I'm only posting because I'm crying and I want to talk about my old goldie, she's 13 in December and not feeling well.

I did put a post on 'Another loosing body' and my last post to that was last night, we've been to the vets again since then and had to leave her there for blood tests, we came out with OH in tears and I had to drive us home which is unheard of when we're in the car together.

Picked her up tonight and vet was very pleased and surprised with the blood test results as all internal organs are functioning well but her blood count is a little low, which confirmed the anaemia (sp) that vet suspected when looking at her gums and eyes.

She's off the Previcox now as the vet we saw which was a different one to last week said that she would not have prescribed it for a dog with history of vomiting and low appetite as some of the side effects of Previcox are the very symptons that my girl has with out the Previcox, so now she's on Tramadol for her joint pain.

She's still relutant to eat and vet has said that any food is better than no food, we've tried all of the bland good things like boiled chicken, steamed fish, rice and potato, Hill's prescription and even Chappie and she's not interested even when I hand feed her, vet said just get food into her and if it means crap then give her crap and the stronger the smell the better.

She ate a sardine today and some chunks of corned beef and it's not enough and I can see her getting thinner and I want her to eat and she won't.

Vet said the next step is endoscopy and scan's if we want to but she kept saying 'but she is an old dog and a good age for a retreiver' I know what she's saying really but I don't want to hear it.

So she's home and we're trying to get her to eat more and trying to tell her that if she wants to go for a walk with all of the other dogs then she needs to eat more.

I just wanted to talk about my old goldie

Oh dear :-(

I think you know what you are going to have to consider really considering her age.

If her appetite is not being helped by feeding her things like sardines then it to me gives a certain message.

You can go down tests but at her age if she is showing such signs as you have explained then I know that I would start to prepare for things :-(

X

She sounds as though she is a very special girl to you. I too have a Golden Retriever and he is a very special dog too and seen me through some difficult times.

I honestly don't think it matters at all what she eats - eating something is better than eating nothing and if she enjoyed the sardine and the corned beef then you have done a good job. My dog loves pilchards in tomato sauce and they are very soft and easy to eat so that may be something else to tempt her with or maybe some scrambled egg.

Our oldies tug at our hearts and every day spent with them is very precious and if she were my dog I wouldn't put her through lots of invasive tests and procedures. I would let her enjoy her time with you and if she wanted to go for a walk with the others I would let her - she might not be able to go as far as the others but if she still enjoys going out then let her enjoy it at her own pace and you enjoy wandering along with her watching her take pleasure in the simple things in life.

You will know when that time comes and as sad as it is you will know that saying goodbye to her is the last great kindness we can bestow on our pets and you will be strong enough and love her enough to put her comfort before your despair. Enjoy all the good moments with her and wishing you peace and courage do what is right for her when the time comes.

We are preparing for things to come but it it is hard.

She's such a lovely dog with so sweet a nature and oh so important in our lives, she is the dog that got us over the loss of our first dog in tragic circumstances.

I didn't want her to fade slowly and sadly.

We won't put her through loads of tests, she's too old and gets too stressed being away from us.

She show's odd moments of enthusiam to eat like just now I've given her some more corned beef and she ate quite a few chunks but no doubt later in the night she will vomit.

I do feel for you. I've had Goldens all my life, although I am on my last one now. I lost my oldie a couple of years ago aged 13. He was the oldest Golden I've had. When the day came that he no longer wanted to carry hos favourite toy around, I knew. You have to think of quality of life. I agree that it doesn't matter at all what she eats as long as she does eat, but if she doesn't want to eat anything of her own accord, then you have to consider what that is telling you. What she is telling you. There's so many clichés -better a week too soon than a day too late, the good days have to outnumber the bad etc, and they are all true. It's so very, very hard to have to take the decision, but sometimes you just have to put your own feelings last.

I don't really know what to suggest as it sounds like you are trying everything. There is the standby of tripe. That is really smelly and she may go for it.
Really just wanted to say that I do know what you are going through as my girl had Lymphoma and when she was on Chemo it was so hard to get her to eat, .......just thought, try meatballs, my Shola would eat those when she was feeling sickly. Just hope you see some improvement but at the same time you may have to prepare yourself, such a hard thing to do! Really feel for you.

The silly cow gets so excited in the morning when she knows a walk is due and she can't wait to get into the car even if she is wobbly but today when OH loaded them all up and arrived at the woods after 10 mins she stopped so he brought them all back.

