White Shepherd mom

Love the pics and story DD. Your place is like doggy heaven, you're a real softie :)

She's still a youngster at 6. Casper had surgery at 12 and I was hard pressed to keep him calm the few days following surgery. You have done the right thing even though you've probably been stressing since the moment you dropped her off this morning! Have you heard from your vet? Has he done the surgery? Thanks for telling me who your vet is. He's a little far for me but it's good to know he's there in case mine decides to retire or something...as it is he only works mornings and I have to take time off work to see him. But I do trust him with Casper's life so he'd better stick around...

Who is your vet? Just curious! I agree that if the lipoma causes discomfort, it should be removed. How old is Ivy?

I am so very sorry for your loss DD. The last 4 years of her life were so full of your love and devotion. She couldn't have had a better owner, one who was prepared to make her food into little balls just so she could pick them up and who gave her the best chance at a happy, healthy life. My heart aches for you. Rest in Peace little Myrtie.

My almost 13 year old GSD perks up after dinner too...the exact opposite of me! Sounds like you have a gorgeous puppy!

I am so sorry for your loss Dreams. May the good memories of Munce give you solace in your time of mourning.

Tess waited 3 months for you to find her, it was obviously a love affair that was meant to be. I am deeply sorry for your loss MW, I wish you heaps of strength in the days ahead. Rest in Peace beautiful Tess, know that you will never be forgotten.

The emergency vet I've been to insist on mailing the forms themselves which I'm not happy about as I like to know exactly when it gets sent off. With my vet, I usually leave the form with them and collect it when I'm there next...which is frequently as Casper does his treadmill therapy there and we've often picking up meds for him. I don't think I would ever have a pet without pet insurance again...especially as they approach middle age.

I'd just finished replying to your post, walked into the kitchen, was cleaning up Myrtie's eyes when I heard a blurgh blurgh and there was Tamar throwing up on the kitchen mat. I think "challenges" needs to be heavily underscored What's a little vomit compared to waking up to a 30kg dog that poops in his sleep? This morning was not a pleasant experience I can tell you I am glad that Myrtle enjoyed her little food balls, you're an angel for putting in the extra time for her.

Aaah...the oldies, they do present some challenges! I have no advice but was wondering whether the kibble you have given her is for senior dogs? Just check that the protein and fat levels aren't too high for her little body.

I have the same problem with Casper, except he poos in his sleep. I was thinking of getting the waterproof baby cot covers but I'm worried the poo will stain the cotton top. Instead I bought waterproof mattress protectors for single beds for $8 from K-Mart which I put over his bed. If he does mess it overnight, in the morning I just take it off his bed, hose it down and let it dry then once a week I put it all in the washing machine with other towels he may have soiled (which I've already hosed clean). I have bought some nice big bath sheet towels for $8 from Kmart too and put them on the rug he likes to lie in when he is inside. As persephone suggested, Rescue Remedy might help. Your old boy has had a lot of stress lately.

It's awesome when a dog beats the odds. He is a very lucky boy to have an owner who will fight for him. May he be around for many more healthy years.

That's just awesome, what a lucky girl she is as she is obviously well loved. It's amazing how much they get away with when they get old...I can't remember when the last time Casper did what I tolf him. I'm hoping we'll celebrate his 13th birthday in September! Enjoy every precious moment you have Tess in her life, may there be many more, healthy months/years left.

How dreadful. Thanks for the warning, I have passed this on to a colleague who lives down that way and may take his dog to that park.

The only time I've been asked to donate in-store was at my local Petbarn at Christmas. They were collecting for Cat Haven and RSPCA. I donated to Cat Haven on Casper's behalf and when I was in the store again two weeks later, I donated to the RSPCA on Bella's behalf. I got Bella from the RSPCA and I thought it only fitting. I figured it was the time of year when people dump their pets before going on holidays and/or buy new puppies and kittens so both places would be bursting at the seams. When I see charity kiosks at a shopping centre, I walk past fast saying I don't have time to stop unless it's one I wish to donate to. I hate being bugged. Nobody should ever be made to feel guilty for not donating.

I use Telfast on Casper and it works wonders. A few years ago he went through an allergic phase, red skin and very itchy. A Telfast a day took care of that and he's had no more problems since. The last time I gave him a Telfast was a couple of months ago when I got home and noticed one of his paws was very swollen. We had a few bees around at the time and I guessed he'd walked into the flower bed (as evidenced by the flattened stems!) and stepped on a bee. An hour later, his foot was back to normal. Casper weighs 30kg.

Have you thought of looking for places that deliver? I know Pookinuk have (or used to have) good prices and a big selection. They also have a nutritional break-down of each food so if you have a couple of hours to kill you could have a look there.

I get the milk thistle from Woolies, you should find them anywhere that sells your common vitamins. I highly recommend it for liver problems though it is a long term thing. Thanks cNr. The bone is pulverised though, is it not? I've never seen bits of bone in the patties. I do realise that cooked BARF is no longer BARF :) but I figured there are more good things in the patties than plain mince on its own.

I had to put Casper on a low-fat, low protein food. I received a few suggestions on DOL and opted for Nutro Weight Management. Casper is doing really well on it. I also have him on milk thistle tablets to keep his liver strong (long term anti-epilepsy drugs can damage the liver). He had a blood test a week ago and his liver is in good shape. I also feed him BARF patties which I simmer with brown rice and veggies (2 patties, 2 cups of rice and 250g frozen veg lasts most of a week).

Nice one pers. I have some sticky tape from the vet I can use to tape the "sock" onto his leg. It doesn't take too much fur off when removed. As Rebanne says vet wrap can roll onto itself and I'd hate for his circulation to be cut off, I didn't think of that before! I'm not keen on the strap across his back as I'm worried it will annoy him. If nothing else works though, I might have to try the ones with the strap.

RP, I like your "thinking outside the box". I do have some of those drink coolers somewhere, I might have to give this a try. Don't laugh, but I was thinking of using panty liners wrapped in vet wrap , I think Casper might prefer your idea, after all, he is a boy! thanks for the idea :)

Thank you for your replies! kc, I'm assuming that without the strap, the pads won't stay on as they're not meant to...if that makes sense. I'm guessing there are no straps or any other way for them to stay on. The childrens' socks won't offer any cushioning so perhaps I would wrap his elbows in vet wrap instead. I don't know if that would limit his mobility though. bianca, poor Cooper looks sorry for himself in the second pic, he's gorgeous! I was looking at the dogleggs but I don't like that there's a strap over the shoulders AND across the chest. At least the "canine angels" one that I linked to in my OP only has the shoulder strap. I'm sure I found some without the shoulder strap on the internet when I wasn't looking for them, now I can't find them again. Might have to get the "canine angels" ones and see how he goes. thanks again.

Even though he has a perfectly good bed and access to the house, Casper loves sleeping on the brick paving outside at night. During the day he's either on the same bricks, or inside on the hard vinyl floor even though there is a carpeted area. He has developed some mean looking growths (bursas?) on his elbows which he has recently started licking. I was thinking of cushioning his elbows with some kind of pad or protection. I found this on the internet but was hoping to find something without the over-body strap. Do any of you have any ideas or anything you've used and recommend? Thanks.

If the vet food is very expensive, could your friend feed less but bulk up the meal with some brown rice and veggies (if okeyed with the vet of course)?

The final goodbye is not something you can prepare for. You do what you have to do for your faithful mate and you crumble after it's over. Like others have said, I know Casper's time is also coming but if he is not suffering, I will keep him with me for as long as I can because the thought of losing him is already starting to destroy me. Just know that you are not alone in this.