White Shepherd mom

15 years young! How Awesome! A very happy birthday Mac, may you celebrate another one next year! Well done westiemum for getting him this far. Every single day we have them with us is a precious one.

Thanks for that Redsonic, that looks great! I've sent them an email regarding their prices and for an order form and have also emailed Casper's therapist to find out whether she's used them before.

I am sorry to hear about this latest update Dave. I know the feeling of thinking you're ahead of this blasted beast only to find out you're deluding yourself. I can tell you that you've done everything humanly possible for your girl, but that doesn't help. As you say, it is a painless cancer and that's the only consolation. I hope the new chemo brings some good results without side effects. Hugs to you and your family.

Casper needs paw protection for a different reason. He drags his back paws and causes injury to his knuckles and claws (even on grass). I wrap a layer of vet wrap over his feet and cover it with a couple of strips of cloth tape from Bunnings (similar to duct tape). I have to cover his feet from the back of his pads to the top of his knuckles but in your case you could just cover the pads. I use a strip of elastoplast tape on the top part of the vetwrap to stop the "booties" coming off.

I am so sorry PD. You all fought a brave fight, it's always hard to let them go. My thoughts are with you and your little one. Rest in Peace Doof.

I am sorry to hear about Kovu's condition Shekhina. Casper has had DM for almost 4 years now and needs a doggy wheelchair to go for his walks. He stumbles around the house but still gets around. Unfortunately he has reached the stage where he also poos without realising it until it's too late for him to go to the lawn. As he has free access to the house, we have put sheets of vinyl on the floors which makes cleaning easier. It's not a nice look but I know my boy won't be around for ever and so I will live with the vinyl as long as I have to. I've also bought a couple of waterproof single-bed mattress protectors and cheap huge bath towels from K-mart with which to cover his bed. When he soils them, I hang them over the garden wall and hose them till they're clean. Once a week I wash the "cleaned" bedding in the washing machine. Casper goes to a therapist every two weeks for underwater treadmill therapy and massage. Does Kovu not scuff his feet when he goes for his walks?

Bella passed away from Subcutaneous Haemangiosarcoma. To her last breath she had a healthy appetite and no coughing. We believe the cancer spread to her brain and ruptured there as she was disorientated and getting distressed. We think she was brain-dead when the vet came to euthanise her as the only movement from her was her breathing. I would have guessed that if your friend's dog is lethargic and coughing, that the tumours may have spread to the lungs. As FHRP has said, the Ultrasound is the cheaper option, if tumours are found then there's really no point doing the more expensive scans. From your description of this dog, it sounds like the cancer is well progressed though I hope I'm wrong. I feel very sad for this family you're speaking of. Bella's oncologist assured me that this is not a painful cancer and that's all the comfort one can take from this.

My vet in Perth sells it and a colleague of mine buys it online for his dog, though he says most vets he's spoken to don't stock it but can order it in for him.

ugh...gremlins...

Happy Belated Birthday Renae! You have such a beautiful, happy brood Jules! Congratulations on your beautiful girl's big 12, made all the more special because of the problems she's had. I look forward to reading the same post next year when she turns 13! Enjoy them Jules, they are far too precious.

I was going to ask the same thing. Does she usually go up and down the stairs on her own and with ease? I can imagine a chi would be about the same size as the steps!

I am so sad for the sudden loss of your beautiful girl. She will always be your girl, your big love. You were there for her right to the end to alleviate her pain. Sending you big hugs at this davastating time. Rest in Peace beautiful Maisie, look after Champa and help him stay with your mum a while longer.

I have a soft spot for big wooly GSDs and Chisel was a stunner. I am so sorry for your loss pesh. They leave a huge hole when they go. Rest in Peace gorgeous Chisel.

Awesome, thanks everyone. At least I have a place to start looking now! I've heard great things about Rose Hip so will definitely get him some of that too. oh, about the Rosehip, is there a product dogs and humans can use? God knows my joints could use a little help too but I don't think I want to have the canine one :)

This is my vet. I trust Clive with Casper's life any day. Unfortunately he only works mornings, though I believe the other vets there are also great. Phone them and find out if Clive is still there and make an appointment ASAP.

Thanks Dave, do you know who makes them and where do you get them?

I have always given my dogs multi-vitamins of some or other description, I usually just pick one off the pet shop shelf. Over the years, more and more brands have appeared and so I thought I should put a little more research into it. This involves DOl ;) Casper will be 13 in 2 months so I am looking for a good vitamin that will benefit the old-timer. So, what do you use and why? Also, do you give a seperate supplement for healthy joints (especially if your dog has joint problems). Thanks in advance :)

What a stunning girl she was PC. I'm so sorry you had to make the decision to let her go but so glad she was in your arms till the end. No words will make the hurt go away so just sending hugs your way. Rest in Peace Piper.

What a good long life he lived. I am sorry you had to say goodbye to your old boy. May the happy memories bring you more smiles than tears. Farewell Ted, you will be missed.

I am very sorry for the loss of your buddy, they leave a whole lot of hurt behind. Sending you hugs. Rest in Peace beautiful Leo.

I dread the day I don't have tumbleweeds rolling around the floor 10 minutes after vacuuming. I swear they hide under heavy furniture until the vacuum cleaner gets put away!

This is awesome news! His happiness and comfort is everything at this stage! Well done raineth.

A colleague's small dog had constant runny poo and was losing weight despite having a healthy appetite. She was active and happy in every other way. The vet told him she has EPI - Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency. "EPI, Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, is the inability of the acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas to produce and secrete the necessary enzymes needed to digest food. These main enzymes are:. · Amylase for digestion of carbohydrates (sugars & starches in grains, fruits & vegetables), · Lipases for digestion of fat. · Trypsin and Proteases for digestion of proteins. EPI, is sometimes referred to as Pancreatic Hypoplasia or Pancreatic Acinar Atrophy (PAA). Or EPI can also be the secondary condition of a chronic illness, such as chronic pancreatitis. EPI is when a dog's exocrine part of the pancreas is atrophied and can no longer produce these pancreatic digestive enzymes. Some food particles then remain undigested causing SIBO and unabsorbed resulting in a dog, who although is eating copious amounts of food, is constantly undernourished and can literally waste away. Without proper treatment, the EPI dog cansuffer greatly and even die a painful death from malnourishment, starvation or organ failure. With EPI, organ, immune, nervous and all other body systems may become compromised to one degree or another. A lack of nutrients sometimes even results in temperament changes which may express themselves in fear and/or aggression. It is a devastating, frustrating disease that is all too often misdiagnosed. Symptoms usually do not appear until anywhere between 80% and 95% of the exocrine pancreas acinar cells are destroyed. What makes this disease even harder to diagnose is that not all dogs display any or all of the symptoms all of the time. Any breed can have EPI, not just GSDs... see http://www.epi4dogs.com/notjustgsds.htm." Sorry, I can't remember whether you said your dog was tested for this? ETA, I believe he gives her Creon (sp) tablets and Thrive D and she is back to her normal weight and poo production! Have a look at this site for symptoms, etc. www.epi4dogs.com

I am sorry you are going through this Raineth. I didn't know Digby is in palliative care. I would have given the extra tablet anyway. You have had him long enough to know what he needs and what he doesn't. As you say, it's all about quality of life now and if a tablet is going to give him that, so be it. I would "convince" the vet later :) I hope you two get to spend some really good quality time together. These will be really precious memories later. Are you taking lots and lots of photos? Big hugs to you and Digby.

A bit silly of the vet to suggest that you would leave her there overnight :D I'm glad Ivy is on the mend. Is your vet still certain that lump was a lipoma or are you having it tested?