Falgall

Dogmad I tend to agree with you as it could potentially be a no win for anyone. Lolas Foster Carer has kindly offered the family to go back once the hives are down to try a poodle and see what happens. More difficult than initially thought sorry Karen

Hi All Well apparently things were not as clear cut as I thought and I apologise for my lack of facts. The family saw the gorgeous Lola today but one of the girls broke out in welts and is apparently has a mild allergy to dogs (saliva, dander or fur I am not sure). I am sorry but I was unaware of this till tonight as she has never broken out near my dogs albeit she has only met them a couple of times. The younger girl was frightened of dogs but talking to my brother apparently she is always standoffish till she gets to know them. The Lab part of Lola proved a little bit too big for the boys so a smaller breed would be more suitable. Thank you very much to Lola's Foster carer for her help and guidance despite the situation being more complicated than first anticipated. The search is not over and I am sure the right dog is out there. Thanks again Karen

I am glad I am not my brother's family All the dogs are so so cute Thanks so much for the pics and posts! Karen

Hi All My brother's family are definitely going to meet with Lola - to say there is excitment in the air would be an understatement. Hopefully it pans out but if not I am sure these leads will pan out. Ideal location as well as they are located near Penrith. I have asked them to view the pic above as well. Do you know how old the dog is?? Thanks for the leads Karen I will let you know what happens :D

Hi Again Could you please tell me where Lola and Matilda are located? Is there a pic of Lola? Does the Koolie x still need a home? Thanks Karen

Thank you all for your help. I have passed the informatioon on and hopefully one will pan out. Yes if i could get contact details etc for the koolie X that would be great too. Thnks again will keep you posted re progress Karen PS WAR????

Hi All My brother and his family are trying to find a medium (?) sized dog to add to his family. They own their own home and have a large fully secure yard (lots of shelter). The family consists of two girls 8 and 6 and twin boys 2 yrs old. Both my brother and his wife have had dogs all their lives (of all sizes and temperament). They are naturally more concerned about temperament rather than breed, they need a dog who wants attention and tolerant of children. They are great kids used to their Grandparents dogs (they live across the road from them). The dog will receive bucket loads of love and attention and will be walked as well as played with a lot. It will be part of the family not simply in the backyard and forgotten. Any ideas or dogs you know that need a home please let me know. The home is in Sydney. [email protected] 0452522289. Karen Falconer

Hi Bondi Sorry cant talk at work as I am a psych nurse and its hard to get the opportunity. I am working another double tomorrow but am free Thursday to talk - not too early as I need sleep I have said the things that have been posted here. You know I have two cats and a 10 year old, Mia should not have been a problem. Did the last lady contact you that wanted a rescue Chow - she had no children or other pets. But she works and he is used to your girls company. Your girl may fret as she will be more alone once he is gone and then again when your routine changes after the birth. We seem to rehash the same things and there is not a black and white answer. I wish I could come up with a solution. Has he been tested with cats? Where did that guy get a pup? Will email you with another couple of contacts - they are old but maybe worth a try? They are Chow savvy and may still want an older Chow. Yes Goldchow I have missed you all more than you could know This time next year you will be saying gosh Falgall go away 2010 the year of my return

Remember to consider how your female Chow will react to the loss of her companion. She will fret! She is used to another dog and you will be tied up with the baby and she will be confused by all the change. If you have the overseas option wouldnt it be worthwhile to see how he goes with the baby (with prep as suggested earlier) to benefit both your Chow Chows?

Hi BondiChowChow I am glad I popped in here. You did not tell me about your boys tendancy to bite children and also you sent me a pic of him with another Chow Chow but said he was not at home with another Chow Chow. I am worried how the female will cope with her companion gone? I have sent possible matches to you without all the information so I am a bit worried. Plus you told me that the issues with dogs were your imagination and that the groomer and others had told you that he was not aggressive with other dogs? So he is going overseas now? I can now assume he is safe and not refer people to you? I am sorry but you have me very confused at present. Karen PS The one you have been emailing

It has taken some time to write this. That tribute had me laughing and crying and I have never met Sam. Beautiful shots of a full secure and loving life with your family. I adore the sequence with Kim, you can see how close they were. I adore the Daddy watching the pesky pup shots - Sam looked so concerned and tolerant. I also adored the beach shot - got a bit wet I'd say ;) A wonderful tribute that not only expressed how loved Sam is but also portrayed his charcter. Thank you RIP Sam :rolleyes:

