Sorcha

It was not my regular vet. I told the vet what food he eats and she advised me to feed boiled chicken & rice for next several days and then back to his regular food. Guess I will do some research on quality dog foods with small pieces that is lower in fat.

The food he has been eating (http://www.proplan.com/dry-dog-food/small-breed-formula/default.aspx) says Crude Fat (Min) 17.0 %. Is that good or bad? When he goes back on dog food next week, should I continue with that or start switching him to something else? If so he needs a dog food with small kibble bits because he's a little guy.

He did get IV fluids and medication. The doctor said to bring him back for a fentanyl patch if his pain/discomfort gets worse.

Thanks for the information. He eats Pro Plan small breed formula, has never had a problem with it. I just bought a new bag! He does not get table scraps, but now that I think about it he got in the garbage last night and licked clean an empty ttin of cat food, could that have set it off? For now he will get boiled chicken and rice, until at least Sunday.

I was awoken this morning by the sounds of Harkan the Italian greyhound throwing up under my bed (of course, make it hard to get to - thanks, buddy). Following that he had very soft stool. I could tell he was not himself, he would lay in a "prayer position", would wimper if his belly was touched (and it felt very tight), etc.. The first thing that went through my head was bloat and that he needed to be checked out, but he did not have a lot of the other symptoms seen with bloat so I figured at worse they will treat him for a bad stomach ache. Long story short, he was diagnosed with having pancreatitis. He was given IV fluids under the skin on his back and an injection of a medication called Cerenia. I was told to feed him only boiled chicken & rice for the next few days. I wish there was something more I could do for him, he seems so uncomfortable. Has anyone dealt with pancreatitis in a dog?

My condolences on Scout's passing.

Xan I do not have the words to properly express my condolences on Wabi's passing. I am so very sorry for the less of your special girl.

Offering my condolences on Ruby's passing. Sorry for your loss.

My sincere condolences on True's sudden passing. I am honored to have met her, and I know how dearly you loved you. I hope she finds Tuna, too, and they can all reminisce about their days in Dewey Beach.

I am absolutely certain she is.

Oops, Erika sorry about the typo in your name in my last post!! I have to admit, I was laughing at the image of you pounding dry dog food in a baggie using a hammer! You know, you can get a blender these days for under $20

I am happy to share it, I hope it works for anyone that tries it for their dogs as well as it's worked for my dogs. I think I posted it last year, too, but after making a batch last night I thought it deserved to be shared again! I did think I was pretty clever last year when I used the dry dog food that she had turned up her nose to, only to gobble it down once it was transformed into these "meatloafs"! I only use the blender because I don't have a food processor. I use the "pulse" option on high. It's survived many, many uses chopping up the dog food and the blades are still good to go. Eirka: Let me know if it wins Morty over!

More tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat from the additional comments. Thanks, everyone.

When an old dog goes off their food and there is no medical reason for it, this recipe has not failed me yet. I used it for Tuna the greyhound, and a year after she passed away I am now making batches for my 18 year old Llewlyn setter. Meatloaf for dogs: 2 pounds lean ground beef 3 eggs 2 to 3 cups crushed dry food (I use the blender to crush it) 1 cup peanut butter Mix it all together. Usually I mix the beef, eggs and dog food first, then add in the peanut butter. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake in cupcake trays (the above ingredients make a total of 24) if you want individual servings, or else use meatloaf pans (be sure to first coat with non-stick cooking spray, I use the alcohol-free variety). Optional: Top with a spoonful of crushed dog food if you have some left over. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes. Once cooled, leftovers can be frozen to take out as needed.

Thank you, one and all. Indeed, it was a Friday when I came home from work to find Tuna down on the kitchen floor, in distress and unable to get up. I was all alone, but had the support of some wonderful Greytalkers to help me through. Walking through the door tonight, I could not help but picture it all in my mind. I know that technically (going by the numerical date) tomorrow is 1 year, but it happened on a Friday evening so to me it seems like it's been 1 year tonight. She was truly a special girl.

Tuna It's been a year since she passed away, such a void left in my heart. I am so very grateful for the years we shared, and will forever hold tight to memories of her. I miss you, Tuna, and love you forever.

My condolences on the passing of your beloved Frank.

Thanks for posting the update. Bug bite was my other thought, having gone through that with Nola who was stung by a bee in the face near her lips and it swelled up:

Sending gentle, healing thoughts for Kassie. It looks like an abscess to me, but I certainly do not have any medical expertise to make that call! Is the swollen area hard or soft? Does it feel like it's filled with anything? I am sure the vet will get it figured out and she will be on the mend in no time.

Oh my gosh, I would recognize that face anywhere. She's has Tuffolo in her line (her "grandfather"), who was my greyhound's sire. It's like seeing a ghost (my greyhound passed away last August). Oh, and congrats!!

I certainly don't want to break the law, but I trust my vet and really does she need it at 18? Thanks. She turned silver not grey! Her white coat developed a shimmer of silver to it, almost like a dusting of frost laying on the grass that glimmers in the sunlight.

A bit more recent, here she is at 17 (still need to get more recent photos off my camera!) (Pardon that worried "Why are you pointing that thing at me" look!)

Thanks! That all started back about 5 or 6 years ago. I was eating a bowl of Cheerios for breakfast and she sat there, staring at me with drool coming out of her mouth which she has never, ever done before! She wanted those Cheerios and at her age, who was I to deny her? She's had them for breakfast every morning since, most days dry but other times with lactose-free milk (which she goes bug-eyed for). I need to get a photo of her eating her Cheerios some morning, but she is camera shy and often freezes up when a camera is pointed at her. Yes, Maxie is not leaving home for anything while she is still alive and breathing. The stress would likely be too much for her to handle. As for a mobile vet, I have the number of the one who came out to euthanize Tuna the greyhound last August.

I will talk to the vet about whether or not to continue giving her monthly heartworm, I did not specifically ask about that when we were talking about discontinuing her shots. She is a spry old girl! I had to laugh at her the other day as she was romping around the back yard, taking the long way back to go inside and she just had such an expression of joy & happiness on her face (wish I had the camera!). Any recent photos I have of her are on my camera which is at home, so for now from work I just have these that are a couple years old: She's been with me since 1996 when she was 3 years old. She was a 'no good dog' set loose from a farm where she was bred & raised to be a hunting dog but turned out to be gun shy. She used to be very scared of loud noises but now that she can't hardly hear anymore that's not an issue! I can't go away for more than one night each month to visit my mother (dogs stay home with a dogsitter) otherwise she gets stressed out to the point of being sick. Her secret to long life is Cheerios which she eats for breakfast every morning.

Thanks for the input. I am surprised to hear about those who don't vacinate past age 10, that was 8 years ago for her! My greyhound still went for shots at 14 (she passed away 3 months before her 15th birthday). Maxie does not have contact with anyone but me and has never bitten so I am not at all concerned about her biting someone. There are no skunks around here, at least none I have ever seen or smelled! Never seen a racoon here either. She's never left alone in the back yard, and not out there after dark. I think with her age and how easily stresed out she gets that there is no reason to continue shots.