Falgall

Can't ring till about 5 pm Been keeping positive all day Will post when I know anything. Karen

I am still trying to imagine marking my teritory with one leg - amazing Feeling flat today. Spoke to Max re Wags early evening. They did not do a biopsy. The ultrasound indicates the lump is more well defined than expected - good news as the leg maybe saved. However the lymph area near the stomach is emlarged. This could indicate further tumours or it may still be enlarged after his Fistual op (it has only been a couple of months). There is also a node showing up in his lung. The lymph in the leg is clear The Plan. Remove the lump from his hock and hopefully he can retain the use of his leg. This will be sent to Pathology and the type of Mast cell assessed. If it is particularily aggro it maybe simply a matter of making him comfy. The upside is it maybe all he needs. I collected him at 8 last night - groggy but happy to go home He is booked in for surgery tomorrow (Friday). The good part is the lump is far more defined than first thought so removal is possible. The bad result could be loss of movement in his leg - so the limb would be removed. Classification is also crucial to his long term outcome. It is possible the use of the immunosuppresants has caused the cancer to take hold - initially this devastated me but it was essential for the success of his Fistula op. Then again maybe he would have developed cancer anyway. He has just turned 5 so he has many years left. Will let you know how the op goes. Pic is Wags looking very serious on his fav couch Karen

Well we are just back from Max Zuber I am a bit confused still The inflamation has gone down slightly and Max is not 100% sure it is a tumour despite the Pathology report (stating most likely malignant connective tissue tumour - followed by 3 very long words Osteosarcoma, fibrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma). Wags displayed no pain despite vigorous manipulations. Max did not expect this either. It is also strange that it flared up so quickly. But I am trying not to get my hopes up. So we are having an ultrasound done on Wednesday followed by a biopsy. These results will confirm the diagnosis. Max did say if it is a tumour his leg would have to be removed as all the muscle in the lower hock area needs to be cut away to ensure the tendrils of the tumour do not reoccur. Naturally this would impede movement. Max even ducked when he said to me it was unusual and even more so in a young dog, this is what he said re the fistulas too! I would not mind boring Vet stuff for a while. Technically Wags is my youngest sons dog and I am not going to tell him anything till I have a firm plan in place. Thank you all for your support and I will post on Wednesday / Thursday when the results are back. Karen

Wags leg was doing very well, short walks building up his leg etc. We came home Sunday and his hock was very swollen and he was limping badly. Off to the Vet. He had X-Rays, fluid drawn from the swollen area and a lump identified actualy in his muscle. The results have just come back from Pathology and he does have cancer of the connective tissue in his muscle. I know have an appointment with Max (canine oncologist at Gladesville) this afternoon. Yes this is the same dog that just went through all the Fistula ops. I cant stop crying as the Vet says there are a few options but it is likely he will lose his leg (RR). Has anyone been through this? How did your dog cope?? I feel like a jinx with dogs - Wags fistulas now cancer and Mia with mange (so far 5 months of treatment). Any advice or experiences greatly appreciated Karen

I am happy that it isnt mange - takes ages to clear. Mia still looks like a unloved pup. Darn puberty. Tilll she got it I thought only neglected dogs got it too, how wrong was I :D Besides Betadine how do you treat it? I thought that would dry the skin more? But I guess it would stop any bacteria getting in. Maybe use soemthinglike Aloveen shampoo to ensure her skin is not getting dry. Till I met a friend at the Vet who worked for the Pyoben/Pyohex company I was using Pyoben on Mia and her poor fur is so dry now. Swapped back to Pyohex which is not as bad. Just like us there are too many skin things. Hope your baby clears up quickly If anyone else in the street looks at me as though I neglect my dog I will snot them. Karen Karen

HI All This is such an emotional thread. I am so relieved your Grandma is okay Kelly - I was crying then turned the page and started laughing. My goodness I can only imagine how you feel. I am so glad Chloe is improving so much. Poor baby must really be feeling the bad leg now, but its only a matter of time till she is perfect again Brilliant news about Mallee. Hopefully the swimming will be great fun. Once in the water hopefully the feeling of freedom will kick in. We need swimming pics Keep us posted. Still no definites on Wags - great days and then a limpy one Karen