Thank you all for the kind words. Yes he was/is loved and I am so glad I had the courage to be with him. He was calm and in a strange way I think he knew. But despite that he licked me as I said I loved him very much. My eldest was also there as well as two of the Vets who knew him well. So it was a room of love. So hard but so unfair to see him as he was. His brother is a bit depressed and the tears still flowing but the good times will come fora=ward soon - there were so many to remember. I was always so proud of the way Wags made the Rescues welcome and how he loved to play with all. A special boy always Thanks again Karen

Thank you all for the kind words. Yes he was/is loved and I am so glad I had the courage to be with him. He was calm and in a strange way I think he knew. But despite that he licked me as I said I loved him very much. My eldest was also there as well as two of the Vets who knew him well. So it was a room of love. So hard but so unfair to see him as he was. His brother is a bit depressed and the tears still flowing but the good times will come fora=ward soon - there were so many to remember. I was always so proud of the way Wags made the Rescues welcome and how he loved to play with all. A special boy always Thanks again Karen

Sorry all too much has happened Wags was coughing and I did do the x-ray and it had spread to his lung. He stopped using his rear leg approx 3 weeks ago due to the orange sized swelling near his hock. The past two weeks he has been in pain so the meds started. They did help initially but I had nights where I would sit with him after giving more than I was supposed to. Mother's Day my youngest tripped on a pavement and scalped himself ie 25 stitches in his forehead as it was cut to the bone and skin hung in his eyes. So I had to spend three nights at the Children's Hospital. On my return the WHOLE of Wags leg was puffed to the max. He struggled to get up and see me - it broke my heart. He did not eat for the past two days and had lost 5 kgs. He was also constantly panting. I rang and spoke to the Vet last night and we went in tonight at 7:30 pm. Mark actually saw him and he was wonderful. He dealt with Wags Fistula problem and like all there knows him very well. His voice cracked as he remembered how happy we all were when Wags was so well after the fistula months. I sat with my darling mate Wags and spoke for ages then the time came to let him go. The cancer was far too aggressive. I miss him so much but hated to see the pain, need for drugs, him wanting to do things that were such a strain on his system. Horrid and very unfair for a 5 yr old to have gone through so much. Run Pain Free my Darling Boy - I am so sorry I am not capable yet to express myself in a way that you deserve Love You So Much Karen

Dwynwen pm'd me one in Russell Lea which is great as it is not too far. I agree Pampa we all need some good news soon! It is difficult as I get down then think - silly old chook be positive and bounce into the Vet enjoying chatting to folks in the waiting area only to be flattened by the time I am spoken to. The ladies are wonderful at Gladesville Vet and I feel bad coming out to them blubbering or trying not to. Their faces show so much empathy it saddens me and I do not wish to burden them. Yeah I am hoping next week is a goody. Mia on Wednesday to have her next mite scrape (hopefully second clear one). This so far has taken 7 months but I am confident she is still clear. Wags on Thursday to have the chest xray done - hopefully no node change ;) I promise to think positively for the next week and make it happen Thanks everyone for helping me mentally and emotionally it is appreciated. I will have to broach the subject with Wags owner my 7 yr old soon. He is convinced Wags is fine despite me explaining that he is still unwell. Whether it is good or bad he is exactly like me and wont take it well. But I will not have to cross this bridge ;) How is that for positive. Karen Snap Jodie - that was the exact recommendation I just received. Brilliant Thanks for the link. Karen

Hi rny I hope that all goes well for Kal. I like you hate an op but hopefully it will resolve her problems. Is that her in your avatar? She is divine ;) I wish you both all the best through this horrid time. Please keep us updated Kind Regards Karen

Wags full history was sent to Sydney Uni and we received the report today. I will pick the important bits but the upshot is another chest xray next week, if the nodule (was 1.2cm) has increased in size then there is not much hope at all. They also suggest a biopsy of his groin lymph node (as it is inflamed) but I wont do that as it can be removed if the amputation is done. Report from Veterinary Oncology Consultants Sydney University Tony Moore BVSc MVSc ACVIM (Oncology) Wags' presentation is consistent with a primary subcutaneous haemangiosarcoma "High Grade" Re-wording sorry as it is too much to type. Basically; If the lung node is the same size as the first x-ray, assume it has not spread and remove his limb - this has resulted in 84 dogs only 30% deaths occuring. This option can possibly cure him ;) If the pulmonary and iliac nodes have incresed then if the limb is removed the life expectancy increases to 5.6 mths rather than leaving the limb (2 mths on average).Chemotherapy is hard to gain effcacy other than assessing survival. Doxorubicin is the drug most likely to result in a tumour response. ;) So Wags will have another Chest XRay next Thursday and we make plans from there. Wags is still on anti-biotics and also Rimadyl as pain relief for his leg. Other drugs are dropped for now. Where is a good Holistic Vet? Thanks for all the support as I truly appreciate it.

