DieselWeisel

Not sure if someone said this already - but be careful using condy's - it can burn When I was young we used to use it on the coats of show horses to darken the coat, but I always remember hearing of some horses being burnt as they din't dilute it enough (this was 10 years ago though, maybe my facts are hazy!)

Hi All, I just caught my 8 month old puppy Chilli, eating her own fresh poo, ewwww!! So I've done a quick search and it seems it could be bahavioural, maybe from stress (she was a pound puppy) she might just like it, or a learned beaviour etc etc The other reasons can be different worms or parasites or lacking a viatmin, this is where I want the help - is there a known vitamin/supplement/dietary change worth trying? She is wormed like clock work so don't think it's that. Any insight appreciated, in the meantime I"ll be picking poop's up as soon as I see them, yuck! Thanks

Thanks for the reply, she is about 8 months old, we've had her for about 2 months now, she has an unknown history. She is a lovely dog, we have done private training and we also go to northern suburbs dog training. I practice the training with her several times every day, and she is left with treats, kong, toys etc; she only chews every now and again, she is never left for more than 5 hours, believe me we are doing everything right (well we're trying hard) our only prob is the sporadic house chewing when home alone, I'm not too worried, I think it's just a phase... just need a kennel :D

Hello, My kelpie x staffy chewed the couch and the coffee table while I was gone today (only gone for an hour after giving her 45mins at the dog park) :D , so I will have to lock her outside when I'm not here (she has a doggy door, but house is outta bounds when we're not home till the chewing stops) the area gets the morning sun, it does have shelter from the overhang on the roof, but not enough. I want to get her a kennel tomorrow and I'm also going to get one of those big plastic shells, so she can get in the water on hot days (she really feels the heat, tries to get in her waterbowl!) Does anyone know of good (cheap) places around Sydney's North Shore or Northern Beaches? I left her out there this afternoon for 4 hours while I was out and she was fine when I came home, but she really needs a kennel ASAP! Thanks

Hi there, We just adopted a six month old kelpie cross staffy, she has had no obedience training but is very smart and picks things up straight away. Only had her two nights and she sits and lies down when told. She is good with my cat and around the horses, but she did get frightened by two boisterous retreivers yesterday and barked with her hair up and lept into my Dad's arms (don't blame her, the dogs were all over her and really big) I really want to get her well socilaised, we have a great dog park near us, and I like to walk there each day, but won't take her till she is trained. My last dog I trained from puppy school then dog training, and he was an amazing dog. I don't know where to start with a 6 month old? Does anyone know of any group training available, partiularly at Tunks Park? I once saw a group down there that looked like they were doing what I'm after. Any help appreciated, she's a great dog, just want to give her the best start Thanks

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss Bokezu, beautiful Jordy. Much love to you and your family xx

Thank you so much for all the beautiful messages. I have received an overwhelming amount of messages/emails of support and each one is so special and helping me get through the day. I know as sad as I am now, that is was 100% the right thing to do, and I will miss him, but it was far worse to see him suffer than it is to miss him and know that he is at peace. I keep having to remind myself he is not here, last night the only way I could fall asleep eventually, was to imagine he was lying on his bed next to me. For anyone who wants to see a pic/his story http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...hl=dieselweisel Thank you again everyone, much love to all our beloved pups in heaven, let's hope they are company for each other until we are there xx

Tonight I said goodbye to my best friend Diesel. I knew this morning that today was the day, he had a few slips and was unable to get himself up, and I would never forgive myself if he had a painful death. At 6:30pm we brought him to the vet, he chewed his pig ear the entire time, he didn't even notice the needle going in, and he slipped away peacefully. He had fought long enough for me, and it was time for me to let him rest. He enriched my life more than he could ever know and more than words can express. He will live forever in my heart, I miss him so much. Thank you to all our DOL friends, especially Kelly Louise and Lorraine, who have been with us every step of the way. There are so many others who have been so beautiful and supportive, thank you xx I love that beautiful little boy so much, the world was a better place with him in it, miss him so much, my heart is broken, I will love him forever

I can't believe the timing of this post, I was having this exact discussion with a neurologist today My dog Diesel has a brain tumor, he needs the prednisone to reduce the swelling, but he has been on it for about six months now, and it is making him very weak, his head is basically just skull and skin, I don't like to touch the sides, I worry about it being too soft. His back legs are very weak and his spine shows a lot. I would love to try something else... I hate seeing him waste away In saying that, it's only been the last three weeks he has gone down hill, the pred has been great for his quality of life Good luck with your pooch

