Sheridan

I'm pretty sure Grumpy's a republican ... :D

Dr Littman will be very helpful. I'm currently trying to sort out sending her blood samples for a geriatric wheaten project for my Grumpy. She should have some advice on diet. Most wheatens are put on Hills Ultra - Z/D which hydrolises the protein which makes it harder to lose.

Thanks, bianca, but I'm actually in the ACT not Qld.

Pomquest, my previous wheaten had the kidney protein wasting disease and probably PLE as well. Both diseases are well known in wheaten terriers. Have a look at my wheaten Wheaten Health Australia where I have some information about PLE and testing for it. Really, the only real way to diagnose PLE in Australia is via a biopsy and often the dogs are too sick to put under an anaesthetic. PLE is generally caused by damage to the stomach lining and often follows the dog having Intestinal Bowel Disease. I strongly suggest that your dog's vet contact Dr Meryl Littman who is the expert in the disease. Depending on your dog's condition, it could be managed by diet. Texas A&M university also do a lot of work in this area. I'm happy to talk offline as well if you want to send me a PM.

We're seeing the vet on Saturday and I picked up enough Vivitonin for until then. I don't think it or the food is doing anything for his dementia but I suppose the test will be if I take him off them. I had a horrible night last night. Grumpy was up and down all night (see he can't rub his nose on the edge of the new bed and has to go into the loungeroom to use the couch). He went outside a couple of times and the last time I heard a funny sound. I went to the door and called to him and he basically lurched into view. I thought he'd broken his leg but he was okay after a minute. I know what he did because I saw him do it this morning. He launched himself up a steep spot in the yard instead of going half a metre to the easy way up (couple of cm) and in the dark, he'd have missed it and come crashing down. I think now when he goes out during the night I'll have to go out with the torch. That'll be good in winter ...

He's got two days of the Vivitonin left so I need to make an appt for him to get some more. I might call and ask if I can pick up a few days worth as the vet isn't in until Wednesday and I'm unlikely to be able to get to see him before next weekend. Anyone want to volunteer to help hold the grumpiest wheaten while he's groomed.

Snipped the rest to respond to this strawman nonsense. Yes, some small breeders are neglectful as much as large breeders but so what? It isn't a justification. Honestly, I don't know why some of the puppyfarm apologists in these threads just don't go out and set one up themselves. You don't see anything wrong with it, so what's stopping you all?

Well, here's a semi-positive update with a downside. The good news is that Grumpy seems to be moving better on the Vivitonin and hasn't thrown up since last time. The downside is that neither it nor the Hills BD seem to be having an effect on his dementia. He's probably vaguer now. The other thing is that he's started pooing in the house or just outside on the back porch where he and Mini spend their day. I don't think he's lost his housetraining because he isn't weeing inside. I'm wondering if it's because of the Vivitonin and that he's not able to hang on until I notice he needs to go outside? He may be losing sphincter control but this has only happened since being on the Vivitonin. He badly needs a groom and a bath but I need someone else to hold him for me.

I asked because you seem to be defending commercial dog farms lately.

Haven't been online much so I haven't visited the thread for a while. The Grumpy update is that he's had a couple of bouts of vomiting since being on the Vivitonin and so I took him off it for a few days and am just reintroducing it again. Grumpy does have a sensitive tummy so it's possible it was something else. I'm hesitant to give him anything else at this stage, so I'll hang off the Robert for a time to see how he goes. Grumpy still has the sundowners and he's in desperate need of a good brush out and bath but I need someone else to hold him for me because he gets very uncomfortable when being groomed and he tends to move around a lot.

Do you think Grumpy might benefit from some sessions on an underwater treadmill? They are supposedly very good for dogs with joint problems, arthritis, etc. My doggy physio also uses light laser therapy on Casper (I'm pretty sure that's what she said it was. I have the info at home somewhere!) He may but I don't know anywhere in the ACT that has anything like one. The vet suggested Vivitonin given my hesitation over Rimadyl. After a week, we had three episodes of vomiting. Grumpy does have a sensitive tummy. I took him off it immediately and am now re-introducing the Vivitonin to see if the same thing happens.

I'm rather more interested in how you define one, Steve.

I am a snob.

Just checking in to update about Grumpy. He's been on the B/D a while now and I don't think I'm noticing much difference. He still has the sundowners and gets confused when he can't find me even if I'm tapping him on the bum. I'm wondering if Mac's improvement is a combo of the food and the vivitonin? Vet suggested Rimadyl for Grumpy's back but I'm not keen given one of the side effects is death (!). He's also suggested we give vivitonin another try.

Yes, Grumpy has that kind of puppy squat, too. He's had a course of cartrophen injections and honestly, it's hard to tell if they've done him any good. The vet suggested Rimadyl but I'm rather put off by the potential side effect of death! Sent an email to the vet suggested we try vivitonin again, as the vet suggested this, too.

How does shutting down puppyfarms also shut down good breeders?

This legislation will affect the people least able to afford it (as is ever the case).

Tried Vivitonin two years ago. Nil effect.

Dxenion, there's no reasoning with dumb.

Rottweilers were in the line of fire before pitbulls.

When I say Grumpy's full name it's 11 syllables. He tries to ignore his full name because he's generally in trouble.

If Johnny was unfortunate and ended up in the Lost Dogs Home, he'd be dead as soon as his eight days was up. Doesn't matter how kid or dog friendly he is because he'd never get the chance to display it. One, he's too old to be adopted (yes, at six he's too old) and two, he's deformed.

That poor white dog looked utterly terrified. Be at peace, little one.

None. I don't know any staffy that isn't a total love bunny wriggle bum but I can't see bull breeds being alive for very long at all in Victoria. And when they get rid of the bull breeds, they'll move onto the next breed and then the next and the next.

That's utterly terrifying, isn't it. I miss Victoria but I no longer say I'd move back there. Indeed, I'd have to think very carefully about moving back to a state that even before the Liberal Party got into power, seemed to be so anti-dog. I imagine anyone with a bull breed must be very nervous, papered or not. I imagine that at some point a papered Amstaff will fall foul of these laws and be euthanised immediately (because there doesn't seem to be an appeal period).