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User no longer registered.
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Geriatric Pets...
I gotta make an appointment for the old dog today, he's 16 now, he's gone deaf, partially blind and he can't make it up and down the stairs anymore without help.
When he gets to the point where he can't climb the stairs anymore at all, I'll do for him, what I did for the old cat before he passed last year...I'll end up sleeping on the couch, getting woke up several times a night to tend to him, spend a good portion of my day giving him his medication, comfort and love....as long as he is physically comfortable and just keep hoping that when his time comes, that he passes quickly and easily in my arms, like the old cat did.
Darn things, they really get to you don't they?
I'm probably like allot of you, after losing one pet, you think that you just can't go through that again, but then some sad, hurt, abandoned animal shows up in my life...and I'm back to losing sleep and making that old uncomfortable couch my bed again.
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| November 13, 2007, 08:59 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
I gotta get a new couch...
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| November 13, 2007, 09:00 |
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NRG4U
63 / male
Beaver City, Nebraska, US
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
Yup, i just lost my cat, I'd had him 15 years, i'm guessing he was 2 when i got him. He was sick, so i took him to the vet, just got him there when he died. I wasn't gonna get another, but my aunt showed up yesterday, she can't walk so good, & her cat keeps tripping her, so she gave it to me. Yup, here we go again.
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| November 13, 2007, 09:03 |
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
Well, you've done two good deeds in one there, the cat will be well cared for and your aunt has peace of mind knowing that.
My poor old dog, he just doesn't have much of an appetite much of the time, I open cans and cans of food, but he's losing weight, I gotta go cook him some burger and rice and hope he eats that, he's gotta eat something, I put his joint pain meds in his food.
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| November 13, 2007, 11:33 |
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darkmark666
52 / male
millville, New Jersey, US
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
My friends had a Rottweiler, from a pup, who was the absolute most charismatic, positively enjoyable, personallity filled animal, i have ever seen...He would "talk" and "sing" with you in matching keys, and volumes...if you groaned real low...he would, when you escalated, he would as well...sometimes, he would lead, and then, once in a while...as if you inadvertently offended him in dogspeak, he would just grumble, and shake his head and put his paws over it.
I get very attached to animals...so much so, that I refuse to have my own, anymore...
My friends dog became very ill, very old, and eventually need to be put to sleep...he was in a lot of pain, unable to move, not eating...very sad...it is actually making my sad even now, thinking about it.
good luck, I hope that the natural end comes easy as it can, and, until then, I will hope for your ease in caretaking, as much as can be hoped for...
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| November 13, 2007, 12:34 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
Ah DM, I know what you mean about the "talking"...Schnags, the 3 legged wonder cat is a talker...he rarely ever has just meowed, he coos and whirrs with a wide range of lilting.
Schnags by the way, bounced back from that amputation, he can outrun me easily, and can climb a tree, not as well as other cats, but he gets the job done.
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| November 13, 2007, 16:33 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
I recently lost one of my dogs and my cockatil a day apart.
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| November 14, 2007, 11:03 |
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Liberalwife
47 / female
north, England, UK
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Re: Re: Geriatric Pets...
QUOTE (hotbubblegum @ November 14, 2007, 11:03)I recently lost one of my dogs and my cockatil a day apart.
 
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| November 14, 2007, 11:07 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Re: Geriatric Pets...
QUOTE (hotbubblegum @ November 14, 2007, 11:03)I recently lost one of my dogs and my cockatil a day apart.
I sure know how that hurts, dear....
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| November 14, 2007, 11:57 |
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darkmark666
52 / male
millville, New Jersey, US
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Re: Re: Geriatric Pets...
QUOTE (Chazzy @ November 13, 2007, 16:33)Ah DM, I know what you mean about the "talking"...Schnags, the 3 legged wonder cat is a talker...he rarely ever has just meowed, he coos and whirrs with a wide range of lilting.
Schnags by the way, bounced back from that amputation, he can outrun me easily, and can climb a tree, not as well as other cats, but he gets the job done.
Cool! I thought, as I was reading this, that that was the cats name, with the battered leg. I am glad he's alive, and kickin'...and climbin'...
I think those talkie animals are kinda rare. I always try to initiate conversation, but...most of the time they just ignore me. Or stare at me with their head cocked, like I'm crazy...
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| November 14, 2007, 12:21 |
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darkmark666
52 / male
millville, New Jersey, US
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Re: Re: Geriatric Pets...
QUOTE (hotbubblegum @ November 14, 2007, 11:03)I recently lost one of my dogs and my cockatil a day apart.
