fiveplusone

Thanks everyone. It was very peaceful. He had 3/4 family sized block of chocolate before his sedation and was snoring loudly on in arms when the vet administered the final injection. The vet cried too. She didnt rush me, asked me if I was ready etc. It was the right time and he had no anxiety and was just happy snuggled in my arms eating chocolate.

He's crossing the bridge today. The kids who live in SA both saw him yesterday to say goodbye. He had a maccas cheeseburger for dinner and I have some forbidden chocolate for him to try before he leaves. Our vet is mobile so it will thankfully happen here at home and she will take him with her when she leaves, for cremation. We'll bury his ashes under a large gum tree on our new property and put a plaque there. He didnt get to experience our 12 acres here but he's going to be chasing birds again with new painfree legs on the other side where he will wait for us.. 14 years and 4 months is a good innings

Thank you. We're in process of selling our family home, and Im not sure I could cope with losing him in the middle of all of it. I just keep asking him to give me long enough to get him to our acreage because I want him to be there with me, which is selfish I know. Why oh why can't our dogs go in their sleep like old humans do. why must we have to make the decision for them to go :-(

Thanks Persephone. Can I ask why you would have made the decision before now? Might help me work through my thought processes.

Sorry this is so long. I dont know what to do. My darling GSP boy is now 14. Hearing not great. very wobbly on back legs (we have ugly mats all over the house so he doesnt slip on the floorboards). He has what we believe and vet believes is probably doggie dementia and he's now regularly getting sundowners and pacing during the early evening (some help using melatonin, and if really bad half a gabapentin). Hes on fluoxetine for anxiety and has been on it successfully for 3 years. He eats really well, and once asleep at night, usually sleeps well all night (sometimes up for a toilet break). Im not sure if he's he pain, his back leg and hips are very wasted and wobbly, he has 3 monthly cartophen injections, Antinol capsules and half a panadol daily. The issue is Cauda Equina. He never wees in the house, but he is now defecating daily (before it was maybe once a week) its not that he forgets to go outside, its that he can't hold it in long enough. Sometimes it comes out while he's just laying in bed, but mostly he gets up to go outside but just doesnt make it in time. For the most part, its not hard to manage, we pick up the nuggets, disinfect the floor and carry on. But there are occasions where he poos and slips in it or sits in it and it creates an unholy mess. I manage it myself as I know my husband would find it hard to cope with having to do it all the time. last night I went out and he had to deal with it and wasnt happy. To make it clear, my husband is NOT asking me to have him PTS but Im starting to mull over when it will be time. We move in 7 weeks time to acreage in the country and I would dearly love to have him with us there for him to experience all that free open land, but also so when the time comes he can be buried there. To me he seems happy enough, he eats his dinner with gusto, and sleeps beside me all day (I work from home). We dont go on walks anymore, but he can trot around the garden when he see's a bird. Its just the mess in the house (and on him occasionally. I obviously dont want to give him wings because its more "convienent" for our household, but am I holding on to him too long?

My 13 year old GPS recently had what appeared to be a sudden but short lived episode of this. It resolved within 48hrs which the vet said was really unusal (but great obviously). Just wondering, I forgot to ask the vet.....is he now more prone to having this happen again?

Thanks everyone. why do our dogs have to get old. I've ordered a load from Ikea (Hubby will pick up tomorrow). The jute hall runners for the front hallways will look nice anyway, and will tie in with the jute rug in the next room, but I got grey non slip runners for our kitchen and lounge, middle room and miss24s room. We have lovely jarrah floor boards...which I hate because they show every speck of dirt, smudge or mark, so while they won't look aesthetically pleasing, they will disguise all the smudges lol. At the end of the day, I dont give a rip what it looks like, as long as Hugo is safe and comfortable.

Hugo has been wearing alternate booties for a while now (on one back leg at a time, then take it off and put on the other back leg) to give him traction on our timber floor boards. I've used them on and off for a few years without problems but now he's developed an open sore when I took it off last night. I'm about to order a load of carpet runners to put around our very large house, but just wondering if anyone has any other ideas. Socks dont stay on his feet, and I've seen different sticky pad things, and wax you put on their paws which is supposed to help, but Im thinking they would probably all be useless? Its going to cost a lot to get the rugs, but I figure it will be cheaper then him really hurting himself and needing multiple vet treatments, and its about his safety first anyway not money. Any ideas??

Hugo has started on some anti anxiety medication and its reduced his appetite. I've been mixing a bit of fish or raw meat in with his usual dry food which has worked well, but for economy sakes I thought I'd buy ready made barf patties to mix in. He won't touch them. I tried a beef one and a chicken one. Could it be an ingredient like yeast or garlic that he's not used to that smells bad to him? I suspect I'll just need to make them myself and not add garlic and yeast because the other ingredients are just meat, veg and fruit, egg, which hes had before

He had his nails done Friday and although being super groggy all day he's bounced back great. I got them to take blood as well for his screening tests before we see the specialist vet for his anxiety. Ironically, he was totally fine with them taking blood without any sedation etc, but panics if you try to cut his nails *sigh*

I've booked him in. I asked about the cauterisation. They said they do it if they need it, and that they are given pain relief along with the sedation. I asked if they come home with pain relief and nurse said they dont need it. I feeling very anxious about it but I dont think I have much option.

thank you. Im going to ring the vet to book him in. he's had a some run arounds on pavers with the weather being nicer and the nails are "fraying" and splitting so I just need to get it done now I think. Edit to add, the nurse mentioned cauterisation, which I am assuming means cutting them really short and cauterising the quick? Wouldnt this be painful afterwards? Should I ask for this NOT to be done or is it unavoidable if his nails are too long? I so dont want to put him under any more stress. I dont know what to do for him. I feel awful about him having an anaesthetic

Our GSP is nearing 12. Due to arthritis he's not running around as much so he's nails are getting long. We used to be able to trim them ourselves when needed, but lately he just won't allow us to do it. we tried different clippers etc, and even took him to the vet for the nurse to try, but after one clip he understands whats happening and just gets upset. We got sedation from the vet (a dose of gabepentin at night and then again the next morning) but it did absolutely nothing and as soon as he saw the clippers he was off. I really hate the idea of having to give him aneasthetic at the vets for nail trimming but Im at a loss as to what else we can do? He's had a big year with illnesses and new baby and new puppy in the family (not in our house but in our family) and being somewhat of an anxious dog he had a lot to cope with so I really dont want to stress him more, but he' going to have to have them done soon. I even tried a human nail file and he wouldnt let me do that either. Any suggestions?

Hi, Yep he came through the KC great. Took a good 2-3 weeks though. He's had a rough patch lately, he recently had a nasty abcess from his vaccination site. Poor old man.

Hugo has a treat dispenser shaped like a kong, that wobbles, but he empties it really quickly. Can anyone please recommend some treat puzzles or dispensers that keep their dogs occupied for a good amount of time (filled kongs only work in certain situations so I need some other things) Thank you!

Thanks all. The last hour he's coughed less and hasnt been bringing up the mucus when he does so fingers crossed the medication just needed a few doses to work

Vet knows about the mucus, he was coughing it up the whole night before. Antibiotics because he had a high temp, so she's covering him for infection. We've got a strain of KC going around Adelaide at the moment and what he has seemed to fit with what they were seeing in the area. Codeine is a cough suppressent.

We're day 3 of Hugo's canine cough. He's on antibiotics (he had a high temp) and codeine for his cough. The codeine really isnt doing much (hes prescribed 30mg morning and night). He's coughing (often with big globs of mucus) multiple times an hour. I haven't had any significant sleep since it started so feeling rough myself! (thankfully hubby was home this morning so took over nurse duties for a few hours so I could get some sleep) Any tips for helping his cough or is it just time? He's got a week of antibiotics and codeine. Thanks

my GSP is about to turn 8 and in the last couple of months we've seen him occasionally limp on front leg after a big run or when he's been jumping for a ball. He's not in pain and no problem with moving joint around but I'm obviously concerned about joint health. I'll take him to vet to discuss our options but would appreciate any advice on what to give or not to give. He's just come in from running around with kids and he's holding his paw up off the ground but its not bothering him at all, checked his paw, moved his joint and he just keeps wagging his tail.

My GSP has just started a course of norvoclav post stitches for a cut. Id like to prevent any antibiotic diarrhoea if possible. What can I/should I give him? Thanks

Hi. Recommendations for preservative free biscuits as treats please. Savour life look good. Any others?

Thanks Off to the vet today so he's getting thoroughly checked out.

I'm off to the vet today for yearly check up but thought I'd ask here too. My boy has a callous on one elbow. Sometimes it looks faintly pink but other times it looks quite inflammed. I guess depending how often he plonks down on the pavers. Whats a good product to use to help with this? Thanks

I know there have been some threads about insurance not being paid on claims for pets so just wanted to share a good outcome Our 6 year old GSP got happy tail and a month later needed amputation. I got a text yesterday morning from Pet Insurance Australia to say our claim had been received and would have a determination within 5-10 days. That afternoon 80% of my vets billed had been deposited into my bank account. I was expecting that I would get money back but to get it so quickly was fantastic. Just wanted to share a good experience :-)

GSP Put the velcro in "Velcro dog". Has to be with someone ALL THE TIME....unless they are outside exploring then they won't come when called lol. Shut the toilet door for privacy....well I'll just lay against the door until you open it. Lying on the sofa watching tv...I must lie with you...preferably under a blanket thanks. You went out for 5 minutes.....oh lord I thought you were NEVER coming home! Let me go crazy over you and whip you with my tail a hundred times. Let me out for a wee. No I don't want to come back in I'm happy out here thanks.....5 seconds later screaming at the door to be let in because how could you possibly dare to leave me out there. Eating some food....let me watch every single bite you take while drooling all over you.