barnbum
Well-Known Member
Suzy is 10 years old. We’ve had her since she was 8 weeks and she’s been healthy all her life, until….. about a year ago my daughter noticed Suzy’s jaw seemed to be moving—and we discovered she had a broken tooth—a big one. The vet said she’d have to be put under to have it removed, so we took her in. We were supposed to be able to pick her up the same day, but they called and said she wasn’t coming out of the anesthesia like they wanted, so they wanted to keep her overnight. She came home with meds to take—antibiotics and others. She got them all on schedule.
She’s never been the same since that day. She’s lethargic. She used to be a jumper--impressing everyone who came with her verticle height. But she'd never jumped again. She wouldn’t eat dry food after the surgery, so we bought her canned food. She liked it and kept her weight fine. Then she started not eating that. I searched around and asked others about what to try and tried: cottage cheese, meat baby food, dog food sauce, rice, oatmeal. None of those worked (Suzy’s sister loved them all, except the cottage cheese.) I found she loved hot dog or hamburger rolls and I finally bought chicken legs and boiled them for her. She loves the broth more than anything, but will eat the meat. She also liked bologna for awhile. She likes Italian bread. I’ve tried to get her to eat peanut butter because it’s high in fat and protein, but it’s not working. She recently enjoyed beef jerky strips—made as a dog treat—we bought many bags of them for her. Lately, I’ve left them at her side all night but they’ll be there in the morning.
Back tracking: last winter, when inside due to cold, Suzy started peeing on a green rug. We took her to the vet and the vet saw how we had to literally push/usher her wherever she needed to go. It seemed to be a mental loss--cognitive, rather than physical. We’d taken in a urine sample and it showed the start of crystals, so they put her on a med to dissolve them. The blood work showed nothing wrong. The vet said “sometimes when older dogs go under anesthesia, it flips a switch.” But, Suzy rallied a bit. The only time back then when she acted peppy was when I’d come down to let her out at 4 AM. She’d bounce like a puppy. My husband didn’t believe me until he saw it with his own eyes—because she was so lethargic all day.
Months later when she seemed to be going downhill even more, I took another urine sample to the vet, almost hoping it showed something, but it didn’t. They said to try to get her to drink more. She’s been tested for Heartworm and Lyme. Nothing.
Suzy is now eating just enough to keep her alive. My husband estimates her weight at 45 lbs when she should be 60. She’ll go 2-3 days eating so little, that I prepare my college kids and myself for the worse…then she rallies. I thought last night was her last; I sat with her a long time and told her it was okay to let go… but she’s still going today. When her head is up there’s always the possibility she’ll eat, so I offer. She’s not in any pain that we can tell—and she still gets up to do her business. She can even look alert. She tried to bark sometimes, but it’s weak—sounds like it’s from lack of use. Her poops seem a perfect consistency. She’ll sleep in her favorite straw filled corner by the house outside—and moves into the little shed now and then. Her rugs and pillows are in there. If it’s going to storm, my husband carries her inside for a few times she wouldn’t move completely out of the rains; sometimes she doesn’t move an inch from where he lays her, for hours.
We are watching her closely—constantly now since I’m home for the summer. She still gets up—although she’s wobbly and walks around and seems to take in her surroundings. Once she is unable to get up to do her business or gives us any indication she’s in pain, we’ll let her go. Until then, we will do whatever it takes to make her as comfortable and content as possible. It doesn’t seem she’s ready to leave.
I tell you her/our story in the slim chance someone has experienced something similar and had any advice to offer. I keep thinking if I could find the food she’d eat heartily, she’d gain strength and it’d turn her around. But, I know it’s hopeful thinking. There are so many animal lovers on here—I thought it was worth a post.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Suzy, one year ago
With her sister, Shimano.
Last month:
She’s never been the same since that day. She’s lethargic. She used to be a jumper--impressing everyone who came with her verticle height. But she'd never jumped again. She wouldn’t eat dry food after the surgery, so we bought her canned food. She liked it and kept her weight fine. Then she started not eating that. I searched around and asked others about what to try and tried: cottage cheese, meat baby food, dog food sauce, rice, oatmeal. None of those worked (Suzy’s sister loved them all, except the cottage cheese.) I found she loved hot dog or hamburger rolls and I finally bought chicken legs and boiled them for her. She loves the broth more than anything, but will eat the meat. She also liked bologna for awhile. She likes Italian bread. I’ve tried to get her to eat peanut butter because it’s high in fat and protein, but it’s not working. She recently enjoyed beef jerky strips—made as a dog treat—we bought many bags of them for her. Lately, I’ve left them at her side all night but they’ll be there in the morning.
Back tracking: last winter, when inside due to cold, Suzy started peeing on a green rug. We took her to the vet and the vet saw how we had to literally push/usher her wherever she needed to go. It seemed to be a mental loss--cognitive, rather than physical. We’d taken in a urine sample and it showed the start of crystals, so they put her on a med to dissolve them. The blood work showed nothing wrong. The vet said “sometimes when older dogs go under anesthesia, it flips a switch.” But, Suzy rallied a bit. The only time back then when she acted peppy was when I’d come down to let her out at 4 AM. She’d bounce like a puppy. My husband didn’t believe me until he saw it with his own eyes—because she was so lethargic all day.
Months later when she seemed to be going downhill even more, I took another urine sample to the vet, almost hoping it showed something, but it didn’t. They said to try to get her to drink more. She’s been tested for Heartworm and Lyme. Nothing.
Suzy is now eating just enough to keep her alive. My husband estimates her weight at 45 lbs when she should be 60. She’ll go 2-3 days eating so little, that I prepare my college kids and myself for the worse…then she rallies. I thought last night was her last; I sat with her a long time and told her it was okay to let go… but she’s still going today. When her head is up there’s always the possibility she’ll eat, so I offer. She’s not in any pain that we can tell—and she still gets up to do her business. She can even look alert. She tried to bark sometimes, but it’s weak—sounds like it’s from lack of use. Her poops seem a perfect consistency. She’ll sleep in her favorite straw filled corner by the house outside—and moves into the little shed now and then. Her rugs and pillows are in there. If it’s going to storm, my husband carries her inside for a few times she wouldn’t move completely out of the rains; sometimes she doesn’t move an inch from where he lays her, for hours.
We are watching her closely—constantly now since I’m home for the summer. She still gets up—although she’s wobbly and walks around and seems to take in her surroundings. Once she is unable to get up to do her business or gives us any indication she’s in pain, we’ll let her go. Until then, we will do whatever it takes to make her as comfortable and content as possible. It doesn’t seem she’s ready to leave.
I tell you her/our story in the slim chance someone has experienced something similar and had any advice to offer. I keep thinking if I could find the food she’d eat heartily, she’d gain strength and it’d turn her around. But, I know it’s hopeful thinking. There are so many animal lovers on here—I thought it was worth a post.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Suzy, one year ago
With her sister, Shimano.
Last month:
Last edited by a moderator:
