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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jun 23, 2020 21:51:06 GMT
boy, 2020 has sucked so far, hasn't it?!? It doesn't seem like it's letting up anytime soon, unfortunately! (first of all, I have a call into the vet, but figured I'd try the power of the Peas' collective experience. ) I need some suggestions from anyone who has experience with canine congestive heart failure, or elderly dogs in general... One of our Shelties, Krista, was just diagnosed last Saturday-- there's a lot of factors involved that makes it complicated. She's 14, and she doesn't have any teeth besides her canines. So she has difficulty eating in the best of times. And she has pneumonia- the tech said they couldn't even hear her heart with the stethoscope, there was so much fluid in her lungs.  And, on top of that, some of the blood work showed signs of pancreatitis. So: her heart is greatly enlarged due to the heart disease, which is causing her to cough and collect fluid in her lungs. And I think it's probably pressing on her windpipe / esophagus, making it difficult to swallow. She has pancreatitis, she doesn't want to eat, and she has a tough time eating anyway because of her lack of teeth. And right now she's on 5 different solid medications, along with a liquid appetite stimulant. I'm basically having to force all of those down her throat, unfortunately. In the last couple days, I've only managed to get her to willingly eat about 2 forkfuls of a Rx wet food and one spoonful of plain yogurt. But she needs to eat!! I've tried boiled, shredded chicken (she spits it right back out); I've tried adding a beef 'enhancer' gravy to the food (she licks that up but doesn't eat anything else); I've tried rice, a couple other kinds of canned dog food... Does anyone have any good suggestions for how to get a (VERY) reluctant dog to eat?!? Thank you!! |
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jun 23, 2020 21:57:34 GMT
I say this gently and with all the love in the world, but it sounds like she might be telling you that her time is over. Lots of hugs.
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Post by peasapie on Jun 23, 2020 22:02:04 GMT
I have a 14-year-old shitzu with a very bad heart murmur and an enlarged heart that was pressing against his trachea and causing him to cough. He has to take two pills morning and night, and one of them has to be divided into four parts, so it's like taking five. We tried a lot of things that didn't work - all his old standard favorites. Finally a good friend who'd had an older dog suggested what turned out to be a miracle for us -- you hide each pill inside a bit of cream cheese (enough to cover it) and then sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of that.
I was worried it would be too rich and cause other problems, but four months into this regimen it has not done anything but help him get better. No more coughing and he runs about like a puppy. We know it can't last forever, of course, but for right now he is living a good life, and what else could a parent ask for. I am positive someone will say it's not good for this reason or that to give cream cheese, but believe me -- when you have no other recourse it is worth a try.
Wishing you well with your baby. Please let us know how it goes.
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Post by christine58 on Jun 23, 2020 22:04:13 GMT
I say this gently and with all the love in the world, but it sounds like she might be telling you that her time is over. Lots of hugs. THIS....she is telling you she is done... |
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Post by dewryce on Jun 23, 2020 22:05:01 GMT
I have no experience, but wanted to offer (((hugs))). I hope your vet is able to help!
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Post by hop2 on Jun 23, 2020 22:11:44 GMT
I’m so sorry, my old man is holding steady at cranky old man right now so I have no advice. Hugs
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Post by mnmloveli on Jun 23, 2020 22:15:32 GMT
No suggestions. Just wanted to let you know how sorry I am you’re going thru this. Soooo hard when our beloved furry friend is suffering. Praying 🙏🏻
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Post by Patter on Jun 23, 2020 22:20:47 GMT
I just lost a Papillon over a year ago to this. It was AWFUL. He was diagnosed and gone within 24 hours. I should have put him down but it happened so fast. The suffering he went through in just a few hours still haunts me to this day as well as the fluid I felt in his lungs as I picked him up to rush him to the emergency vet. I pray you can make the right decision for your baby. I am SO sorry!
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Post by mom2kbs on Jun 23, 2020 22:23:36 GMT
We went through this with our 6 year old lab mix and had to put her down. It was the hardest decision every. She had a seizure disorder on top of this and she had a massive seizure in the dr office right as they administered the medicine. It was devastating to me but I know she is no longer in pain. We lost both of our labs within 9 months of each other. It has been 2 years and I still miss them horribly and tear up at every thought of them.
Sending love!
You can see one of them in my picture!
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Post by whipea on Jun 23, 2020 22:27:36 GMT
So sorry you are all going through this difficult time.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jun 23, 2020 22:27:48 GMT
I say this gently and with all the love in the world, but it sounds like she might be telling you that her time is over. Lots of hugs. ahhh, we've already talked about this, and we know it's a strong possibility... I just want to give her every chance possible if she can rebound from this at all. I don't want to give up on her without trying everything I can to give her a GOOD chance, you know? ETA: we went thru this last fall with one of our other Shelties, Bisbee... she had an inoperable brain tumor that affected her balance, vision, her ability to eat, and eventually her personality. It was heartbreaking to go through, and we really didn't expect to go thru it again so soon... |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Jun 23, 2020 22:29:51 GMT
No suggestions.
