j

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...575&hl=occy Not saying that it is, but the onset and symptoms sound similar to my Occy.

He gets a mixture of Mince, bones (chicken carcasses, lamb flaps, beef bones), left over vegies, Natures own semi dry food, pigs ears and dried liver for treats. The ruptured disc is actually an old (years old) injury, but he recently did something that inflamed it (probably rumbling with Max, or banged into something when he was running). That was the first episode of confinement. He has only been out again for the last week, and the vet thinks the cruciate ligament was more than likely a result of stumbling. Has anyone had a little dog with cruciate ligament damage that they have managed just by confinement? He is back to the vets in two weeks for a re-assessment to see if we should go the surgery route.

He's just had 6 weeks in the crate. He's put on half a kilo (it's really noticeable on him - vet said its a combination of the steroids and lack of exercise) Persephone, what sort of stuff do you mean? I'm kind of hoping that mum and dad will offer to keep him there for longer. I can see that as long as he and Max play, there is always going to be the risk of something happening again. It isn't fair on either of them to keep rousing on them when all they are doing is what they should be doing - playing. If Occy stays at mum and dads for a longer period of time, he will get a chance to really heal. I'll let them make that suggestion though, so that they think it is their idea.

You may remember Occy recently had problems with a ruptured disc in his neck, and was crated for the last 6 or so weeks. Well, last week he was allowed out again. Over the weekend, something has happened, and he has done his cruciate ligament in his rear right leg He also has a luxating patella in the same leg. I actually asked them about that back in 2003 and they checked his legs then, but it wasn't there then. I haven't noticed anything untoward The vet thinks it may just have been because of a stumble (his front leg still buckles a bit if he tries to turn quickly) or it may have just been when he was playing with Max. So, back into the crate for 4 weeks. Because he is so little, she thinks it is worth trying the confinement before going the surgery route. He is going to go to Mum and Dads. They are home all day, so will be able to take him out when he needs it, and there won't be the problem of Max trying to play with him when they do take him out. Poor little bugger.

Thanks everyone. He is improving daily. He went for a real trot around the yard today. He doesn't hold his head up yet when he's walking, just tends to look at the ground in front of him. Still stumbles a little if he tries to turn quickly, but it is obvious he isn't in as much pain. He doesn't yelp just because our other dog is coming towards him (which he has been doing). Still a little stiff when he first stands up, but he isn't ginger about it. We're back at the vets next Thursday, so I will ask her what she thinks about the massage It's still looking good. His medication is down to every other day now, and there doesn't appear to be any problems It will be interesting to put him on the scales next week. He feels like a real little butter ball

Occy gave me a welcoming bark this afternoon, and begged to be let out of his crate He is showing some improvement, and takes a few trotting steps when he is moving between the things he just has to pee on when we let him out (though I try to discourage this. Bit hard when I can't put a collar or harness on him at the moment). He still stumbles if he tries to turn sharply, but he is looking much less ginger with his movements, and seems much happier. Fingers crossed he continues to improve

Hi. Thanks for asking We went back to the vet yesterday. While there is a very slight improvement (not as much pain when she turns his head to either side) he is still having problems. When we take him out to go to the loo, he will have a roll on the grass, then scream with pain. His front leg is still buckling under sometimes, and if he tries to turn quickly, he loses balance :D Our other dog is very upset, as he can't play with his best mate, and doesn't understand why we rouse on him when he goes racing up to Occy. At this stage, it is another two weeks of confinement, continue on with the steroids (though the dose is being reduced to once a day for the next week, then every other day for the next week) and back for another check up in two weeks. She doesn't know whether he would be a good candidate for the surgery, due to the bone growth that has already happened. The hope is still there that the steroids will reduce all the swelling, and he will be able to continue on as he was previously. One other thing that has come of it. He hasn't barked at all since it happened. I wouldn't say he was a nuisance barker as such, but he certainly barked more than I like. When I mentioned it to the vet, she thought it was probably because the disc that is affected is close to his voice box.

That looks like a little cockroach to me

Well, he has shown a very little sign of improvement so far. He isn't quite as stiff in his movement but he still yelps when he moves a certain way, or when we pick him up to carry him down the stairs for toileting Hopefully the next few days will show more improvement. We're back to the vets on Thursday for another assessment She didn't really say much about what would happen beyond this Thursday, apart from the discussion about the surgery, and that seemed to be real last choice type treatment. I don't know how long I'll have to confine him, but I may have to block off our back stairs when he is able to go back out, as we have about 9 and the vet was quite emphatic about no stairs Poor Max is very down in the dumps. He doesn't understand why he can't play with his mate, and is very whiney and sad.

Thanks everyone for the wishes. Xrays showed that Occy has a very old ruptured disc in his neck. There is quite a bit of bone regrowth on the two vertebrae either side of the disc, so the vet thinks it is a long standing (years old) injury. Given that he had had some form of surgery prior to us getting him, it is quite possible that the disc injury occurred at the same time. For whatever reason, it has flared up at the moment, and seems to be putting pressure on his spinal cord, causing the pain and unco-ordinated movement. He is on steroids at the moment, and totally confined, no exercise, jumping etc. Back to the vets in a week for a review. Hopefully the tablets will reduce the swelling, and give him some relief. She said the surgery is a big deal, and very expensive. They don't do it there, he would need to go to another surgery with more specialist equipment, and vets that specialise in that surgery. She also said that unless he is beginning to show signs of paralysis in his front leg, it wasn't something that they just do as a matter of course. Bless my neighbour, she knew that we have prepaid for our accommodation over Easter, and she is going to have him in her laundry for the two nights we are away, take him in and out to the loo, and give him his medicine. She will also bring my other dog over into her yard, as he is missing Occy dreadfully, and for the first time ever, she heard him barking for no reason today (Max howls at Sirens, or gives a couple of woofs if there is something worth barking at. If you hear him bark, you investigate. He isn't an alarmist or nuisance barker, so she was very suprised to hear him barking today. ) He has laid next to the door ever since we brought Occy home, and doesn't understand why he can't play with him. They are sitting on either side of the door with noses touching through the wire. It's very sweet. Thanks again everyone, hopefully the medication and confinement will bring it under control, and he will be his happy waggy little self again soon. It will be something that we need to keep an eye on in the future obviously, and manage as best we can.

I just phoned "You can take him home tonight, but the vet would like to talk to you" No idea what they are going to tell me, but I'm not really looking forward to it.

Thanks Diva If it comes to that, I'll look her up. Haven't heard from my vet yet

I don't know how to do multiple quotes This isn't a vet I have seen before. I've been going to the surgery for a long time, but haven't met this vet before. I think she's only been there a short while. She certainly seems to be covering all bases. Hopefully she will come through with a diagnosis

Thanks. I do too. Of course, we have prepaid two nights non refundable accommodation so that we could go away for Easter. Here's hoping he won't need surgery, or the hubby will be taking the kids away by himself

Thanks Guys. He has stayed at the vets tonight, and is being xrayed in the morning. Aside from the obvious that he has done something to his leg, she is concerned that there may be a disc problem, or (very slight concern) that there may be a tumour, or possibly something neurological happening. He didn't improve today, and was still complaining when she stretched or flexed his leg. He also has pain halfway down his back, and doesn't want to turn his head to the side She was pretty sure that if it was just a muscular problem, the injection he had yesterday should have shown a decent improvement in him by today. His front left foot was buckling under when he was trying to sit down or stand up, and if he tried to have a general body shake (like when they get out of water), he would fall over. They will be getting the xrays examined immediately, and phoning me as soon as they know anything, to discuss how to proceed. She said they usually have a specialist look at the xrays as well, as it is too easy to miss things. He is having his leg and spine done (though I think it will probably end up being most of him, he's pretty little, not quite 5kgs) If they don't find any reason for it, I will explore the possibility of a chiropractor. Until the xrays are done, I don't really know what else to think Poor little thing

