Alison:
He is so funny he needs his own TV show! I could watch him all day. What a character. God love him, I think he is just too cute. Blessings
Patti
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Alison:
He is so funny he needs his own TV show! I could watch him all day. What a character. God love him, I think he is just too cute. Blessings
Patti
He is very cute. I think it must be a comfort to him, but yes, I can see that he wouldn't pant as well and it's humid, so they need to pant. Peeing, well, if he has to go he would I'd think. Sniffing, nope, hard to sniff with a toy in your mouth.
Maybe just tell your mom he can have it like 1/2 way through the walk, maybe on the way home but not going? (Cain might not be happy with you either)
hehe
hugs
Sharlene and molly muffin
Alison:
How is Cairo today? I am hoping it is not too humid today for you and him. It is thunder storming here and Tipper is about fed up with it. Hope you have a good walk. Blessings
Patti
It was really hot today - not humid - just hot and I know you'll think 68 degrees isn't hot - but it is for us! LOL
We didn't go far - he was absolutely pooped as was I. At this precise moment, a thunder storm would be a Godsend to try and cool the place down a bit. We Scots don't do heat!! LOL
Hi Alison
Didn,t you get the storms the other night that we had? Woody always carried a toy on his walks, he wouldn,t leave the house without it, but i used it to take his attention away from other dogs.
It was in the 60s here today and is still very humid tonight, yip us scots don,t do hot lol
We've not had any storms - we had a bit of a thunder storm two Fridays ago and then again a week past Tuesday - didn't last long - just long enough to drown us when we were out. I was literally dripping puddles on the floor - Cairo was not best pleased - he doesn't do wet!!
It was a relief yesterday and today - much cooler - 12 degrees yesterday and about 14 today (54 - 57F approx) - that's more my comfort zone.
I use Cairo's toy to take his attention from other dogs as well - you can't bark at another dog when you've got a mouthful of toy!! LOL Instead of it just being used as a distraction, he's now using it as a comfort I think. He gets to a certain point on the walk and just wants his toy and if he doesn't get it, he starts hunting for sticks to pick up as he knows fine he's not allowed sticks (I'm not mean - just know of too many nasty accidents with dogs and sticks) - if he starts picking up sticks, he just gives you that look that says, give me my toy and I'll not do this. The other reason he's not allowed sticks is cos he got a lump of one jammed across his teeth last year and he was getting in a right state. I'm the only one brave enough to stick my hand in his mouth but I had a broken wrist and plaster cast on so I couldn't use one hand to open his mouth and the other to prise the stick out - so I had to do it one handed - and I KNEW that when the stick came out, his jaw would automatically clamp shut and my fingers were going to be in there so I just had to brace myself for the inevitable!
Hay Alison
I,m sure Woody used his as a comforter as well, but i didn,t mind lol. Like you i,ve never given sticks to any of my dogs as I,ve read horror stories, you get those rubber safe sticks from pet stores.
I don,t envy you putting your hand in his mouth, woody got me a couple of times when he had eaten something he shouldn,t :eek:
Hmm funny you should say that after having my own stick incident this week :D:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Alison
Cairo sounds pretty good right now!! Funny how we all get used to our own local temps, I like it about mid 20s... over 30 and we all wilt!! Around 12-14 are like our winter daytime temps, about that right now actually! Heat pump going! :D
I like about 24, that is a good temp. 14 is perfect for night time sleeping. It's only 16 here right now.
Molly doesn't do sticks, like in the yard or along the road. (put some chicken on one like your mom did though Trish and she'd be all over it too)
Molly has gotten me a couple times too when I had to take things away from her. She does not like anything being taken away. Much better to distract her with something else.
well, that does make sense then Alison, I wouldn't be leaving home without the toy! Can you imagine if you didn't have it!!!! LOL A staffy toy fit.
huggers
Sharlene and molly muffin
Alison:
Cairo seems to be doing better, have you noticed any signs of the cortisol rising? I think it will be a rather long time before it does after what he has been thru. Maybe he carried his toy around to keep his mouth busy, so people don't perceive him as a threat? Dog are smart so I would not doubt it. Whatever the case I think it is awfully cute of him. We have a cold front here with frost on the grass. Tipper likes the cooler temperatures to walk in. She is just more relaxed when it is cooler. Hope you two have a good weekend. Blessings
Patti
Cairo is soooooo cute in that picture of him carrying the blade of grass! :D What a beauty he is! I just love Staffs! My kids and granddaughter have them...and they are such great dogs....and companions! Cairo is a doll! My Eli loves walking, but the weather doesn't seem to bother him at all, either way. Although, when he had his surgery and it was really, really cold here.....that did bring out his Cushing's symptoms full blown!
