Loving my Oldies

I think my favourite was the dog hiding under the giraffe.

I couldn't even begin to remember half of them, but I think probably the worst is stepping out of bed into diarrhoea. Many years ago, my father was staying with me and he'd been out into the back yard in the morning, stood in a poo and not realised it and tracked it all back through the house. Naturally, he went to god without ever knowing I'd hastily washed up the floors after him :D

First major throw up this morning since last week :( . Apart from a few very minor regurgitations which have been promptly licked up, he has been pretty good, so his vomit this morning is very disappointing - I'm sure he didn't enjoy it either, poor little man. He seems okay though and I guess the day can only improve. Watching anxiously (sorry LG can't help it :D I am a born worrier) to see if he keeps breakfast down. This is one of the emails from the SASH vet from yesterday. So I need to monitor him carefully (keeping a detailed record) for quite some time: If we ‘trial’ the carafate, it would be most useful if you could try to observe a clear ‘cause and effect’ of using a new drug. So, before starting the drug, you want firstly, everything else to remain the same, and secondly, have a general idea of how things are going (for example in this case our goal is to improve appetite so get a baseline of his appetite). I emphasise the GENERAL idea, in that what is happening that day or that moment is not as important as the bigger picture over the past 5-10 days. So you might say, I’m sticking with this general diet, giving these medications, and Danny’s appetite over the past week has been FAIR. Then, start the drug and after 5 days or, make another assessment as to how that general appetite is. So then you might say, I’ve kept everything the same and Danny’s appetite since starting the drug is BETTER. If it’s unchanged, then the drug is not helping and can probably be stopped. If it’s improved, then the drug has helped and we should continue. If you are not sure, then we are not sure, and we won’t know whether to continue it or not.

Yes, Yonjuro. Danny is the polar opposite of aloof too, but he can be very very stubborn and wilful. You have read and commented in my post about him and I sometimes wonder if he is just being plain stubborn combined with some learned behavioural traits. For sure, he has been a very unwell little boy, but I remembered the other poster's reference to her "stubborn Spitz" when I was trying to get him to take some yoghurt with his medication mixed in it. Luckily this has now been provided in liquid form and I will be able to syringe it from now on, but I have to go over to collect it from SASH. I had to get him started on the yoghurt mix by putting some on my finger and then he was licking happily. He stopped to have a little rest and would not start again until the bowl was right under his nose. All his food and water bowls have to be raised and quite often he will not start eating until I am actually holding the bowl. And, again, after another stop, he would not start again until the bowl was at his little snout. He is making me earn every cuddle LOL. So recalling the mention of "stubborn Spitz", I was prompted to enquire.

Danny is far from aloof. He thinks everyone loves him and acts accordingly. I have to watch him around small children (simply because he might push them over) because he backs into people expecting them to scratch his back. Aloof is different from stubborn.

Because my podiatry appointment was next door to the little IGA at Westleigh, I went there. I actually did stand in front of the ice cream cabinet and wiping up my saliva before commonsense prevailed and I dragged myself past. Did find some scrumptious Mersey Valley spreadable cheese though :D

I saw something in a post not so long ago and meant to go back to read it further, but I didn't and now I have forgotton where it was. The poster said something about her "stubborn Spitz". Are Spitz breeds generally more stubborn than other dogs? Are they known to be stubborn? I'm curious and interested because my dog Danny is going through all sorts of problems at the moment and sometimes (no, many times) I think to myself that he is a very stubborn dog. Even before he became ill, I used to think this. Danny is a little Finnish Spitz cross breed, 15 years of age and currently weighs 5.4kg.

Thank you ladies. I am very ready for snuggle time. So last orders, please - means meds for Danny and cuppy for me and crash into bed.

Blimey, I'd forgotten all about Devon, HW. That seems a long time ago LOL. It has been an ordeal, but hopefully running smoothly from now on. I just have to remember he isn't a young spunk anymore, but an elderly spunk.

Thanks Cavs. Yes, if Angus hadn't been around these past few days, I'd have been up s**t creek. He even came out of a seminar to call me after I'd left a message. I him and Penny. Jill McAllister is terrific too.

LG, I am so looking forward to getting home after my podiatry appointment, because that is what I plan on doing LOL. Maybe a bit of shoppping first for a tub of icecream :D :D Perrin, I there are definitely signs of improvement. I guess the "bigs guns" of the medicinal world are kicking in - I would sure hope so at $200 a pop :eek: . I must admit, I am starting to get a silly grin on my face when I look at my little red man. I guess we will have ups and downs, but this afternoon his demeanour is so improved. AND !!! I've just found Gussy in the bushes to bring her inside and she is walking so much better, so she is on the improve as well. Now for me . . . . . . . .

