Loving my Oldies

@PossumCorner, I am nothing else or no one else to blame except myself. My dogs don’t have access to any food other than that which I give them. I don’t have food lying around and I don’t buy snacks, but I have been guilty of giving them bits of pizza crust, little bits of biscuit and the like. That has now stopped partly because of the weight issue and partly because it was teaching them to hang around when I’m eating. They have access to the outside at all times, but as there isn’t anything for them to get into (although Bunter has become coprophagic only with his own). I nearly died the first time I saw him wolfing down before I had time to collect it. Quite turned the old tum tum.

WOW!! Thanks PK. That’s brilliant. On the RC Satiety packet it says he should be getting 74g for the first four weeks then drop down to 64g. Going back to the days (decades ago) when I obsessively counted calories, 164 would be the equivalent of two small apples . Because he doesn’t have any teeth, I have to smash up the kibble. I put it in a plastic bag and bang at it with a hammer. Very boring LOL. He also gets tablets three times a day which I have to hide in meat or roast chicken skin, so that has to be taken into consideration as well. I bulk it up with mashed carrots (I am dropping the rice and VAN) because they all seem to like carrots. I’m going to buy some chicken breast meat to see if that works with the tablets as both he and Bunter can manoeuvre the tablets out of pieces of meat , so if that worked, a few calories would be saved there. Regarding being desexed. I recall posting when I first brought him home and I was washing him, that I had an awful fright to find lumps underneath; naturally I thought the worst and then remembered Such a long time since I had an undesexed dog. Of course, he didn’t have those little lumps for long.

Thanks persephone. Very interesting site.

Thanks for letting me know RC Satiety has positive reviews PK. Mezza doesn’t harass me about food, but Bunter does so he is on it too. I’ve managed to get his weight down so with him it will be maintenance and comfort as he is on Pred. i would have thought 200/week sounds an awful lot. I was thinking maybe 50.

My elderly male Pomeranian, Mezza, adopted in January this year has been raiding the biscuit barrel and now has to lose at least 1.75kg. I joke about the biscuit barrel, of course, knowing that it is all my fault. He was 4.20kg in January and is now 5.95kg and at last visit to the vets she said he must lose weight. He has a few medical issues: heavy panting, crackly lungs, hernias and soreness in his legs. We have been doing tests for Cushings and depending on how he goes over the next couple of weeks, that has not been definitively ruled out, but is unlikely and he is on a veritable cocktail of meds. I have been mixing rice, carrots, Vets All Natural in with mince as his usual food ( he lost all his teeth at his first dental ), and I do use slow feeder bowls, but still the weight goes on. I am now trying Royal Canin Satiety and wondering if any one has had experience with that. I measured out the daily requirement for a dog of Mezza’s weight and it does seem an awful lot, but I've read here on DOL many times over the years that the suggested daily amounts on packets is too much. Anyway, what would a safe and healthy weight loss per week look like for a little dog like Mezza? Something I should have asked the vet, of course, but I was a bit harried at the time with all the things that are going on with him.

@pomguy I can’t help you with the costs, just wanted to send sympathies to you and your little fellow and I hope you have a knowledgeable and helpful vet. My little Pomeranian and I are about to embark on the “is it Cushings” journey . My little Mezza is also elderly and adopted in January from a pound. I can also understand the worries about the finances as I am an OAP . Wishing you and yours the best and hopefully medications will be affordable and easy to manage.

Too many tears today to find words.

OMG!! That video was horrifying. Such a relief to know that Chipper is home safely. Were the people recognised?

Galatea These are some of the best yet, I think. The one of Enzi on the ladder with Lani just crouched beside it is just fabulous.

How lovely to have such a beautiful update, @dididog. Thank you so much. And George Your “top of a valley” sounds perfect for you and the dogs: gorgeous views and great places for walking. Well done.

B.A.R.F.

Beautiful

I think that is the best idea. Even the best trained and happiest of dogs can get over excited and go off cliffs, balconies and the like.

Beautiful. She is turning Zeph into a puppy.

I’ll never forget the one and only time I tried the “ignore” on one of my dogs from years ago. Once and once only. My dog was devastated and crying. From what you have told us about Hugo, it would be absolutely the wrong method. From what I have gathered over the years from reading, experiencing, hearing reports from others, so many trainers are implacably welded to their own ideas and have become rigid to the extent that some of their methods represent cruelty, to my way of thinking. ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL ....... dogs and children.

That’s lovely ricey. Photos when you have a moment

LOL - you may never have a true idea. So many dog breeds, so many mixed breeds. Whatever he is, he is very beautiful and I think you are in for a lot of love and fun with him.

She needs assessment from a vet NOW. Not wanting to move shows that she is in a lot of pain.

As the owner has already noticed this and thinks the dog might be cross eyed, it would appear to be something not quite right with the dog’s eyes. Whether it is something that could or should be fixed, I haven’t a clue. Perhaps you could talk to a local vet?? A fair while ago, I knew a lady who had one eye that “wandered” and I would find myself turning my head to see what she was looking at

If you and your parents see this situation as a battle, then there is going to be one loser and one who doesn’t even know there is a battle ........ the dog. 12.5 years isn’t all that old for a Toy Poodle, many live into their late teens and often longer. I adopted one when he was nearly 17 and he lived very happily and well for another three years. As you say the snapping and growling is something new, I’d be taking the veterinary investigations further.

Horrible predicament to be in. You seem to have all the medical issues addressed so keeping everyone safe when you visit would now be the consideration. With one little dog, this is pretty easy. For his safety and that of the children, make sure he is in a separate room or confined somewhere. But it would need to be somewhere where he can see what is going on. There isn’t anything much more stressful for a dog who is used to being involved in everything to be suddenly shut away on his own. As for your parents’ ages ...... I am early 70s and have four elderly dogs myself, really elderly with the youngest being nearly 15 and oldest nearly 18, so don’t let your parents use age as an excuse to do nothing . It can be hard, I acknowledge, but eternal vigilance and all that. One of my dogs has a tendency to snap when I try to wipe his eyes so whereas before I would happily let the neighbour children surround us, sit on the ground and pat the dogs, I either avoid a gathering of them or if I can’t, I watch very very carefully and tell them not to touch his face. They are all old enough to understand.

Ooooh. Sounding good. Looking forward to hearing about next drive

The latter and maybe just take a few blankets and things from Anne’s home. However, if you already have all their bedding and toys, I wouldn’t even do that. They are with someone they know and trust so I would not be upsetting that. Deepest sympathies for Anne’s passing . It must have been a great comfort to her knowing her dogs would be safe.

Oh good luck with Riley. Keep us posted.

Poor doggy and you, @westielover. Danny ()went through this and now Jeune is too. Danny had a few sessions of ablations (is that the right word??) and had a contact lens in his eye for protection. Jeune is now going through the same thing, but has been treated with Viscotears and Opticin three times a day. She was doing so well that the last time we went for a check up (these were weekly for quite a few weeks) the vet was so excited at the improvement that she dropped the meds to just Viscotears twice a day. Yesterday she was back to squinting and eye was watering copiously so I think we need up the meds a little bit.