The other long term patient Mia (Chow Chow) very moth eaten but the dosage finally seems to be correct and the mites are dying. Found out one of her sisters (a Show girl) is now the same. Be interesting to see if all the litter hit the teens and got mange Wags is in the background heading for the Hills - he did his bit and stood for one pic A huge step forward

I can not believe this I thought I would try the camera and guess what he stood his ground - I am so in shock. Not the best pic but gosh compared to the others it is brilliant. Tried for another on a different setting but he started woohoo me and dancing around. ANyway this gives you a better idea of his size etc.

His other mate Boots (cat) See the eye watching the dreadful camera! Yes he did bolt after this shot. I have tried treats after the flash or shot is taken but he must have been a Masai in a past life ! He thinks it takes his soul

This is a shot of Wags (lying down) and his brother Jack (nursing him after his last op). Wags is once again blurry as he is about to get out of the range of the lens. Bit hard to see but he has a shaved butt area - so attractive NOT I think he felt the draft a lot

This is where he goes when the camera comes out - between the laundry and the fence he also complains to me about it (hence blurry), so frustrating. He is a constant talker and always has to have the last word! He is a GSD / Rotti and weighs approx 45 kgs tall yet lean. His brother is more stocky and nearly as tall weighs 56 kgs.

Thanks Koza for the ball park figures. About the same as his Fistula ops. Least there will be no butt wiping with this one (if needed) - oh yuck forgot about the supervised toilet trips again. Noone can ever say any of us do not love our animals. My Gosh those XRays One pin looks like it goes through her spine ! Mallee is such a beautiful girl - so unfair that they did not breed responsibly, but she is so lucky to have been adopted by your family I will try and dig up some pics of Wags (as I said before he HATES the camera) any shots I have are dreadful but you can kinda work out how he looks. Be back after my computer troll for pics. I will have to get a crate to aclimatise them all to it, Mia will be curious, Jack will be annoyed that his brother is behind bars. Karen

Sorry to hear the Breeder did not care You would think they would have been glad of the feedback to avoid problems in the future Strange But as you say she was meant to be with you. I tend to agree they know you are trying to help them. If I were Wags I would have been so over people poking around my sore butt esp prior to the op when it was so sore and tender. In fact all this has made him become more confident and allows me to handle him so much more. He was always a nervy boy and would run from brushes, camera, baths etc and jam himself in a tight corner somewhere. He now lets me brush him check his butt wash him - though still not keen on cameras (no idea why). So maybe even before he had the outward signs he was feeling sore or ill? I still hope Wags can avoid the op but if he has to have it then I am pleased that this forum is here to alleviate my concerns and pick up some tips. I would love to see more pics of Mallee if you have them Take Care Karen

OMG I was so hoping that all was well with Mallee Thank goodness her front legs are great now :rolleyes: I can not believe what your poor baby has gone through. Does the breeder know all of this? It must be so hard for all of you with all the crating. But the positive outcomes make it worthwhile. I truly am thinking of you all and hEAPS of positive thoughts going your way. I know it is hard to ball park figures but I was trying to tuck some away. My vet when asked said we will discuss that if we have to do it. But I will ask more when I take Mia back for her Mange checkup in a couple of weeks. I reckon you should have the reception area called Mallee - as a tribute to her patience never mind the bills. Karen

