Kelly_Louise

Okay, so we know I'm a worry wart when it comes to my puppies. I can't help it - but lately I've noticed a few odd things with Sasha, and I'd just like some advice on what DOLer's would do if it were their dog. I'm very worried that she may be in pain, and I have no idea what's causing it or how to help her Bit of background first - Sasha is my beloved rescue dog who's been with us coming on three years now (best 3 years of my life ). She appears to have a bit of a sensitive tummy, and it took us quite a few months to get her diet right and stop the runny poos, upset tummy's and get her appetite back. Her health for the last couple of years has been really good, only the occasional upset tummy or runny poo and her immune system seems to have picked up a great deal. She's been happy and otherwise healthy and strong. I generally feed her 3 times a day... because I find that (esp during winter) she will vomit in the afternoons (just bile) if her tummy is empty (seems to get aggravated if empty for too long) and can sometimes cause her to go off her food - so feeding twice or three times a day has countered this. She has always been a bit sooky though - and timid. She sometimes gets scared if you try to move her or something and sometimes let's out a little cry if you shock her or she thinks you may be trying to hurt her. These times are VERY few and far between though... and since our bond and trust has developed it really hasn't happened. She is not good with the vet and doesn't like strangers to touch her... although we have found a vet that she can tolerate to a certain extent - which is why I haven't taken her to the vet as yet. I was hoping to get some kind of idea as to what is causing it so she is not put through testing that isn't necessary. However, this last week - I've noticed she's been quite sooky. She cried once when I went to get a bit of sleep out of her eye. Not a yelp, just a very tiny little quick whine. So tiny you can hardly hear it. I do this often though and just thought I'd been a bit rough and maybe scratched the corner of her eye. No big deal. Then, my dad came over during the week and she was dancing around and he was patting her (but I wasn't watching them - she was standing up though) and she gave another little cry. I just thought maybe he'd accidentally trod on her foot or something cause she was goofing about. Then on Friday, we were walking at the lake and we saw her best friend Max the labrador. He ran up to her very vocally (as he always does) and she again let out the tiniest cry. It was hard to tell if it was due to any physical contact. And then as they were parting, he was barking at her and she was pretending to ignore it as he jumped around her in circles (again not sure if there was any physical contact) and she let out another little cry. I checked all her paws and legs - but nothing. So yesterday, I had her inside with me and got her to lie down while the storm hit. I kind of gently pulled her front legs down so that she would lie down and she let out a tiny whine. She didn't jump up or anything, it was just a little whine and things went on as usual. I noticed when I asked her to lie down of her own accord, she also let out a little whine. This morning, as we did our training, I told her 'down' and as she went down she let out another tiny whine, but continued to do her training as asked. The only other thing I have noticed the last 2 days is that on our walks she has been eating a bit of grass. Not alot, and not desperately looking for it as she does sometimes if she has an upset belly... but will seek it out and have a graze. She also looks to be a little 'hunched' up in the back when she has gotten up from lying down for a while, and looks a little hesitant to fully stretch - but I'm not sure if that is normal, or I'm just looking for things in the hope of finding out what's wrong. My husband and I have checked all her limbs and paws, stretched all her legs/joints, moved them, felt them... and she doesn't appear to flinch or cry at any of it. I've felt her all over for lumps, bumps - nothing. I've pressed on all her ribs/chest and felt her belly - and she hasn't cried (although not sure she would if I'm doing it - she knows I wouldn't hurt her deliberately). I've watched all of her gaits for any signs of lameness or limping - nothing. She is eating well and all of her food, sometimes a little slowly - although she's never been a gutsy dog - so that's not unusual. She still wants to walk and is active and fairly normal, her poos seem to be fine. After a process of watching and monitoring - my thoughts are either stomach pain, or maybe a sore muscle in her back/shoulder region where it may not cause her to limp. I'm just unsure what to do. Should I rest her, and monitor her for a while and see if she gets better - and if not, at least maybe have a better idea of what might be the cause and then take her to the vet? I've cut out all treats etc, in case hubby has given her something that is causing her to have a sore belly (he is fond of giving her buttered bread and ham)... Or would you take her to the vet, with little to go on, and potentially expose her to testing that may be unnecessary and will put her through alot of stress (and not sure she would co-operate if I'm not there)? It's killing me... they are only small whines and otherwise she appears okay... but I hate to think she may be in some kind of pain, it makes me cry (being pregnant, that's not unusual) - and I can't think straight as to what is the best course of action to take at the moment. Hubby says to wait and see, because she is fairly normal otherwise... but I'm such a worry wart... Any ideas/suggestions??? Sorry for the long and overly emotional post - again, it's the pregnancy LOL (plus worry for my baby girl)!!! Thank you!!

