melree

Last october, we went to the horse market and there you were. A sorry looking site, horrid skin and a bag of bones. Yet for some reason, I saw something in you, a spark that was there, even if hidden by neglect. My partner thought I was joking when I said you had to come home with me and never expected me to bid. I did though and this sad looking pony came home with me. You looked even sadder beside our big, fat shiny clydys. You barely came to thier knees, yet you held your own. I wormed you and offered you food, which you tucked into straight away, dont think you had eaten for a while. Then we found the next problem, your teeth. They didnt allow you to chew properly and you would spit out wads of food, the dentist helped with that and though you always spat some out, you loved your buckets and started to put on weight. After a bath and treatment for lice, your coat started to shine and you continued to blossom. The second dentist visit told us that you were not old but only about 13, a big shock as your condition and brand had led us to believe that you were in your 20's Who knows what happened to you before you came to us, but you didnt like or trust people. It took a long time to build up your confidence and even then, you were always wary. You were the lucky pony who got to help mow the grass in the house yard when it was nice and green. Looking out the window and seeing you look better every day made me smile. I dont know what it was about you, but I was hooked. Every time I would walk out the back door, you came to the fence and called to me, cupboard love I know, but I loved you for it. Last Monday, I gave you some carrots, your favourite, but you ate them too fast and got some stuck. After a long night with the vet, we were able to bring you home. You had a sore throat but seemed to be ok, getting a bit better each day. Then 2 days ago, you went off your food. Back to the vet where you didnt show her what you were feeling inside. You even started to eat there. Home again to see you deteriorate before my eyes. Your pain became worse as the day went on. You would come and stand with me while I sat with you, something you never chose to do. I knew. We gave you more pain relief but it just didnt help. Last night, we ended that pain. Run free now Cricket, eat all you want. No more Jenny Craig paddock for you.

I only bath mine occasionaly. I too live on a property but if they roll in something gross, well.........off to the dam for a big swim

Oh Cat, I am so sorry. It is so hard when it happens so suddenly. The tribute you have written to Garp is beautiful. What a lucky boy to have lived in your world with you.

I have everything crossed Julie.

Oh my gosh Julie! I cant believe I missed this thread!!! I just read through it, holding my breath. How scary for you. Great news that he seems to be on the mend. Give him a cuddle for me.

Oh Rozzie. I am so sorry. Such a gorgeous young boy. Run free forever Luther

Run free Tara. Sounds like she was a special friend to a special man.

Poor litlle man. Runf free forever. My thoughts are with you and your partner

What a beautiful tribut to a special girl. Our thought are with you. Run forever free Zara

Oh, Rozzie, I am so sorry. Another golden boy running free

what a handsome face! Run free without pain

My thoughts are with you. What a lucky girl to have spent her last years with you. Run free Lucy

My thoughts are with you

Have you contacted the vet to let them know that there has been no improvement? If they know there she is no better they should investigate further. If its the same knee that she had ACL surgery on, it is likely that she has arthriris. Mention this also, she can be made more comfortable. Good luck and let us know how you get on with her.

Beautiful girls running free. Thinking of you Rozzie

So sorry Rozzie. Together with Roadkill they will be waiting for you All our thoughts are with you

Just thought I would add that Tay was the slowest eater in the world prior to this happening. I had to feed her seperate to the others or risk her drowning in a pool of drrol as they waithed for her to walk away LOL. Since the surgery, she is an absolute PIG! She eats anything and everything, including my dinner off the bench This is why I wonder if having the colitis as a baby then a twisted bowel, if there had always been some underlying problem that has now been corrected. We will never know but even the vet thinks my thoughts may have some merit. Anyway, she is back to normal, mad as ever, thank goodness. We cant believe how lucky we are to still have her. Also, Lia commented on temperament and perhaps nervous dogs being more prone. Tay is a very confident, outgoing girl, so not so in her case anyway

Just thought I would add that Tay was the slowest eater in the world prior to this happening. I had to feed her seperate to the others or risk her drowning in a pool of drrol as they waithed for her to walk away LOL. Since the surgery, she is an absolute PIG! She eats anything and everything, including my dinner off the bench

Lablover, One of my goldens is prone to hotspots, usually started by the other dogs hanging off her ears LOL. I usually clip them, scrub with either salt water of betadine. I scrub them to remove the scabby stuff and dry. Then I apply neocort. Usually meds include macralone and clavulox or keflex. If she wont leave them alone, I will put an elizabethan collar on her to prevent her causing further trauma to the area. Get the vet to check her ears too.

I have always been paranoid about bloat too, but tended to worry more about my GSD than the others. Tay has always been a slow eater. You basically had to remind her to keep eating, except on chicken carcass night lol. That night, she had had dry soaked in water. We live on a property with a house yard of about an acre. She had not been out in the paddocks for a run that day, just her usual mad romps with the other dogs around the garden. After dinner they tend to just settle down and we were outside so would have noticed if they had been playing after dinner. I find it interesting that she was always such a poor eater before. She was actually not even 12 weeks when the bout of colitis hit. Since the surgery, she is the greediest pup, even stealing food off the bench!! I will always wonder if there was someting underlying from word go. I advise people to get to know what is normal gum colour in your dog. That was my biggest giveaway that something was seriously wrong. Also check your dogs a few hours after eating. If I hadnt, we wouldnt have Tay today

Our 6 month old little Aussie girl had surgery for bloat 10 days ago. I cant believe it happened! She was fine all day, had her dinner and seemed fine. We had friends up for the weekend and sat outside to have dinner and a few drinks. At about 10 we went inside as it was getting chilly. About 11.30 I went to get in her in for the night and couldnt find her. Thought the little bugger had gone under the house after the cats again. I stood at the hole they come out of and still no sign of her. I moved around a bit further and spotted her under the steps to the deck. It was really strange that shse hadnt come when I called. I pulled her out and she just went straight back under. I dragged her out and took her inside, I checked her over and she wa shunched up. I checked her gums and was horrified. Thay were white!. The vet I work for share after hours with another clinic and, wouldnt you know it, it wasnt our week. We took of into town, half an hour away!. By the time we got there she was worse. The vet took one look at her and got her straight on a drip. He couldnt get a femoral pulse and her heart rate was 220!!! We took an xray and saw gassy loops of intestine. He sent for his own nurse and took her straight into theatre. As he suspected, she had twisted loops of dead bowel. About 2 feet was removed. We have been extremely lucky. She has bounced back so quickly. She is eating well and her motions are almost normal now. If I had not found her when I did, she would probably have died within hours. As it was she kept trying to hide while I was on the phone to the vet. I swear she was "going off to die" We still have her on restricted diet but are almost back to normal now. We are so lucky and so grateful to the vet on call that night. We almost lost Tay that night. This is the same pup that had colitis at 12 weeks. I wonder if there is any conection! Has any one else had the misfortune to go through this?

Salli Your inbox is full

Oh my goodness! I am so sorry Rozzie. Get the bunnies boy!!

Sounds like a lovely, loyal girl. Running free again

I'd be interested, depending on where as I cant get away from the farm for long.