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I was told about using it when Texas first got sick but he couldn't tolerate it. I have been looking it up since and now he is on the mend, am definitely going to add it.

Yes! Thanks so much! Even just the last two days, his appetite has improved. He is asking for food all the time. His tummy is still alittle on the sensitive side but just the fact he is so hungry is a great improvement.

Into the second week now and he is much better. He started to turn the corner end of last week. Bandages came off and wound is looking good. His appetite is returning. Have been adding a few things vegetables to his food and he is eating them without any issues. Slowly putting on weight. Adrenal Tumor was beign as was the nodules on his liver. Still waiting to hear about colon. He has an appt this week to see if he can stop the steroids and guess will discuss his lung and what to do then. He is looking much more like himself. Still taking it slow but all in all, he seems to be doing well.

He ate dinner!!!

Unfortunately Tassie, he is not allowed cat food. I am sure he would love to have it. But doctor wants his diet as simple as can possibly be til he is abit better because his tummy is so unsettled and he doesn't want anything to cause it to get worse. He is getting good food. Pork, chicken, little bit of beef here and there. Hopefully it just a case of he needs abit more time and now the patch is gone that will help his appetite to come back.

Yes I am hoping it was the patch too. Specialist said if he was human he would still be in hospital so he is happy he is doing OK given what he has just been through. I haven't used the Tramadol yet. They gave it to me just in case because they removed the patch early. I am going to see how he goes first and try and save it for times when I need to go up the street because he got quite worked up yesterday when I went for an hour to get food for him. He was in a state when we got back. So I figure if he is past out, he won't notice when we do pop out. Will trial him on it tonite at bedtime and see how he goes so I can see how he handles it while I can watch him.

Just got to work on getting his appetite back now. He is eating but he is only picking not eating as much as he should be. He has lost a kilo. He was eating OK then yesterday started to get funny again. Hopefully its temporary and once the patch wears off completely, he will feel alittle more hungry.

Yes, I personally don't think the patch agreed with him at all. He is funny about food again which who knows whats causing it but I don't think that patch helped his appetite! They took it off today early for me and have given me some Tramadol for him. So far he hasn't needed it and he looks much better in the face since the patch came off. His blood work was much better today and he is finally sleeping like he should be. Calmed right down. So I think he is on the mend!!

Thanks so much!!! We have survived the first 48hrs relatively intact. There has been one or two little issues but that's to be expected after such major surgery. And we saw Specialist yesterday for blood work. The drugs are working but his red and white cells are a little off which could simply be because surgery was only two days before so back tomorrow for more bloods. I don't think his pain patch is agreeing with him. They got me to cut it in half the other night as he was quite anxious and he definitely settled down over the next few hours but he didn't get much sleep. Sleeping much better now though. He is a lot better today. More alert. Walking a lot better even with a spring in his step. I have had to put him in a playpen because he was walking around too much. He is not impressed. Tried the crate the other day and he freaked out in it. So got a playpen yesterday, and he is much better in that. Not that it will hold a Stafford but at least while he is still so sore it will keep him contained!! He is so bruised. Poor Bub.

He is home! Got some healing to do but so far he is doing well!!!

Texas has made it through surgery and is in recovery doing well. He still has to get through the night but his Surgeon said that he is good. I am not allowed to go and see him til morning as they don't want him getting stressed but can ring whenever I want to and if he is doing well, tomorrow he can come home. Surgery went well. Apparently it was one of trickiest surgeries they have done as the tumor didn't present the way they normally do or how it appeared on scan. And it was apparently quite large. They found a few nodules on his liver and one on his colon which have been removed and sent for testing. Surgeon is concerned that he may not have removed enough of the colon if lump is malignant but he said that is easy enough to fix later on. The hardest bit is done. The CT scan didn't actually show much more than the ultrasounds but it did show that the shadow on his lung is mostly like not pneomia like previously thought but a mass and he wants to let Texas recover from this before looking into it as it's isolated and there is nothing else around it. He said this is enough for Texas to deal with today. So still a few things to figure out but adrenal gland surgery is over thank god! Please positive thoughts he keeps recovering and gets through the night comfortable and is home soon. I think I need a scotch.