We went and saw the neurologist today, she said there is nothing she can do and we just talked about euthanasia eventually... My specialist from Brisbane called late this afternoon ( She has been the best supporter of Diesey x 10000) and she said that it woud be a shame not to do an MRI or CT scan when we've come this far. Her advice was that if the MRI showed that the tumor has grown - then we should not wake him from his anaesthetic, but if the tumor has shrunk or is the same size as six months ago - then we can try and manage his symptoms She (Brisbane specialist) said to take him to ARH - the one you go to Kelly! So hopefully Diesey is going in 10:15am next wednesday, and I really, really hope with all my heart that he comes back out with me too

Thanks all for your kind messages. KL and Loraine especially - honestly you have helped me more than you could imagine, this site and the CCAC yahoo group are what has gotten Diesel and I through this so far, thank you xx Today we have moved temporarily to the old beach house, and he loves the yard (and another lamb shank). I took him to the local vet (it's the first time he's seen Diesel since he's been sick) and had a really long talk with him, as I've been wondering if it's time to let him go, I'm worried I won't see the signs beacuse I don't want to. The vet said that his vital signs are all strong, he said the cushings is making him detoriate, but he wasn't immediately concerned with any of those symptoms. He thought Diesey was still responsive and in good spirits and he doesn't think he is in pain. He has referred me to a specialist in Ryde, she is a neurologist, so we'll go have a chat to her. Though I like the sound of ARH, maybe I should be going there instead. I wan't someone to put in the time for him, why is it me doing the research and not the vets??!! What a crazy ride it's been, I feel so much better having a vet tell me that Diesey isn't suffering, that's what's been tormenting me, so onwards and upwards we continue, there could be another mircale yet!

Hi All, Just thought I'd pop in to update you on Diesel. It's been a tough few weeks since we last logged in. Diesey has become very weak, especially in his back legs. We found out about Cabergoline treatment that was used to treat dog's with macroadenomas... gave it to him last Tuesday and it nearly killed him. I was up the whole night with him vommitting till 5am :rolleyes: I won't be giving him that again! The Friday before that I started him on some Herbal treatments from Robert McDowell, by the Monday lunchtime he seemed to improve a little, but then Tues night we gave him the Cabergoline and undid any good from the herbs, vommitted 9 times, poor pup. This weekend we took him to the beach, my parents have a little beach house, so we spent the weekend there, much better for him there as it's all flat with a nice yard and he can go for lots of swims. He is MUCH better after a swim, he even enjoyed a lamb shank in the yard yesterday. We're planning to spend lots of time up there, so diesey can be in his favourite place. KL do you know any good specialist's? We'll be on Sydney's Northern Beaches from this week, and I'm based on the North Shore. I don't want him to go through anything invasive, I just want to improve the quality of whatever time he has left. Thanks for reading

I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who messaged on Monday, you got Diesel and I through the worst day ever and Diesey is doing great!! I am soooo glad I hung in there. The prednisone perked him up straight away and he has been in really good spirits since. I've been enjoying every second with him, he's been giving me these looks when we're on our walks (he goes for 2 or three short walks a day now) and I know he's happy. Now I'm investigating into any other options available, as prednisone (to my understanding) is not good long term, I am trying to find out if he could try chemo (Lysodren) to try and shrink his tumor... trying to find non invasive ways (ie: things I can do at home, with only short visits to the vet, no more staying over night there) I have no idea how long he can stay happy on the prednisone for, but I am thankful for every day we have together, and will keep trying as long as he wants me too!

Thanks Puggy, I've just never seen him this bad. Last time when he went on the prednisone it perked him up almost straight away, getting the tablets this afternoon, so I'll give it a few more days to see how he goes, he won't even get up by himself today though, really bad the last 20 hours or so

I've just spoken to the vet again. The specialist in QLD has given me a few options to try, we're going to try him on some prednisone and take him off the trilostane. But seeing him here, I think it's the end, I rang my local vet and he can come to the house and put him to rest when we're ready. I'm giving it two days on the prednisone... unless he gets even worse. He hasn't moved from the spot he was left in this morning, and he looks like he wants to go I'm so scared