Try Advocate and the Pyohex or Pyoderm shampoo first Good luck I have been fighting mites now since October, last month we had our first clear scrape. Three scrapes in all clear toill she stops her meds. If Advocate does not work you may need Invermectin. Dont muck around get it seen to early Karen

Sorry I have been so slack - I truly am losing mmy mind Wags was allowed home on Tuesday afternoon, the leg would not stop weeping. He was so happy to be home sp are we. He has been good and kept quiet and Jack and Mia have not hassled him. That was a relief as I did not want to seclude him. Eating, going to the toilet and slightly using his leg - all is good. The results were back on Wednesday but noone rang me I have just come back from the Vet now, had to get his dressing changed. He has a grade 3 Haemoblahblah tumour. Sorry forgot the name of the rotten thing that is in his blood. It is now highly likely the spot on his lung and the inflamation of the groin lymph is the same thing. We have $%^& options, 1 remove his leg, may work but more than likely the C has spread 2 Chemo - but this type of chemo does not work well on this type of cancer 3 remove his leg plus chemo - stats are low of success 4 make him as comfortable as possible till the time comes I asked again how long - I am stunned to say 2 MONTHS ONLY!!! This is absolutely F#**#* Sorry I am sitting here going nuts So not fair - spent his 5th birthday getting fistulas out and now this. All Wags records have been sent to Sydney Uni for analysis. I will get a report early next week stating any other possible options and based on experience they will give stats of survival re each options. Sorry I could not repond in an upbeat or positive way. I need to win Lotto over the weekend - badly. I truly hope Ollie is getting better - could do with some good news Thanks Pixie and Riley for the positives they still cant hurt (can they). Sorry a bit teary, down and totally at a loss. Karen

He is not home yet. The bandage was changed yesterday as he still had seepage. The Vet on duty was scared if she took the packing out and he bled - she would not have help. Today the wound was unpacked (metre of gauze) and he was still bleeding slightly. He has been stitched up and a drainage hole left approx 0.5 cm long. If blood does not seep through overnight then he can come home tomorrow afternoon. Apparently he is smiling at ppl and enjoying attention which is great. He is still eating but would not wee. Typical shepherd behaviour. So they have been squeezing his bladder when he goes out. But Wags is shy with his toilet and never goes when he is away from home Trees and hydrants are safe from him. When I told the Vet this they relaxed as it is a Shep thing. Prior to being knocked out again today he started talking back as well, that made me laugh as it is so him. Always has to have the last word. Fingers crossed all goes well tonight and tomorrow Apparently he is using the leg quite well and has not had painkillers since saturday. Although I admit he was knocked out most of today Seems so strange as he has not been around much for the past week. Don't get me wrong it is worth it to have him well. Karen

Well he is still eating which is great But his leg is still weeping through the bandage, so the packing can not come out till tomorow. I am not sure what they will do if they cant stop the bleed. Cross that bridge tomorrow I guess. Yes it is not the same around here. His brother is so darn mopey as is Mia - he is her play buddy. After Renbury today took them both for a long romp which lifted them a bit. Just strange as Wags changes the balance of our family - we need him home Fingers crossed this will happen tomorrow. Karen Is Ollie eating yet ??

The Vet told me fleas ar particularily bad this year. I use Frontline Plus on 3 dogs and 2 cats but it is lasting about 3 weeks. Mia is still getting tham and she is on Invermetin as well. Not sure if animals around us are on anything though. There are possums in the area but how can one control that? Come on Winter! The Vet told me Frontline can be put on every three weeks if need be. Karen

Gosh I hope we both get the results we crave Mita. The Vet rang at 2 and said Wags was not eating, had been given more pain killers and was still on a drip. They were giving him until 4 pm and if he still refused the chicken then I would go up to feed him or try to. I desperately want to see him but I hate the thought of upsetting him as his leg is still open and has to remain calm. I was ready to go and the phone rang at 3:45 to say he just decided to polish off the bowl, so he is eating which is great. Any ideas of where to get a crate - will need a big one as he is a big boy. Reasonable price would help as the Vet bills are killing us - dont get me wrong he is worth it Karen

I am so sorry Jodie I hope it swings around in Ollie's favour soon. Positive thoughts and prays for you and Ollie Karen and Wags

Just spoke to Max Wags is coming round which is great. When the leg was opened the tumour was not really defined and it was into the muscle. He removed what he could. If he did take it all the movement in his leg would have been lostThe tumour was bleeding into itself so it looked like a clot covered in fibrous tissue. The sample has been sent and should return next Wednesday. The bleeding could not be stopped so the leg was packed and left open for now. He will be in over the weekend Glad he came through the op okay but still not much the wiser Thanks for your positive thoughts and encouraging words. Karen