Little Gifts

That is Stussy every morning. She likes to sleep under my doona and come breakfast time she pretty much rolls off the bed with all the linen on her and walks towards my voice until it has all fallen off. There definitely doesn't seem to any problem solving skills at work - just gravity!

I've heard that before DDD and the offending tree took out the side of someone's house during a storm. Council can be quite ridiculous. They let suburbs sprout up everywhere and still want to protect open space and trees and wildlife but don't seem to be very good with the whole risk assessment and planning stuff to enable it to safely happen. I think there was a case on the tv about a council street car park next to a council park in a Sydney suburb. A massive dead tree in the park fell over smashing some cars in the car park and council were trying to get out of being responsible for it. Their land. Their tree. Their determination on the land use too. I reckon your neighbours should just pretend the whole trunk split in the wind and for safety reasons they had to remove what remained of the tree. What if a poor, rare native bird or animal tried to sit on the spikey tree and injured itself?

Geez that was lucky! Maybe Myrtie was looking over you all and decided you'd had enough trauma recently.

Try having three dogs bashing at the door. I'm going to take a camera in there one day and video all the noses that come in hoping for an empty toilet roll. Since ours dislike water I can generally have a shower in peace - although Tempeh likes to help me carry my towel into the bathroom and then assist with drying duties once the water is off. Stussy is probably going to be found lying on my freshly ironed clothes (which is why I don't bother!) and Wolf seems to think the best place to sprawl is across the entire door way to any room you are hoping to exit or enter. I know they all do it on purpose!

Geez, is there anywhere our dogs are safe anymore? With each horror story it is clearer that it isn't the breed of dog but each specific dangerous (or potentially dangerous dog) that yet again an owner fails to keep contained or under control that is the issue. One dog doing nothing wrong, minding its own business and another possibly high risk dog only moderately contained, out in an area where it might be exposed to a trigger. If you did an analysis of what went wrong here there are several changes that could've easily been made and both dogs would both be safe. About time we stopped beating up breeds and getting really angry with irresponsible owners.

Happy Re Birth Day Mac!!!!!!

Feeling for you. Been through the same thing myself once.

This makes me laugh. My dogs would be horrified if I took them to the snow. I can picture all the screaming and trying to eat their way into the floor mats for safety. They'd have their "are you freaking mad?" faces on. We don't do wet and we certainly don't do cold and wet. Good luck with your GSD!

Slightly OT but I was at Spotlight the other day buying more fleece to make more dog coats and I discovered some stretch fabric with dogs wearing coats on it! It was a smidge expensive but I had to buy it so I could make a top or two to wear on my market stall where I sell the coats. Crazy dog lady rules!

Whoopsie! Clearly not paying attention!

Thanks Esky - very funny stuff on there! I just read the one about dog's names and I'm feeling awfully guilty!

Following on from Harley's idea, is there another foster carer close by who might be taking a dog to a dog park and could take this one too, even if it is just once a week? If her rescue group has a coordinator maybe she could raise this issue with them as it seems a shame to move the dog if all it needs is a little more exercise and stimulation.

Which one is dog snobs? (or is that dogs nobs????)

Could he look more different from all the other fur kids in town - a wrinkly face AND shoes? I can't believe how well he walks in them though! Don't forget to get me some measurements as I feel terrible about his old coat just sitting here awaiting new measurements while he is dealing with the chill.

Hankdog I prefer puppies one on one. You get to see their little personalities start to come through and see them learning and discovering new things and they are just like babies who need a feed, a poop and a nap. They are so dependant on humans. I just love to see puppies go from romping around like possessed demons to dropping fast asleep in a heap. I never understand how humans can hurt them.

I was at a small gathering tonight at a friend's house and she has a new foster puppy. Just a brindle boofer but to be honest I had no interest in chit chat with the humans. I just wanted to play with little Zia and check her out all over to see how her socialisation and handling is going. I may have been caught sniffing her once or ten times. That puppy smell sends me right to heaven! And she was so cute when she fell asleep on my legs with her having puppy dreams and her little eyelids and lanky legs jiggling! Just nothing better if you ask me!

Geez that's a shock diagnosis! Let's hope the medication has a positive and quick outcome for her as struggling for breath must be an awful thing for an animal. I do like that her medication has been tested on humans rather than animals.......

Edited because I think you will find things to be happy with on that Etsy link.

Come on Myrtie! You have a whole community of dog lovers sending you 'pull through' powers! I don't care what strange condition you have as long as it can be diagnosed and treated, so get to it and stop scaring your mum!

There is an Anvet in my town open on a Sunday but after hours there is a vet hospital at Springwood about 15 mins north. One of our usual vets took a stab in the dark about the vasculitis and the biopsy came back today confirming it. Don't think he has seen it before (he is also young but seems to balance out my fave vet (who has been practising for a long time) with new ideas and technology)but he said to me today that he loves working with owners who are willing to do what is necessary to identify and address a difficult health issue rather than being focussed on how much it is going to cost and questioning whether it is even necessary. Apparently he did about $300 worth of xrays on Ms Stussy but because he didn't get my approval he didn't charge me for them. And they could've made her stay in overnight after the afternoon sedation (especially since we had to go back in again early the following morning for more blood tests and in the afternoon for temp checks) but they know I will actually take all their advice, closely monitor her and take her to the emergency vet if there was a problem, so I like to think we have a mutually beneficial relationship focussed on what is best for my girls. He even rang me with the biopsy results from home today as it was his day off. I've got something special planned for him and the clinic staff as a thank you. I couldn't ask for a better group of people during a time in need.

So sorry honey. I know how you feel - we've been living at the vet all week, shedding quiet tears of worry. Fingers and paws crossed here for Myrtie. I'd tell you not to worry but it is hard not to. I hope the SASH vets are as wonderful and thorough as mine and they come up with a good plan.

I'd go with Annie K because she knows the shape of the breed. I do custom make onesies (we call them pei-jays) but have not yet done any for greys. The link to my FB page is below. I do lots of other coat styles too and seem to be adding more as a specific doggy need arises. I'm trying a new wrap around style for Tempeh as she needs as much warmth as she can get but has decided this winter that she will no longer put her legs into anything!

We've probably seen a 5 - 10% improvement overnight and her temp has finally just made it back into healthy range. I'm happy that we haven't had any flare ups even if the improvement is slow as that means we are on the right path. Her appetite is still very poor though, which has never been an issue for this girl. Tempeh has been mighty cheesed off at all the 'solo outings' Stussy seems to be getting this week!

Mrs RB - Two nights this week I have heated up the two snuggle safes I bought for Tempeh - and used them myself! One for my feet (holding it in between so I get toasty on both sides) and cuddling the other at my chest to keep my arms warm. I like to call it recycling! Hankodie my mum was recently given a rooster tea pot cosy and I think funky tea pot cosies would easily double as funny Odie balaclavas! I'd buy a lot more useless shar pei stuff except most are just plain ugly or don't even look like the breed. One thing I would like to own (notice I didn't say use) is a doggy backpack. I'd use it on Stussy and hope she didn't run off with the car keys, water bottle, poo bags, etc....

Her bloods were better this morn and her temp is going down. No change to the swelling or redness either way but no shakies, so I'm happy with that. We have to go back in again this arvo to re-check her temp. I think recovery is going to be slow but at least the whole bone marrow and cancer fear seems to be gone. I'd personally be very happy with just one uninterrupted night's sleep!