Loving my Oldies

I think from now on that I just have to see all this as part and parcel of Life with Danny. He is elderly, has a medical condition and will have his good days and bad days ---- and I mustn't slip up on giving him his medication because I can't get out of bed :o . He has had another 1/2 container of "slurry" and a few pieces of kibble which I'd put down for Jeune. (Bunter and Tamar were at the groomers.)

One of the vet nurses suggested that, too, Yonjuro. I did buy one at the same time as I bought the ones in the photograph. We have actually had a run with one of the containers in the photo and he ate the whole :thumbsup: . It is only a fews mls as it is 1:1 food:water/chicken stock. However, he was pretty eager and was grabbing at the nozzle when I'd give him a rest, and we are ready and poised for second and third helpings through the evening. He and I, the floor and towel do end up wearing a bit, but I am sure we will become pretty proficient as time goes by. I just hope he can keep it down. He has thrown up a few times today, but just bile, no food, which is good and bad. Bad that he is throwing up, but good that none of it has contained food. This means everything he ate yesterday has successfully passed into his stomach and has been digested. By his refusal to eat this morning followed by a few little throw ups makes me assume he wasn't feeling very well. I guess at his age, that is to be expected let alone factoring in his gastritis.

All set . . . .

Let's face it: that woman is a superb athlete herself, amazingly fit and streamlined. I wonder who is keeping up with whom :laugh: :laugh:

I've had dogs in the past who have had both laser and acupuncture. No signs at all of any improvement. Granted both those experiences are long in the past and methods may have improved and knowledge increased, but I wouldn't be rushing off to have it done.

:cry: I give up. :banghead: I can't even find solace in :drink: anymore as it wipes me out. After this morning's performance, I think the only way I will stay sane is to accept that he doesn't want to eat 95% of the time, give him his medication and accept whatever happens. Because of the demands of his medication regime, I have been getting up (sort of) at 7am and going to bed at the earliest 11pm but mostly later. I try not to sleep through the day as it doesn't matter how tired I might be, I won't sleep at night. Sometimes I am still awake at 3am and 4 am and then the alarm goes at 7am :eek: Anyway, this morning, I simply couldn't wake up and finally staggered out when the alarm (radio) had been going for nearly an hour). Fed all the others and tried three different dishes with Danny all of which he'd eaten yesterday. He looked at me as though I was the cruellest person in the universe. I shut all the others out on the deck and put down the three bowls of food for Danny to chose from, trying with each to get him started by putting little pieces in his mouth, which he just spat out. I say I can't do any more, but of course I have to keep trying. Yesterday, I even bought a couple of those plastic containers that people put mustard and tomato sauce in to see if they would work with syringing, but unfortunately, they are opaque and he was either getting nothing or too much. Does anyone have any suggestions for syringing food because the ones I've been given by SASH are inoperable or the nozzles are too narrow to draw the food through? I've been to a couple of chemists to see what sort of selection there is, but haven't seen anything yet that would work.

RuralPug, if I could just find a favourite forbidden food . I've even mixed cat food in with the i/d and Eukanuba Intestinal canned foods. He ate it, but with dire results ... too rich. The things that really gets me is that I have never encouraged any of my dogs to be fussy. Sure if they are recovering from years of neglect and untreated illnesses (I'm referring to rescue/foster dogs I've had over the years), you go out of your way to find something they like. But with my own dogs if they are well and happy, if they don't eat what I give them at one meal, I don't go running off to find something they will eat. They'll get the left meal at the next mealtime LOL. But with this little guy, I reckon he has had a bit of an upset tummy for quite a while, because I'd take him to the vet saying he was down in the dumps. He would be diagnosed with a sore neck or sore back and medication would see him right again. Until a few months ago when all this started. I think it has been there for a long time, just undiagnosed. Makes me feel so awful for him because nothing is worse than feeling generally off for a long time. Anyway, to be on the safe side, I am now cooking the other dogs' meat and mixing as I have done for a long time with vegies and, if I have it, some rice. They love it!!! Danny doesn't though which makes me think he has been off-colour for a long time.