I know this sounds bad but how much does the op cost? Wags injured his knee just prior to his Perianal Fistula op and they manipulated it during surgery. Max Zuber (Wags Vet) reckons it is his cruciate but we are tring to build up his stretch with small walks. He is banned from Dog Parks (still bu this time not immune related). Just trying to work out how much I have to save for this op. Unfortunately I am not confident the build up approach is working. He is great for a few days then he favours the leg again. Pain is not apparent but I think he masks it well. The good news is his butt is good :rolleyes: The thought of crating horrifies me as the others will tease him and he will be so depressed after months of battling the Fistulas. Plus he gets jealous that the others go away to Dog Parks and he is bored around the block. Poor darling only seems to go to the Vet in the car now days. I reckon I own Gladesville Vets now between Wags and Mia ;) Any rough guide to cost would be appreciated. I also could be homeless as my OH has no idea how much we have already spent on Vet bills over the past 6 months He had a coronary re Hypo allergenic biscuit price (that was the cheap part). Thanks in advance for your help. I must admit the stories have given me hope that the op is worth it and there are options for Wags - poor darling is so wanting more fun Karen

Thanks KitKat I will ask tomorrow but they said it was quite severe? I could only see her eyes, under her chin and an area in the middle of her back where she had tugged and I thought she had made it crusty (no hair loss there though). She did have an area near her tail when 3 mths old but the Vet thought it was a hot spot. I will find out heaps more when I pick her up and then do searches in this area. The Vet did say she would have picked it up when suckling. Maybe they found more areas? Her fur is so thick it can be hard to detect at times what is going on. I am silly as I always thought neglect caused these things. Thanks for the heads up on the info and I will search when armed with more info. Karen

My Mia went to be desexed today and I asked them to check her neck and around her eyes as there was inflamation. I washed her last week in Aloveen and she did tug her fur after that (it also happened the first time I washed her, it was thought it was a hot spot and treated as such). Anyway the Vet said to wait till today and they could have a better look. I had been using Pyohex Shampoo and Lotion and antibiotic cream till today. She was ages on the table as she bled heaps but they took a skin scraping. Result is Demodetic Mites. I thought it was something I had done but the Vet said most dogs have it but only under 1 year old tend to show symptoms. When I asked how she got it I was told it would have been from suckling from her Mum. Many of these dogs that have it also are a half gene short (?). The upshot is minimum 4 weeks on antibiotics and washing in Pyohex. I am devatated as I have just gotten Wags 90% fit after months of treatment and operations and now poor Mia is looking at a long road to recovery too. This is not food related as she eats chicken raw necks or Allergen Free (as Wags has to be on that as well), she has had extras but I am sure they have not affected her. Stress is not a factor in her case either. I know the Breeder should I tell them that it is more than likely the Mum passed this on? I wonder if her litter mates have been affected? It maybe useful for them to know in case others contact them? Or am I asking for drama? I am going to be divorced if my OH twigs how much I have spent on Vet bills over the past few months too Some times I wonder whether I am good for my animals. Any tips on clearing this up wll be greatly appreciated as I said she will be on antibiotics and washed weekly in Pyohex Shampoo and lotion used as well. I will watch her diet as well. Regards Karen

What a beautiful tribute I am so sorry for your loss Take Care Karen

I am so sorry Mel Our thought are with you always It is too hard to comprhend but my feelings are with you even if my words are inadequate Karen

I am so sorry Vehs RIP Princess Nub Take Care Karen

I am so sorry to hear about Buddy It is so hard when it is sudden Poor darling, but I am sure he will give the Rainbow GSDs a run for their money. I hope Billy and he have a romp together. We all know how you feel it is so hard to cope. Please take care and give Axel heaps of loving My two are still not quite right - seem a bit depressed still even on walks. Hugs from us all. Karen

I am so sorry for your loss Poodlemania Karen

I am so sorry for your loss. They look like such beautiful dogs Please take care and revel in the good times. Love Karen

I am so sorry Rozzie I hope Fudge meets up with all our beloved pets. Please give your daughter a hug from me. Karen

I forgot to Thank the people at Vet Specialists at North Ryde. They were wonderful but it was too late when we got there. I knew that in my heart but hoped for a miracle. Thanks to the beautiful BC there Jayden who allowed me to cry all over him. He saw me after Billy was taken and came to demand a pat - exactly what I needed. Thanks Jayden