Loving my Oldies

Danny’s eating habits are enough to drive me to an early grave. A couple of weeks ago, I discovered a few of K9Angel’s wonderful homemade doggy biscuits while cleaning out the dogs’ cupboard. Danny started snuffling around and polished off a few. So, I rushed to the computer to order a variety of bix and, guess what? He won’t touch them!! One of the foods I could always rely on to tempt him was beef jerky. Once I replenished supplies ...... he won’t touch them now. However, I did share some of my pizza base with him this evening and he just loved that :eat: His kidney function is compromised and this is almost impossible to treat because of his other medical problems . If we dosed him so his kidneys would function well, the strain on his heart would be too much. Last Thursday and Friday, we had him at the vets all day on a slow drip to try to flush his kidneys. He came home each evening, but by Friday night, his urea and creatine levels were still high. The vet said he would benefit from another day, but although he showed improvement from Sunday onwards, at the time I felt it was very trying and exhausting for him. Contrary to what I expected, apparently he just sat up all day on each “watching” what was going on. As he is blind, he must have been very worried and confused and I felt this was obvious when I collected him each evening. There is only so much you can expect of these little elderly ones. We have fiddled with meds and doses and I think we just have to watch him carefully from now on to ensure whatever we do is for his good and comfort.

Waiting patiently for me to finish (and leave him some) my lunch of pumpkin soup: She didn’t leave much, but still yummy, I’d better be quick - look at Bunter all poised to rush over and push me aside.

Thanks, Caz. Yes, it is one day at a time now.

LOL Boronia. Underway. He is getting lots of those, me not so many :D

How frightening, Corvus. So relieved that the outcome was okay. The plant is popular because it is always in flower with a wide range of colour as gillybob says and can be toxic to dogs. Take care, people. Ed for auto correct

I love GIVING Danny updates - could talk about him (and the others) forever Yes, it is. The worry as to whether you are doing the right thing.

Jeune has been with me since 2003 when I fostered her for PAWS. She very quickly became a foster failure. A few weeks ago, I took her in for a check up and the vet said she needed a dental, but because of her age, he wanted to do a few tests. These tests showed some abnormalities and she was put on ABs and a tonic. After further checks, xrays, examinations, a large mass (for a little dog) 1x2cm was found. Needle aspirate was unable to show much, but there is no doubt that it is cancer. :cry: I am not going to do anything invasive because of her age and because I don’t believe she has the sort of temperament that would enable her to cope. So, the vet is going to talk with the specialist to discuss how we proceed in terms of her wellbeing and comfort.

Our journey continues, but very slowly and haltingly. Danny is an amazing little dog, despite all his health problems. he continues to be good natured, tail wags whenever I return if I’ve been out, he takes his meds with absolutely no complaint. However, his kidneys are failing and with the different health problems he has, this is almost impossible to control :cry: . Discussions with the vet this morning confirm that it is now just a watching brief - she thinks weeks, not months - and I do not believe it is time for him to go, I see no signs of unresolved pain or desperateness in his eyes. Such a precious little fellow:

There is no black or white answer, sadly. I volunteered (walking) in a small pound for several years a long time ago. The dogs were adopted straight from the pound. Some were matches made in heaven, very occasionally a dog might be returned .... and every situation in between. Typing this has brought back a memory. One morning in the park there was a young man walking two dogs off the lead. I said to one of the other walkers, "Isn't that Amber?" The man heard me and said that he had adopted Amber a couple of days ago. Naturally I thought he was being irresponsible and putting the dogs in danger, but I didn't say anything. I just marvelled at how obedient Amber was and after such a short time she was sticking to him like glue, whilst enjoying herself immensely.

What a sad sad story. My heart goes out to all of you involved in this tragedy. Unfortunately, most people think that anyone who is involved in rescue is kind, generous, totally honest, upfront, has only the purest motives, etc etc. Time after time after time it has been shown that this is not the case and people like you and your daughter, your neighbours (not to mention the poor poor dogs) pay the price for unscrupulous, irrational and downright dangerous rescuers. Small comfort, I know, but in my opinion you did absolutely the right thing by having the dog PTS. Apart from the terror your daughter experienced when walking her, some dogs are being released from their own trauma by being PTS. I’m sure you will get lots of advice and help, but my first thought is not to adopt from interstate, adopt from a rescue group close by where your daughter has the opportunity to meet the dog. I endorse all the suggestions made by BlinkBlink. Good luck.