Any colour Dobe would be gorgeous LOL.

You mean like this, Gallomph? :laugh: :laugh: This is actually a photo of Tamar and Bunter playing, but these beds are generally beside the dining room table. Beds or mats wherever I go.

Thanks, grumpette. When I compiled my report, I had 12 points for discussion!! I actually gave a copy to my usual vet for his input as to whether or not I was over-reacting. He said that there was nothing in my report that he would not want to know about if it were happening at his hospital and that I should definitely send it to the hospital. So I have sent the report to SASH's Hospital Administrator and went through them all in person with the SASH vet today. She unreservedly apologised for each and everyone of them, giving explanations in a couple of cases, but accepted that all were unacceptable however they occurred. I was nervous as to how Danny would be treated if I complained, but in the final analysis, it had to be done. Onwards and upwards now.

Just back from SASH (I forgot the Tramadol LOL). I had a long talk to Danny's vet - I had to push for this as I was expected to just sign lots of papers and leave him and no way was I going to do that. Problems have included: poor to no communciation, vet not available to talk with, wrong medications, Danny was discharged to me with a small, bleeding gash over his eye, a dirty bottom, etc etc. Despite the vet prescribing heavy duty medications, one wasn't available until Friday and then it was in tablet form instead of liquid. And despite my asking for them, no instructions as to how the medications were to be given, for example with/after/before food, and how long apart. I even found out that they'd recorded his weight incorrectly. In his discharge papers. his weight was recorded as 4.7kgs and at my vets it had been 5.2kgs. I mentioned this during this morning's meeting and the vet confirmed that the weight recorded was incorrect . A difference of 1/2 kilo is considerable in a dog who weighs 5.2kgs. He has put on 200gms since then weighing in at 5.4kgs this morning Anyway, we have decided to postpone the fluoroscopy until we have had more time assessing Danny's progress on diet and medication. He is sound asleep now. I have to accept that he isn't just old, he is very old. :cry: Lots of cuddles and recliner rocker time to come. :laugh: :laugh:

Thanks, Coogie. Poor Issy and Alf. Issy's surgery sounds horrendous. I'm googling Tramdol in case I can get some for me from SASH :D

Danny would be happy to cuddle all day. He is happiest if I decide to use the recliner rocker and he lies at the bottom between my feet, or resting his head on my legs. I had to go down to the vet this morning, so I took him to weigh him --- 5.3kg so he has put on a little bit of weight. Since last Monday, notwithstanding the couple of terrible days when he was throwing up all the time and a couple of days at SASH where he ate practically nothing. He hasn't had a major throw up for over three days, but I see him licking his lips and thrusting his head forward a little bit, so I think there is a little bit of regurgitation going on, but not to the extent he throws up. I guess I am expecting too much too soon, LG, and following your advice, sat cuddling him for quite some time and he just snuggled in and put his head on my shoulder. I have to keep reminding myself that, afterall, he is an old dog, whether in good health or not. The procedure at SASH tomorrow (Fluoroscopy) doesn't require an anaesthetic, otherwise I would be postponing it. Thanks again for the good wishes. All the elderies, including the Mayoress, of Mooch City need them :) :)

It is such a roller coaster ride emotionally . I am just about ready to slit my wrists. He is taking his medicattions, eating well (but not this morning) showing few signs of bringing his food up and if he does it is just little splats which he licks down again. But . . . . . . his general demeanour is so poor. I honestly don't know what to think any more. Is he miserable? Is he in pain? Is he unwell? Or is he just feeling old and holding his tail up takes up too much energy? I just don't know. I've attached a photograph to show what he is like 99% of the time. He doesn't leave my side: I move, he moves. And quite often if I am in the same spot for a while, for example ironing, washing up, he will move until he is practically against my leg. Quite often as he stands like he is in the photo, he is swaying as well. I think he becomes totally exhausted with his need to keep me in view all the time. And if this wasn't enough, Gussy has hurt her leg very badly. I've taken her to the vet of course and it isn't broken, but it is very very painful to the extent she can't walk on it. She isn't eating and has been hiding under the chair in my bedroom all morning since I gave her her medication. :(

The topic title needs to be changed. He wasn't suspended for not PTS-ing dogs when he should have do so; there were numerous other offences. His licence should be cancelled permanently. The man is 71 - say he graduated at 25, that makes nearly 50 years of god knows how much cruelty by intention and/or neglect and/or arrogance.