KL your email made me cry so much, but it's only beacuse it's true. I cried so much last night that his ears were soaked, but he was having a lovely sleep in the bed with me. The last three days I am realizing that the time might be coming closer... this morning, he was great, I took him out with me for breakfast and he really enjoyed pottering around, he hasn't had a seizure or valium yet. But just then I drove him to the dog park and he didn't enjoy it. Maybe I should only take him out once a day, I used to bring him everywhere with me, and I've cut his excercise down by about 80 - 90%.. maybe I need to do even less. Each day goes up and down... I talk to my vet/s at least once a week and bring him in with me, it's all a guessing game with him though, noone knows. I also made the decision when we got back from QLD that he isn't spending anymore nights in the vet, he's had enough of that, and my vet agrees. I'm going to see if they think giving him less trilostane would perk him up... see if there is anything else we can try, he's sleeping in the sun right now, looking peaceful He is my closest friend, he's lived in three homes with me, been on holidays with me, been around for three boyfriends, including 3.5 with fiancee now, he's been there through everything, the most loyal, gentle dog you'd ever meet, so many people stop to pat him out and about, love that little guy sooooooo much

I've been holding it together really well for months now, gave him another valium at 12:30pm today, then hour or so after he started to shake again. I just feel sick, I really hope I am doing the right thing by him, it's so hard as no vets here have ever tried treating what he has, extremely rare case. I'm so scared that he is suffering I wish the sun would come out so he could go the park, then I could see how he is feeling... Keep sending all the good vibes to him, and hope that I do the right things by him

WoofnHoof - that is a very interesting point, as when he had his first seizure since he was back (and it had been many monhs with out) was after an hour walk, his old walk down to the dog park and back, he was loving it, but that night had a seizure and I was wondering if we overdid it. Now I only drive him to the dog park or take him for two 20 min dordles a day. The two of us used to be such keen walkers, one hour walk and then one half hour walk every day... just have to take things slow now. I also think when he's cold it brings them on, at the moment he has a little fleece rug on when he's up and about, though righ now he's asleep under my doona! Is there any other links you know of? I had to give him another valium at 9pm last night, he's really happy and comfortable on them (so it appears) I just hate giving him all these tablets! Loraine thanks for your continued support of Diesel, so nice to know there are people backing him. His body condition is fantastic, he's back to normal weight and muscled really well, the vet saw him yesterday and commented on how great his body condition was (his tummy used to be sucked up and you could see his spine for a while) the only part that is sunken in, is on the side of his head, above his eyes. Vets say this is something to do with his facial paralysis, though his eyes and jaw are now back to functioning normal and the hair is growing back there. The Trilostane made the cushings tests come back 100% clear, so doesn't that mean it will stop cushings for now? will the muscle still get eaten away? Kelly Louise!! Those pictures were largely for you, you'd been asking to see my lovely little man. How is your gorgeous Chloe going with? Last I heard she was doing super well? Sounds like the same sort of thing has happened to Diesel's head as your girls, and yesterday his legs gave way when he got up :p I am sooooooooo worried this will happen when I'm not around and he'll be stuck like that, vet thinks this is also something to do with nerve damange in the brain though from his tumor, so don't be thinking it will happen to Chloe!

I have never heard of this before, but just wanted to wish you and your Mum's dog all the best. Keep us updated with his progress, sounds like he is in good hands!

Hi Westiemum, The seizures you described are EXACTLY the same as my Diesel's, just the head! He was having them today and I gave him a valium for the first time and has calmed him right down. I am really suprised to hear of your dog and others having the same seizures as Diesel, as all the vets and specialists were/are stumped by my case. Apparently if they are having a really long seizure you can give the valium rectily (sp? up the bum) and it works much faster than orally. Have you noticed any other changes in your Andy?

Hi all, For anyone who was following Diesel's story, just thought I would update you with his progress. Pretty much just after I posted the photos he had his first seizure since he'd been in QLD. Then last tues he had a 3 min seizure, and now he is having small ones frequently. The good news is, that his cushings medicine is working 100%! But his tumor although must have shrunk, is still affecting him. Today he went to get off the couch and he fell down and his back legs went out the side and he just stayed there, scared me so much :(I took him to our vets today and he gave me some Valium, and when he got home he started to have small seizures, I gave him one tablet at 1:50pm and he is going great now, still following me around the house, but obviously more comfortable, lots of stretches and yawns and NO seizures, YAY! Lots of ups and downs, it's so strange beacuse he is full of energy on walks (as you can see from photos) his hair has grown back on his legs (but nowhere else), he seems in good spirits and his Trilostane is managing the cushings 100%... so strange that he is having seizures again. But then again, his whole experience thus far has been a crazy and unique one. He's still fighting though, Diesel the Wonder Dog!!

Thanks Rommi's Mum, he is looking really good at the moment, his fighting spirit amazes me every day. Your pooch is very cute too!

Just a few more

Finally some pics, I have a million on my computer, but was having trouble getting them up! This is Diesey at the beach today, rolling after a swim, I'll put some more up from today, thanks tkay!!