Loving my Oldies

LOL - she is timid in the extreme, jumps if a twig snaps when we are walking and, as for food ------ are you sure it isn’t poisoned? ETA: I think I put this photo in the wrong thread

Sadly, I don’t think that is the case. Vet said she is 100% certain :( However, there is always a possibility . . . . . . .

I’ve not been out to this facility for many years, but it has always been this way. :cry: They also allowed other “rescuers” to kennel dogs and then the dogs are just left there with no attention from the original rescuer and little or no advertising for homes. I don’t know if this still happens.

Not a square inch goes unexamined :thumbsup:

Yes, T. When I moved here in January 2005, I had five little dogs (and my beautiful Gussy Cat): Danny, Jeune, Tamar, Gong Zhu and Tirra. In those years up until now, many many dogs have come and gone (rescues, fosters, overnighters, boarders) and they have all moved on to new homes, or gone to god, but through it all Danny, Jeune and Tamar have been with me. Bunter has been a Moocher for 5 years (hard to believe - still seems like yesterday) and he is about 15 with heart problems . So it is all getting a bit overwhelming, really. Already, I am feeling sick to think of how Tamar will be when Danny and Jeune go. Anyway, mustn’t wallow, walkies call :D In younger, glossier days (and pre new curtains and painting):

First needle biopsy didn’t show anything except that the mass was very very hard. After discussions with my vet and discussions she had with the specialist, I am going to let Jeune settle down a bit from the procedure and then have another one done with a larger needle in the hope that we can be more definitive about what sort of cancer. That way, we should be able to administer more targeted medications to hopefully help her feel better when the cancer starts to impact :( :cry: . It won’t be easy because Jeune has always been a strange little one. I’ve spoken many times over the years about Tamar’s and Jeune’s performances around food - they obviously come from royalty where, in the past, they employed food tasters to ensure their food hadn’t been poisoned !! Many years ago, my first little male Maltese died of cancer and from the time we discovered it (very advanced) and until the day he had to be helped over the Bridge was six weeks :cry: I still remember that day. However, I am sure we have discovered Jeune’s lump much earlier and Nammu died over 14 years ago. Huge advances in that time. Main thing is to just keep her happy, be happy with her and day by day. One of my all time favourite pix (taken by tdierikx several years ago) - Jeune is at the back giving that great big yawn.

What a tough situation you and Olivia are in. It is so hard when you know they have very little time left and they are in our thoughts every waking moment. Mooch City feels your pain and sorrow. :flower:

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.