That sucks...sorry, hon...
I mean it...I just can't even have pets...I get emotional over my friends animals...If I had another animal, and it died, I would be guilt ridden, even if it lived 4 times its life expectancy.
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| November 14, 2007, 12:24 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
Thanks all, couldn't believe it was one after the other, just one dog left now 
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| November 14, 2007, 12:30 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
My old dog's vet appointment is tomorrow, even though at his age, I know if it's not soomer, it will be later...but I'm still hoping the vet has good news for us, and he'll be around for a few more years.
He's such a good and loyal creature.
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| November 14, 2007, 13:10 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
When you buy a pet, you think you have 10 plus years with them and it seems so long, but it isn't and it is so sad when we lose them, as they become a big part of your life.
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| November 15, 2007, 12:30 |
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pookhabear
75 / male
port st lucie, Florida, US
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Re: Re: Geriatric Pets...
QUOTE (Chazzy @ November 14, 2007, 13:10)My old dog's vet appointment is tomorrow, even though at his age, I know if it's not soomer, it will be later...but I'm still hoping the vet has good news for us, and he'll be around for a few more years.
He's such a good and loyal creature.
Chazzy, you have such a wonderful heart
When I become geriatric, will you take care of me  LOL
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| November 15, 2007, 12:35 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
All good news from the vet! His vital organs are all in excellent condition, he has some congestion and got some good but pricey pills for his arthritis....even at 16 years of age, it seems he's got a few more years of quality life ahead of him.
That's a load off my mind for sure! He's tired and crabby from his big day though.
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| November 15, 2007, 15:02 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
I'm pleased it's good news from the vets. 
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| November 15, 2007, 15:23 |
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REALshedevil
66 / female
Richmond, Missouri, US
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
It is not possible to get attached to your pets for sure! In the same year we lost our 13 year old beagle and my 19 year old cat. I really did have a hard time with them being gone.
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| November 15, 2007, 19:27 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
Pets are great! But they are a true committment too...their lives and well being are in your hands, they depend so much on us...and when something happens to them, it just makes me feel like in spite of all, I've failed them somehow.
I'm just happy that I'll be able to improve the dog's quality of life and give him more years with us.
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| November 15, 2007, 19:52 |
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REALshedevil
66 / female
Richmond, Missouri, US
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Re: Re: Geriatric Pets...
QUOTE (Chazzy @ November 15, 2007, 19:52)Pets are great! But they are a true committment too...their lives and well being are in your hands, they depend so much on us...and when something happens to them, it just makes me feel like in spite of all, I've failed them somehow.
I'm just happy that I'll be able to improve the dog's quality of life and give him more years with us.
I'm so glad to hear that your dog still has some years ahead  
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| November 15, 2007, 19:55 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
I've got so many pills to give him over the next week, and he's gotten so finicky with his food (I have to slip his pills in his food) so I'm thawing out some chicken and turkey livers to bake up good and tender for him later just to make sure he gets his daily meds.
I just love the vet clinic we take our animals too...it's all women, not a man on staff anywhere, and those women are fantastic with animals there, I've seen grown men vets that were intimidate with my big old dog, but these girls seem to be able to do anything for him with no problem at all.
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| November 15, 2007, 20:02 |
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REALshedevil
66 / female
Richmond, Missouri, US
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Re: Re: Geriatric Pets...
QUOTE (Chazzy @ November 15, 2007, 20:02)I've got so many pills to give him over the next week, and he's gotten so finicky with his food (I have to slip his pills in his food) so I'm thawing out some chicken and turkey livers to bake up good and tender for him later just to make sure he gets his daily meds.
I just love the vet clinic we take our animals too...it's all women, not a man on staff anywhere, and those women are fantastic with animals there, I've seen grown men vets that were intimidate with my big old dog, but these girls seem to be able to do anything for him with no problem at all.
The vet office that I used to take my pets to had ladies as well as men. The ladies were so awesome with them. The male vet was a sweetheart as well. They were just a great bunch with my pets. The day I had to have my dog and cat put to sleep they all cried with me and my youngest son. Such special people.
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| November 15, 2007, 20:04 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
Boy, the old dog is perkier this morning! Pills must be kickin' in...he downstairs right now nagging me to go out...again! He's been out twice this morning already!
(once at about 3:40am...ugh...)
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| November 17, 2007, 08:58 |
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ShadowSpirit69
69 / male
Southern Oklahoma, Oklahoma, US
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Re: Re: Geriatric Pets...
