Loving my Oldies

This is how Danny got his name. He was in the pound where I was a volunteer walker. All the other dogs had been walked, I had tidied up so took him out for a walk on his own. As I walked along, I started singing.

Thank you for your thoughts everyone. Danny crossed The Bridge just before 3pm today snuggled on my couch with me and with a vet who (along with another of his team) has managed him through the past two years with love and care. The past two years have been very hard at times, but Danny constantly amazed and delighted us with his courage and determination to get the most out of every day, even if some of the “most” was just snoozing the day away recuperating. He became very sick last week, constantly throwing up several times a day and on one terrible day, projectile vomiting every time he drank. The vet actually came on Friday evening, but Danny had started his little rally and the vet found a bright and alert little man chowing down on rice cream. Saturday was a glorious day here in Sydney and Danny decided to enjoy it. Such a turn around: eating, pottering around downstairs, demanding food several times through the day, which I was more than happy to provide, but in small doses considering previous few days. I was happily posting in other threads about how I gave him his meds and imagining myself phoning the vet of Monday telling him about how well Danny was going. He was not too bad on Sunday morning, but the downturn started late in the afternoon when he started vomiting again. The amount he vomited up was really awful and obviously was everything he’d eaten the day before; so the poor little fellow had not been able to swallow much of what he’d eaten. He was so sick and I knew that Saturday’s rally was one last little bright shining moment. Danny came into my life in February 2002, such a long time - 14 and a half years. Those years have seen many many changes in my life and through it all Danny has been the constant. So many people he met wanted him !! I’m feeling pretty stunned at the moment, contemplating life without Danny. I have three littlies still needing my love and care (Tamar, Jeune and Bunter) and they will certainly get that, but I think I will miss Danny forever.

Danny’s journey is nearly over and we are helping him over The Bridge this afternoon. He has been very sick for the past several days, but with an amazing rally on Saturday - it was a glorious day here in Sydney and we made the most of it, albeit in a very quiet way. I really thought this rally might continue, but he went downhill very suddenly last evening being violently ill, coughing a lot, so I knew he was exhausted and it was time to let him go. I have loved him so much and he has been my little shadow for most of the years has lived with me.

Yes, to breaking open the capsules. Google "bone broth" and consider making up some of that. I am never without that either.

OMG, Kirislin. Two things: beautiful beautiful creatures. and YOU are such an amazing photographer. :

I tried critical care food quite a while ago. Not even my well dogs were interested. Please try the Nutrigel, Isabel.

I must think of Mac more than you do then :D :D Every time I see the guy who must live somewhere in my neighbourhood walking his two. What is it about Westies that always make me want to smile, even laugh? Hugs to you and yours.

LOL Ptolomy. Well done. Scottsmum, thanks for bringing up my thread about Nutrigel. Did it ever go sideways :laugh: :laugh: but reading it again gave me such a laugh. I have added a post which might help others, too.

Thanks for bringing this up again, Scottsmum. OMG some of the posts gave me such a laugh. I hope it helps with Jindi, Isabel. Danny was to the vet a couple of times this week just gone and despite both the vet and I believing he is very close to the end and despite some days of eating very little. HE HAS PUT ON WEIGHT. I definitely put it down to all the nutrigel I use to mash up tablets in and to the mixture of nutrigel and bone broth that I crush up another tablet in. I have discovered another way of feeding Danny (which might help others). I crush up kibble and chicken jerky in a pestle and mortar (it doesn't have to be very fine) and then put in a little bit of liverwurst paste and then pestle that in with the kibble mixture. I have to pestle it all together as if I just mixed the kibble and liverwurst, Danny would like the liverwurst off the kibble and then spit them out.

Fully agree :) :) Thanks for putting it so much better than I did. Reminds me of a human story. Several family members including my brother and his two young sons (maybe 3 and 4 years of age at the time) were walking along the beach. The youngest son runs past me and falls over a bit of driftwood. “Up you get, you’re okay,” I said. Young boy looks up at me and just as he is about to run off again, brother reaches him, snatches him up as though he’s been in a horrific accident, carries on a treat and guess what? Yep. Little boy breaks into paroxysms of tears.

Go Sarah :thumbsup:

Congratulations, Valbitz. Little Sprocket sure is gorgeous. :thumbsup: I have always contended that what dogs go through from when they are lost/surrendered and eventually rehomed is huge. They go through so many stages and how the vast majority of them cope so well with these utterly new and confusing moves is nothing short of amazing. And, sadly, some of them never really get over it. My Tamar being one. One of the things I disagree with that quite a few people espouse is to ignore fearful behaviours. Of course, this can’t be taken to extremes, but I do believe a dog who is suffering in whatever way should be comforted. The suggested downtime when you are just sitting around and Sprocket can join you is the ideal situation, of course. When I first saw the photo, Japanese Chin popped into my head, but I think that was just because of his colour. Pap crosses still tend to have the long tendrils from their ears - does Sprocket have them? Looking forward to updates. :D :D

FB does that a lot.

Many thanks.

Anne, I was wondering where you sourced the beautiful urns. I have been trawling websites for hours, but can’t find anything here in Australia. Grateful if you could let me know.

:laugh: :laugh:

It was pretty much the same here.

OMG!! Those were the days. I don’t have the energy or finances anymore and there are times I miss it. Danny’s needs take up literally hours of my days, though. Even counting visitors, I didn’t ever have NINE on my bed though. That is the most beautiful photo, kirty. I missed the little one under the [whippet’s ??] head at first count :laugh: . Love the assortment of coats, too.

I would pay to go on a holiday to pick them out. Those videos are addictive to watch. Lol me too! But then I have considered getting a Crestie simply so I can squeeze its blackheads... I can sooooooo relate. Love squeezing black and whiteheads!!

Contact BM animals (John and Marie Davies, Bayswater Melbourne) bmanimals.com.au or 0488 144 675 Valbitz recommended them to me when I was having so much difficulty finding something that Danny would eat. Give them a call and explain everything to them and they should be able to come up with solutions. Good luck.

What a heart breaking situation you are in. You obviously love your dog very much. Others have said what I would have thought, but will agree and comment as the more people respond the more I hope you will feel you have support. :) Agree with all Kirty says. Not all dogs whether large or small need to be taken for walks, particularly yours who is experiencing such terrible anxiety. And he is definitely not to be considered for rehoming. Although, having said that, I have to acknowledge that some dogs who are rehomed can become different dogs ..... but in this case, I don’t think that would be the outcome. If you had a dog with a heart condition or other that needed life long medication, would you not give it? Anxieties are not all the result of “something happening”. They can also be caused by a chemical imbalance. If a little pill helps, give it. Good luck.

I don’t have anything constructive to post, Scottsmum, just wanted to post my support for you and Scottie. :flower:

Meercats :laugh: :laugh:

You are hereby ordered to break your promise :laugh: She is so GORGEOUS.

I’ve just seen this and it is very late, already tomorrow - so hopefully we’ll see pix today :rofl: