I mix a little pumpkin into my B's food several times a week. Most dogs like it, and it's good for their digestive track. I buy organic when it's available, but you can always find Libby's 100% pure pumpkin (no sugar) and it's often on sale for $1 a can.
The OP hasn't returned, so I hope that's a sign that the sick little guy is doing better.
Ava and I send (very) belated happy birthday wishes to The Talented Mr. Oakley! He's as handsome as ever– but five years already? My, my, time does fly.
The forum has been so quiet. I got out of the habit of checking it, because it seemed nobody ever posted. I miss those lively days, too, when somebody always had something to report or discuss. Glad to hear you and Oakley are doing well and prospering!
That's just how they like it– swaddled like babies and cuddled up against you. He's adorable-- congrats!
I'm terribly sorry to hear this.. but I'm glad you had the extra time with her. Every minute counts with a beloved dog, and she will always hold that special place in your heart. Run free, brave girl!
Eggs are the highest quality protein, so I gave Spencer one hard-boiled organic egg a week, divided over 2-3 days. Crushed eggshells are a good source of calcium, and boiling eliminates any threat of salmonella. You can add about 1/4-1/2 tsp crushed eggshells to a meal, if desired. It balances the P. You can also use Epakitin as a phosphate binder. It's a powder that mixes into the food, and most dogs don't mind the taste. Not all dogs need the Epakitin, though.
I'm so sorry to hear this about Arwen. Kidney disease is scary, and it's an effort to manage , but you get into a routine quicker than you'd think. I started out supplementing Spencer's dry food with home-cooked, since he hated all the store-bought kidney diet food (including the stew) and would only eat it doctored up. I soon found that it was just as easy to home-cook everything. I experimented with all sorts of combinations, always including a primary protein source like lean chicken, turkey or a scrambled/boiled egg, mixed with rice, veggies and an omega-3 gel cap. I avoided corn, but Spencer loved most other veggies– green beans, broccoli, spinach, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, carrots and squashes.
I know that a lot of people use recipes, but I knew what he could have and what he liked, so I just planned my own meals accordingly and gave him a blander portion of what I had. I fixed a lot of stir fries and steamed veggies and grilled a lot. I've never eaten healthier than those last few years with him. His quality of life was good and his kidney values, though elevated, stayed within his "normal" range until almost the end. Hopefully, Arwen responds well to her new diet and has good, happy years ahead!
LOL, yes, hope baby Morgan has grandma Dara's lovely temperament to go with that beautiful brindle coat. Ava looks like her mom, but she's definitely her father's daughter! Enjoy Morgan– he sounds like such a sweetheart.
OMG– he looks just like Ava! When I first saw that face, I thought for sure it had to be one of Dara's boys... then I scrolled down and saw that he is one of Vinnie's. Big congrats! He is adorable! So cool that you wanted Vinnie and now have his son. And how exciting for Elliot to have a baby brother.
Morgan's face is just like Ava's, except she has freckles on her blaze. And her brindle is just a little lighter. But the family resemblance is very strong. Ava looks so much like Cinder and Dara (and Xander, too), so little Morgan is definitely a chip off the old block.
How's his personality? Is he a feisty free spirit like Vinnie and Ava... or a little calmer? :)
Perry's big day has come and gone, but Ava and I wish him a happy belated b-day! He's quite the dashing fellow– but of course, he already knows that. :)
All good suggestions here. Treat-dispensing toys, asking her to work/obey commands for food and providing lots and lots of exercise and mental stimulation should help. Daycare is an invaluable resource. Make it a priority to find a daycare that has lots of other high-energy dogs to tire her out; if she tires the other dogs out and is still going strong, ask them to rotate her through playgroups. A hyper adolescent basenji has more energy than other breeds, and daycare isn't doing you much good if your girl is crated or not racing around with other dogs. Bring her home and walk her at a brisk pace, if she's still bouncing off the walls. Try play groups or beginning agility classes at night or on weekends.
Clicker training is usually fun for a high-energy dog. If she's food motivated, it will be easier since she'll be eager to do what you ask for food. If she isn't particularly food motivated, try high-value treats (bits of chicken, turkey, hot dog, cheese, etc.). Hiding small bits of food/treats around a room and having her find them is something else you can try. My girl loves this.
But, in my experience, what will help the most is another year. The time between 1 and 2 years can be very challenging, as your active girl works through adolescence, testing every boundary and finding new ways to spend that endless energy. Hang in there. This phase will pass quicker than you think, and when your girl turns 2 or so, she'll grow up, calm down and become a different dog. It seems to happen almost overnight!
Ava and I want to wish everybody– on two legs and four-- a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Travel safe... stay warm... and eat well. (And don't forget to share, Ava says.) :)
Seeing if you can email a vet in the States as soon as possible is probably the best advice. There are even vet sites online that can advise you (though not prescribe meds.)
But I agree with eeeefarm. I had a dog that contacted giardia (from drinking out of a pond), and the symptoms were exactly like Zoe's. It was a nasty infection, but it responded quickly to treatment. The vet prescribed Metronidazole. I withheld food for 24 hrs (very hard!), then fed a bland diet of chicken and rice for a week, supplementing it with fiber (pumpkin) to firm the stools. I made the food into a soup, because dogs with giardia get very dehydrated and often do not drink enough water. Ideally, the dog receives IV fluids, but since that probably isn't possible for you, I would try to get as much water into her as you can. Lightly flavoring the water by heating it with meat or vegetables makes a broth that is more palatable to them.
Stopping her from eating her own (or any other animals') stools will prevent her from reintroducing the parasite into her system while you are trying to get it out. And be sure and wipe her feet and fur to keep her from licking anything contaminated (soil, grass, water). If it is giardia, it is contagious, and the parasites can live a long time in the environment, so it's important to prevent reinfection.
I wish you and Zoe well. It sounds awful for you both, and I know how helpless you must feel.
Thanks again, eeeefarm and agilebasenji, for your responses. I have always appreciated your suggestions!
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Is she coming into season?
Otherwise, i'd start doing more obedience work with her, and do some nothing in life is free (google if needed). My sofa (loveseat) had 2 dog beds on them and I don't think anyone has ever peed on them, but they'd be easy enough to toss into the washer.
Yes, I did wonder about this!
We did NILIF all last year and still do, to a large degree. We also do obedience training 2x/ day and will continue.
Hi eeeefarm– I did see Ava pee when she was out, though I now know that she didn't empty her bladder. I can retest, but Ava has had so many UTIs than I can usually tell. But you're right, it's best to be thorough.
Nothing has changed in her life and she isn't "pissed" at me, that I know of. She did have a full vet workup last week and was cleared healthwise.
Has anybody else had to move a B from the people bed to a crate? How'd it go? How long does it take the dog to adjust? And will this even stop the peeing problem?
I'm happy to hear that Rudy is recuperating. That sounds so scary!
I haven't tried hydrotherapy, but I've had two dogs that experienced positive results with massage and acupuncture. I'm glad you've found a regime that's working.
Congrats on your new pup!
Another option would be to name her after a famous bandit. Same concept, but a softer approach, and there are lots to choose from. I'm sure you'll make a good choice. She's your dog and you can call her whatever suits her… and you.
Ava has allergies. I switched her to a grain-free rice-free food in the AM and found that Fromm Salmon Tunalini worked best for us. She gets raw at night and an omega-3 capsule every day. I also switched to unscented detergents and soaps, natural cleaning products and organic veggies. She gets Benadryl tabs, as needed, but as little as possible. All this helped, but what worked best was winter. Ava has been symptom-free for months, then yesterday, I noticed her starting to scratch and bite her paws. Sometimes, it's hard to find what triggers the allergy, so you just have to eliminate possibilities and see what makes a difference. Good luck!
Wow, Zest! can really get down! She does the "dancing dogs" proud.
Ava is going to have to learn some new moves to keep her street cred.