nessa

My dogs are food motivated, so that helps, but when picky Stella and Chewy freeze dried chicken or beef dinner crumbled on top is very popular here! How about stinky fish, tuna or sardines or cooked white fish? cooked beef or turkey ground meat is also a hit. Fresh cooked chicken pieces. Baby food, cat food when desperate.

Thanks so much EllenEveBaz! The confusing thing is she doesn't look to need a harness yet, still does everything she always did, slower of course except for a sinking back end when standing. At 14 we are not going to do MRIs or X-rays as she would not tolerate that stress. I have not tried Tramadol after Misha had such a bad reaction to it, - I am scared to try it?! I just want to do what is right for her!!!

Why are they on it? How do you see it helping ?

Does that help? Shana clearly has a weak back end but mostly noticeable when standing still, or standing to eat and her back end sinks down as she eats. Getting up from the floor is sometimes a process to get her legs under her, but not always and she makes no indication of pain when doing so. She "jogs" in the yard and still jumps into the car ( with us catching her back end if need be to make it in safely). She goes for 1-2 walks a day and very much wants to go on those walks. She has been getting up on her sofa and my husband has been carrying her up the stairs at night. She is on Fresh Factors and advanced joint health supplements and does very well on those. She does not have LS, I guess she has arthritis? But is she in pain? I am not sure, she gives no signs of this, just stiffness and weakness? I read a lot of old posts regarding these symptoms and I saw a lot of people mention gabapentin. Would gabapentin be of help at this time? With Rymidal ?? Thanks for any thoughts on this!

Springtimeinc.com : Fresh Factors with joint health or Advanced Joint Health Chewables with Fresh Factors depending on the need. The Advanced Joint Health has Boswellia in it ( for pain) and the other good stuff. My 14 yr old greyhound is on it and I swear by it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Totally assisting with her back end, her climbing stairs and jumping into the car. I love their products!!!!!! check out their website and dog products and call them with questions. I find them very helpful over the phone!

I am so sorry for your loss and so sad to read this. Hugs !!

yes and yes. on the skin or by mouth.

I am so sorry. I always loved seeing Aston's picture in your siggy! I unfortunately know too well what you are going through. Remember to breathe.

what a beautiful doggy ! Nice memories and stories to tell.

love your siggy. 1-3 walks around here, depending on time off, the weather and which dog is the most interested that day! My almost 14 yr old does not walk as much as my 8 yr old. My 11 yr old ( that I just lost) would walk anytime, anywhere, anyhow all day long!!

April 2 2003- July 24th 2014. We went to Peddler's Village in New Hope, Pa for a meet and greet in July 2007 and there she was, walking across the parking lot to the event. She was gorgeous. She was tall and strong and white with brindle and looked friendly but confident. She had just come up from Florida in one of those large hauls. She was staying with the owners of the Philadelphia Greyhound Connection and in 2 weeks time she would come home with us. We had our spooky scared Shana at home and we thought our new girl, now named Misha would help give her confidence too. And she did. Misha also bit her over mini bagels, but that is a story for another time. Misha had space aggression at first. Who knew? I learned the hard way, getting nicked under the eye when I bent down to snuggle. Oh well, I learned and then she learned that snuggling was the way to go. She became a master snuggler and bed hog!!! Misha was stunning, people thought she was a boy because she was tall and strong. But she was our girl. She went on adventures and trips and walks and car rides with us, learned to bark in our faces for treats, kongs, chewys and whatever else she wanted at the time, but who was going to say no to those brown eyes? She left us way too soon, she was only 11 and a young 11 at that! There is a huge hole in our hearts and we miss her presence already. Misha, Mishee, Mishkata, Mishi-pishy, crazy girl, Misha-Latisha, just the best girl ever!

thanks carronstar and I am sorry about Aquitaine

If you have nothing nice to say, go away! You are not looking in her eyes , I am and you do not add anything here . I am not a fool and I know when it is time then it is time. Thanks for the kind thoughts to the others. ... and this is why people leave Greytalk. Compassion ChickenArms, look it up.

i love that list for so many reasons !!! I will print it out and put it on the fridge!!! that made me smile

thanks for the ideas. I will talk to the vet tomorrow. We just got back from a walk that she insisted on going on with her sister (Shana). Go figure. She looked good up and about which adds to the confusion!! She peed, pooped and snuffled about like a pro??!! One day at a time i guess.

Peanut butter off the spoon is the big winner! And she does not seem to mind the A/D food from the vet which is watered down so she gets fluids. She does NOT like the vet and that would be a very stressful situation for her. But, good idea. I wish she would eat a pork chop, she has never had one in her life as we do not eat them, but she has lost interest in chewing food. Turned down mashed potatoes with gravy tonight- what the... who does that?? What kind of appetite stimulant is there?

thanks...

Tell me something I do not know. Since this is all just since Friday, I think we wanted to try something/ anything we could. She is such a strong young ( for 11 yr old) and vibrant dog until late last week - it is shocking!

what nausea meds are OK to give. She is not really eating so any diet goes. ... Vet does not have a lot of suggestions. Rymidal and Gabapentin for the pain in her leg, the A/D food watered down or anything she will eat.. ugh

threw up only x1 on the way to the vet ( my driving?! a little humor in my sorrow) phosphorus is high. what could possibly be the intervention at this point? Just kind of talking outloud...

She eats very liquidy A/D canned food and will drink water. I do not know the BUN. She also has osteo in her right wrist and has had a sudden turn for the worse with pain there that we have been trying to handle. If things are as bad as they seem, I do not want her at the vet away from me.... It is all very sudden from no pain and no limping to a lot of pain and kidney issues off the charts ??????????

repeated Mon after doing it Friday , went from 14 to 16 ????????

Has anyone ever heard of that or experienced that? Obviously not good, but even the Vet has never seen that with a dog that is still moving around, going outside to pee... appetite is very poor!

One tramadol ( I do not remember the dosage unfortunately) made her pant, shake and seem anxious and nervous all night. ??!! It was not good. I will see the vet in the am and talk to him about the dose of gabapentin. She was definitely looking better today with that in her system then yesterday. thanks

We are rechecking the creatinine level Monday. She is on 100mg gabapentin x1 daily which from reading here, is very low. I gave her 2 doses today?! She gets 50mg of Rymidal 2x daily. I did not know you could give tylenol with codeine to dogs ?? Interesting about the ratio of BUN/creatinine. I will ask the vet.