Senior dog has diabetes

[Jdarg]

If Memphis is as hot as it is here in Louisville, you may want to shut that dog door, and either get home at lunch to let him out, or have a neighbor let him out. We saw 2 dogs with terrible heatstroke yesterday at the clinic- and had to send them on to the emergency hospital because they were older and in really bad shape. Heatstroke can come on really fast, epecially in old, sick dogs, and I wouldn't let him make the decisions when to go out and come in today. You wouldn't want him to be overcome when you are not there.

If it is too hot outside for people, it is too hot for dogs.

 

[DD]

If Memphis is as hot as it is here in Louisville, you may want to shut that dog door, and either get home at lunch to let him out, or have a neighbor let him out. We saw 2 dogs with terrible heatstroke yesterday at the clinic- and had to send them on to the emergency hospital because they were older and in really bad shape. Heatstroke can come on really fast, epecially in old, sick dogs, and I wouldn't let him make the decisions when to go out and come in today. You wouldn't want him to be overcome when you are not there.

If it is too hot outside for people, it is too hot for dogs.[/QUOTE]

Thank you, jen-ay! This has been an ongoing discussion here at home and at work. I just don't think you should leave them out if you have a choice. Maggie has become a house dog this summer. Now, I'm worried about what to do with her when we're on vaca. My regular babysitter is gonna be out of town--she's the lady I got her from and she has a pool. But, don't wanna leave her somewhere where they'll leave her out in the heat!

 

[Cheering472]

Jdarg that is scary. I was in Memphis this weekend and it was HOT. The drivers of the horse drawn carriages all have dogs with them. We saw one poor dog who looked horrible. He was refusing water, and was real lethargic. His little head was hanging off the side of the seat. His tongue was hanging out but he wasn't panting. I wanted to scoop him up and take him right into the hotel. I have worried about that poor little thing since I saw him. Can't get him out of my head. Please keep your animals safe everyone.

 

[Lady D]

Believe me, that dog doesn't go out when it is hot! And our basement is cool. I am close enough where I can go home and check on him myself. Takes me about 10 to 15 minutes to get home.

 

[audie]

dory goes out when i get home at 6:30 am and doesn't venture out again until i leave for work at 6:30 pm.....if it's above 60 it's too hot for her - just like her momma !

 

[Lady D]

dory goes out when i get home at 6:30 am and doesn't venture out again until i leave for work at 6:30 pm.....if it's above 60 it's too hot for her - just like her momma !

Mo kinda overdid it going down the back yard just now. It is one big hill. He was lucky he made it up but wasn't as lucky coming up the steps. A little wobbly. But he is still weak and you know, 12 year old dogs do have difficulty getting up.

 

[Rudyjohn]

Glad to hear your pup is home!

But about the pills - - can you give them in a little peanut butter (probably not because of the diabetes) or a little chunk of cream cheese or even diet cream cheese? My little John has to take a pain pill for his arthritis every night. There is no way he'd take it by me trying to shove it down his throat. And I've read about rubbing the throat but that never worked here at our house! I just take a teaspoon with about a 1/4 of the spoon filled with the peanut butter (on the tip of the spoon) and the pill pushed down in there. He just scrapes it off the spoon in about 1 second, swallows it whole and it's done.

 

[Sheila]

Glad to hear your pup is home!

But about the pills - - can you give them in a little peanut butter (probably not because of the diabetes) or a little chunk of cream cheese or even diet cream cheese? My little John has to take a pain pill for his arthritis every night. There is no way he'd take it by me trying to shove it down his throat. And I've read about rubbing the throat but that never worked here at our house! I just take a teaspoon with about a 1/4 of the spoon filled with the peanut butter (on the tip of the spoon) and the pill pushed down in there. He just scrapes it off the spoon in about 1 second, swallows it whole and it's done.

The peanut butter is somewhat of a problem with the diabetes. But.....if you are going to cook the chicken or the lean burger, snare a piece of that and sitck the pill in the middle. Or a small piece of lowfat cheese would work as well.

 

[Lady D]

Gotothebeachmom, as soon as my husband gets paid Thursday I am going to go and buy some chicken breasts to keep in the freezer. I fixed him a small amount of roast beef, a cooked pot roast, not sandwich roast beef, boiled a bag of brown rice, gave him about two tablespoons of that and mixed it in with 1 1/2 cups of his dry eukanuba diet food. He licked the bowl clean. The vet wants him to eat only 1 1/2 cups of dry food twice a day and one tablespoon of canned dog food if needed. He surely doesn't think that will fill my big dog up! Just gave him his shot. Cannot even tell the needle is going in his skin it is so thick and his hair also. Did you feed your dogs any other meat other than chicken with the rice???

 

[Sheila]

Gotothebeachmom, as soon as my husband gets paid Thursday I am going to go and buy some chicken breasts to keep in the freezer. I fixed him a small amount of roast beef, a cooked pot roast, not sandwich roast beef, boiled a bag of brown rice, gave him about two tablespoons of that and mixed it in with 1 1/2 cups of his dry eukanuba diet food. He licked the bowl clean. The vet wants him to eat only 1 1/2 cups of dry food twice a day and one tablespoon of canned dog food if needed. He surely doesn't think that will fill my big dog up! Just gave him his shot. Cannot even tell the needle is going in his skin it is so thick and his hair also. Did you feed your dogs any other meat other than chicken with the rice???

Not after they gave up the canned food. I was mixing a small amount of the Science Diet canned with the dry Science Diet.

The main thing right now is getting him to eat so he can get his shots. Controlling the weight is a huge factor, so that's why we chose the chicken. I also went light on the rice. But as I said the Science Diet was only avaiable form our Vets office. Any way you go it's pricey. I know yo probably know all this from your experinece with his Mom. Good luck. I hope this will work for you.