Loving my Oldies

Sorry, persephone. I’d forgotten I’d put photos onto flickr so I could post here. I was going to start a thread about him but thought I’d better get approval from his rescuer. So for now, I will just post a pic. He doesn’t look moth eaten anymore as my lovely groomer tidied him up as a freebie because he is a rescue pup. He looks a lot better now. IMG_0886 by Cynthia Waters, on Flickr

Had the best Christmas present on Monday, Christmas Eve. I took Mezza, Jeune and Tamar for check ups on Monday (yes Christmas eve, but the place was rocking so obviously I wasn’t the only one leaving things to the last minute). Simba (new foster) and Bunter came along for the ride but also because I wanted to weight them both. Bunter’s diet has worked and I can now relax and feed him normally. I especially wanted to weigh Simba so he doesn’t suffer the fate of dogs who come into my household who actually eat normally and that is ending up on a diet. . He is delightfully slim and very active, so just keep on doing the right thing and don’t over treat him. Anyway, best news is that, although a slow process, Mezza’s weight continues to drop and he is now down to 5.33kgs. Still a kilo to go, but the main thing is that the graph line is still going downwards .

Super dooper update, T. Trouble is quite a girl and I am sure she and we will romp in 9th Feb .

Thanks everyone. I will go to that other thread. @crazydoglady99 I will have to experiment with his diet. Thank you. It has been fairly varied since he’s been here, but the majority of it has been beef.

I have tried searching and scrolling through, but can’t find it - unless I was imagining it. I didn’t take any notice, but then along came Simba - my latest little foster dog, 9 years old Apricot Toy Poodle. Sweetest little dog, but sits around “catching flies” like a maniac. Goes on for ages , poor little darling. I have also noticed that he goes racing around the the back yard looking up and yelping as though there is something there. At first I thought he might be seeing one of the neighbourhood cats, but after a while, I realised there was nothing there. I also began to wonder if it is something he does to amuse himself as, reportedly, he was just left in the back yard and occasionally given some kibble. I have discovered that he plays ball and brings it back and drops at my feet - wonderful since I can hardly walk these days.

Mezza and Tamar have been on RHV since 6 December - I haven’t noticed any changes at all. However, we are all going to the vet this afternoon for check ups so will see what she thinks. Mezza was shaved on Friday and has gone from full coat Pomeranian to a teacup Akita . He was very quiet for the first couple of days, but seemed to get back his mojo last night and this morning was playing solo soccer again, which made me happy.

Oh wow!! What a time you have both had. Hopefully all on the up and up now.

Such beautiful stories and photos, Koala

Link https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-16/insect-bites:-australias-emerging-insect-farming/10253494

I saw a program on ABC tv recently about using insects as protein .... think it was Landline. There is a woman who has been supplying “the industry” for years now and she visits schools doing taste tests. She sells insect powder to be used as a part replacement for flour and also coats insects in various ingredients (eg chocolate) as nibblies. The program also featured people from [forget - maybe Brazil] who use insects and insect powder in their commercial cooking - the business is in northern NSW, I think. They have to import their supplies as the Australian industry isn’t sufficiently developed to meet the demand. Nothing about dog food though. I have never been adventurous with food, so I won’t be giving it a try. I imagine Bunter would wolf it down, though

Gosh, what a beautiful girl Button was and what a wonderful life she had with you, but, oh, how we miss them. Deepest sympathies - a huge loss. Beautiful Button.

We are making progress !!!! I had to go to vet to collect meds and Satiety kibble so took Mezza to weigh him. Down to 5.52kgs, ie another 200 grams . He really is a good little boy. I am so relieved as last weigh in was such a downer. Must be the new kitchen scales

Well, it has arrived. I tried a little bit with Mezza in bone broth. He licked a bit but seeing his dose is two scoops a day, I would have to feed him about 1000 litres of bone broth to get enough down . Bunter lapped it all up though but he is the one without leg issues .

Scary some of the “advise” new puppy owners are given. Well done for coming on DOL to get sense. As Boronia says: they are dogs not stuffed toys. Dogs will want to be everywhere you are whether indoors or outdoors. Dogs belong with the family and are very socially centred creatures.

Or my mashed banana and cream !! I’m looking forward to all of us RUNNING around the block instead of staggering and stopping every few steps.

Thanks for all the input. I hope I am in the band of those it helped. @Tassie, good to know abut the refund. I ordered mine directly from RHCV and they have been offering 1/2 price. When you say you have a friend who gives it to her dogs and takes it herself, do you mean the same product (teaspoon for Mezza, teaspoon for me ). I’m up for it as meds have stopped giving me relief from pain in my legs.

Oh goodness Doesn’t sound good.

I’ve seen rave reviews about Rose Hip Vital over the years and watching my old dogs, particularly Mezza, struggle to their feet, I’ve decided to give it a try. The order is on its way and I am hoping I will have the doggy version of spring lambs cavorting in the back yard any day now. Both Tamar and Mezza are on meds but poor little Mezza still limps badly. Tamar has nerve damage and her back legs have episodes of going all over the place. She doesn’t appear to be in any pain except for one spot that the vet can find, just that she is wobbly and sometimes if she turns around too quickly or gets to excited she can tumble over. Doesn’t worry her though and she still flies down the back steps like a puppy. Having had leg and back pain myself over the last few years, and having dreadful reaction to some meds (Tramal being oneI can sympathise more with their experience. Who has tried Rose Hip (any animal) and what have been your experiences? I follow a horse rescue group and I think it was on their FB page where I first saw it mentioned in glowing terms.

No many I imagine. It was my immediate thought, juice. They’ll do a huge fund raiser and little or nothing will go to the animals.

Pretty much the diet he is on, Boronia. I’ll just have to accept it will take time. Actually, 4 months isn’t all that long because if we can achieve that weekly loss, even in two months’ time, he should be a lot better. What makes me so mad is that it is all my fault. I’ve always had difficulty with dogs who love their food because my very first experience (and plenty after them) was with dogs for whom food was something they needed to stay alive, just no big deal

Thanks so much for that link . 1-2% of body weight per week is the suggested loss for dogs and half that for cats. Taking the middle ground of 1.5%, at 5.75kgs Mezza’s weight loss should be 0.086 grams per week!! At that rate, to get to his ideal weight of 4.25kgs, it will take 17 weeks.

Hope we hear back.

I am indeed experimenting with something Mezza enjoys but still keeping the calories down, @Papillon Kisses. I want both things for him: a happy enjoyable life and a well one. I am not rigid with regards to feeding. As I said: "It is absolutely imperative that he loses weight so not doing this for aesthetics !!"