Chloe - my arms/lap. She was the most gorgeous puppy I'd ever laid eyes on - so I couldn't resist. Sasha - well she was 2.5yo when we got her with the longest gangly legs you've ever seen... and at 35ish kgs although she probably would have loved to sit on someone's lap - she would have looked quite comical stuffed on OH's lap... so she got the whole back seat (which she proceeded to vomit all over - but she did look very sorry about it).

Let me tell you, there's no way in God's green earth I'd ever recommend a novice dog owner with young children take ANY adult dog direct from a pound into their home. Puppies would be fine but there are too many risk factors with adults, even with a temperament assessment. Sorry everyone;I did not mean to cause any discord here.I am fairly new to all this and can only offer advise from my own experiences.I may view things from a different angle but can take on board advise from others with more knowledge in these matters than me;like poodlefan and greytmate;as i am learning all the time thats why i am here.Sunday will be the 4 year anniversary of the death of my "pound' dog.I have been looking at her photo album and have been upset and am a bit touchy about the pound /shelter thing. I understand that - I'm very biased about rescue dogs too... I think they are the best But I agree with Poodlefan - I wouldn't recommend someone without alot of experience and with small children get a dog straight out of the pound. Not to say it can't be done and that it couldn't be a perfect match - but it would be better to have a higher chance of finding the right dog for their situation from a rescue org or registered breeder that knows the dog well and has tested them in a range of different, everyday scenarios and knows their reactions. Plus, one dog out of rescue makes room for them to save another from the pound - which is usually where they all come from anyway.

We don't have children yet - but when we were looking for our new dog (the first where we would be primary carers as well) - we had to consider that we both work full time, which meant the dog would need to be able to cope on it's own for a few hours a day. My OH wanted a puppy - but I thought this unfair, and wasn't confident we would have the sufficient time to dedicate to a puppy's needs. So we looked for older dogs from registered breeders and older dogs from reputable rescue organisations. It was the best choice I ever made. Frustrating at first, because we got knocked back from numerous breeders - but I was happy to accept their opinions (they know their dogs best), because at the end of the day I wanted to find a dog that would suit us, but that we would also suit the dog as well, to allow them to be happy and flourish in our family. It took a good couple of months researching, meeting of potential dogs etc... and finally - there she was. My Sasha. She was 2.5yo when we got her, she was fine with periods of being left alone (and I've since learnt actually prefers to be left alone to snooze in the sun during the day), and suited us down to the ground. Okay, she had some quirks that we've had to work on... but she was house trained, had good manners and was the perfect foundation for us to build on. Luckily I work close to home, so am able to spend my 1 hour lunch break with her each day, and means I am home in a matter of minutes so we have more time for training and walking etc. But I'm glad we chose an older dog, and the rewards have been a thousand fold for us. She is a not a perfect dog, but she was the perfect dog for us... She was more work than I expected (bless Mum and all the hard work she did without us noticing with our family dogs) - but nowhere near as much work as a puppy would have required. And to be honest, I love every second of caring for her. I would recommend a rescue dog from a good rescue organisation that places a high priority on matching families with their dogs needs.

I am more than happy feeding Sasha Advance. After many incidents with upset tummies, Advance is the food I can reliably feed her to keep her well and healthy, and her appetite constant - with consistently firm poos. It really is about what agrees best with your dog/s though.

I fourth Active Manuka Honey - we've had alot of kennel cough episodes with Sasha and it fixes her up quickly, even eases the coughing really quickly - and she LOVES it!!

Chloe is not that heavy (around 30kgs) but had both legs done 5 years ago now. Never had a problem with them. For a dog that size, I would only (personally) recommend osteotomy type surgeries - they are more stable and handle bigger weights better. Of course, surgery is only one part of it - the aftercare is just as crucial, so as long as you are prepared then it should all be okay. Many people disagree with surgery, but in all honesty, it's the best thing we ever did with Chloe. It gave her back her quality of life. Expensive, yes - but the results were absolutely priceless.

Thank you Tassie, but I can't take all the credit. My mum and dad do an awesome job with her too. But it's very exciting, I never thought our luck would turn with her. Seems she has a guardian angel somewhere out there ;)

Sasha's initial greeting... is mayhem. She licks, dances all over you, stands on your head, turns circles, tries to jam her face into yours, etc, all with tail wagging furiously. Once she settles, she likes to be near you - some part of her touching, but sometimes not (mostly when she wants to sleep). As long as she is close. Sometimes, she will crawl over and put her face right near mine or rest it on my arm. When she wants cuddles, she will come and sit face to face with me - that indicates cuddle time. But mostly, she likes to lean. Whether you are sitting on the ground (where she will lean into your shoulder or stand over your lap and lean into your chest) or standing (where she will lean on your leg), she just likes to be touching you. It's very reassuring. When i have been on the ground injured, her usual response is to first come and kiss - then stand over you... and I mean, right over you. Not sure if she is protecting, or trying to hide me in case she is to blame... but it's kind of like her lean, but with nothing to lean on so she just stands on top of you.