((((((((((((((((((((((HUG)))))))))))))))))))))
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Post by busy on Jun 23, 2020 22:42:09 GMT
I'm so sorry. We are dealing with cancer in our elderly dog and I know his time is coming soon; I absolutely understand how heartbreaking it is.
What would you want for yourself if you were in her paws?
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jun 23, 2020 22:56:38 GMT
What would you want for yourself if you were in her paws? yeah, this is the tough question. She's always been pretty much a couch potato, but... I really just want her to try to eat. I know this isn't going to go the way I want for her, but I want to do anything I can. My sincere sympathy to everyone who is going thru something similar with their canine companions. It really is one of the toughest things we've had to deal with. |
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peabay
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Post by peabay on Jun 23, 2020 23:01:13 GMT
I'm really sorry. I hope you can find something that makes her happier.
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Post by Basket1lady on Jun 23, 2020 23:25:50 GMT
Try a Mc Donald’s hamburger. That will tell you if she will try something appealing.
If you can convince her to eat, try to completely encase the pill in something. A 1/4 slice of American cheese may do it. Obviously, with the possible pancreatitis, you need to keep the fat to a minimum. Don’t touch the outside of the wrapper. Dogs can smell and taste so much better than we can and any residue on the outside will turn them from the pills. It may also be worth asking if the meds can be taken IM. It’s an easy enough shot to do yourself. If you can get her feeling better, it may convince her to eat again.
But yeah, not eating isn’t a good sign. It was the end for our lab. When a lab doesn’t eat, you know it’s bad. I’m so sorry
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Jun 23, 2020 23:50:18 GMT
crimsoncat05 We went through something similar with one of our dogs. He was sixteen and had a whole list of ailments. With underlying health conditions our thinking is if they don't eat for two days then it's time. Its a matter of quality of life. I'm so sorry and sad that you have to make that decision. Since you asked, scrambled eggs with cheese is our go to if a dog is not eating.
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Post by malibou on Jun 24, 2020 0:20:53 GMT
Big hugs!
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used2scrap
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Post by used2scrap on Jun 24, 2020 1:06:19 GMT
I’m sorry. Ailing pets is so hard to deal with.
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Post by anniefb on Jun 24, 2020 2:02:09 GMT
I'm sorry you and she are going through this. I think if she's not eating and has those other conditions as well, I would be thinking seriously of letting her go.
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pinklady
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Post by pinklady on Jun 24, 2020 2:19:19 GMT
I say this gently and with all the love in the world, but it sounds like she might be telling you that her time is over. Lots of hugs. Yes, this. My Dog had heart issues and was bloating with liquid. I had the vet drain her twice but after the second time, I had a long heart to heart with her and told her it was OK for her to go and that I’d be OK. She died in her sleep that night. As hard as it may be, you need to let her go. I’m so very sorry. |
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kate
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Post by kate on Jun 24, 2020 2:29:45 GMT
I'm so sorry you and your pooch are going through this. Sending hugs.
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Post by alexa11 on Jun 24, 2020 12:14:19 GMT
I crush Louis' meds with a hammer and empty his capsules- lol- stir them up in turkey or chicken baby food- the mush kind. He thinks it's the best stuff in the world. This is a dog who will NEVER eat pills hidden in anything. I've tried every kind of food. I would lose a hand if I tried to force one down his throat. I'm sorry that you're going through this.  |
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Post by NanaKate on Jun 24, 2020 15:05:33 GMT
I am so sorry ❤️
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jun 24, 2020 15:09:49 GMT
thanks, guys- I can now add baby food (ham flavored) and tuna fish to the list of things that Krista does NOT want to eat.  I've got a couple more things to try (fast-food hamburger and scrambled eggs), but then I'm out of options... I think we're about at the point where we know what the right decision is, but dang it, it's hard!  |
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Post by elaine on Jun 24, 2020 15:11:37 GMT
(((Hugs))) It is so hard, and it is an act of love to let her go if it is her time. I’m so sorry. |
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Post by Patter on Jun 24, 2020 20:48:06 GMT
thanks, guys- I can now add baby food (ham flavored) and tuna fish to the list of things that Krista does NOT want to eat. I've got a couple more things to try (fast-food hamburger and scrambled eggs), but then I'm out of options... I think we're about at the point where we know what the right decision is, but dang it, it's hard! I am so sorry. It truly is so incredibly hard. Hugs! |
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 24, 2020 20:55:06 GMT
Peanut butter?
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Post by katiekaty on Jun 24, 2020 21:16:58 GMT
Peanut butter. And there is this cheese whiz stuff treat that you can get at pet stores that you are suppose to use in Kong treat things, but by pups will take any pill in it!
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Post by theroadlesstraveledp on Jun 24, 2020 21:40:47 GMT
Sending you hugs. Went through this w/ a 12 year old doxie. She liked scrambled eggs with cheese a lot, so that helped us with medicating her. Cream cheese is another one. Dogs love that stuff and you can hide pills in it. We did meds, special food, and crate rest. None of that brought improvements and we could either try a really $$ cardiologist or we had to put her down. We had to go for the second option.
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