Tips for keeping an old man happy

pulliptears

begley wrote: »

Aw, he's lovely. Fingers crossed the pain killers keep him comfy, bless him. You could try some natural yoghurt for his stinky breath - apparently a dollop on their food is supposed to help. I keep meaning to try it, Jake has the breath of satan!

When my old dog (who lasted until she was 22 and a half!) was 'getting on a bit' the vet said to only give her chicken based meals as it's kinder on their tummies. I did this, but her favourite food was always Chinese takeaway and cheeseburger happy meals - so who knows which helped her to live as long as she did!!

*edited to add that neither she or I ate Chinese takeaway or MaccyD's very often*!!

Ohh thats a good idea! I fed Jack natural yoghurt for his liver disease and I always felt it helped in some way. I'll give it a go.

He eats arden grange at present, he does enjoy that, it's chicken and rice though he does have the lamb occasionally. I did put him on the premium stuff to try and fatten him up a bit but it gave him farts that cleared the room.
He does have 'treats' he shouldn't. Last night he had a rather large pile of leftover chips, he LOVES prawn crackers from the Chinese as well (though the crack when he bites into them always makes him jump )

22 is an amazing age. She must have had a fabulous life!

This is a better pic, taken last week. Its so difficult to see him as an old guy when he does look so much like a puppy..

chris_n_tj

He is a beautiful Furkid pulliptears, and that is down to the love and care you and your family give him x.

As for takeaways, if he enjoys it then what the heck, I would let him have a bit of what he wants and enjoys.

Have you thought of using a magnetic collar? My friend poopoo'ed the idea when some one told her about them, but she gave it a go and she thinks its helping. Might be worth a look.

As for the slippy floors we have wooden floors throughout and we use Paw wax from Pats at Home. Its brilliant stuff and works well for us x

bugslet

Not heard of paw wax, thanks for the tip.

lovely pics Pullip.

pulliptears

chris_n_tj wrote: »

He is a beautiful Furkid pulliptears, and that is down to the love and care you and your family give him x.

As for takeaways, if he enjoys it then what the heck, I would let him have a bit of what he wants and enjoys.

Have you thought of using a magnetic collar? My friend poopoo'ed the idea when some one told her about them, but she gave it a go and she thinks its helping. Might be worth a look.

As for the slippy floors we have wooden floors throughout and we use Paw wax from Pats at Home. Its brilliant stuff and works well for us x

I was looking at magnetic collars yesterday oddly and I think it's worth a try. He had a new Star Wars collar and lead the other week which is brilliant, but if the magnets work then its a no brainer

I've seen the paw wax and did consider going down to buy a tin, but he's a paw nibbler so I wondered if he's lick it off maybe. I'm hoping his socks come tomorrow so I'll try those first and give the paw wax a go if not.

begley

Aw, he looks very pleased with himself. What a handsome chap! Have you thought about oil in his food - olive or cod liver oil? Might help his joints a bit.... My old girl had a capsule every day, and she was pretty supple right to the end! Well, as supple as a 22 year old dog can be....!

pulliptears

begley wrote: »

Aw, he looks very pleased with himself. What a handsome chap! Have you thought about oil in his food - olive or cod liver oil? Might help his joints a bit.... My old girl had a capsule every day, and she was pretty supple right to the end! Well, as supple as a 22 year old dog can be....!

Yep, have started him on cod liver oil tablets and glucosamine, along with a little flax oil for his coat.

He's looking smug because he's on the bed where he isn't allowed

meritaten

Awwww - he is quite scrumptious Puliptears! I do like Westies, the old lady next door does doggy day care for her sons two, and they are lovely dogs - plus years ago there was one living opposite me, and was such a sweety everyone in the street used to stop to talk/play with her!

pulliptears

Yesterday was like having a different dog. He was bouncy, following me around etc. I decided to drop the Tramadol down to one a day initially and see how he goes with that. I'd said to DH if he seemed stiff/sore this morning then I'd put him back on his nightly tablet as well.
I normally go in to him and have to prod him awake (deaf as a post you see), went in this morning and he was up and waiting for me, tail wagging. No sign of stiffness etc. He came into the living room and jumped on the sofa, something he's been incapable of for at least the last 6 months. He's had his morning Tramadol along with a cod liver oil and a glucosamine and is having a little snooze on 'his end' of the sofa on his newly arrived heatpad.

So for now it seems he's comfortable on one a day so there is scope to up his dosage later. I don't know what went wrong on Monday, whether it be the cold or he was just having a bad day but he's sprightlier now than he's been in a very long time.

Fingers crossed we are on the right track for now

Dimey

Merry_Wanderer wrote: »

Also, we would leave nightlights on in the house for my oldie as he used to walk around in the middle of the night.

Bob is adorable OP, I want to grab his cheeks! He looks so young.

Pleased to read about the improvement. Hope you indulge him in his twilight years.

If you like Merry Wanderer's idea of night lights, I bought some nice amber night lights from Wilkinson's that plug into the electric sockets. They come on automatically when it is dark so you just plug them in and forget about them. They cost just a few pounds.

I don't know if this is crazy but when my friend's dog was too old to walk far, she used to take him out in a push chair so he got fresh air and a change of scenery. When they got to the park she'd lift him out for a little wander and sit for a while. The old chap actually loved it.

teddysmum

Have you tried him with Fish4dogs skins ? I buy the 3" twists for my cavaliers, so they have to chew (smaller ones get swallowed too soon). Joly has always refused to have his teeth brushed and had to have a dental at age 3, but at nearly 11, his teeth aren't too bad, though not perfect.

Also, being a fish product, they supply the joints with oils.