KathyM

Thank you so much all of you! Margaret, I'm such an idiot, I haven't posted Dharma's photo - I haven't got my head screwed on and I'll sort that in a minute. I'm afraid if the vet says she needs surgery then she will have to go via the PDSA in Bradford if they will do it, if not I'll check out where Mel's said. I'm going to post for a raised feeder on the swap board if anyone's got one they don't use, as she's struggling a bit with food and water like a giraffe - that leg just skids off and she ends up laid down. Still no sensation in her foot at all, but she seems a bit brighter for rest and isn't in as much pain thanks to the rimadyl and paracetamol.

We've booked her in with the head vet for her X-rays on Friday. The other vets quoted a lot more, and at least she's getting the head vet and not Nazi Nora. God knows what happens after that, but I can't even think of that yet.

Congratulations! I'm doing my Psychology with Criminology degree at the minute and I think it's a huge achievement for you to have got through it in one piece! When it comes to specialising, we've been told that we'd need a First or a 2:1 to get onto Masters degrees/PHDs, but that you can go on to do the PGCE and teach. I am aiming for Forensic Psychology but it's looking more and more unachievable, so maybe I'll teach instead.

Hi you lot Thanks ever so much for the messages. Baz and I have had a trip down to the vets to talk with the head vet. Unfortunately as we were waiting, a lady came in with her collapsed dog, she was carrying her and about to drop her so I held her for her. She had died, the owner didn't know (she thought she had collapsed unconscious), it was all very very sad. So immediately we were already very emotional (obviously not as much as the poor dog's owners - I can't imagine how terrible they feel now and my heart goes out to them). Anyway, I spoke to the head vet who didn't really allay any of our concerns about the vet we saw, but did outline things much better. It is not OCD in his opinion. We know there is a loss of radial nerve function (she has absolutely no feeling in her foot), he suspects it might be originating from an issue with her spinal discs (?). Then again, she might have a fracture further down he says (God knows how, but there you go). He said if we havent got £2,000 - £3,000 spare up front, there's no point in referring her to a specialist. He says we have two options, either to go ahead now and get x-rays (which we could've done days ago, grrrr), or to wait and rest her and see if it gets better, which is risky. If he gets x-rays he *might* be able to diagnose her problem (if for example disc spacing problems show up), but it might not show anything. The first thing a specialist will want is those though, so that's what we think we need to go ahead and sort out. Moneywise he's quoted me a minimum of £260 with a discount, so I'm going to check out the other vet too just to ensure that's a fair price (or to get them familiar with her case and shift her). I don't know if the PDSA have x-ray facilities, I'm assuming so, but that's a long trip (that would require me taking up one of you on your very kind offer of transport). So I think next step today is for me to get a quote from the other vet in town and to check the PDSA to see if they have the facilities to offer it (I hate taking their help when she should've been insured). I have no idea whatsoever what the next step would be after that so there's no point in me speculating. I just wanted to say though that yet again you lot have been amazing and I wouldn't know what to do without you. I feel so much like a bad owner today letting this happen and not being prepared, and I'm so scared that it's going to come to having to let her go to ensure she gets the treatment. I just don't deserve her.

I will do and you know she'll love it. Thank you so much! I've had a good chat with Chris at Bullmastiff Welfare and she's shared some experiences with me that have got me fired up and ready to face things more. I'm changing vets for a start off, I've been saying that for a long time and clung on hoping Rui would return (he looked after Ruby) and he hasn't. That woman isn't laying another finger on Dharma.

Thanks very much all of you - and thanks for those links, I will read them now. Yes we qualify for PDSA treatment, unfortunately in my experience they do not carry out specialist treatment/diagnoses. So unlikely to be able to help, other than as a 2nd opinion that she'll need a specialist - I also worry that they would defer to a PTS decision based entirely on funding. I will ring them tomorrow and see what they say though. PS: Pooby - just saw your offer and thank you so so much, I may take you up on that if it's necessary, and we very much appreciate it.

Unfortunately they're the only vet we can get her to at the minute, although there is one on the other side of town if I can find a taxi firm who will let her travel in their car (been impossible so far unless, get this, we can fit her in the front footwell with Baz in the front seat *sigh*). TBH I'm going to complain about her tomorrow to the head vet, who is an arse but at least has a brain. Anyone'd think this woman expects Dharma to be a lurcher in size lol, and sorry but I don't care if she didn't mean to hurt her - patting her hard one night is bad enough, but two nights running? She's a bloomin' Nazi. I feel like I have to defend my dog and my ownership to her, but what use is that when it comes to Friday and we have to say about our financial status - I am so regretting cancelling the insurance (with Seth passed over we were trying to find a better deal for Dharma). This is all such a mess, and it's all my fault. I've read a bit about radial nerve damage and it says that for permanent damage amputation is the only option, which isn't an option in a heavyset dog's front leg. Please God let her get better before Friday, I can't lose two dogs this year, I just can't.

