Kelly_Louise

Yep that's always scary! Although usually I'm too busy laughing to worry too much... Sash looks like a manic greyhound when she does her zoomies and changes direction a million times. It's hysterical. In saying that, I do worry when she's on the cement in the entertaining area cause she slides along it and I panic she'll hurt herself... so I yell out 'careful' in between fits of laughter

Glad to hear Boots is on the mend Was there a verdict on the lameness, or is it also related to the reaction?

I use 'good girl' to indicate that Sash has done the right thing. She is very sensitive to 'good' and 'naughty' words - and seems to know exactly what I mean, so we use those. I also use 'GO' as the substitute word for 'break'. We've had much success with the TOT... actually it was the breakthrough exercise that finally got Sasha responding.

Fantastic news that Mollie is home and on the mend. I'm sure it's a bit of a journey before she's 100%, but that she's alive and made it through this nightmare is the first (and best) step. Very happy for your little Christmas miracle.

You can get Resi-Soothe and Epi-Soothe from the RSPCA at Yagoona. I think they keep a constant supply on hand for our Chloe She also has very dry, scaly itchy skin - particularly just before her tail, they're both very good leave on products and help soothe the area. We use both.

Gut instincts are never far wrong - glad to see you are keeping positive at this worrying time Glad she's home - it's never much fun to be kept quiet... but she will adapt over time. Lots of cuddle time, chews and lying down games....

Actually, I think you're absolutely right Erny... if not for the cruciate issues who knows how long this tumour could have been wreaking havoc before it was detected, or before obvious symptoms were observed. It's awful news, no doubt, but catching it earlier than normal may be just what is needed to give Ruby her chance. Thinking of you all.

Rest in peace and happiness sweet Callie. Bigs hugs to you rmc for the loss of your very special friend. Sounds like she lived an extraordinary life with you, full of love... can't ask for much more than that can you? May a special piece of her live on in your heart and make you smile forever.

Sounds like you're all having a run of hard luck... hopefully that will change when you get some good news. There are other alternative methods that can keep Ruby's knee comfortable until she is fully recovered and the finances are restored (not telling me anything I don't know - I feel that pain LOL) and you feel she might be ready. First things first, she needs to get over this little hurdle first, which I'm sure she will.

Hopefully the prognosis is good and the knee surgery can go ahead still... after all she may have many healthy years ahead of her and will need a good knee Stay positive. Sometimes we can get the worst news, but there are times it doesn't turn out half as bad as we (in our understandable worry) make it out to be. We all adapt and cope, none better than the little furries. I'm sure Ruby will take this in her stride - and hopefully the results come back as benign, and there is every possibility that can happen. Will stay tuned to hear some more positive updates ;)

So the cruciate surgery is out the window for a while then? Goodness Ruby's been in the wars alright... she must be a tough little thing ;) Hopefully the removal of the mass on the Adrenal will maybe remove the chance of her developing Cushings disease further on? Usually this disease kicks in when a tumour on the Adrenal or Pituitary gland starts affecting production of cortisol. We continue to send best wishes. There is nothing worse than taking your dog in for one thing, and receiving unexpected bad news. But best to catch these things early on than too late! Fingers and paws crossed for a quick recovery and excellent prognosis.

Let's just hope Asha likes water... apparently Sasha loved water when she was awaiting a home, so i did the same and bought a shell pool, but she just didn't seem to love it when she came to live with us. If she's really revved up, she loves it and will dive through it and splash about - otherwise when it's hot she'll just walk through it, back and forth but won't play in it or get really wet. She just likes to get her paws wet to cool down - that's good enough for me and was the purpose of the pool in the first place. Oh, and she has to go in on her terms, otherwise it's a no go ;) Hmmmm... wanna swap? Only jokin', as eccentric as Sash is i wouldn't change her for the world... well... maybe just a little bit... ;)

After watching those and some other links, I think I might try the channel method with Sasha first, perhaps with the guides as well. From what I can see from the way she learns, it might be easier - although the 3 pole entry could do the trick too... We'll see how we go! Actually watching dogs do it, I'm fully in awe!

I love it... seems Asha has found her niche with you and your family, and slotted in perfectly. Can't ask for much more can you? I'm thrilled that you have such a beautiful fur baby and things are going so well.

Yes I'll bet. Well it's comforting to know they are using a different drug - I'd hate for them to just try again with the same one... Fingers crossed. I'm sure she will be fine... your uncomfortable feeling is most likely due to the experience you've had with this veterinary clinic so far and their behaviour towards patients, and now you feel a little mistrust. I'd say that would be natural given the experience you've had. Hope all goes well this time and the surgery can be completed.

Very happy to hear that there is more improvement - and hoping for further news in the right direction! What a tough little pup

Done - best wishes being sent her way Did they give a reason for the reaction to the GA? Or even have a guess as to what it might have been that caused it? To be honest, I don't know alot about the complications that can occur with GA nor the different reasons for it - however, before attempting it again, I - and I would assume the vet, would want to know why it happened or what triggered it before trying again? Again, that's just my logic and perhaps they know it's a one off situation and is safe to try again? Very worrying - I'm sorry you have to go through this. I do hope the surgery goes off without a hitch this time - and I also hope that you never go back to this vet again unless it's necessary. Not saying the reaction was caused by them (I wouldn't know) but their procedures and lack of compassion towards patient and clients (who've shelled out alot of money and expect better service for their beloved pets) leaves alot to be desired. I understand just wanting to get it done... the sooner it's done the sooner she will hopefully be racing around again, after proper recovery time of course. Best wishes - and do make sure you find out more about this reaction... you will probably need to know the details for if she ever needs it again to warn other vets etc so need to know as much as possible. Let us know how she goes... hope she's home for Christmas.