Oh no!!! What a hole his passing will leave in your lives. :cry: Benny could not have wished for a better home for this past couple of years - full of love, fun, interest, companionship and total and absolute consideration for his needs, both physical and emotional. A wonderful dog who found himself in a wonderful home. Benny.

Nice tongue :rofl: Beautiful girl. Have no idea, but was going to say the same about the DNA. Only for fun and a waste of money. Probably come back as Bulldog X Rottie :D

Just reading about it give me the horrors. :cry: ETA a thought. Could you build something like a cat run for her?

She’ll always be a champion in our eyes :laugh: :laugh:

I was a bit too late to vote before midnight, but purple was my choice. I am very glad to see someone treating this issue with the serious it deserves. Making sure our dogs are correctly attired for all occasions is part and parcel of being a conscientious and responsible dog slave. There have been occasions (admittedly few) where I have not been as diligent and fashion conscience as I should have been. The result: embarrassed dogs, shamed slave and generally not a good time was had. I now have embroidered collars with names and phone number, very chic little coat numbers and colour coordinated leads. My dogs’ happiness and social comfort are dependent on my doing the right thing and ensuring that each and every time we step out, we are all attired as befits the occasion.

Yes and I think it depends on the physical make up of a dog. Some dogs are very “loose” and might look big, but they can fit through small places. LOL at the GS Boronia. Determined or what :laugh: :laugh: Vislas can be long and rangy and I think that is what makes a difference when getting through small places. WM the width of the gap in the cat flap is between 18 and 19 cm. Probably too small for a solid little munchkin like Sarah. I also think dogs with health problems are less likely to extend themselves when they know a bark will bring their slave running :D :D . However, if you are interested, I’d be happy to see how much it would cost to post - not much, I imagine.

What a worry for you, Cazablanca. I hope you find a treatment/supplement that works. :heart: I’ve never heard of Maritime Pine Bark Extract, but am off to read up on it now. Good luck.

Not the lyrics, just the chorus and tune - have loved it forever.

Yep, I reckon he is. He hasn’t been doing is so much in the past few days, but he has taken to walking and walking and walking around the house, so I call him Ramblin’ Boy. Look up on youtube Tom Paxton.

What a shock to read this :cry: . Over the years we have been privileged to see so many wonderful photographs taken by you showing the love and happiness that abound in your household. Your beautiful boys (so grown up) and the dogs. :love: Words fail me. Me too, K. I am in tears as I type wondering whether I will know when it is time for Danny. I know there are a lot of posts in which people say, “you will know when the time is right.” But some dogs are so stoic and it sounds like Lola was one of those. Such dear, funny, precious, precious parts of us. So hard to let go. Lola.

I’m so slow . Reading your last post made me remember that I recently had the glass in the window where I had Gussy Cat’s door flap replaced. I still have the glass with door intact down the back. I think it might be too small for your Westies, but I will measure it tomorrow. It is amazing what dogs will get through. One of my flosters from several years back (Caramel, a German Spitz) went through it so he could explore the neighbourhood :eek: It entailed his jumping up on the bed, the bedside table, the window ledge and through the flap. I wouldn’t have believed it except I saw the paw prints!! I’ll let you know. It might be worth the postage .... just the door not the window as well :D :D :D

That he is :) Done :)

My handsome man:

Sorry, Boronia. I haven’t forgotten, but with all the rain and everything ...... My little boy is a bit poorly and we have been to the vet. He is starting to cough more and on Sunday night he coughed all night long. Not a great hacking cough, just quiet sneezy like coughs. At one stage, I was just propped up on pillows cuddling him. My usual vet for Danny is on holidays (how DARE he!!), but I saw another whom I trust every bit as much. She took some xrays and his heart is a tiny bit enlarged and pushing a little bit on his trachea. This vet saw him at his worst because he was tired and had thrown up a few times, so she kept on saying, “Poor little fellow.” You can imagine how that made me feel :cry: His coughing is mainly, but not all, airways related and she suggested some flusapex. He has been on this before, but he would drink hugely and then bring it all back up Anyway he had a better night last night, but is still very tired and instead of wandering aimlessly around the house as he has started to do, he is tucked up beside the heater. Oooops - just looked down and who do I see has joined us in the study? He still has some hearing because I clapped my hands and called his name. Up goes the tail and over he comes. Unfortunately, activity seems to start his coughing. The vet asked me to call her today so I will do that shortly.

Deepest condolences, luvmybulldog. Your little Hoover sounds a real character and you obviously had a huge amount of love for each other. :rainbowbridge: