jenn8

If he checks out okay medically, you might try leaving him out of the crate and using muzzle or baby gates instead. After 3 to 4 months, many dogs just tire of being in their crates. This could be Spencer's way of telling you he has had enough. Jenn

Me too. Jenn

Night and day is way too much time for a dog to be crated. He will learn to go up the stairs on his own if you give him the opportunity. His shyness won't get in the way of that. Jenn

-ditto- Jenn

I can see how their upbringing might have that effect, considering the amount of time they spend in their crates. Jenn

I second Batmom and Macoduck's advice. You have a golden opportunity with your daughter visiting, if she is willing to help. Just like you have been doing, reinforce the good behavior and don't let any accidents go unnoticed. Jenn

If she has osteo, she is going to need something for pain and inflammation. They don't always make it obvious when they experience pain but it will definitely happen. I would check with the vet before making any drastic changes in her meds. Maybe he can prescribe something else. Jenn

Bug will choke on his kibble if it's dry. Like greyhead does, I add canned food and warm water, then stir it up until it makes a gravy. Works great. Jenn

Jenn

Problem solved. Jenn

There are many different supplements on the market today that contain the same ingredients as Ocu-Glo. Vitamin C & E, Omega fatty acids, grape seed extract, etc. Their claim to fame is a "proprietary blend" containing Lutein (which the others also have). But they say there is not enough Lutein in other supplements. Problem is they won't tell you how much is in theirs. You can buy Lutein all by itself (and all the other ingredients) for a fraction of the cost. I don't want to discourage you from using this supplement but they charge way too much for it. There is no reason why you should be spending $80.00 every month and a half. Just take their list of ingredients and do some research to see what else is available and then talk to the specialist about substituting it. Oh and you don't need a prescription for Ocu-Glo but you still may not be able to find a lower price. Good luck. Jenn

Yep, we are here for you. Jenn

I was probably lucky in that I didn't know Onyx had Osteo until the day I let him go. He was already on pain medication for arthritis which I was steadily increasing as his condition worsened. I always knew to up his pain meds when I heard him moan. I am so grateful now that I didn't hold back, considering what he was actually going through. I believe he was getting 1000 mg of Rimadyl twice a day and 150 mg of Tramadol every 8 hours near the end. Just a few days after he started limping, we were at the vet and I was staring at this x-ray that said it all. His bone was just about to break. I had no choice but to let him go right then and there. So I guess you could say I never had that watching period and really don't know how I would have handled it. My heart goes out to you and Sherman. Jenn

Maybe if you let him sleep on a dog bed in your room and arrange some shoe boxes or tinfoil or something around yourself (to break his habit of jumping up), then leave his crate open in the living room, he will get used to running in there for safety during a storm. I have no idea how I came up with all that. Jenn