Let me start by saying, my fur baby ‘trouble’ is 12 years old. It’s been a difficult year, we’re in between homes and staying with a friend, so we spend most of our time trying to make ourselves invisible. Trouble’s activity level wasn’t great before, but he did have free roam. He’d often would get a bursts of energy, would play bow, play hide and seek, and regularly make his opinions known, as he is the most opinionated animal i’ve ever known! Lol but this past year, he seemed to have aged so much so, that my husband actually told me i should start preparing myself…
My other yorkie lived to be nearly 19, when i put him down, simply because he was intent on holding on, despite his obvious suffering. I know we’re never prepared to lose a fur baby, but this just knocked me off my feet! It was too soon! Yes, he’s getting old and does have terrible cataracts and often runs into things. And we’ve also noticed, his hips seem to be bothering him now throughout the year, rather than just during delaware winters. But, this was more than that. A well placed heating pad, under his favorite pillow, along with his food containing glucosamine, didn’t seem to be enough anymore. Worse, he had seemed to have lost his spark, all he did was sleep. He was uninterested in socializing, sometimes even with eating, and almost never responded to things like other animals or doorbells anymore. He seemed almost like he was severely depressed or getting doggie dementia.
This was unacceptable. My trouble was barely eating and had completely lost what got him his name in the first place. Even his personality seemed to be almost non-existent. I was utterly devastated and heartbroken.
I spent more than a week researching causes, treatments, vitamins, supplements, and top food brand options. I decided to add a high protein canned dog food to his daily kibble. Because of the insane price and basic nutrition of the little tray food products, i decided on the blue buffalo high protein large cans, my local target carries and delivers with shipt. I researched and carefully figured out exactly how many calories were appropriate, for his size. I slice it in 5 sections and in half, or i measure a quarter cup, using a drink mix scoop, and add it to his 1⁄4 cup kibble dinner. Sometimes, i may add a little to his 1⁄4 cup lunch to make it more likely he’ll finish it. Making sure, if he doesn’t, to dispose of it before it spoils.
I also plan on changing his food to canidae all stages, when he completes this bag of kibble. I like it more than his current kibble, it’s a much better recipe, and i like everything i’ve read about the company. He has lost most of his teeth, and i like that it compares to a small breed kibble. It’s extremely small, so he can swallow it whole, like he mostly does now. Not because he can’t chew his food, but because he doesn’t want to waste his time – chewing his food. Lol after so many issues with food sold on amazon, i do admit, i was really worried why trouble had suddenly turned away from this new bag of kibble. But, i watched him carefully, he never got sick from it, and mixing in the high protein canned food made him excited to eat again. I’ll explain.
In my research, i spent hours upon hours, comparing products, researching ingredients, and reading thousands of reviews. I couldn’t figure it out how so many of the top-rated brands had rampant complaints about sick animals. Some became terribly ill. How is this possible? These are rated the best of the best. One was confirmed to have a toxic ingredient. But, what about the others? They all can’t be bad. Through my research, i was able to find some info how through the process of elimination, by gathering symptoms, test results, treatments, and research, that third party vendors are buying old food at a discount and selling it online! Amazon has also been known to have a a major problem with storing dog food, both of which has been known, as the likely cause in a heartbreaking amount of precious fur babies getting terribly sick from rancid food. Resulting in hundreds, even thousands spent in vet bills, with some babies still horrifically dying. If your babies, suddenly turn their noses up at a new bag or your previously stored food, it’s worth looking into – it may just save their life! Don’t make the mistake of leaving it there, because a hungry enough baby, may still eat it. It’s not always best to buy in larger quantities. Store food in a sealed container, according to the manufacturer recommendations, and regularly inspect food for small bugs, or a change in color or scent. Going forward, i will probably order from a reputable pet store. Canidae reports, they’ve worked with amazon to resolve the problem with their food. If i do order from amazon, i know i’ll make dead sure i do not i order from a third party vendor!
Ok, back to the supplements. After much research, i finally settled on this product. I loved that it was cost effective, being that it is made to treat his entire body as a whole, without having to buy or force feed several products. I also love that it focuses on all critical systems. At 7lbs, i give him 1⁄2 daily. Though expensive, it should last about three months, which is extremely reasonable. To be completely honest, if it brings back my baby, i’m not sure what i’d be willing to pay!
I break each tablet in half. Trouble is not exactly thrilled about it, so before he gets his dinner, i break that day’s half in half again, and he doesn’t get his dinner, until he eats it. Within a couple of weeks of these supplements, along with his new feeding routine, there’s been a complete turn around! Don’t get me wrong, he’s still old/ lazy, and still sleeps most of the day and night. But, his personality has returned! He’s as opinionated as ever! He’s barking, complaining, huffing in disgust, alerts again, play bows, and he’s even chased while playing hide and seek!
