Kelly_Louise

No, I certainly wouldn't poke a resource guarder... Unless it was anesthetised or something.

That's what I thought too!! Very expensive, looks attractively packed, but to me, not worth the money.

Blown cruciates can have many causes... many are due to a dog being too heavy and with jumping and rough play can put too much pressure on joints, but most are just due to a bit of bad luck in jumping in play, jumping off furniture, landing awkwardly, turning awkwardly, or just a freak accidental injury etc. Once one goes, there is a high chance the other will go even if surgery is performed to correct it. Many are also due to bad confirmation and poor breeding, which produces incorrect angles in the knee which makes them more prone to damaging the cruciates. I also believe there is a link to cruciate damage and thyroid issues - there is interesting reading if you google it. I remember Erny bringing it up a while ago, and it was fascinating.

Thank you Mona

Clyde, do you know what kind of surgery they are doing to repair the cruciates? There are so many different repair methods for different sized dogs - and that certainly always throws different prices out.

Yes would be interesting to know if anything in the diet has changed or not, and how long it has been going on for? Some food just doesn't sit well so if a tummy bug gets ruled out, I recommend the elimination diet as well - keep a diary of what you are introducing, and what the poos were like. Sasha gets upset tummies very easily - we tried her on raw at first and we just couldnt get consistent nice firm poos - it was getting quite worrying at one stage I thought it was red meat that was upsetting her, but we ruled that out with elimination. At the moment, the only things we have found that keep her poos lovely is Advance dry food, Advance/Optimum canned food and the VIP roll with vegies. And we have tried nearly everything. That would probably not sit well with some who would never feed VIP rolls or canned food, but what can I do, it's the only food that agrees with her that I've found so far. I am going to slowly try pet mince with blended vegies soon, see how she goes on that. It's one of the last things I can try. Maybe a trip to the vet first to see if there is a tummy bug? Then go into elimination diet and see how your big girl goes? ETA - that does sound like alot of food (9 cups) - I"ve never owned a dane but that just seems way too much to me??

I would say you had quite a good reason to be... I would have been frantic too. Glad she is on the mend.

Yes, I have used Sashas Blend for many years with my girl and think it has helped her through 2 leg operations. I have also used Joint Guard, but just didn't feel it was as effective and I don't think Chloe liked the bland powdery taste, where as Sashas Blend is fishy and more palatable. To get Chloe to eat her powder with her dry food, I would moisten the dry food with a small amount of water (not so that it's soggy, just damp on the outside so the powder clings) and make a kind of sauce so she gobbled it with the dry food. I don't see why you would need to feed a special joint food AND supplement. I would just keep her on her normal dry food and try the above with whatever supplement you choose and see if it works. Alternatively, I think you can get capsules - and also bite size treats (Sashas Blend has itty bitty fishy pieces that stink to high heaven) as well in the joint supplement range that might be easier for you to give rather than the powder?

Depends how bad the tears are... some are just so bad (some left too long), and leaving them cause DJD to set in REALLY quickly. We were advised by our original vet to wait, wait, wait... I took her to the specialist and they were both so bad she had to have both meniscus removed as well. For both to be torn, I'd say that the tears are complete or near to.

Chloe had both of hers torn at the same time... and the specialist was more than prepared to operate on both in the first surgery - but told us that he preferred to do it one leg at a time - which is what we did. I can't remember exactly why he headed us in that direction, but ultimately he thought it was just too much for her to have both done at one time - I seem to remember him saying something about although the cruciate is blown and painful, it will help stabilise the operated leg. Personally, I think it was easier to manage that way... recovery is long and tedious and if I'd been worried about both legs i think I would have gone insane. I have heard of dogs needing slings etc with both legs done at the same time... and the problem is if they are hesitant to weight bear (although I guess with both legs done it would force them too). Luckily for us, with only one leg done at a time it encouraged Chloe to weight bear right from the start as she had the other leg (even though that cruciate was blown) to stabilise her 'broken' leg. Of course, being a smaller dog maybe circumstances would be different... and I guess it also depends on the type of surgery that Gertie is having as well. Chloe had tibial wedge osteotomies, where the leg was (in laymans terms) broken, a wedge was cut out and it was rotated and screwed back together to form a new and stronger angle. I guess, your ultimate decision will come down to what the surgeon thinks is best in terms of Gertie's recovery etc, what is more convenient for you to best able to manage her recovery time, and maybe even financial... ETA - the TWO cost me approx $3500 each leg... plus of course all the follow ups, medications, intermittent xrays, joint supplements, equipment (ramp etc).

DW, that is absolutely fantastic news, best you could ever have hoped for!!! I'm so stoked that Diesel is doing so well, and really really happy for you. Sounds like he is feeling so much better. Congratulations on your persistence and dedication to your boy... your efforts have been well rewarded, and we will keep fingers and paused crossed for the MRI results. Im sure that good things are coming your way. Please give the brave Diesel a big hug and kiss from us, he is a special boy. Hugs to you too, as I know you have stressed alot and deserve some good news and a big sigh of relief. Enjoy every second you have with your precious boy as you have been given the gift of time, which is priceless. Not sure if you read, but good news for us too - Chloe is in remission and off all Cushings medications. We are also very happy, and she is very very well. Here's to our brave Cushings dogs - who pee defiantly in the face of this horrid disease and refuse to give in Keep up the great work, and give us regular updates please!!! ETA: and don't think you can get away with another post without some pics of your little guy!!! We've let you get away with it so far, but no more!! We want pics of the lovely Diesel!!!!!

All the best healing vibes and prayers being sent Elfin's way. I know what it's like to see your heart dog become ill and feel so helpless and alone. I hope she pulls through and recovers quickly and back at home.