I hope Cairo is doing better today!
Jo Ann and Eli
Thanks Jo Ann. I'm a bit biased but I think he's gorgeous. He can be so funny as well - a bit of a clown when he wants to be.
Its been a bit better today again - 14 so not too hot.
Patti, I don't know to be honest. We thought he was feeling off today - not himself. He went for his walk but he was just stomping up the road, head down, not looking particularly interested in anything - but not wanting to go home or anything. He wasn't walking slowly - he had a decent pace going but he just didn't seem to be that thrilled about being out.
He didn't really react either when a cat fell out of a tree and scared the living daylights out of me......................
I know I'm being paranoid but he's not his normal self. My gran says to remember that he is getting older but age has not been a barrier before.
Hi Alison
How is Cairo tonight. I suppose with him it is a monitor and wait scenario which I'm not good at doing :D
Alison:
If it is one thing I learned on this forum it is that Cush moms know their babies. So if you feel there is something going on your intuition is probably correct. You will have to keep tabs on him to see if anything starts up and catch it right away. Hope the weather is still good for him to walk. Blessings
Patti
I agree with patti we do know our dogs best. So if you think something is off then it probably is. With Cairo I always worry that he is going low again on cortisol. Even though I know he isn't currently on meds for Cushing's. He is just off the pred and those adrenal glands need to have kicked back in fully. Might have just been an off day too so just keep and eye on him and see if he bounces back.
Hugs
Sharlene nod molly muffin
Alison:
Just checking in to see how Cairo is today. We are in for a really hot day so I have already walked the dogs. I can feel the humidity climbing already this morning. Hope you have good weather to walk. Does Cairo carry his toy around the house too or just when he walks? I sure would not want to be the one who has to take it off him!!!Blessings
Patti
He's OK but it's like he's just fed up. The little tugger toy he carries on a walk only comes out on a walk. In the house, he has his Kong and his Jolly Ball but he doesn't show much interest in them - unless somebody is willing to kick them for him.
I don't know if it's become habit with the toy but he gets so far and then just becomes a pain in the butt wanting it.
The temperature is up and down like a yo yo just now. One day it's too hot, next day it's pleasant for me and him but my mum will say it's cold.
He had a trauma last night with a kid and a collie. She's a little witch of a girl and deliberately winds other dogs up. Her collie does nothing but yap and bark and lunge at other dogs and she lets it out on the full length of it's extending lead and she stands there smirking when other dogs react and start barking as well. I thought we were going to get round the corner into the next street before she got to us, but she ran up the road towards us. My mum lost it with her and threatened to report her to the police (I just wanted to threaten her with a slap). Poor Cairo just stood there shaking and he wouldn't move - I think moving would mean him turning his back on the collie and he didn't want to do that.
It's warm again today so we'll see how he is. I wonder if he's just fed up of walking the normal walk. He maybe needs a change of scenery.
Alison:
I know the kind of child you are speaking of as one used to live across the street from me. My dogs would be on the porch, and he would look out the window and see them. He would run out the door arms flailing, and yelling real loud to get my dogs started barking. Then he would get on his bike and keep riding it in a circle in front of my house yelling loudly and laughing when the dogs got stirred up. Thank God he moved!!!! When I walked the dogs he would quietly ride up behind us then make some loud shrieking noise and scare my dogs, until one day I had enough and told him if he wanted to continue to ride his bike, he needed to be on the opposite side of the street, and stop trying to scare my dogs by shrieking and should his parents need to know this?? He moved after that so it was resolved. He really got enjoyment out of harassing my dogs. That little girl sounds just like him. Some people feel the need to challenge Pitt Bulls, which is very dangerous. I remember one day an older man that used to live on the next street was going to the mailbox wherevTipper and I were headed. Tipper was very calm when she saw his little dog, and he said to his dog, get her? His dog immediately started to jump at Tipperband bark at her. I simply said to him, do you know anything about Jack Russell's, he said not really. I said, well they will fight anything to the death no matter the size and I would never walk up to your dog and say Tipper get him,because your dog would be dead! So please don't try to antagonise my dog if you don't want you or your dog to suffer the consequences. What would make a full grown man do such a thing?? At that particular Tims Tipper was all muscles and not sick so I think he thought it was something funny to do. I feel for you as it is hard to control a large dog when something is setting them off. I think Cairo carries that toy to keep himself in check! I would think that girl would be scared to do such a thing?? I guess you just can't count on others to do the right thing. blessings
Patti
Alsion:
How is Cairo doing. Showing any more symptoms? We are bracing for yet another storm here and Tipper is on high alert. Blessings
patti
What a brat that girl is!! Poor Cairo.
hugs
Sharlene and molly muffin
Go get her Sharlene, how dare that little brat!!
