General Chat

Hiya Carole. He's always been on dried food. We've changed the brand under veterinary advice but it's not worked.

Thanks everyone for your advice and kind words.

Much appreciated xx

My friends dog was messing in the house, and she changed her to dry food which helped.
Carole x

Thank you Sue.

Of course you've been a great help. I'm struggling hard with this. I appreciate your words xx

Muffy - I found the barking hard, too, ours was compounded by the fact that he was deaf as a post so you couldn't even shout at him! Also had to be careful not to startle him, as he was so deaf.

I have a 10yr old who seems to be barking a lot lately but I think it's cos her hearing may be muffled so she barks at noises that she could easily distinguish before.
Also she is more grumpy because she has a lot of joint pain now.Perhaps you should have one more visit to the vet for advice because it would be a shame if they can do something for him.He might be grumpy cos he's getting tummy ache or feeling nauseous.
hope you can make the right decision either way
love and ((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))
bunny x

Oh dear, I feel for you on this. It's slightly comparable to a situation we faced.

Our eldest dog (female Yorkie) died of old age that left the Bichon who missed the Yorkie, who was top dog, terribly.

Her behaviour was awful, she became snappy and so wilful she was impossible to control.

We had to make a decision, we didn't want her re-homed because she was really too old, we decided that her life was miserable and chose to have her put down.We had discussed her mood change with the vets for a couple of months.

It was a bloody awful day when hubby took her to the vets and I know it was 50% for her and 50% for us. We were unhappy and so was she.

Nobody can make the decision for you but what is the dog's quality of life? I think you have to take that into account as well as your own wellbeing.

Sorry probably not much help.

Sue xx

Thank you Sheila.

It's such a hard call. BUT I'm struggling so hard balancing taking care of him with the welfare of my girls who can no longer use their garden because of the mess.

I'm pressure washing it daily but it's not really sufficient. What with disinfecting the floor at least half a dozen times a day and the manic barking I'm about worn out.. xx

I had asimilar problem with my big cat shane (German Shepard) we fed him on rice based products then chappie and he was ok

Hi Tina we've changed it three or four times now.

The problem is he is a real greedy dog and will eat clods of earth and any sort of rubbish he can find so as good as the food maybe he ruins it by eating any rubbish he can pick up.

In himself he's become more highly strung and *yippy* but no less affectionate and energetic xx

Muffy -

I do feel for you. Our dog (we had him put to sleep recently) suffered from senile symptoms, although it was his athritis that finally got too much at the end. He didn't have a 'messing' problem but we did have aimless barking, not knowing where he was, lack of affection, lots of in/out the garden and waking us up without fail around 5am. I got quite stressed by it, and felt guilt, and frustration that I couldn't help him. His condition did stabilise with the Hills BD diet, but this doesn't work for all. It's hard, but you have to assess his quality of life (and your well-being too). Take care, Sheila

Maybe his diet could be changed? I'm sure there is some dietry food available to help him.

I hope you can find some solution soon. All the best.

Tina x

how is he in himself?

My old boy is 10 years old. He was a nightmare of a puppy who messed and dug everything. Made me cry with his awful behaviour.

Up until last year he had improved no end.

We lost our our lady 2 yrs ago and since then he's started gradually regressing back to puppy hood.

Every 3 weeks out of the blue he has started messing it lasts for about two weeks. Not proper mess but watery pooey mess (sorry to be so graphic)

He's been to the vets and there is nothing physically wrong with him. It's just senility.

Nothing that he has been given to help the problem has worked.

I love him dearly but I can't do this for much longer. I can't let the kids out in the garden because of the mess there (you can't pick it up it's not that sort of mess) and I'm having to keep him in the conservatory with the other two because he poo's as he walks along.

Am I so wrong in having come to the end of my tether. This is now happening too often. On top of his manic barking and grumpiness I'm thinking we've come to the end of the road much as it breaks my heart to say so.

Honest advice and opinions welcome xx