The Chillout Zone (Off-Topic Thread)

Tiffi was very quiet last night, wouldn't jump up on the sofa like usual, so I lifted her, she curled up and didn't do her usual 'seal flop' (kinda turns and flops half on her back against you for belly rubs) and this morning I discovered why.
One of her claws is damaged, it's currently upside down (curved upwards) and looks damaged at the base.
I'm working until 10 tonight, so daughter will have to get her to the vet. Lucky it's not far, she's heavy to carry!

We're officially a two cat household, I gave in!

Congratulations. Think you made the right decision:)

Zapperzy wrote: »

Charlie went to the vet yesterday evening, all his glands are swollen and the vet could feel a mass in his abdomen. Bloods came back normal, they're going to take a sample of his glands on Monday. Lymphoma was mentioned. He's only just turning 10

Oh hopefully he's alright. That's what we lost our Shadow to at almost 11

A bit of a downer alright from officially adopting Freya. The vet isint very optimistic, I think it's a FNA there doing Monday morning, results back on Wednesday that'll tell us either way what it is. Regular bloods were all fine, no values up or down, not sure if that's a good or bad thing. His breathing has gotten a bit raspy and faster than normal since yesterday evening. I hadn't seen him in a few weeks but he hasn't lost condition and is only a little less perky than normal.

Fingers crossed all is ok, after losing bunty in November don't think we could lose him too.

Oh no, zapperzy I hope Charlie is ok.

Freya is beautiful, we had called our tortie girl Freya initially but my daughter decided within a day or two it didn't suit her (Her personality just wasn't a Freya) and renamed her Ruby.

Fingers crossed for Charlie.x

I made my two go out around 10.30 too, Oliver ran out did his business and ran back fully expecting the door to be open, I saw him coming and opened the door just as he ran into it, he looked embarrassed and wagged his tail as he walked away.
Tiffi meanwhile takes her time, flinching like every rain drop burns, and comes in soaked and looking miserable, curls up giving me the 'you're an evil bitch' stare.

Ah I feel a bit bad for not taking the dogs out on our usual weekend trek! My friend isn't with us today (going to Croker poor thing) so I was being lazy! We had a lonnnnng walk yesterday in St Anne's and the dogs jumped into the pond for the first time because Rebel jumped in - normally they run around the edge but I thought had the sense not to get in because the drop is too high for them that they wouldn't be able to get out... Anyways the STINK was awful lol had to wash them when I came home This morning Bailey ran out for a wee but Lucy stood frozen squinting her eyes at the rain, then they both came in and took to their beds! I went and got some bits and pieces in Aldi then took them for a quick run to the park...which was cut short when the guy with his ****yy little jrts stood laughing as the other one for a change went for the three of us - I had my two on lead near the river so they wouldn't be tempted to jump in. I bit my tongue as usual and then came home in a temper! :mad: Then we did some training instead which exhausted them. Funny how one of them can pick something up straight away but it takes the other longer lol - even when the one who has learnt what to do is showing off and rubbing it in their face lol!! :pac:

Update - nice argument to start the week with said jrt owner. I just had enough of it - the dog was tripping me up trying to go for Lucy! :mad: Asked him if he'd be happy for my dogs to run barking at his and well...now we know where his dogs get their aggression from(!) I also warned him that Lucy is only 2 - sooner or later she'll stand up to his dog and it'll get hurt. He just repeated everything I was saying .. It ended with me telling him to put the dog on a lead when it's near us or I'll be calling the dog warden on him 'oh will you now'
'I will so that'll be a nice bill for you - 4 licenses'

And breathe....

ShaShaBear wrote: »

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR :mad:
And you can be sure if the warden went near him he'd have a plan in place to make your life hell

He skulked off out of the park this morning before we got in and I could see him looking over his shoulder! My only regret is that I didn't record the dog coming at us yesterday. Anyways I won't be taking any crap off him - I may be 5 foot but my bro is a LOT taller and menacing and would be more than happy to have a quiet word with him! See how brave he is then This is the same guy who covers the dogs poo with a leaf and steps on it rather than pick it up!! :mad:

Zapperzy wrote: »

Haven't heard from mum this morning but up to last night he was in good form. Had samples taken yesterday morning hopefully have the results back Thursday. He's mostly his usual self, off his biscuits but no wonder when he's wolfing down chicken, scrambled egg, rocco tinned food and any human biscuits he can beg off people. Sleeps a lot but will perk up if he sees his lead or throw a ball for him. Apart from his glands being swollen and his breathing being caught up you wouldn't think anything is wrong with him.

Fingers, toes and paws crossed it's just an infection but the vet doesn't hold much hope.

That sounds really good, I must say. Shadow was considerably worse from the get-go if it's any consolation. He wouldn't even take much human food except for the really good stuff (ice-cream and tea) and he certainly wasn't chasing any toys
Fingers crossed!

It's amazing how many grown men melt at the sight of my GSD pup, also how many are so impressed when I can ask a little baby thing like him to sit by using just a word.

Also... gotta love the local bin men I've seen every time I've been out with my little lad. One of them was playing with him and had one of those picky-uppy sticks and was letting my pup mess with it. Desensitizing him to ALL the things! Just have to tackle the excitement barking.

tk123 wrote: »

hehe my company is doing a <company name>'s got talent and one of the categories is goofy human and pet tricks up to 5 prizes in each category - 1st - 1k, 2nd - 500, 3rd - 250 ... I wonder if I should enter a video of one of the dogs doing a trick?!?! What's a good trick though!?