If he does his usual trick of turning up his nose at something he has previously eaten, you will hear my shrieks of frustration, Yonjuro. On the other hand, if he loves it again, you can deputise for me and plant one on Trinabean :laugh: :laugh:

I am a gold medallist when it comes to solving other people's problems and difficulties. One of each !!! :laugh: :laugh:

:laugh: :laugh: Too true, hankdog.

:thumbsup: little happy That's what it is all about, isn't it. Lovely to see. Congratulations on the depth of your understanding of your little dog's needs and carrying through.

What an awful story, LG . Poor lady and poor you. At least I haven't fallen over yet. I am feeling pretty stoked at the moment, as had some success today. After Danny wouldn't eat ANYTHING this morning, I followed up on Trinabean's post in Health Nutrition sub forum and this is what I posted there. ....................................................................................... Trinabean is very lucky that she lives on the other side of the country from me :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: otherwise, I'd be on her doorstep ready to plant a big fat kiss on her nose. I phoned Asquith Vets on Pacific Highway (near Hornsby) to check they stocked Natural Balance and I collected a sample this afternoon. The sample is a fair sized package so I will be able to see over the next few days how Danny tolerates it and whether he keeps eating it. Danny has now eaten the first decent sized meal in days. :thumbsup:; however, I am fully expecting him to do the usual trick of refusing it the next time I give it to him . I had to hold a kibble piece in his mouth to get him started - of course the other dogs were wolfing it down, but I gave them little pieces by hand otherwise they'd have scoffed the lot. I held his mouth closed and when I released it, he just spat the kibble out. Then, halleluljah, he ate it. I then gave him a small bowl and he ate happily. And then, he raced around the house almost back to his old self. I guess he was no longer starving and his tummy and gut are settling down with all the medications. Everything crossed tonight will see the same behaviour.

Trinabean is very lucky that she lives on the other side of the country from me :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: otherwise, I'd be on her doorstep ready to plant a big fat kiss on her nose. I phoned Asquith Vets on Pacific Highway (near Hornsby) to check they stocked Natural Balance and I collected a sample this afternoon. The sample is a fair sized package so I will be able to see over the next few days how Danny tolerates it and whether he keeps eating it. Although Danny has now eaten the first decent sized meal in days. :thumbsup:, I am fully expecting him to do the usual trick of refusing it the next time I give it to him . I had to hold a kibble piece in his mouth to get him started - of course the other dogs were wolfing it down as I gave them just a piece each in turn. I held his mouth closed and when I released it, he just spat the kibble out. Then, halleluljah, he ate it. I then gave him a small bowl and he ate happily. And then, he raced around the house almost back to his old self. I guess he was no longer starving and his tummy and gut are settling down with all the medications. Everything crossed!!

I have to be very careful with what I give him, JulesP. I don't give him anything that I haven't checked with vet first. I'm going to check up on Trinabean's link (Natural Balance) and I will have a look at Pediasure ingredients. The photo below is the performance I witness regularly. The food is tuna and he lay with his head turned away, occasionally turning to look at Bunter who was hovering, for about 10 minutes. He eventually got up and walked away and Bunter, of course, wolfed it down.

We are still battling, Yonjuro. I went back to the vet in desperation this morning , because I can't seem to get him to eat something more than once or twice. He will really hoe into something (relatively) and I think we've cracked it and then next time I give it to him he won't touch it. I saw Trinabean's thread about Natural Balance so will be investigating that. At least his sty is healing quickly with hot compresses several times a day and eye ointment. Poor boy.

I will be investigating this. Two stockists (according to the website) near me. I am really battling to get Danny to eat anything more than once or twice. I've never had such a variety of dogs food in the cupboards and refrigerator. Strangely enough, his weightloss seems to be arrested, but how, I don't know. He doesn't seem to be eating enough to keep a dog 1/2 his size going. He is 5.5kgs at the moment. Has spent most of his life around 6kgs+ and a couple of weeks ago dropped to 5.2kgs. The results of his stomach biopsies were inconclusive .... non-specific gastritis Anyway thanks so much for this link Trinabean; I hope Bruno continues to do well.