No, his cataracts haven’t suddenly healed. But, i am still treating with eye bright. He’s still occasionally walking into walls and furniture, but mostly in darker lighting. Lol, my poor baby. He gets so frustrated and embarrassed, that he refuses to move, until we pick him up.
He’s no longer showing anxious behaviors, or chewing at his skin, sometimes until he’s raw. He still chews on his paws occasionally, but he’s always done that. It’s more of a game. He chews and we say to him, ‘are you chewing on those piggies? We love those piggies!’. Which then results in him tattling on us to the other parent, for making him stop, followed by his typical ‘i’m sorry’ hug and kiss. I’ve also noticed he seems to be better at holding his water, at one point he could go outside every 15m. He’s even been better at letting us know he needs to go out! Occasionally, we even let him roam without his doggy diaper, to prevent finding the results of his target practice.
He has started watching tv again, especially commercials with animals, barking at the tv and has even taken more interest to other animals outside, demonstrating his inferiority complex by going from my little sweetheart ‘cuddle bug’ to cujo, instantaneously! Lmao mentally, he’s more like himself (ornery), even attempting to pull a fast one, by acting like he’s eating his supplements, when he’s actually spitting them out and trying to hide them, so he can get on with the business of devouring his food! Smh
the addition of mixing in the high protein canned food to his kibble, has renewed his interest in eating, but even better, gives him more energy to burn! He’s obviously benefitting from both, and in less discomfort, cuz he’s alert, happy, play bowing, barking, playing, and even hopping, and prancing /jogging around! He’s even willing to do some tricks for a treat! Sometimes, he’s even volunteering tricks as a means of campaigning for you to share whatever your eating with him! Lmao
when it’s warm, we’re trying to increase his activity levels by walking to the mailbox. We’re engaging him more often, playing, teasing, or play fighting with him to get his heart pumping. On particularly bad days, when he’s in obvious pain, we will put a heating pad under his pillow, and if there’s no noticeable change, or if he appears to get worse, we may give him half an infants dose of baby advil. But only when he’s obviously suffering. Sometimes it’s like he actually asks for it. He can’t get comfortable, and he comes up to one of us and whimpers. You can really tell when he perks up, realizing you understood, and doesn’t fight the dropper. Once he’s feeling better, there’s hugs and kisses abound.
We’ve both noticed, he’s seems to have lost his independence. I can’t even leave the room to use the bathroom without his crying and barking. He also is obviously upset when i leave, has a terrible time settling. He constantly looks /listens for me and won’t eat anything until i return. Maybe that’s just old age, maybe it’s because we’re not in our own place, and we spend a lot of time in our room together, idk. He’s also incredibly compliant and trusting, unless you’re holding a dropper or attempting to clip his nails, lol. Maybe he’s just overwhelmingly lazy, idk. Sometimes, when he’s really tired, board, or when you’re just trying to get his leash or coat on, he just drops and rolls like a weeble wobble. Lmao it’s hysterical! He looks like one of those fainting goats!
However, on the other hand, these days when he’s awake, he’s more like his old self than we’ve seen in a long time! He’s devious, ornery, jealous, engaged, opinionated and alert – huge change! Although, when he’s exhausted, passed out, tongue hanging out of his mouth, snoring like an old man, in his baby shark jammies… You could literally hang him upside down by his toes and he would not care! Lmaorofl
i don’t think any one change made the difference, but rather i contribute it to the combination of all of the above. Along with making the point of actively engaging him, even if it’s just in the conversation, more often. But that saying, i don’t intend on stopping the supplements any time soon!
My daughter is now grown, and i’m certain trouble will continue to live up to his name as the ornery center of attention, while sharing all his opinions by bitching, huffing in disgust or disapproval when you’re not responding to his demands quick enough, barking for assistance or if you’re busy or distracted like a toddler, talking back like an obstinate teenager, blocking your line of sight, tattling when corrected or punished, apologizing with kisses and hugs to manipulate you into getting his way, ignoring you when angry, grunting like a piggy when happy, forcing kisses by attempting to smother you- until you comply and kiss his neck, burying his head so you will have to find him and say ‘peak-a-boo!’, frantically seeking you out- if you hide or slip away without him noticing, keeping track of when it’s supposed to be his turn and letting you know if he doesn’t get it- in order, hiding vitamins, sneaking in a quick love nip on the end of your nose when playing the ‘kissing game’- as if you wouldn’t notice, ‘purring’ when he doesn’t want to be woken-up, moved, or bothered, launching an on-demand display of talents and tricks to convince you to share whatever your eating, ringing the dinner bell by digging inside his bowls, tapping you or knocking things out of your hand to get your attention, stealing pillows and heating pads even when occupied, burrowing under blankets making ‘puppy tents’ , forever opinionated and jealous, and will be squeezing himself in between my husband and i, demanding all the attention, affection, and kisses to be had, for many years to come…
That is, if i have anything to say about it!
Thank you for helping us to give our furbaby, back his unique personality and quality of life, again!