Thanks for the links Kavik - that's awesome (and derrr to me to not think of looking on youtube for ideas... ) Thanks for all the help and advice, it's great and really helping me develop my own plan (and for me that's important otherwise I bumble around and just confuse Sasha) and it also actually helps my confidence a bit when I have a plan and direction to follow. It's nice to be able to admit that I'm no agility expert, and come here to find really helpful info Makes the learning curve much more pleasurable.

It's the simple things that tells you if you can trust your vet, or not. I wouldn't go back their either. I guess the resuscitation question might have been protocol (even though we think the answers only natural)... but to have no concern over the patients, especially if they are showing distress, is just chilling. There's procedure, and there's humanity.... gotta have a bit of both I'd say. Stick with someone you trust 100%, it takes so much of the unnecessary worry out of it. How did Ruby's surgery go? Hope all is well.

You know Callie best... I say go with what your heart and gut tells you to do. YOU know what the right thing is, and how she deserves to go out. Do what you can be happy with, as it will be a really tough time for you and you don't want to wonder... Best wishes to you all. I hope you enjoy your time with Callie and she comes to her time full of love and happiness and wonderful memories of her life. They're never with us as long as we'd like.

Thanks for that Loraine - quite interesting actually. I might do some more research on Lysodren, just out of curiosity I totally agree about finding a specialist or vet who knows these diseases intimately and knows medication procedures. I can't even begin to think where Chloe would be now without her specialist. I just don't trust anyone else to do the job... and I'm afraid to say she probably wouldn't be with us today, and as well as she is. On a good note, after our little scare earlier this month with the pale gums - Chloe is going great guns. Her legs are a little less agile these days, but after her leg ops, old age, arthritis and her meds - it's nothing we are surprised at. Can't believe she will be 12 soon. Where did that time go? Love you ChloBo, my angel. Hope the info you are gaining on here is proving a little helpful J. Don't forget the Yahoo groups as well... I always felt a little left out as I seemed to be the only Aussie on there and things are a little different overseas - but they have given some very useful information from a wide and diverse group of Cushinoids with very different experiences.

Very sorry to hear such bad news... I can't begin to fathom how gutted you must feel right now. Our thoughts are with you. I wish I could say something that would ease the pain - but I know nothing will make this any easier... We do share your sorrow.

Chloe has Cushings disease and ever since her diagnosis has had dry, itchy skin intermittently. We use 2 products called Resi-soothe and Epi-soothe. They can be used as a rub on or to bathe them in. We were also told by the vet to give her fish capsules daily to help - generally 2 day when it's really bad. We also use Aloveen shampoo as well for sensitive skin. But I think that unless you find the reason for the irritation it will only cover up the itchies briefly, although it may just be a seasonal thing related to grass or similar. Good luck - I know how frustrating and helpless you feel to see a dog constantly itchy and scratching (knowing it doesn't have fleas of course!).

Oh goodness - sounds so technical!!! Poor Sash doesn't stand a chance with a mug like me teaching her!!! I like the barriers idea actually, it might help us - thanks... at the moment she just barges straight through them VERY messily, without a care of where they are or what they are doing... she can be tangled in weave poles - almost have them sticking up her bum and in her ears and she still keeps barging through And I guess - seeing she is never going to be in competition and it's just for fun I could leave the barriers on if I really had to or if I had trouble taking them off. I can angle the poles (they are not designed that way but I can angle them when I anchor them into the ground) so we will give that a go as well. They can also be assembled at only half height (when straight angled) and perhaps if I take off the top half it might be easier to guide her through without getting so tangled (both of us). Currently they are attached at equal spaces designated by a ribbon... would it be beneficial for me to move them further apart to start off with? Or would that just confuse her? I'll also cut it back to just 3 to begin with and I'm sure that will also make it easier for her to understand. Seeing this is new to me also, I guess I'm confusing her a little with my own confusion - but we'll get there slowly. Funnily I thought she would get the weave poles quite quickly - I thought I'd have the most trouble with the tunnel (I thought her fears would play up and she'd be too scared to enter it) - but she took to the tunnel straight away and will zoom in and out of it! Thanks very much guys - have taken it all in, and as i said this is strictly for fun right now (who knows she might surprise me!) - and we appreciate all your helpful advice for two total novices (and apparently not very sharp ones at that ). Sash is really lazy too, so getting her to complete any of it at speed is a challenge in itself - Sash kinda likes to dawdle through life

Will check it out - thanks! Everything I conquer with Sash is rewarding in itself - but this is a real challenge for both of us! She may never be an agility star - but we will have fun learning together! And I'm sure it will be mentally stimulating for her, as well as a new physical challenge!