girl that was bitten on her flews (chops). Within minutes she was coughing up foam and her pupils dilated. Fortunately I was there to notice the symptoms and took her straight to the vet. She was unconscious when I got there and basically lost all bowel and bladder control. I really thought I wouldn't be bringing her home. She was at the vet for two nights and was on a drip as well as having had two lots of antevenine. She came home very weak and her pupils remained dilated for a few weeks so I had to keep her inside. Full recovery took a few months! However, this old girl lived to be 16 so even though it had a huge short term impact, there were obviously no long term affects. I hope your friend's dog recovers well! Cairo1

It's rude! There was a time when people used to do that to me but I got so annoyed with visiting dogs weeing everywhere (and thus upping the ante for the boys I had at the time), that I had to say 'no more'! My dogs were very sociable and these liberties were taken for granted. . . . Nowadays I invite people to bring dogs but only if the occasion warrants it. Having said that! I also don't have any children and I find it a bit rude that some of my friends turn up with children when it is clearly an adult function. My house is dog proof but not child proof and my dogs are certainly not child proof. I find that situation very stressful because I haven't as yet had the courage to say 'Ahem, sorry but this is an adults only function'. At least with visiting dogs all you have to provide is a bucket of water But with children it's toys and nibbles and cordial. . . . . . Dogs? Children? Dogs? Children? Hmmmmm, I tend to think 'dogs' at this point! Of course I mean no offense to those with children! Those that have dogs AND children can be much more sensitive to other peoples' feelings. I still say it's rude to assume dogs and kids are welcome - it would be far better to check and see if it would be an appropriate. There! That is my beef for 2010 Happy New Year Everyone!! Cairo1

Hi There, I don't have a lot of time to visit this forum but when I do, I am amazed at some of the fabulous photography!! I thought the fan tail cuckoo was just awesome - so sharp!! Anyways, I don't say much on the forum given that although I have a sheltie, my other two dogs aren't ANKC recognised. But, they make really nice subjects so I spent last Sunday taking photos of the girls in the barley field. They can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cairo1/ It was fun and I hope you enjoy them!! Now back to perusing everyone else's lovely images!! Cairo1

S is for Shady!! Cheers Cairo1

Mary Ray has a border collie in her demonstration team that does the same thing!! She makes her carry a ball in her mouth and that seems to do the trick!! This is a classic example of training an 'incompatible behaviour'!! Best of luck!! I know it must be annoying but you have to think that your dog is having a fabulous time and that is the best way to train - with fun!!! So, try a ball :wink: Cheerio Cairo1

Yep! Debbie Calnon! I live in Tassie and if I had a serious problem, she would be the one I would use. She has more experience than anyone I know - especially anyone in Tassie. . . . . much smaller population. I hope that your 'puppy person' gets the help they need Cheerio Cairo1

Hey There!! Terrific Idea!! Mine is Garsova - borzoi Meritage - Shiloh Shepherds Thanks for adding us! Cairo1 :rolleyes:

Hi All, I just read this story on another forum and thought it would be of interest to some of you. I am not sure if this particular ball is available in Australia but it's a harrowing story and one worth reading. . . . http://thechaistory.blogspot.com/2008/08/chai-story.html The dog's owner deserves a medal given the level of care her dog now requires. . . . Cheerio Cairo1