Thank you, ladies. Yes the improvement is significant. He is eating voraciously most of the time, but I am still restricting the amount he has at any one time. I'm not sure that my experience with SASH is just a hiccup, sadly. I've written it all down and will ask my vet to read it and ask if I am making too much of it al. He even had a small bleeding scrape wound in his eyebrow/eyelid area which I noticed only when I saw some blood on my fingers. I don't see how this could have happened either on the way home in the car or when we arrived home, because he was barely capable of standing. Anyway, the main thing is that he is so much better, wants to eat and what he eats, he is keeping down.

I had a few bad moments this morning when he took ages to eat his food with his meds in it and his demeanour was pretty down. And then he threw up a little. Undaunted ( :D ) I scraped it up, mixed in some honey and gave it to him via syringe. Since then he has had a two more little meals, the last one just the i/d without being made into a slurry, just little pieces. He loved it. He is obviously hungry and was even sniffing around the waste bin when the undersink cupboard door was open :laugh: , but I am resisting feeding him too much at any one time. So, I think we are in the best shape possible at this stage. Two and a half days before he goes back to SASH, so hopefully by then, he will be ready and able to cope with the next stage, a Fluroscopy. Luckily that doesn't require an anaesthetic.

Yonjuro and LG, I can tell you I am pretty damned chuffed. From a horror day yesterday to quite a turn around. He is eating his Hills Diet mush ( :D ) really well, and I have just given him his other medication in some Lactose Free Yoghurt which he lapped up like a starving boy :thumbsup: . I am far from impressed with SASH at this stage though. When he was discharged on Wednesday, his vet was too busy to see me. It took ages for someone to find/print out his discharge papers for me. Then his medications weren't available. Few other problems with his discharge, but I won't go into details. When he was so sick yesterday, I phoned to find that his treating vet was away until Tuesday, but I eventually spoke to another vet who was very helpful. The medications have to be compounded, although they did give me bottle of one which I thought was something always on hand. I thought only the other one had to be compounded. So the receptionist eventually came out with them: one has been made up in tablet form which I specifically said to the vet he wouldn't take and it would have to be liquid. The one I already had had been repeated. I asked if the tablet could be broken open and given to him in food and was told that would be okay. So because I'd already waited two days for that decided to keep it like that. The receptionist then said, I'll just prepared the account. Wait for it: $400.00!!! I nearly died. Now I am prepared to spend anything, do anything if the outcome is good for Danny, but you'd think I could have been warned. So, I am not impressed at the moment.

Thanks stellnme. IMy local Woollies didn't have Liddells or Vaalia lactos free so I will go down to Westfield today. Next appt at SASH on Tuesday, dougal, when they will do a Fluoroscopy to see what state his oesophagus is in and whether he would be helped by fixing the hernia. Frankly seeing how knocked he was by the anaesthetic for the scope, I am very worried about how he will cope with a serious operation. Now I hope I don't jinx Danny ............ but, drum roll, no vomits or regurgitations for nearly 9 hours. Obviously most of that was spent lying in bed, but I generally get up to a couple or more vomits and the consequent loads of washing. He had his last little snack at 11.15pm last night and has had his morning Ranitidine and a small bowl of Hills Diet slurry at 8am. :crossfingers:

Thank you, coogie. Danny says: thanks, but I would prefer a big raw meaty bone. And then of course, I'd throw it all back up. I am starting to see a slight improvement in his demeanour and he is not nearly as wobbly as he was. He really was knocked for a six poor little fellow. I have kept a running chart since bringing him home and it isn't good in terms of his regurgitation (10 since just after midnight), but he is keeping more down than bringing up and the last two little helpings of his slurry have been eaten eagerly. Keeping them down is the problem, although the one at 4.30pm was about 80mls and kept down. I gave him some more just now with his Ranitidine in it and he lapped it down like there was no tomorrow. He has licked clean the other dogs' bowls - after I'd made sure there was actually nothing in them :). I have to race down to Woollies as the specialist said he could have lactose free yoghurt (if there is such a things - soy I suppose) and a small amount of cottage cheese and eggs.

It doesn't have to be and it shouldn't be. If you don't have the staff or the time and energy to manage when staff aren't available DON'T DO IT. And as T says below, don't store X animals in your kennels. Well there were definitely more than 25 animals on the couple of days I went there and the person tried to tell me they had 300. I won't go on with the details of that conversation, which I can remember almost verbatim I was so shocked.