He's OK. There doesn't seem to be any signs of symptoms coming back. We're watching his tail since that was the main thing that rang alarm bells.
It was pouring with rain last night and he wasn't best pleased at having to go out in it. I didn't go out with him tonight as it was warm again and I was feeling a bit feeble.
We've been asking other dog walkers if they knew exactly where that girl lives - I know roughly but not which house and they've all said the same - when they see them, they dread it. I will find her exact address though and I will report her. Little madam.
A very old man, who was a championship staffy breeder and judge at Crufts once told me that a good stafford will not start a fight - but they will finish it and as a rule, I'd say it's accurate. Cairo never starts any trouble but if trouble comes to him, he won't normally back down - but that was before he was ill. Now he just seems scared and if he barks, it's because he's scared and he's shaking.
Some people seem to get some weird thrill out of winding dogs up. There used to be an old man here with a west highland terrier - it used to terrorise Neo (Cairo's brother from another mother) and the man used to stand and laugh that the staffy was scared. It started on Cairo one night and he stood up to it but of course, the old man didn't think that was funny - strangely, I had a dangerous demon dog that was out of control.
Alison:
I would not want to tick Cairo off ever! I know what you mean about them finishing the trouble. My Tipper is different in that respect, she will start the trouble and then finish it too. It is their personality they are feisty and will take on any big dog no matter the size. Even though she is sick she is still powerful. I cannot believe her strength. I hope you get some more of this cooler weather we are having and Cairo and you have a good walk without that brat! Blessings
Patti
It's got hotter and hotter here. He's only managing a couple of hundred yards before he wants to go home - so we're just letting him. It's just as well - the council were patch repairing the road and the entire bit we walk up is just puddles of molten tar with the heat and I don't want him getting it on his paws.
My friend's daughter was in the other night (she's going to Bulgaria to work for the summer so was saying her farewells) and he was really excited at seeing her. He was all hyped up and after she left, he went out for his walk but he could barely put one paw in front of the other - it wasn't the heat, he'd obviously exhausted himself with his excitement. My mum was really worried - she thought he was either going to have to be carried home or picked up in the car.
Lesson learned - keep him calm.
ALison:
I learned that lesson the hard way. Tipper loves to break balloons. She can do 100 in a minute, she loves birthdays as they have balloons to break. For her last birthday I blew some up as I wanted to video tape her doing this. She got so excited I thought she was going to have a heart attack. I quickly got rid of the balloons and probably never got it on video as I never played it back as it made me ill , and I was stupid to go it. I even control the visitors to my house now. 1 or 2 people ok, but no more than that at a time as she gets crazy and then I worry. Your weather is really bad for Cairo right now the poor thing. You may have to resort to a treadmill indoors. I was going to try one with Tipper, but she hates things that are motorized and tries to rip them apart. I can just see her trying to rip apart a tread mill!! Yesterday I was using the food processor in the kitchen and she wants to rip it apart and started jumping at the counter and I had to put her in another room! Hope you two have a better day today. Blessings
Patti
Hope his cortisol isn't dropping again. If it keeps up you might want to end up having that checked. His adrenal glands might not have perked up after the last dose of prednisone stopped helping them out.
Just keep an eye on that. There have been instances, when they have gone too low and you give the prednisone rescue but the adrenals never all take over again. That would be Addisons. With a crash they usually will eventually but it's hard to say when.
Sharlene and molly muffin
It's just so difficult to know if it's the hot weather that's tiring him out and he can't be bothered or if he's ill.
I was worried tonight as he didn't go far and pulled me all the way home - then we remembered that my little niece had been up with a balloon and he was looking for it - that's why he wanted home in a hurry - to play with the balloon.
We're just letting him set the pace and also trying to take him out when it's cooler as well. I'd take him to the beach but he hates water!! LOL
It was hot today, so maybe it is just the heat. Best walk him early mornings or late at night when it's cooler.
He,s a staffy most of them don't like water lol.
Alison:
When it gets just the slightest bit warm Tipper starts to pant right away. She was not this sensitive last summer, so her heat tolerance is not too good. She will stay out on the porch only if there is a breeze and it is cooler. I am wondering did they ever check Cairo for a heart murmur. It can be form Cushings or is a side effect of Vetoryl. I know the Cardiologist told me that will slow them down if it gets bad. I hope you have a cooler less humid day so he can enjoy his walk, and you can too. Blessings
Patti
Tonight was more pleasant. We waited a couple of hours later and it cooled down a bit and there was a slight drizzle so it was better. We still didn't go far though - mainly because now he's limping. I think he must've hurt his leg when he was trying to get the balloon yesterday.