LOL VizslaMomma - so true. Going a bit Off Topic, sorry, ALoadofBull, but my first puppies were two little Maltese in August 1993. I used to work long hours then and although I took time off when they first came home, I absolutely hated going to work and leaving them. They were so tiny. However, I hired a Dog Walker to come over a few times a week just to spend some time with them, keep them company and just play or let them sleep in her lap while she had her lunch. I still have all the little notes she'd leave for me to tell me what they got up to.

This thread gave me a laugh. Such a long time since I had puppies that I don't really remember much about it except they were very beautiful and had very sharp teef!!

I need to know how I have offended St Francis, because I obviously have......BIG TIME Finally managed to get to sleep just before 4am this morning. Alarm went off for Danny's first med at 7.00. Staggered out to do that, staggered back to bed. 7.30am alarm again, back to bed and sleep until next alarm at 9.30am. I actually got up before then as Gussy Cat wanted out so I opened the door for her, gave her a little bowl of food and shut the door on my finger I was so groggy that I'd propped myself against the door opening and didn't move in time. Gave Danny his 9.30am med and then noticed he was pawing at his eye. Took a look and the eyelid is all red and swollen. I thought at first the cut he'd come home with from SASH might have become infected. Off to the vet as soon as they could see me and he has a sty. Poor little chap. So if anyone has a direct line to St Francis, please intercede on behalf of my dogs, cat and me

Gosh - what a hunky gorgeous boy Ronin.

He'll be okay with Little Legs on his case

I've met a couple and while I am not about to invite them home to play with mine (toy breeds and elderly) :laugh: :laugh:, both were really lovely dog. One was an adult from Big Dog Rescue a few years ago, so obviously they do turn up in rescue and one was a pup in the vet's waiting room. ChristineX, poor puppy you met. Result of a very bad owner and the sort of person who should never be allowed within 100 miles of such a breed. Heapha, I guess it is a case of doing your homework and finding a breeder who breeds for temperament and good canine citizenship. The loss of your Rotti x must have been very hard, but what a wonderful age he reached for such large breeds. You obviously have the touch.

I've heard of them being used for other purposes, Yonjuro :D :D Despite my shock at discovering how expensive the compounded liquid medications are, I cannot express what a relief they are. All Danny's meds are via syringe now and (touch wood), so easy. I just measure the appropriate amount, dip the tip in yoghurt and he takes it without any problems. Tamar is on propalin and that is via syringe too, so I have four small glasses lined up on the kitchen bench for each syringe. After each use, they are washed in boiling water and back into the glass :laugh: :laugh: . Yes, I'm a bit anal, but it works for me. Danny's demeanour seems to be improving too, he actually went to sleep on his mat near the dining table when he couldn't see me :eek: and when I came back from walking the other three this afternoon, he wasn't at the side gate. He was at the top of the back stairs wriggling himself into a pretzel and wagging his tail, so I think he'd gone back upstairs and slept until we returned. Almost unheard of. So he is obviously feeling tired from the whole business and giving in to it. Each day is different.

Thanks LabT and RSA. I'll hold off the cuddles for a little while :laugh: :laugh: . He is sound asleep next to the table and I think he must be exhausted as well. I don't even dare move from here because he'd be up like shot following. On second thoughts, I might just join him on the mat LOL.

Thanks for that, StaffyLuv. The biopsy report came back yesterday and nothing conclusive at all just "non-specific gastritis". We have just re-started the carafate and hopefully it will improve his desire to eat with his tummy being eased just a little bit more. He seems to really like (I'll bet I've jinxed it now) the Eukanuba Intestinal kibble. I have a can of this as well, but haven't tried it yet. He seems to have gone right off the i/d slurry and had to syringe some this morning. I hate having to syringe the food as I am worried that it will bring on gags and vomits. I'm off to the chemist today to see if I can find some I can manage more easily. The ones SASH gave me look big enough to feed a horse and you'd have to be able to bench press 400kg to control the flow. At least all the medications are now via syringe, so that is one worry gone and because the syringes are so small, I don't worry so much about this bringing on a gagging fit.