For 1k?

I'll do the bloody trick dressed as a dog and go halvsies.

So sorry Zapperzy. I think I remember anniehoo saying her dog had chemo for lymphoma - might be worth pming her if she's still active on boards. I lost a dog to lymphoma a few years ago and opted for steroids. They didn't extend her life, but they vastly improved her last few months.

Zapperzy wrote: »

Results are back and Charlie has lymphoma. There's a vet in galway that offers chemo, other option is just steroids. Chemo is between 2,000-2,500. Tough choices ahead. Anyone have any experience with dog chemo?

really sorry to hear this, was hoping no news was good news! Whatever choice you make, have faith as Charlie's human you know what's best

Zapperzy, very sorry to hear about Charlie - how old is he?

aonb wrote: »

Hope he is ok? Poor little puppy, I hope he's not hurt. Its so horrible having a gentle innocent little puppy attacked by another dog :mad: Hope it doesnt impact him too much - get him back out there, with your eyes peeled, and a very large stick to wave off any incoming bullies

Yeah, he's totally fine, even though he was grabbed by the neck and he started whipping his head. I reacted faster than the owner did in getting him off my boy. He has just been subdued ever since. I just feel my boy is at a particular sensitive period at the moment, so it's terrible timing for something like this to happen.

The killer part is he was a familiar dog, not a strange dog.

Oh poor Charlie I've known a few dogs who had chemo and tbh they just seemed to be wasting away and at most got a few extra months. When we thought Bailey had cancer last year I was thinking it wasn't an avenue I'd go down but of course easy to say when you're not in that position yourself. I'm sure you'll make the best decision for him!

Bailey is 1 year post op tomorrow! I sent a card off to UCD and my friend did some cupcakes for me for our own vets as a thank you for looking after him before the op and for all of the lumps and bumps since then from Bailey AND Lucy eg..poking a hole in one eye with a grass seed then it got infected and turned blue like a ghost eye, poking a hole in the other eye with a stick, keeping Lucy until late after noon after she'd been spayed so I could get Bailey out for a long run on Halloween to help tire him out before the fireworks starts, Always taking his bloods in the examination room so he can stay with me instead of stressing him out taking him in the back, X-rays, bizarre infection cause by a pathogen oh and a cut paw 8 stitches long! BRATS! :rolleyes::P

You can't really see in the pic but they have Woof and Thank You stamped into them

Cows Go µ wrote: »

This is (one of) my biggest fears with my puppy. I've got a sheltie, a breed known for shyness so I've gone to great pains to get a puppy that has been really well socialised and I'm doing my best to keep it going. But it would be so awful if that was all undone by one dog.

The only thing you do is make sure he gets lots of good experiences now so it doesn't put him off. And make sure you don't stress when you see other dogs, he'll know.

Trying! But I do stress when I see other dogs on walks, only because he barks ferociously wanting to meet them, which I don't want to reward nor is it fair on someone else's dog because he can be quite intimidating sounding. He is so much better off leash but I can only do off l leash scenarios once a week. I won't take him to the local dog park as my sheltie's did have issues from there (before I knew anything) and I don't want a repeat performance.

My poor little dog, playing his favourite game last night - hes obsessed with sticks and balls - throw & fetch - pulled up last night and wouldnt move. Obviously in a lot of pain. In to the vet first thing this a.m. and yep, his cruciate ligament is torn, think the vet said there was a bit of tendon damage there too. I could SCREAM with frustration - we knew he over did it when playing that game, but he ADORES it so much, and begs and begs and begs for it every evening. The vet was nice and said "you have to let them be dogs". So poor little wuff is home now, after xrays etc, and doped up to the eyeballs. Hes scheduled for surgery on thursday a.m. I could just puke at the idea of the post-op ordeal, but cant be thinking about that just now Poor little pup has zero pain tolerance - total wimp

angeldaisy wrote: »

Again, this morning, she demonstrated how clever she can be. She started talking to me and doing her "i need a wee" dance. I knew she didn't need one, but let her out just in case. She ran straight to the bottom of the garden to tell off the calves that were too close to her property!!

Well whatever you do don't teach her to ring a bell to go out! Lucy has us driven mad some days ringing the bell louder and louder so she can go out and maybe drink out of a flower pot or :rolleyes::p

aonb your poor dog! Try not to stress too much!

All the hard work is forgotten the first time you let them off lead for a run again... Admittedly it's replaced by panic the first few times lol but then once you realise that they're ok you can relax knowing that all the hard work paid off!

I think he was a year post op in this!

Zapperzy wrote: »

Results are back and Charlie has lymphoma. There's a vet in galway that offers chemo, other option is just steroids. Chemo is between 2,000-2,500. Tough choices ahead. Anyone have any experience with dog chemo?

We were advised against chemo for Shadow, although in the hysteria of it, I'm not sure why. Possibly due to his age
We opted for steroids and the vet said they can drastically improve their life for about a month at a time. He was significantly better for about 6 days, and then landslided downwards within the day Was actually this time last year we were deciding what to do

So sorry to hear this, but if you can afford chemo and it is recommended, I would give it all you got.