Tips for keeping an old man happy

moggymutt

I make simple ramps so my oldies can still sleep on the bed whenever they want.

Solarjunkie

A real treat for our very old dog was a walk around the car park of the local dog walkers' area, apparently an absolute banquet of doggy smells, she barely lifted her head from the ground & didn't stop wagging all the way round. It's not just the walk they enjoy, it's catching up on the "news" about the comings & goings.
Lucky dog to have such a caring owner.

pulliptears

Thanks all

He has fish skin treats, stink to high heaven but he loves them. I've also ordered a new brand of dentastick as well tonight so we'll see if that helps at all.

I was thinking about the night light thing so left him the under cupboard light on last night in the kitchen just until I can get a dim nightlight for him at the weekend. My next investment will be a small set of dog steps so he can get on the sofa, looks like I can pick these up for under £30 as well.

He's still getting around for short walks so no buggy just yet, but he's light enough to pick up when he's worn out anyway. I think I have been the lucky one to have had the pleasure of such a lovely little man for 13 years

begley

pulliptears wrote: »

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

Ah, good to read that he's doing well! Go Bob!!

scheming_gypsy

Bit of a strange thread.....

On Sunday night my oldest jumped on the bed and pulled something which put him into shock and caused him to wee. As i tried to move him to change the duvet he wouldn't budge so I had to lift him off and back on. On Monday whenever he did move he was VERY wobbly on his back legs - to the point I was thinking they'd given up due to age.
Tuesday he was a bit better and like Bob, yesterday / this morning he was back to his cheeky self.

Must have been something haunting old pups on Sunday / Monday and kicking their back legs from under them

pulliptears

Bob had another collapse this afternoon.
Every week when the shopping comes he has a jumbone delivered. He can be really good at eating it really quickly, so quickly it can make him sick.

About half an hour after eating he started to be sick, white foam. I wiped his whiskers and sat with him. Then he began gasping for breath and eventually collapsed.

I rushed him to the vet who thinks that although he is arthritic, her initial thoughts that the collapses were due to his back legs are probably wrong and its his heart thats causing the problems.
He's managed to inhale some of the sick and as he's already got emphysema its caused him to struggle for breath and brought on the heart issues causing the collapse.
I've had to leave him at the vets where she is trying to stabilise his heart, get him on antibiotics so he doesn't develop pneumonia and generally keep an eye on him for a few hours.
Vet and I are crossing everything he can come back home with heart pills and carry on.

Since he has been on the Tramadol he's seen a new lease of life. He's been a different dog, bouncy, happy. The change in him has been enormous. I know he's an old man, but I'm hoping he's not ready to give in just yet.

I've got to call at 6pm and see how he's doing. It's been a very long few hours