Thanks all of you. We're back. Guess what she did again?? Luckily for her this time Dharma didn't scream, or I would've decked her I think. Dharma has radial nerve damage. She says this isn't from the slip off the sofa, it's because she hasn't got a waist and has slim wrists She reckons Dharma, who is a VERY lean and tall bullmastiff, is hugely overweight. I said that she hasn't maybe had as boisterous exercise since Seth passed away and that I agreed that maybe she could do with a higher muscle to fat ratio (she has a bit of a whattle, but is otherwise very lean), and the vet literally shouted no, she needs to get "skinny". I asked if it could be OCD and she said yes it could be but it's most likely just because she's "lazy and fat" - I said repeatedly (and anyone who knows Dharma, or has even just met her for 30 seconds can back this up) that lazy is not a word any sane person would use to describe her, and that she's just not kangaroo bouncy now because, let's see, she's in pain and the vet hit her. She said she needs no exercise at all, will permanently not be allowed her usual walks (as if!) and that if in three days she hasn't fully recovered, she will be referred to a specialist, which we can't afford. I just want to curl up and die now please.

LMAO Baz asked if it means she needs to turn the lights on and off 30 times.

No OCD: http://www.provet.co.uk/Petfacts/healthtip...ochondrosis.htm

Hi you lot I know I seem to only post when the proverbial hits the fan, but I need you again. The day before yesterday was the first sign of anything wrong with Dharma - she yelped as she got down from the sofa and stood with her front feet on the floor and her back end on the sofa for a minute or two before finishing her descent. She stuck to her bed for the rest of the day and we rested her that night. Yesterday morning she seemed a little brighter but still a bit lame after exercise, so we booked her in last night at the vets. The vets is only a 10 minute walk, so we took it slowly down there (taxi wouldn't take her). By the time we got there, she was completely knuckling the left front foot under, and we had to remove her Walkezee as it was clearly uncomfortable to her. We went into the vet's room and told the vet that she was in pain on her left shoulder, and the stupid bint proceeded to greet her with 4 hefty slaps on the shoulder (God how moronic!), at which Dharma screamed, and continued to scream for some time after. She was given rimadyl/norocarp and synulox injections (I daren't even mention the cost as it shouldnt matter) and sent home for rest. Vet was stumped, asked what "else" had happened to Dharma, as if the sofa incident wasn't enough. I asked about OCD then as Dharma has had hock problems on the same side in the past. She didn't even reply, said she'd see us today - I asked if she needed an x-ray and she said it's just nerve damage. I asked what that meant, and she said it's most often temporary, but didn't say what we could do to determine the cause. She also asked if Dharma is "normally friendly" - now considering that dog had been slapped til she screamed and hadn't taken her face off, I think that's answer enough (Dharma did that awful scaredy appeasing licking the air thing, it was so upsetting I cried in shock). I wasn't happy at all with her treatment of Dharma, and am hoping when we return tonight we'll get a vet that is a. able to hold a reasonable discussion in English and b. holds some authority over her from last night. I was wondering if anyone knows the general course of action for OCD when more than one joint is involved, or of any supportive therapies we can try at home? Just so we can be prepared. After Seth, this is all a bit much for me, she's absolutely my baby and much as she does my napper in when she's a kangaroo, I absolutely hate her being depressed as it means it's bad (I'd rather have norty boingy Dharma back please). ps: I have a brand new Walkezee - last night was her first walk in it - in XL that she'll probably never be able to use again if anyone needs one. That was a waste of £25 (I do wonder if that has contributed to this as she spent all her youth in one, in which case this is all my fault).

I'm sure having leftover pups from a litter doesn't really mean they're all breeding for money, after all the credit crunch is no doubt affecting good breeders and their lists too, as it is affecting everyone. I think it is a shame when they won't be flexible pricewise, but entirely understand them not dropping them too much. It's a difficult situation for rescues and breeders alike and one where much more good would come out of cooperation, as Katiebob illustrates.