QUOTE (Chazzy @ November 17, 2007, 08:58)Boy, the old dog is perkier this morning! Pills must be kickin' in...he downstairs right now nagging me to go out...again! He's been out twice this morning already!
(once at about 3:40am...ugh...)
Happy to hear the "Old" boy is feeling better.
Chaz I understand how pricey a vet can get,and in case you didn't know you might try Children's Motrin or baby aspirin for the arthritis once a day, but I wouldn't use more than a 2-3 of days in a row. Keep an eye out on his urine output. Also for allergies you can use 25mg Benadryl, and for an upset stomach I give my dog Tums or Pepto Bismo tablets.
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| November 17, 2007, 12:06 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
The vet prescribed Rimadyl and after only two days, there's a big improvement in him, the pills are not cheap, over 30 bucks for a 20 day supply, but when I looked them up on line, I found a form to fill out to get 10 bucks and 5 bucks off his next two refills...
I'm sure I'd never get tums down him, he's gotten so finicky (Yeah, I've spoiled him) that it's an all day job right now getting 9 pills a day in him(the other 8 pills are for a week, for his cough that's caused by a bacterial thing)...I gotta sneak his pills in with his food, so I have to make sure what food I put out, he'll eat..even if I have to cook for him.
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| November 17, 2007, 13:28 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
Well dammit...the old dog had a bit of a relapse and he's back on meds and allot of my time is devoted to his care...which might explain why it can take me a day or two to reply to messages! Sorry about that...
Yesterday I wouldn't have thought the old fella was gonna pull out of it this time, but...he's starting to perk up some tonight, even got a little of his appetite back.
Hey, as long as the dog wants to live, and there's quality to his life, I'll make sure he gets whatever he needs...dogs are cool...
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| January 18, 2008, 21:05 |
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slowpoke2
52 / male
aberdeen, Scotland, UK
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Re: Re: Geriatric Pets...
QUOTE (Chazzy @ January 18, 2008, 21:05)Well dammit...the old dog had a bit of a relapse and he's back on meds and allot of my time is devoted to his care...which might explain why it can take me a day or two to reply to messages! Sorry about that...
Yesterday I wouldn't have thought the old fella was gonna pull out of it this time, but...he's starting to perk up some tonight, even got a little of his appetite back.
Hey, as long as the dog wants to live, and there's quality to his life, I'll make sure he gets whatever he needs...dogs are cool...
i wish there was more of you around who really look after their pets
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| January 18, 2008, 23:45 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
Thanks slowpoke, the sweetheart must be feeling better now....he woke me up at 4 am.
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| January 19, 2008, 05:57 |
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Liberalwife
47 / female
north, England, UK
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Re: Re: Geriatric Pets...
QUOTE (Chazzy @ January 19, 2008, 05:57)Thanks slowpoke, the sweetheart must be feeling better now....he woke me up at 4 am.
I think that is so sweet, awe...we gotta love our dogs.  Now, had that been a human I'd have been kinda annoyed.
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| January 19, 2008, 14:42 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
Chaz, my mother in law has a dog with arthritis. He's old, as well... and overweight. He takes pain meds for his arthritis, too. When he's hurting he'll gobble it right up. When he's fine, you can't make him take it. The pills she gets are big enough to be broke in half and that's all he needs sometimes. You might want to try that to make them last longer. Sometimes the perkiness from a whole pill can be a bad thing. He's not feeling the pain but it'll be there after the friskiness... Know what I mean? Don't let him overdo it.
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| January 23, 2008, 09:58 |
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User no longer registered.
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
He won't eat chewable tablets...I have to cut up hot dog bits and poke the pills inside of those, and he'll take them no problem, the poor thing now has a very bad reflux problem...I've been elevating his food and water bowls for some time now (I use really nice pretty ceramic flower pots and found matching dog bowls that fit into them...looks good and does the job) but the reflux thing has gotten so bad that I have to feed him small amounts at a time, and keep him up on his feet till he's digested...and even then I have some cleaning up after him to do...he was "refluxing" into his lungs, which gave him a bad bacterial condition, he's feeling better today than he has in a long time, but it takes me all day just to get him feed, keep him active till he's digested everything.
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| January 23, 2008, 17:47 |
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slowpoke2
52 / male
aberdeen, Scotland, UK
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Re: Geriatric Pets...
keep doing what you are doing chazzy, you are such a kind and caring woman, i know people that would just give up if they had to do what you have done for him, so don't you change
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| January 23, 2008, 22:52 |
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