When I got home from work yesterday, I went out to see the dogs, and my usually bouncy little dog just looked at me, and didn't get up to come and say hello. My son said he had been lying outside the back door pretty much all afternoon, and hadn't moved. When he did get up, it was very gingerly. He yelped when he stood, yelped when he sat down again, yelped when my other dog went anywhere near him. He was sitting with his back hunched, and was breathing quite rapidly, though more because he had been in the sun for a while I think. He seemed to be holding his front left leg a little, but actually touching it didn't make him yelp or wince. I took him to the vet last night. No temperature or other signs of illness. He was a little reluctant when she was stretching his leg out and moving it around, but didn't yelp at all. He had some stiffness in his neck, and didn't like having his head moved to either side. He was given a painkiller injection last night, and I have to go back again this afternoon to see how he is. She is thinking it may be a disc problem, and depending on how he presents this afternoon, she may do xrays. She didn't really know what else it might be? He slept well last night, but this morning he appears stiff again, and was yelping as he moved around. I don't actually know how old he is. I got him in 2002 from the RSPCA, and he was an adult dog then. They estimated his age at about 4? Because the onset was so rapid though, I don't think it is likely to be arthritis. He has had surgery at some stage on that shoulder, as when I got him, his hair was long and matted. When I clipped him off, there was a line of stitches all around that shoulder that had never been removed, and the skin had grown over them. (RSPCA obviously didn't do a very thorough examination, or they would have found them) I don't know what that surgery was for. Any idea what it is likely to be? He hasn't been involved in any accidents, and I'm not aware that he has collided with anything while playing in the yard.

Hiya j, Maadii Pets is in the same street as Joe's Motorcycles (the one the Commonwealth bank is on the corner of), further down on the corner where you would turn down to go to The Good Guys. Wish I could remember the street name!! Staffordgal Wollongong st?

What, and where (in Fysh) is Maadii pets? Never heard of it?

Thanks everyone. No ticks here, so no need for the advantix, but might give advantage a whirl. Will have a look at the other products you've listed here too. Just trying to avoid spending a fortune on products that don't do the job

What is the electronic pest control?

Just wondering if anyone has used this and whether it is any good? At the moment I am fighting a losing battle against fleas. I have used frontline plus, capstar, fidos fre itch concentrate on the dogs, and another one that I can't remember the name of to treat the yard and bedding. I have also put flea collars on everybody. The cats have also had all the above, except the fidos. My friend has just used advantage (or advantix? Not sure which one, but probably advantix as she is in a tick area) without much success either, so I'm just looking for other brands, hopefully with different active ingredients. I'm not sure what the active ingredient in advantage/advantix is, but Frontline is Fipromil, Duogard is Pyriproxyfen 3g/L; Permethrin 400g/L. I presume they do something different? Any advice gratefully received. One of my boys is quite allergic to the bites, so he is quite miserable scratching all day, until his belly is raw

I dropped it on concrete

Thanks everyone. I wasn't wearing any shoes today, so very glad I didnt drop on my foot. I have bought from Colin previously, but not this time, as he can no longer get the blades for my clippers (hence the wait while they were ordered from the other company) The blades are a size 4 Skiptooth. Didn't intend getting a skiptooth, but didn't specify a F when I ordered them, and didn't even think about it until I was looking at them and wondering why they looked so different to my other blades Not sure that I would be comfortable about using them with a missing tooth, as I was wary enough just using a skiptooth after reading everyones warnings about them on other posts here. (not for the inexperienced, easier to catch skin etc etc) Might just have to put it down to one of those learing experiences, and start saving again

Bought a new pair of blades for my clippers. Used them for the first time today. When I finished and was cleaning them, I dropped them on the ground and broke one of the teeth off Very damned annoyed. Took me ages to get them. Had to save up to start with, and then they had to be ordered in by the company I bought them from Not happy Jan! So, the next question is, is it possible to still use them? (or will that injure my dogs?) Or repair them? Of course it is the bottom part of the blade (large plate) that has been broken. Can you buy parts of blades? Any ideas please?

I hope all goes well for you at the vets tomorrow. Best wishes for the dogs and your move