Hi Alison! Just wanted to check in to see how Cairo was doing. You haven't been on for awhile. I hope you are both doing OK. I was just thinking about him. :)
Hi Alison:
How are you and Cairo doing? Hope you are not having the heat and awful storms we have. I finally broke the vet down to give Tipper meds for the storm and it really made a difference for her. Hoping Cairo is still doing well. Blessings
Patti
What ya doing over there Alison ? I am wondering how Cairo has been doing/ We have nothing but storms and humidity. We are to have a cold front come this afternoon. Blessings
patti
I'm so sorry for the delay in replying - I've been getting work done in the house and it's been chaos.
Cairo seems to be doing fine. He's not showing any symptoms of Cushings - we're starting to wonder if the original test was wrong - but he did have symptoms.
It's been so hot here - it's awful - not as hot as a lot of you probably get but 72 is too hot for us. We've just been giving him short walks and trying to get him out in the cool.
I've also been working with him for his fear of other dogs and for two nights running, he has been so good. He has his toy and I've been telling him that there's a dog coming and it's nothing to worry about (I know he doesn't understand but well, I just look nuts!!) and he's trotting past them OK. Having a little bit of an anxious chomp on his toy, but so much more relaxed that he normally is.
He's been limping a bit on and off on his front leg but I think he might have slipped on the wooden floor.
He's not eating huge amounts - but it is hot - none of us are eating huge amounts. Drinking and peeing seem to be fairly normal.
We're still keeping an eye on things. My only gripe is that his ear is still bald on the edges :confused:
Patti, I'm so glad Tipper has got something to help her with the storms - what did the vet give you? Is she a lot calmer now about it all?
Hi Alison:
So good to hear from you. I got Valium for her. I did not want to be there is just nothing else left to do. I just gave her some about 15 minutes ago and she is laying on the bed sleeping and does not hear the thunder thank God! How is Cairo doing? Hope he is well, I was thinking of you as if is so hot and humid here. I hope you have better weather over there! Blessings
Patti
Yay, glad to hear that Cairo is doing well. Aww, poor guy with his foot though.
But wonderful that he is doing so well with his fear of other dogs. I can just see him chomping away and trying so hard to ignore them.
We have hot, then cold, repeat here it seems.
hugs
sharlene and molly muffin
I'm glad Tipper is relaxed with the thunder. Being stressed about it wouldn't have been doing her any good.
It's 28 degrees here today (about 84 I think) and it's just far too hot for us and it's almost 6pm and still that heat. I've just filled the paddling pool to see if we can persuade Cairo into it - he's never been in it before and he doesn't like water - but you never know.
He'll either love it or chase me all over the garden in protest at the thought of getting wet!
Hi Alison! So good to hear from you again! We've missed hearing about Cairo! He's such a great little pup! I just love reading about him. I so glad he's doing well! I'm hoping he can get over his fear of other dogs as well. I talk to Eli all the time. I do think he does understand what I'm saying....however, he doesn't always listen or believe me..especially at night, when I tell him it's OK outside and there's nothing that's going to hurt him out there.
From the test results you posted in the beginning, I'd say Cairo does have Cushing's. I wasn't on the forum back then to read all your pages yet though. Is he still on the Vetoryl at all? I read where someone also had a cushpup that had surgery 3 years before her dog's started growing back from where they shaved it. Eli had an Ultrasound and from a hospital stay an IV from an overdose...where they shaved his hair in spots....and that hair still hasn't grown back yet. It may just be that way with Cairo.
It's in the 90's here as well. So, for the most part....we've just been staying in and hanging out. Eli likes his naps. Now, he's back on his Vetoryl, only 10 mgs this time and is doing well. When he crashed the Vet had him on 60mgs..I wish I had kept posting when he was first diagnosed and that wouldn't have happened! :( Now, I'm waking him up sometimes to take him out. LOL
Have you thought about getting another buddy for Cairo? :) He might like that.....since he's probably missing his friend.
So glad to hear Eli is doing well. Cairo still isn't on any meds.
I'm not sure if I did the right thing with the paddling pool. He wouldn't get it in but he sure drank a lot out of it - must've thought it was the biggest dog bowl in the land!!
I put the hose on a fine jet and he had great fun biting the jet of water and getting soaked that way but he's panting so bad and his legs were shaking. I don't know if it was excitement, him being unfit or whether it was all just too much for him. He's soaking wet which I'm hoping will cool him down a bit. He's still chugging like a train and pacing the house. Wish he'd like down and chill out a bit but he's all hyped up with playing.
The best we got was two front legs in the pool then he realised he was in water and jumped back out again!!