Buddi came to us when he was just over 3 months old. After many years of wanting a Samoyed, Stephanie had got Kara the year before and had planned on showing her. When we found that Kara had multiple health problems we took over her care and Buddi was purchased for Stephanie to be able to Breed Show as she had intended. We did not know then that Buddi's health problems were worse than Kara's. From the beginning he was a very nervous puppy, he had not left the breeders property before he came to us. He started his show career well taking out many Baby of Groups right from his very first show. At this time we started noticing little things that did not seem quite right, from a baby he was very aggressive towards other dogs. As he was growing he did not seem to put on the weight he should have been and his coat was not growing. By the time he was 8 months old we knew there was something really wrong and the vet visits were regular. After many visits due to not eating and runny motions the vet told us to go and buy him Kentucky Fried Chicken, that was it for me, I found a new vet. The new vet found he had a severe heart murmur and bloods were taken which showed his kidneys were not functioning normally. He was put on a special kidney diet and after several weeks there was no change at all. New bloods were done and there was no sign of kidney problems then. He still wasn't eating, had lost more weight rather than gaining and his motions were so bad he was only going every second to third day. He would be very uncomfortable for two days and then on the third day he would pass a mountain of runny mush.

On the advice of another Samoyed breeder we took him to see her vet, I have never seen things happen so fast. When we first went into the surgery he looked at Buddi for a few minutes and then quietly went outside and asked the other waiting people if they would mind waiting for some time or rescheduling their appointments. Buddi was weighed, he was 15kg, he should have been at least 28kg or even 30kg for his build. Bloods were taken and phone calls made. I had to go straight from the vet to a heart specialist to have an ultrasound done to see if his heart was up to having an anesthetic so the Endoscope and Biopsies could be done. It was decided the tests could go ahead but he would need to have a special anesthetic that he could be woken from very quickly. The endoscope was done the following week, I was told he had IBD but not given specific details of what was found. The only thing I know for sure was that he was ulcerated from mouth to anus and bleeding a lot internally. He was given a Von Willebrands test which came back negative. His biopsies showed no cancer present. He was put on three medications, one being Flagyl, and the Prednisone started once the biopsies came back. Buddi never really responded very well to his treatment and finally he was referred to Massey University where we saw Grant Guilford. He had more tests, endoscopes and was there for a week while all this was done. The result of it all was that he had - Mild IBD, Colitis, IBS, Delayed Gastric Emptying and Toxocara. The IBD was healing but the IBS was now his main problem and holding his recovery back. Buddi spent the next several years on a cocktail of Pred and Amitriptyline. He never really thrived but survived. There were many times when we wondered if we were doing the right thing by him and if we should be letting him go. He didn't eat well and often had to be hand fed, we never knew when he would have another attack and what we might find in the morning.

When he was 6 years old Buddi was neutered, this was the turning point for him. Since that day he has eaten well and we were able to stop all medications. He still has minor stress related problems, the worst being when Kara passed to the Rainbow Bridge. He now loves going to the shows and really shows himself off, he doesn't have panic attacks like he used to and he really enjoys himself in the ring. He stamps his feet and demands the judge look at him, he's got real attitude. He now goes in all the Spay/Neuter stake classes at the Champ shows and has won every time he has entered, and he always looks so pleased with himself. Buddi now lives for food and we are hoping this will continue for many years to come. His only remaining problem is that he is very demanding and does not like us spending time with the other dogs, he voices his protest very loudly.