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After trialling various dry food, including super premium brands, I realised that it still depends on the dog. Mine had allergies or did not like the good stuff (works out well for my budget in the end), so it's worth trying it out yourself and experiment first hand. I won't get too paranoid with single specific ingredients or nutrient, just look at the diet as a whole. And there are other joys with cooking for the furies occasionally and watching them enjoy raw bones.

I might give bones a go again co but still confused on what exactly to give for a very small dog (5kg). We had chicken necks before but I am not sure whether she can manage them and what sizes to give. Small enough that she can swallow them by mistake if need be? If I get very big ones she might get big chunks swallowed isn't that worse? She pretty much has no useful molars left. What do people give their toothless or near toothless dogs? j3c my dog is cavalier size - what other tooth cleaning regime do you use, and does the mouthwash help? I am wondering if active ingredient in dog toothpaste actually kills plaque?

Besides brushing, is there any water based liquids that will work in killing plaque? I've heard of hexarinse, aquadent, and some algae additive you can add in water. Has anyone used products like this that will work? I'm afraid that brushing with vetbasic tartar control toothpaste is not enough. My dog only has very little back teeth, so finding chews and using chicken necks is a problem as they're either too hard or she'll swallow these whole and risk of choking is high.

So sorry for your loss :-(

Hi Annie, So sorry to hear your dramas, feeling scared for you too especially having to gothrough the same problem now. I've not had a blind dog yet but I do have an old girl and it seems all very old dogs eventually lose their sight from others i know, where their dogs are otherwise happy. im sure it is possible to let then have quality life despite that missing sight .there seems to be lots of internet links on how to support blind dogs, I hope you'll find some ideas that will work for you.. One thing I learnt from my dogs is that they're very resilient animals and with just a bit of love and care, they'll make the most of life and be grateful for it.gotta love them for their spirit. Hope the Vet visits will go ok. http://m.dummies.com/how-to/content/living-with-a-blind-dog.html http://www.blinddogs.net/

I use frontline when going to the coast or kennels. I learnt first hand that frontline is not effective when the dog is clean because it relies on the body's oils to spread around. So I usually only put it on good few days after bath time or it's a waste.

Hi everyone, I have an older girl, just over 13 who has been having her liver enzyme elevating slowly over the years. ALT levels are 400 [under 150 normal range). So we did an ultra sound to find that only one if her adrenal glands are enlarged. Incidentally, the ultra sound showed she has very small kidneys, which might be something she's born with. Her kidney levels from the blood test are in range. So she may have the adrenal form of cushings but I think more test is needed. I've started noticing that she is drinking a bit more regularly (like getting out of bed to drink in hourly or half hourly intervals after dinner in winter?). But I should measure how much she's actually drinking maybe. Does anyone know what a single enlarged gland usually means and what I can do to understand a bit more about what to expect? She's an older cranky lady who hates the vets and being handled (a rescue dog with traumatic past probably) but so lovely when she's happy. Grateful for any advice.

Thanks for the kind advice stellnme. It's comforting to know others can help and we're not alone on the journey. The older dogs are just so precious aren't they, can't help fussing about them.

JulesCav, it is nice to hear the enzyme levels are potentially manageable. It is a worry how much stress the tests will be... JulesP I'm so sorry to hear about Marli (the dog mentioned here I'm assuming), it's awful to bring up the sad news again I know the feeling

Stellnme, can I ask how the diagnosis went? Hope everything is ok after these few months. It's always a worry with older dogs, I'm waiting on a similar high ALP report here for my girl.

Thank you for the wishes, sharing the grief with other dog lovers helps. To not forget him, I wrote a list of everything I love about him and have 10 pages and this list seems to grow the more I think about him. I recommend others to do the same, good way to turn the tears to smiles

Same feeling here after losing my own GG. I don't know how long it'll take for the sadness to subside but know that you're not alone (hug)

I got a refund from my vet when they gave an unwanted vaccination (did one too early despite being in their records, and I was not planning for it financially). Definitely go with another more professional vet you feel comfortable with, it will make a huge difference in future.

I first met Bob the scruffy silky cross as a volunteer dog walker at the RSPCA in November 2006. He was the first dog I made an emotional connection with after over 2 years working at the shelter. He was extremely timid and submissive and I immediately had a strong urge to take him home and care for him. The day I brought him home was one of my happiest. I don't know how old he really was - despite the paperwork saying 3 years (top left photo) it was apparent he was much older, and had a quiet mature air about him. He became a very independent, confident and loyal friend who would never tire in looking out for me wherever I went around the house. The few days he deteriorated made me realised how much older he's become over the past 2 years, slower and shorter walks, sleeping more, balding nose and "greying" hair (bottom right photo). I only found out at the end he had cancer, but I am most grateful that he seemed to had waited for me throughout his sickest hours at the vets for me to bring him home first. I'm relieved that Bob went to a rainbow bridge on his own with lots of dignity - he had something to eat and even managed to walk around the house one last time, peed in the garden (he was toilet trained at home until the end!) and looked at all his favourite places in the house before collapsing in my arms. That gives me some comfort despite the huge hole he's left us. Although we all take in a pet knowing they will eventually depart, it seems impossible to be ever prepared to say good bye. The 6.5 years with him feels so short now, and I wish we've done much more together (more than half of his time is spent waiting for me to return from work!). But I'm comforted to know that he seems genuinely happy with us. I'll miss everything about him from his mute grunty noises (he rarely barks), refusing to go walkies without me, always resting around eatshot from me, knowing how to play hide-and-seek, being so toilet trained, his distinctive body odour, to his habit of using our carpet as a serviette after every meal. Here's my tribute to my old friend Bob and my thoughts are with others experiencing the same pain.

Thanks for the responses. Not choking of coughing. She's always had nasal sounds and snores I think since she has only a few teeth. I would say it sounds like a gulping sound but no other symptoms so I'm not very worried yet. I'll start feeding plain food for a bit to see if it's nausea. We're due for a vet visit soon.