Kelly_Louise

This is the sole reason that i don't take Sash to offlead areas. I'm realistic and her recall is not trustworthy... and I will not endanger her or other dogs or frighten them when they see a large gangly legged mutt running up to them (even though she's mostly friendly to all dogs, unless they react negatively towards her). I would LOVE her to be able to play offlead with other dogs and I know how much she would LOVE it (she would love it so much it breaks my heart to say no), but I don't want to chance it - same goes for if another dog reacts badly to her, I'm afraid I won't have enough control to get her out in time. Plus, she plays rough... which is not nice for little dogs. I know that I don't like it when offlead dogs rush at Sasha, so I would never do it to someone else. Sasha's best friends are all labs. ;) When she sees a lab, she just assumes that it's a new friend for her. So if she wants to play offlead, she goes into a backyard of a dog she knows and has a play... but no offlead with unknown people/dogs. Chloe on the other hand is a different kettle of fish and is a very reliable offlead dog... however, in her old age she's either going a bit deaf/defiant/selective hearing and sometimes you have to grab her before she approaches another. Lucky she doesn't move very fast

Probably totally off track - and I agree with the greyhound/whippet theory... however when I first saw the face/colour my initial reaction was malinois? But that tail... and the sheer size suggests greyhound to me!!

Best wishes for a safe return of little Tess... I think it's all our worst nightmares.

Oh really sas? The advantage of these ones are that they are long. Usually anything size L won't even fit my cattle dog (seems hard to find stuff for big dogs), but this as a large is really big!

LOL - she doesn't mind it... but she was more concerned with the man installing the solar panels on the roof of one of our neighbours. She was NOT happy with that. People their roof only deserves to be told off in woofs for as long as they persist...

And some more posed shots LOL... hood on/hood off!! For $15ish dollars I'm quite happy with it - pretty good quality too!!!

Just thought I'd show you guys a few pics of Sash in her new lightweight raincoat - straight off the dogwalk of Hong Kong!!! Thankfully they sent us the pink one

Bless her... Rest easy Zoe. The world is a tad sadder to have lost a true angel.

Thanks vetrg, I keep a close watch on it, and it still doesn't seem to be giving her any grief - so I'll persevere for the time being, hoping it is on it's way OFF - it's reassuring to know that we are on the right track though! SK, the saline solution really does seem to help, it was looking really icky on the couple of days I didn't wash it, as soon as I started again it's looking much better. For the meantime anyway, and yes, it makes me feel like I'm helping a bit (plus I think she loves the attention ). Thanks for the peace of mind guys - much better than putting her through getting it cut out at this point, especially seeing she's made so much progress with the vet!

Thanks SK That's kind of what I was hoping to hear (although I know you are not saying for sure that it's nothing to worry about). I might google it a bit more as well. The vet did say to come back if it was bleeding or if it bothered her. Well, it's not really bleeding, just a weepy looking sore (that's not dried and scabby), that has very tiny tinges of bloodish colour, but very clear mostly. I will keep bathing it - and hopefully this means it is healing and disappearing. I assume this to be the case as she doesn't really touch it (nor could she unless she was very inventive - which Sash isn't LOL). Will keep an eye on it though, if it gets worse I will talk to the vet about whether or not to remove it. I think I'll give it a bit more time to see how it goes. I'm on holidays from Thursday so if it is going to be removed, this would have been a good time so that I could be home to keep an eye on her. But I've always got my parents to help out or can take unpaid leave, so won't rush it just yet... YOu've been so much help with this lump situation SK - I appreciate it and thank you!!!

Sash has a histiocytoma lump, not cancerous or dangerous. I believe these can, on some occasions – self regress. I was just wondering if anyone knows how this happens…. The reason for my question is that Sasha’s is starting to scab up (from small amounts of weeping), and the scabbing is how covering half the lump. Is this how it heals itself maybe? She doesn’t pay it any attention that I can see, so isn’t actively licking/biting/scratching it – and regardless it’s in a spot she can’t quite reach anyway – so I was just thinking that maybe it’s normal for it to get weepy and scab over and maybe that’s the development of it’s regression? Or does anyone know the normal behaviour of a histiocytoma – and if this kind of scabbing is normal? It seems to have gotten better since I’ve been bathing it in warm salty water. The scabbing seems to have dried up and looks pretty clean. Thanks for any advice!!

I'm so terribly sorry for the loss of your Tobias... I was only just reading your post about wondering how you would cope, as he'd snuck and embedded himself into your heart so much... I actually shed a tear when I saw this thread. But... what a way to go! Surrounded by such love and happy things. The one thing you can say, is that he found his happiness and love before his life ended. And I'm sure that's all he ever wanted. Rest in peace Tobias - and big hugs to your family who now grieve at your loss.

I'm so terribly sorry - Sam sounds like he has been a fabulous friend to all throughout his life. A special boy indeed. Rest in peace Sam. Big hugs to Tara, I hope she doesn't grieve too much and learns to live a happy life without her sidekick.

Thanks anyway Wagsalot - but I don't think the 60cm would come close to fitting her I have bought one off ebay from Hong Kong that looks like it might fit her (was about $15) - bloody awful bright green colour, but if it does the job - not to worry!!!

Happy Birthday Cherry! What a beautiful face We hope Cherry has a wonderful day!!!

Eye boogers :D I thought I was the only one that called them that!!! The title of this thread gave me a giggle. I hope all dogs have nice clear eye now though

Are you sure? Can you not contact them and say: I want my dog to be seen by a specialist XYZ? It is also an emergency centre. Many years ago, I witnessed a dog attack (the attacked dog was an Assistance Dog to a vision impaired woman and the owner of the attacking dog stood in her front yard and offered no assistance :D ) and I got the dog and the owner and her son into my car and took them straight to Strathfield. As far as I know it's a referral only hospital - and for emergencies. Perhaps depending on the circumstances that may change.

Yep, although, if your pet is already a patient - and they need to see a different specialist for an unrelated specialist issue - they will generally take you without a referral. Well they did for Chloe anyway, when I was at my wits end with her normal vet. FionaC, I'm very glad to hear that Archie received some good news... that's awesome. When we went there on Wednesday the parking was at absolute capacity due to the opening event - but it's nice to have much more parking, better than the 5 or so spots they used to have at the front!!!

It's hugely embarrassing when you take a herding breed of dog, a dog who is bred from hard core working lines, and you take him to a herding clinic and all he wants to do is eat the sheep shit. No flaming interest in the sheep at all! Thank goodness we have no sheep around here, I'm sure Sash would think that was fine dining too! I'm just thankful she doesn't eat her own, or other dogs - that would be mortifying... it's only other species she goes nuts for. I always know when there is cat poo around, she gets this 'guilty pleasure' look on her face :D She trod in dog poo once, and had the most disgusted face and walked like she'd stepped in acid and her paw was being eroded away...

When Sasha has a big meaty bone, and I call her to go for a walk... she picks up her bone and happily carries it to the garage door, waiting for her lead to head off. So... I think Sash likes the best of both worlds and doesn't like to have to decide. I have to make the decision for her by telling her she can't take her bone for a walk, and to go and put it back... which she does begrudgingly. It's very cute though

Sasha would walk through fire for some cat poo... also duck poo is apparently a delicacy, although she knows better than to try to pick it up on our walks. But she also loves cheese and apples, and will nibble corn off the cob if you hold and rotate it for her.

D'ya think if I practiced my Woofing, they'd take me in for a bit of RNR? It sounds fabulous, KL. Thank you for telling us all about it. I have been so many times to Strathfield over the years that I have their number on my mobile, so I'll check to get their new phone number. That's what my Mum said too MM - that she might just check herself in for some pampering!!! The main number at Homebush remains the same as at Strathfield (9758 8666 I also have it saved in my phone - sigh)... however if they call you it comes up with a totally different number at times. It's funny, there are few numbers that I know off by heart, but this number is burnt into my memory from repetition LOL. There were some really sad cases there last night - most notably a cat who was very seriously ill after a paralysis tick. Seeing the behind the scenes care just highlights the fantastic and hard work they do to save our furry loved ones. Very inspirational.

oh god I hope not. I dont want my lot becoming hypochondriacs, especially on a public holiday. So does this replace the one at Strathfield or will that remain open? I was really impressed with them when my dogs were in there. Yep it's replacing the one at Strathfield, which has now closed - and was probably long overdue. All the specialists now have their own consult rooms, so will cut down waiting times and allow them to be more available etc. The holding pens, recovery unit, ICU, and dog/cat/bird wards are fabulous. There was one tiny kitten, and I was reading the notes and it had the feeding schedule etc - and also had written on the notes, 'please give lots of cuddles at regular intervals'. I could see a lovely old goldie in the recovery ward, just sitting there wagging his/her tail with a MASSIVE smile... methinks he/she is one whose chucked a sickie just to have some special attention in such a luxurious facility!!!

Well - all I can say is that the new Animal Referral Hospital is absolutely awesome!! The space, the state of the art facilities - it's mind blowing. I was more than impressed. One tour through the hospital and dogs will be faking illnesses just to stay in there. I can't recommend the ARH enough for any kind of specialist treatment that your dogs need. The additional services of specialist physio and dentistry, along with exotic and birds specialist teams - covers all pets! I think the only thing that I would have liked to see there, but didn't, was a hydrotherapy machine - they have the treadmill, however I think hydrotherapy would have been a good addition to such a high tech facility. I had a glimpse into the ICU, and saw 2 nurses sitting quietly on the floor, gently patting a big boofy bull mastiff, wrapped in pink blankies, who was recovering after surgery. I know that's the kind of care I would like for my dogs. It was a lovely event, lots of goodie bags - great night and happy to see that they now have better resources to care for our pets even better than before!!!

Yes that's him. He saved my dog, literally! Archie was diagnosed at under six months of age with very rare especially due to his age and highly aggressive iris melanoma. We expected him to at the very least loose his eye from it (and it was possible had it spread that we could have lost him) but Cameron not only saved the eye but my boy actually has vision in that eye. Considering the melanoma took more than half the iris in one eye so the lasers had to be very aggressive it wad nothing short of a miracle in skill that Cameron did. Cannot sing the praises of him any more if I tried! and the staff there are brilliant. Couldn't agree more what a fantastic job is seems they have done with Archie, he's a very lucky boy!! I know for a fact that we wouldn't still have Chloe with us today if it wasn't for Dr John. He's been fabulous handling her Cushings, especially seeing it is such an unpredictable disease. And I love when I ring up, most of the staff generally know who I'm ringing about and immediately ask about Chloe's welfare and how she's doing. They treat her like a family member (well she has been around there for 5 years now)... but money can't buy that. Well I guess it can, but it just feels warm and genuine.