Try and get some nice photos of Dharma's new collar from Laura/elricc and she turns into "Dharma the Slavvering Idiot Does Dallas". Started off ok, but no collar in sight thanks to her wattle.... Then it just degenerated from there.... Tart. This one might be the one that looks "normalest": The sofa's covered in black slimey bits of goo where she's been wiping her nose and eye bogeys and licking.

My cooking's probably more of a danger than her cleaning the plates Well, the next day toilet test has been passed (pardon the pun). Small, firm poo, which is much better than normal. We noticed she had far less wind last night, she didn't make me gag once through our late night telly curled up on the sofa. I gave her another shower yesterday, so can't really judge on whether it's helping her smell, but so far so good.

I'm so so sorry. Seems like they all wanted to go together this month.

I'm so sorry

Thought I'd share a bit of initial feedback on this Luposan Sensitive dog food. We've bought a 20kg sack of the "Sport" (which is for "normal" dogs, so probably not for her haha!). They also make it in "Light" for older or more Rubenesque dogs. Anyway it arrived this morning from Germany, which is bloomin' quick (ordered it the day before yesterday). Even before the sack was opened even my tummy was rumbling (I've had a long day out, it's not a fair judgement on me), it smells very meaty, much more intense than other "sensitive" (ie. boring) foods. Texture was surprising - it looks like really big, fat, super dense chinchilla pellets/grass pellets in texture (although obviously meat instead of grasses lol). It's nothing like biscuits, there's no airy-ness to it, it's not spongelike. They're solid, snappable nuggets, very dense, about 1" long (some smaller, some longer). As such, when you weigh out the required weight it looks a surprisingly little amount. Dharma is on 500-600g a day and this in her bowl looks like just over half the amount she normally has of other brands. Still, other foods are biscuity and full of air. I noticed she has less wind after it. She really loved it, but had to take her time as it was dense enough to need her to actually chew for once, whehey! Normally after dinner she goes straight out into the garden to fart and burp at her content and have a wee if necessary lol - but today she came back in to give the bowl another clean. I'm seriously thinking of smearing this food on my washing up for her to do! This is a pic: I shall report back in a few days to tell you how she's doing, hopefully this will cure her smelly skin problems. That and the Domestos......

Leaning to one side is only one potential symptom and not always there. I think it's more common in vestibular disease, which is similar to strokes but not the same. Seth didn't favour either side after either episode, he was uncoordinatated and wobbly all over. So glad to hear about the improvements though - well done Rusty!

I've had three dogs behave in the way you describe - two had serious arthritis long term which had caused nerve damage, and one (Seth) had had a seizure/stroke (he had displayed similar behaviour just after we adopted him to a much lesser level, but we put it down to getting used to laminate flooring ). I'm assuming the vet will be watching for that too, and I know you're being vigilant. I'm also going to back up what was said by Claz about Rimadyl - both the arthritis dogs had another 18 months on that of good quality of life - it may be that Rusty has had that from the Metacam but worth mentioning anyway. Chance, our Beardie, was doing an hour's walk morning and afternoon til the day he died thanks to Rimadyl. He was, we learned later, 17 and a half when he died. That's not relevant I know, but it still shocks me lol.

Hoping for good news later

Thank you all so much for the recommendations. I was all for buying one of the K9 couches or a Kudos one, but Baz has picked up a Danish Designs one for a lot less, which made sense I spose! Thanks anyway because I know who to recommend to others now too.

Thanks ever so much Celeste, I'll have a look at them! Do they have removable/spare covers available do you know? The K9 Couch has removable covers but I can't find a listing for spares.

I can't bear to keep the sofa that Dharma and Seth shared, so I'm looking to buy another dog bed. I need it to be big enough for Dharma (bullmastiff), hoseproof and not a duvet type as she squishes them completely flat and thin within a couple of weeks. Ideally either orthopaedic/memory foam, mattress or beanbag, and seriously thick - 5"+ (but the thicker the better). I have the link for K9 Couches that I like, but thought I'd get some comparisons. Was a bit disappointed that their XL pink bed isn't available in pink lol, but I should get a more neutral one anyway. Would also like to see if I can get one with sides (that's not imperative, just as a comparison). Can't really break the bank but quality more important than price. I've looked on ebay and the only one I liked for her was an XXL and too small lol! Any help or advice much appreciated!

Oh crikey Bailey you're more than a bit gorgeous. I really hope you find the perfect home soon.

You're quoting the wrong person, I'm not this dog's vet. I'm sure if there's an update, we'll get it.