I have the same problem with Sasha... if she is given raw meat - upset tummy and runny poos. She does have bones and is okay with them, but they are given sparingly and do not have much meat on them at all. I find that raw chicken is much worse for her, she can tolerate small amounts of raw beef, but not much more and not with regularity. Again, I know this goes against the grain of how a dogs stomach should work - but it's what we've identified. She is now fed a combo of Advance Dry food, and Advance canned food - and we now have consistent, firm, normal poos (unless someone is naughty and gives her something they shouldn't). Before we found this out, I also struggled with sloppy poos everyday and her being a poor eater - to the point where I was pulling my hair out... Now she is a great, consistent eater and we have nice firm poos everyday - much easier to pick up!!! I should also say we added daily vitamin/mineral supplement to her diet to help boost her overall health and immunity, and for bad tummy episodes she is given active manuka honey to soothe it down.

For those who have followed Chloe’s long, long health journey – we have an update… and a good one!!! Chloe had her routine testing done on Friday to check her Cushings disease, and also to check how her kidney disease is going. Cortisol levels are good and remaining stable – so she is still fighting off the dreaded Cushings, and is still in a ‘remission’ and not needing medication. This has now been over 6 months, I can’t tell you how thrilled we are. All kidney related levels are relatively normal, and have not budged since December testing… so she is also keeping the kidney disease progression at bay. She has had Cartrophen injections for her legs, and they have helped substantially and she is bounding around again…. Well okay, maybe not always bounding around – but imagine a slower, creakier, old dog bound and you’ll get the drift. We are over the moon, I suspected the results would be good as she has been so well and lively lately – but we have been fooled before. But these test results come as a much needed relief, and knowledge that the old girl may keep kicking to her 14th birthday??? Now wouldn’t that just be the icing on the cake??? Bless her stinky paws, she’s a trooper. We love you Chloe – go girl go!!!

How utterly moving. What an amazing little soldier Billy was. To have endured so much (so much that it actually turned my stomach), yet learn to love and trust again. I have tears after reading this. Tears for what the poor little guy went through, but also tears because at long last, he had his happy ending. And what a wonderful person you are to have taken him on, loved him, cared for him, given him some long awaited happiness. There is one consolation you should carry in your heart always... he passed as a very happy boy, having a family who adored him and a 'place' in the world. I'm sure there is a very special place for such a courageous little guy at the bridge. Rest in peace and happiness forever Billy. I'm very sorry for what is obviously a massive loss to you.

Totally agree... but after 2-3 months of consistent limping I'd be concerned it was something more than a minor injury. I personally would have hoped that a minor injury would have started to 'right' itself by now, or seen some signs of improvement at least.

That's right... could potentially be 'masking' a very serious issue. Do you think that cartrophen/pentosan "masks" lameness issues? I didn't think it did. Not as such, no - but it does help their joints and give the appearance that they are better or improved. If it is prescribed without knowing the real issue, then yes I do believe it can 'mask' something more serious. We were told that Chloe needed Cartrophen injections for her leg problems (just thought to be arthritis due to her age)... and yes, they did help. However, the real cause (cruciate ligament damage) went untreated - and we weren't knowledgable enough to push for further testing back then. This continued for well over a year, despite many visits for the same reason and the 'wait and see' approach. It would have saved alot of time, money, and her suffering if we'd been given the real, correct diagnosis in the first place, treated that - and THEN had Cartrophen injections (which she's just recently had and are working a treat for her now - real - arthritis). I personally don't see the reason to give a dog Cartrophen if you have no idea what the underlying cause is. Yes, it relieves pain and aids joints, but it won't fix anything and isn't permanent. If people can't address the real issue - whether naturally or surgically - then the problem still proceeds to deteriorate anyway.

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Poor dogs... rest in peace babies. These people need some serious help. And I'm not saying that in a general, sarcastic way... they seriously do need help. They shouldn't be allowed to be free in society - they are bl00dy dangerous.

RIP Wags - all I can hope is that the people who released you did you the biggest favour, what a blessed relief that must of been for the poor old bugger. I hope they gave him some love before he went as well, just so he has some fond memories and a reminder that we aren't all so bad. I can't fathom it. I don't understand how someone can watch a dog slowly dying day after day, and not have it tug at their heartstrings in the least, or feel some kind of pity or shame or sympathy... or something. Wags' life was no doubt, worth a lot more than the punishment. He certainly deserved better, even after his death.

