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Post by ailsa on May 30, 2012 1:51:27 GMT -5
My friend's lovely old lurcher Meg has stopped eating. She is in the advanced stages of heart failure, and the vet has confirmed renal failure, so they know she doesn't have long. However, she is still very lively and stimulated, so they don't feel she's quite ready to go yet. They don't want to prolong her life unnecessarily, but they are desperate to get her eating again.
They've tried Chappie, Butchers, covering things with gravy, eggs (raw and scrambled), white fish, chicken, rice - even jam sandwiches. The only things Meg will eat are sausages and tripe sticks. The vet, however, has said that sausage meat is too salty and will exacerbate the problems with her kidneys.
I have suggested cat food and frying up some cheap, fatty mince - but other than that they have already tried everything else I would have suggested. I'm hoping the Gap crew, with their infinite knowledge, might be able to help.
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Post by jackie on May 30, 2012 3:00:12 GMT -5
I don't know about the salt content but "Complan" sometimes goes down well with poorly dogs.  |
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Post by julies on May 30, 2012 3:43:44 GMT -5
When my Tig was very very poorly with cancer my vet said just let her eat whatever she will BUT I see what you mean about salty  I cut up tripe sticks and added them to anything I could think of ... she had a spell of eating Tesco steak and kidney pies/puddings tho check as one type has onion in it My vet said she's eat fish as her heart was very bad - i'd tried her on fish and thought he was bonkers but he was right .. she needed the Omega Oils  so I added little bits of fish to soaked complete foods to ty to get more calories into her .... There is a special pate you can get from the vets which is small but packs all their daily nutrients into it so maybe worth a try? Fish4Dogs do a salmon Mousse which is light and smells tasty ? They could also try gently rubbing her gums with damp fingers which we in TTouch find can stimulate them to eat and four or even five small feeds rather than two larger ones can help too .. My Bridge lurcher Moke had a very bad heart - I gave him Neem Multi capsules from Neem Genie and that kept him giong for 2 years with a good quality of life oh and the Neem Sticks from Neem Genie tempted Tig to eat as well. Check out too Dan ?Wilson no not Wilson .. Dan someone's homeopathic book for cats and dogs .. I used his recommendation of adding alfalfa and baking powder to Moke's food and that helped his kidneys too (he'd had a kidney function test which showed his readings were out of normal and he had another one after I'd started on the alfalfa and stuff and it went back into normal )- I got the book from Amazon Good luck with her, all crossed something can tempt her J xx |
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Post by barbaranixon on May 30, 2012 4:00:30 GMT -5
I lost my last two dogs to heart problems (mvd) and suspect it was the kidney failure that took their lives, rather than the heart itself, as drugs were very supportive.
Both gave up eating, except for treats, a couple of days before one just died and we decided to have the other pts, as he was very weak and we thought it the kindest thing to do.
Some may find it harsh, but I prefered to have Monty pts, while still lively, as I have aqaintances who left their dogs to go on, then wished they hadn't, because they got breathing difficulties.
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Post by just jackie on May 30, 2012 4:37:22 GMT -5
Have they tried any of the following? Might tempt her if they tried them Sardines, pate, Fish4Dogs Salmon mousse, liver, liquidised if she won't entertain it whole, I know it's messy but worth a try. Failing that, and as already mentioned the vets usually have a 'recovery diet' that is like a pate, but becomes more of a soup if stirred up with a fork. Comes in small tins, this is it. Hills AD Hills Prescription DietJackie x |
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Post by julies on May 30, 2012 4:39:37 GMT -5
Oh and put a fan on her to help her breathing with the b***dy heat ...I've got a tesco tower fan which is great
j x
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Post by longdoglady on May 30, 2012 6:32:59 GMT -5
Renal failure can feel like a bad hangover so that maybe why she does not feel like eating  Maybe a jar of baby food may tempt her and will be salt free. |
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Post by ailsa on Jun 1, 2012 4:22:09 GMT -5
I heard from Leon again this morning. Up until yesterday, Meg still wasn't eating much, so they 'invested' in some Hill's AD (a mere £2 per tin - and she needs four a day!  ). Well, lord know what that stuff's laced with, but apparently two hours after eating it, she was whining to go out for a walk, bounced and playbowed onto the green - and they spent the next ten minutes trying to catch her! ;D So it looks like there's life in the old girl yet. Thank you for all your suggestions. |
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Post by andywillow on Jun 1, 2012 5:19:35 GMT -5
I heard from Leon again this morning. Up until yesterday, Meg still wasn't eating much, so they 'invested' in some Hill's AD (a mere £2 per tin - and she needs four a day! ). Well, lord know what that stuff's laced with, but apparently two hours after eating it, she was whining to go out for a walk, bounced and playbowed onto the green - and they spent the next ten minutes trying to catch her! ;D So it looks like there's life in the old girl yet. Thank you for all your suggestions. Aww bless her, hope she continues to eat it and enjoys some more walks |
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Post by longdoglady on Jun 1, 2012 8:53:54 GMT -5
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Post by Emma on Jun 1, 2012 8:58:14 GMT -5
Aww great news, hope she can have a bit more fun before its her time Emma x |
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Post by Flaperoo on Jun 1, 2012 11:07:58 GMT -5
Good news Ailsa, hope she enjoys the rest of her days Maryxx |
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Post by Anthea on Jun 1, 2012 14:27:33 GMT -5
Great news, never an easy time with a very poorly dog xxxx
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Post by julies on Jun 3, 2012 11:39:34 GMT -5
Fab My last two were very poorly but weren't ready to go yet All crossed that she carries on for a good while yet J xx |
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