Hi, Thanks so much Stark for your post. It's made me feel better about it. They seem to have a good rep from what I can find. Tex is booked into South Paws on Thrusday for a CT and possible surgery. They were lovely on the phone. I started crying and lady I was speaking to was just so nice. I am so worried about the whole thing. From hearing conflicting info about the usefulness of the CT scans and misdiagnosis to the surgery and whether I am making the right decisions for him. Have left a msg with other Specialist but haven't spoken and hope they are OK with what I am doing. They don't have a CT there and would have to send me somewhere anyway and she knew I was thinking about it. He in himself is doing OK. Every day he is that little bit better. But he still getting tired very quickly and fussy with food. So the next few days will be trying to get weight on him as much as I can and just loving him and tell him how much he means to us.

So sorry to hear about your little Man, Anne. I remember both him and Dana as puppies! Good to hear Dana is happy. Thanks so much Stark. So good to hear she is still going so strong! Timing is spot on as I was coming on to post an update and a question about CT scans. Took Tex to our vet yesterday for his weekly check. Vet is very happy with him. He is picking up. Going for small walks. He gets very tired quickly but he wants to go and shows such enthusiasm. Even took him to the park today to get him out in sunshine. His weight is alittle concerning as he is abit skinny but still good weight for a Staffie. Yesterday he looked do thin and we had a quiet day and today he looked much better. So any exercise is using up energy. I am feeding 3 or 4 times a day now. Anyway, our vet was concerned about how long everything is taking given that the tumor is unpredictable and he keeps pushing for a CT scan as it will definitely determine what is on his chest. Specialist is erring about CT scans because they can show things that are not real. Something may look like something it isn't. Plus they would have to refer me elsewhere. So my vet rang and spoke to South Paws and they have a CT scanner there and can do it plus the surgery if he can have it. He said he understand why Specialist is doing what she is doing but he said it's the slow way around and what if the tumor bleeds again. Has anyone had anything to do with South Paws? Vet highly recommends them and it was where he was going to send us before Emergency put Tex under Medvet. Either way next he is either having Xray or CT scan next week. I am thinking CT scan.

Hi Anne, How are you? How are your two little Carvs going?? I wasn't sure if you were still here or not! We were at specialist on Friday as he developed pneumonia from all the vomiting so they wanted to do a quick check up on his chest. He is not quite there yet and they are not convinced its anything else just yet so giving him another two weeks to see how he goes as they said sometime they just need little more time to get over it, before they go poking things around in there. Other than that, they were really happy with him. He was bright and alert and talking non stop! So I have some more time to strengthen him and try and keep his weight at a good spot. They are still pushing for surgery if its an opinion for him and I said I was open to it. Speaking to them twice a week to check in. They are being really great! So is our vet. Everyone has been so supportive. Unfortunately I am bit stuck with Tex as his tummy is too sensitive at the moment to give too many supplements etc. Have started him on digestive enzymes once a day and changed his diet around, feeding him smaller meal three/four times a day and he seems to be settling. Plus the Specialist doesn't want me screwing around too much with supplements when I suggested it as it can complicate things so still looking into it all. He is doing OK. Picking up and almost back to his usual self, not quite still getting very tired and can't really go for walks, just little ones, but he is more and more himself everyday. He was yelling at me for dinner tonite! Had to tell him to shut up, then kissed him because he was so hungry!!

Thanks so much Max. Am feeling little more confident about the surgery now. Guess we will see how he is next Specialist visit!

Thanks so much for your reply. Its great to hear that Lui did so well and lived so long. The tumor is only on one gland and it is removable which is why they are pushing for surgery. As I mentioned, have no idea what type of tumor it is. They did mention a CT scan but said that it wouldn't change their opinion the gland needs to be removed. He is 14 now and his symptoms would have started a few years ago too. He has pancreatitis about two years ago and they noticed then that this gland looked slightly swollen but weren't sure if the pancreatitis caused it and now think that it actually caused the pancreatitis. I just want to do the right thing by him and if I can give him a few extra years of healthy living then I want to be able to do that for him. But I know its a tough surgery. He is still alert and interested in everything but he gets so tired. He is eating better but I have to be careful as his tummy is quite sensitive. I can't muck around with his diet or give him too many things like supplements. He is on antibotics and he has started on Digestive Enzymes to try and help his tummy so that he can eat and get his strength up. How long did Lui take to recover for the surgery? What was involved?

Hi, Have not been on here for quite awhile and have no idea who is still here that I would know but am needing some advice/experience on Adrenal Gland Tumors. One of mine older dogs has been found to have a tumor on his adrenal gland. He collapsed about two weeks ago and after vets and Specialist - it was discovered. Apparently it haemorridged which has stopped. Specialist is not sure whether it is malignant or not as there is apparently no point doing a biopsy as its in a tricky position and if they go in there, then they are not mucking around and going to remove the gland at the same time, which is what they recommend be the next step. It is a complicated surgery but they think he will be OK as he is strong and otherwise healthy. If it stays there, they do not know what will happen as they do not know what it is and can't confidentially comment on what it may or may not do. They want him stronger before the surgery as it knocked him around quite a bit as you can imagine. He is getting there. Having trouble with food which who is to say whether that is the tutor or the antibotics upsetting everything, but otherwise he is doing OK. He is back at Specialist on Friday for a check over. Has anyone had their dog go through this or experience with this kind of thing? Any help would be so greatly appreciated.

It is perfectly normal for a pup to wake up a few times a night. They are babies. And she is in a new world and new place. And a stafford! Pups don't get control of their bladders til they are about 6mths old. Try as they may to be good - they are going to have accidents. And they need to go every few hours. Leave the crate door open so she can go in and out as she wants while she gets use to it. Let her familarize her self with and that it is her little den. Don't make her feel like every time she is in there she is trapped. Play in there - feed her in there. Give her free access to it. Make sure that crate is big enough for her to feel OK in there. I am just wondering from your early post - are you planning on leaving her crated all day when you are unable to take her and at night? That's a hell of a lot of crating for any dog! I personally don't use or agree with crating in those terms. I have no problem with a crate where the door is left open and the dog can go in and out as pleases and it works well for some dogs. For others crates do not work. And I can understand any dog not wanting to be locked in crate if it is for hours on end.

7 weeks next week... Joee, has one of the pups gone back? How are things going today? That explains alot! Still I wouldn't be giving them back if you are truly dedicated to them - I would be more patience and let them settle in and adjust to their new home before I assumed anything. They will be very different in a month time if you do the right thing by them both!

You have only just got them! Literally.You can't judge the situation in 24hours. It takes a few days for even just one pup to settle in - sometimes longer. Some pups take longer to come out of their shells. I assume they have left their litters so they have alot of change going on. The crying is pretty normal for a pup that has just left the nest only to be put outside with a stranger in a strange enviroment. Give them time - lots of cuddles and love and let them adjust to their new surrounding. And bring them inside - they are 8 weeks old! Don't leave them locked in a crate for hours on end - they are puppies. They don't have bladder control and they are most likely not use to it - leave the crate door open and let them go in and out and learn that it is a safe place to be. I had no problem training two puppies together (not siblings). I found one learnt alot quicker than the other so I spent time training them together and apart and I found that the slower one actually picked up alot from the faster pup so my job wasn't too bad. To this day if I want to teach the girl something - I teach the boy with her there and encourage her to learn too and she copies him and picks it up in no time. You just need patience. Do training separately and together - mix and match it depending on how your pups learn and their own personalities.

I think he is doing a great job with the breed. He has to be very careful with what he says about them because whilst he is trying to be ambassador of the breed and show their loving natures.

Yep - when it happened - we were all wondering how long it would take before they made an example out of him. I don't beleive he turned either. His fate was sealed the minute he was made public unfortunately.

No need to delete your posts. We live and learn. Not everyone realises how much a sudden change in diet can upset some dogs. Some dogs are fine - others are alittle more sensitive. Some dogs digestions just changes as they get older and you would have no idea til things start to make them sick (like what happened in my case) And not all dogs can tolerate bones. And you now realise that your dog needs to take things alittle more slowly so you will never make the same mistake again, will you? You did the right thing as soon as you realised there was a problem and that's what counts!

I went thru this with one of my dogs last year and nearly lost her. It was very scary!!!! She had been getting the same amount of bones for 7 years and one weekend - something happened - no one can explain it but she blocked up and ended up in emergency for a week. They were ready to cut her open but thankfully it didn't come to that! Now she is not suppose to have bones even again. I must admit have given her one or two here and there though and kept a very close eye on her after. But it would probably only be maybe 3 times since it happened. Good luck with him - its awful to go through! Glad to hear he is in the hands of the vet. (There is also a great fluid you can give them to help - I don't know if your vet has suggested it - our vet gave it to me after what happened to Sami as a just in case and you can get it at any chemist - Actilax - it works alittle differently to general laxatives so it safer to give to animals)

Mine love apples too. Tex loves fruit, he will eat just about any fruit you give him. They both love carrots and celery and cabbage too.