I would have thought the growing trend would highlight exactly what the vast majority thought of the imposed 'Islamic lifestyle' offering... Seems people like freedom and choice... like that offered in most 'vulgar Western' countries. No wonder they are nervous. With technology, people are seeing different options for themselves and their families - instead of being forced into traditional ways. If it does happen, I feel for the dogs... goodness knows what would happen to them... and I doubt, if they are considered so lowly by the powers that be, that they would be at least treated humanely...

I'm horrified. I was one who was for keeping the pups with no front legs alive (within reason and provided they had appropriate carers to provide for their special needs)... but I draw the line on this one. Not a wild animal - with instincts that go against what it currently happening. They do not think the same way we, or other domesticated animals would... How does she know he is excited... maybe he's terrified??? No, I think it's cruel... and while I think she probably has a good heart and her intentions are good, it's just not right - in any way, shape for form. If he has to be kept alive for whatever reason - then do so in an appropriate environment with carers who will treat him as a kangaroo - where he has interactions with other kangaroos, and a little bit of dignity at least... not dressed in a tuxedo and treated like a baby. I'm just horrified, and deeply saddened that this is allowed - at any cost. And now, to have to be restrained/caged etc as well as all the other ridiculous goings on. What kind of life is that for a proud roo? I guess at least he is loved (in a freaky way)... that's one positive, even if the kindness is killing him... I hope someone can help this lady see sense soon, maybe get her the right kind of help she needs.

That's right... could potentially be 'masking' a very serious issue.

See, I prefer this than the 'wait and see' approach... Especially when you know your dog, and know something is wrong. I find this method to be time wasting and cost more money in the long run. Especially with leg issues (unless they are short term problems that have only just popped up), I prefer to know exactly what I'm dealing with, and start appropriate treatment before more damage can be done. All dogs will keep going, regardless if they are in pain - and this is when most of the irreversible damage occurs. I'll never mess with leg problems again.

I understand and accept that dogs/cats are a culinary item on the menu in China, and have been historically. What I can't accept, is that people's family dogs are STOLEN and (must be) illegally trucked away to keep the restaurants stocked. That is horrific, and not just a violation of animal rights. Nice to see the tide is slowly turning, that the new generation bring their own beliefs out of logic, rationality and humanity. Well I say I accept it - but I don't, nor the treatment of the animals that are used as food. I accept that the Chinese people have been eating dogs and cats as part of their culture and beliefs for many, many years (but that's all I accept).

I agree. Not addressing the real issue can cause further, irreversible damage. We had the same problem with Chloe, kept being told the 'rest, pain relief and wait and see approach'... only to have her cruciates blow to the point she could hardly walk. She was also put on Cartrophen injections during this time - but it doesn't stop the damage. I regret not having pushed for a definitive answer sooner - especially after she had been taken to the vet numerous times with the same, recurring symptoms - it was just a vicious cycle. The damage that was done in that time put her in alot of pain, and the damage the joint sustained in the meantime can not be repaired. She also had to have both meniscus removed because they were just so bad from too long being misdiagnosed. For a larger dog, I would not be messing around with leg issues. But that's my own opinion from our own experience.

Best of luck to Maisie - I hope she will heal well I remember both Chloe's legs looking bruised and swollen the first 5 or so days... Looked awful, but she was using them pretty much straight away (they weren't both done at the same time though). It takes a while for them to be used to this new life of quiet and confinement - but they do adapt. Make sure you have lots of 'non active' entertainment on hand, think of some games or tricks that don't require her to be active or standing etc. It's a long road, for sure... but one that is well worth the heartache and time and effort involved. :D Chloe had hers done at 8 years old... at 13, she suffers a little bit from arthritis now (which had kicked in before the ops anyway) - but otherwise she's had no problems with her legs since the ops, and it honestly did give her a totally new lease on life. I hope you and Maisie have similar great results. Wishing you both all the very best!!

Sorry to hear that she has cost so much. That is a lot of money, but you know what - I would pay that much for my boy and girl too. Someone could offer me all the money in the world for Chloe, but to me she is invaluable and I would never part with her. It's not the cost, but the heartache that we all have had to endure to keep her well and happy. Whilst I wouldn't buy from a BYB again, if I had to make the same decision about Chloe again - even knowing she would have health issues - I would again take her home in a heartbeat. The pure joy and friendship she has given us far outweighs her health costs, although I just wish she'd been able to live a completely healthy life. I figure she is lucky that she was with us, so that she could have the best care and love possible - and we were lucky to have been blessed with such an angel.