westiemum

OK - can't help myself!! I have three westies - two oldies and one we think is middle-aged. Mac is at the end of his life so he gets whatever he feels like within reason (he's just polished off a serve of scrambled egg!). But - Sarah my 14 year old is terrific - people just don't believe she is 14 she is in such good shape - good weight, good health, some loss of power in her back legs and occasionally gunky ears. Brilliant teeth. Otherwise she is a fit healthy bossy oldie. Similarly with Andy my middle aged puppy farm rescue who is thriving on raw. They have at least yearly blood panels, all completely normal so far and they are all doing really really well on raw. But I don't over complicate it and this pretty much describes what I do too: The only difference is I use Adelaide Dog's raw mix - which is terrific stuff and my guys absolutely love it. And on the days I forget to defrost their raw they get Homebrand Mackerel in oil. They are very unimpressed with the occasional dry food meal - the mournful looks are priceless ( I just tell them an occasional 'Maccas' won't hurt them!). So as far as puppies go while I'm no expert, if it was my puppy I'd gradually change over to a raw diet too. While I absolutely respect the advice of the puppy breeders here, I think we have a real tendency to over-think and over-complicate dog nutrition. And over the years I've seen nothing that makes me change my mind on that. Dogs and puppies survived and thrived really well before commercial dog food became available and a raw diet simply makes sense to me - for puppies as well as dogs. To me commercial dog food is just Maccas for dogs. But absolutely understand that others see it differently.

Thanks Ness and DD - He's resting comfortably and his Grandma has arrived to Mac-sit while I get out to the shops.

Reporting in. We’ve had a bad night here and not all due to Mac. The other two westies both vomitted through the night after getting into some blue cheese that their stupid mother left it in reach (insert rolly eyes here!). Mac was also very unsettled understandably - so it took until 4.30 this morning before I think all the pacing, weeing, vomitting and general restlessness subsided to the point we could all get some sleep. But the good news is that Mac seems to be adjusting well to the Keppra. He’s still mobile, pottering around and is slowly recovering from his seizures yesterday. This slow recovery seems to be his pattern. So I hope this medication continues to helps him as the first grand mal two weeks ago really knocked him around If the Kepcet/Keppra doesn’t work or doesn’t suit him then we’ll stop and what will be will be. Thanks so much for all your kind posts and support - it means a lot.

All meds here go into plastic cheese slices - and down the hatch they go - no stress, no trouble. Even the really big ABs only need to be halved and wrapped up in plastic cheese and whoosh down they go. I keep a packet of the Homebrand cheese slices in the fridge just for this purpose!

Thanks T - I'm under no illusions that we are in 'Mac's last days' now - but he has responded well to the new anti-convulsants - so far. He's on Kepcet (levetiracetam) and he's a little wobblier but he's still mobile - and reasonably steady tonight. . Whereas when he was on the Pexion he was bombed out and basically immobile. So the lesson here is definitely to not give up completely if the first lot of drugs don't work. The signs here are that the Kepcet will be much better for him even though I will have to manage a three times a day dosage when I go back to work. So again we'll see how he goes over the next 48 hours or so...

Thanks B - the good thing about these new meds is that they don't seem to be bombing him out quite as much. He's comfortable and snoozing 4 hours down the track so I'll give him a few days to adjust to the meds and go from there. At least they are not making him as dozy and wobbly as the Pexion did.

Thanks Caz. He took his first new anti-convulsant 3/4 of an hour ago and so far so good. So we'll see.

Yes he still looks very good CnR. Unfortunately he had two smaller seizures in quick succession this afternoon. I'm off to the vet to collect a different anti-convulsant for him shortly. I'll see how that goes but if it bombs him out and increases his wobbliness too much then I'll take him off it and just concentrate on quality of life for however long that may be - and I suspect it won't be long now.

Wishing you and Bru all the very best swazzie. Its so difficult when they still seem happy and in my case Mac continues to bounce back. Regardless I think we are in our last days here too - so my prayers for you both.

Thanks B - my problem with the photos exactly - they are fine on my system but the moment I insert them into a post they misbehave!

Yep I know what you mean T - I'm definitely mentally preparing for the time that is coming while enjoying every second i have with him. I finally got Gallomph's PJs off him for a wash when his Crows jumper appeared out of one of the boxes. He's warm and looks very smart! ETA: Does anyone know why these photos don't insert the right way up? Must be something I'm doing but I don't know what!

Thanks Caz - he's had a lovely day pottering around today while I unpacked yet more boxes!!

Yep I know what you mean T - While I adore Mac, he's a very high maintenance oldie - and I do wonder what on earth I'll do with my time when he goes to God...

Thank you Tassie. I couldn't love him more - he's been such a blessing!

Big hugs T. And yes I do know what its like - Life with my old boy is an emotional roller coaster at the best of times - just when i think I'm going to lose him he bounces back - but I know the day is coming when he won't and he'll go to keep Zeddy company. So take care, cry tonight and we'll be here.

Oh no! Fly free old girl and keep a spot warm for Mac. Big hugs T - thinking of you tonight.

Oh T, I'm so sorry for you - prayers for you both. Paws and fingers crossed for you in Adelaide tonight and sending you a hearty dose of westie resilience and luck..

Thanks B - you're more on the ball than I am! But its been a really cold day here so its been good cuddling up inside.

I cannot believe how this dog continues to bounce back - he seriously has over 47,577 lives - and its emotionally exhausting! This morning he's very steady and even had a bit of a trot down the hall!! He's bright-eyed, hungry as always and we've had a lovely morning in bed! Here he is a few minutes ago:

Thanks coogie - the Mighty Mac has improved a lot in the last 24 hours - to the point I was confident enough to leave him and go to the football this afternoon, after giving them all brunch and Mac his meds. I got home to a happy spritely, bright-eyed, steady barking and demanding old man(H'e was hungry of course!). While I'm sure he still has some cognitive knock-off from the seizure last Sunday he really does seem much more 'with it'. I tell you this old dog has to be one of the most resilient creatures on earth!! I'm daring to look forward to his birthday celebration on the 15th which earlier this week I was doubting he would make!

Very good hydration too DD!! Must try that with Mac! And yes his last birthday cake will contain his favourite blue cheese - Adelaide Blue of course - nothing cheap about this old boy!!

Thanks T and LG - and no I definitely wouldn't change him for anything. He's definitely brighter tonight - and enjoying snoozing on his favourite cushion. Gallomphs PJs have been a God-send - thank you so much G . I think they work like a thunder shirt and he's been happily pottering around in them for over 24 hours Getting them off him for a wash in the morning ain't going to be easy!! ETA: T when is Zeddy's birthday? Mac will be 16 on 13 August and I have a westie clan gathering in the park planned for the 15th.

Thanks Tara - yes he's doing pretty well today. Pottering around and seems fairly bright. He slept well last night which means I did too!

Latest one could simply be a copycat - got the idea from the FB story...

Yep... taken last night... Oh and in case anyone is wondering - I'm not that messy - still unpacking the new house!