Kiahma, Welcome and sorry to hear of your girls diagnosis. It can be very scary... but don't be deterred by this. If your girl is healthy otherwise, and you can afford treatment, then I would give it a shot. Not all stories are bad. Chloe didn't really get sick at all, she was just drinking and peeing and looked generally sad and uncomfortable. As soon as she started meds, her symptoms just went... she was back to herself. That was a year ago, in the last month we had to change dosage as the meds were working so well, and last week she came off meds all together and is in remission from Cushings. She also has arthritis, but if you could see her now, you wouldn't even know she had that or Cushings disease. She is very well, 11yo and bouncing around like a puppy with genuine quality of life. Depending on what type of cushings your girl has (Chloe has pituitary dependent), I would at least investigate and research - as I said before, every case is different and not all stories are bad, some are very good and do not contain pain or suffering!! I will say though, that due to Cushings your girl will not be feeling the arthritis as much, and if you were to put her on meds, she may possibly feel the arthritis a bit more than she currently is - something to keep in mind as I do not know the severity of her arthritis. Chloe's is quite bad, she's had 2 leg ops etc, and we did notice that she was a bit more stiff and rickety, however not too badly. I have to say though, since she has been in remission and her cortisol levels have been normal her movement is very free and she has not had any arthritis meds either. If you would like more info, please dont hesitate to contact me. Kind regards, KL

Here are some pics taken today of the miracle girl - Chloe!! She is SO well, she is demanding walks walks and more walks... she is so cheeky like a puppy now, and always looking for something naughty to do so you will come and rumble with her!! She jumps up to greet the people she REALLY loves (which i know isn't good - but when your dog hasn't been able to do that for years, you kinda are a bit more excited than upset ). She is happy, bouncing, energetic... it's wonderful Isn't she a lovely old girl? No wonder she owns my heart.The second one, she is woo-wooing at me to come and play LOL

I have the same problem with Sasha... she has slowly gotten better and has learned respect for the garage roller door. However, if we are out the front doing something or talking to neighbours and she is out the back and can hear us, she gets all excited or anxious and this is when she is most likely to zoom out the roller door if we come in that way. Normally, now we have taught her to sit on the mat about 2 metres away whenever the door is being opened or closed, and then we praise her when she stays. She has become really good at this and it's been AGES since the last bolt, but it has taken time and patience. However, we were doing the storm water drains out the front last weekend, and on Friday when I was at work Sasha took off while OH was bringing the wheel barrow back in. She had been quite stressed at lunchtime as we had been out the front talking to the neighbours about the drain. But I thought she had calmed down after we came inside and I spent some time with her. Some time in the afternoon though, OH opened the roller door and she was off like a rocket. She actually ran a VERY long way this time, OH apparently chased her for 40minutes. At one point he caught her, but because he didn't have a lead or anything (just dropped everything to go after her) she got out of his grasp and ran away again. The only time she stopped and let him grab her was when she was just plain tuckered out. But she went near main roads this time... and I am afraid for her safety 'just in case' she should ever get out again. So if any hints or tips that could help could be posted we'd very much like to hear them too!!!

We had problems with Chloe's coat growing back when she was diagnosed with Cushings Disease. I would have her checked out - it might be a small thing, but it may be related to something bigger.

Thank you very much rmc, your thoughts are much appreciated. Here's hoping it is a long one!!

Thanks Erny!! Yep now we just keep hoping it will last many many years. Let's face it, at 11yo, she doesn't have all the time in the world anymore... so it would be really nice if she could live out the few remaining in peace from Cushings and medications. She is a special girl, who deserves that special gift.

Thanks Lizzy06 and Loraine... I certainly am jumping out of my skin, can't wipe this smile off my face today!! I had to hold back tears when the specialist told me... of course he doesn't want me to get my hopes up because no one can predict how long she can be in remission... but you know, it's just lovely that she is what he calls 'normal' - and let me tell you, I've never been so excited to have a 'normal' dog... at the moment, we are celebrating normality... loving it actually!!! It's a great huge relief... just to get some good news for her. She has been through so much in the last few years, she really deserves her cut of luck and good health for a change.

The verdict is in... and it is GOOOOOOOOOD!! Chloe is officially in a remission - no meds!! No one can be sure for how long, she will be tested again in a month and monitored regularly... but for now, her adrenal glands are normal size and function - she is a NORMAL dog!!! We are all so happy!! It's the best news we could have hoped for!! Go miracle dog Chloe, GOOOOO!!! :D :D Thank you everyone for caring and thinking good, positive thoughts for my old girl - seems they have worked

I am currently waiting for the specialist to call back with Chloe's test results... the suspense is killing me!!

Send him to my mum's house for a couple weeks - she can make ANY dog chubby

Sash had a bout recently, and I did not take her to the vet as the AMH took care of it nicely. She did not get any gunky eyes or nose and seemed pretty well otherwise so we decided not to take her and traumatise her unless it looked like she had a secondary infection. Good luck with your crew!

Amen to that - there are none bred tougher than the ACD... but then, I'm TOTALLY biased (but also have living proof). Here's hoping for some answers for you today.

OMG BIG TIME... what a gorgeous little ACD. Can't really help, but she is so lovely and hope you get a resolution soon. FWIW, Chloe had an 'episode' last year where her throat, neck, face etc swelled up big time, her face, top of head and her cheeks under her eyes became lumpy, she had difficulty eating and drinking - thought to be an allergic reaction to something and treated accordingly. She's had one other similar attack since then (around the same time a year later) and we still don't really know what's causing it. There are medications that can help that don't contain cortisone - I know this because Chloe has Cushings disease and can't be treated with anything that has cortisone. They order a special medication in for her. Best of luck with your beautiful girl.