We have always said that with all of our dogs we will not push them further because of our feelings, it's the forward planning to let go that is hard to deal with, but we will.

Thank-you all for your kind words, as I said I just wanted to talk about my old goldie.

I shall take solice in that fact that she is nearly 13yrs and that she has done loads of caravanning, walking in loads of different places and playing in loads of different beaches and fields and carried loads of toys to people who probably didn't want them.

We will continue to treat her gently and follow her whims with food, I have pilchards in tom sauce, cat food pouches, fish in sauce, corned beef, sausages, and chicken to roast or boil even toast with marmite which was always a limited pleasure for her.

She is a good old girl and she will get the best care and consideration to the end despite how we may feel.

But I'm still sad and crying

Oh bless you, i really feel for you, and your old girlie x

Thank-you julie t, I will close now as it's near to bedtime and time to take all of the girls up the garden for a wee, dear old 'tumby' is crashed out from the tramadol and may take some waking.

Our goldies are special to us arent they and your girl sounds a real sweetie, I really feel for you, I had to walk in your shoes last year with my girly and it was heartbreaking. It sounds as if you have everything possible tempting on her menu, theres not much else you can do. I will be thinking of you and wish you some happy memory making to add to those you already have. Every moment you have is precious as you know, we took photos on our girls last walk and at home with us and her cat and they remain special and comforting to us today as she was still quite happy although frail..and for her it was just another day, thank goodness she knew no different. I am glad you have this space to talk about her, theres few places where people will really understand the grief of anticipated loss as well as actual loss of a dog. Writing can also be very therapeutic.
Sometimes dogs rally, mine did before her eventual final fail, I hope she does but please give us a little update if you can.

Just want to let you know I am thinking of you and your girl.

Sheila. xx

Having just lost Spooky boy,I know exactly how you are feeling.Its a very,very hard time for all family members,even the other woos.In the end Spook would eat nothing,and I tried everything - even my daughters lovely cupcake would entice a single mouthful.He did drink alittle up to the end,but it was very difficult to see him like this.He still wagged his tail to the end.Like him,your girl is with those she loves and trusts and I hope this comforts you.My thoughts are with you.

I can sympathise as this is where I was 6 weeks ago, but we had to say goodbye.

Just a thought is she having anti sickness medication as the tramadol maybe adding to her lack of enthusiasm to eat ? :-)

I have just looked back and she is on antipepcin which I think is more to do with helping neutralise acid rather than to help with feeling sick so it might be worth asking if they could prescribe something else ?

Just thad a look at what Moose was given when she was poorly and the drug she was given is called Cerenia.

I just wanted to say how sorry I feel for you and your family, what a heartbreaking situation.

I wonder if she may be better on some very wet food, more of a drink really? AlisonGold uses a gruel mix for her bitches after giving birth, I wonder if it may be worth giving that a try (porridge oats, glucose, honey, puppy milk I think - I'll see if I can find it or perhaps Alison will reply).

ETA: Here it is:

Cup of Porridge
2 cups of Water
1 Egg
Tablespoon of Honey
Tablespoon of Milk powder (whelpi or similar)
Tablespoon of Glucose

Boil up everything together, stirring until porridge is thick, dilute with a cup of milk and cool. Feed lukewarm.

Maybe some slippery elm would help as well, if she feels sick?

Sorry your Goldie isn't feeling well ((hugs))

To try and get calories into her you could try tuna in olive oil, lightly drained and mashed with grated cheese. It's very smelly and if you can get the consistancy right you can form it into little balls, just right for popping into her mouth. They do tend to eat more if you feed by hand.

Hope she feels better soon, I am going through the same with my cat who has chronic renal failure, very thin but still very bright within herself.

All we can do is love them until they tell us they want to go.
Mel x

Oh Pinky, I posted on your other topic as I thought this would eventually be the case.  Sometimes they just let us know when they've had enough and your girl was far luckier in her life than most.  She had you and you love her so.  I think everyone on here knows exactly how you are feeling and have been in your situation more than once but it is so hard.  Take loads of photos and memories.
Massive cyber hugs sent your way.  x

When Ben was on Previcox it made him very ill, he was switched onto Tramadol too,. but it took a good 4-5 days before he perked up enough to eat again.
Have you tried Hills AD ?, super high calories and very palatable, it's so squishy you can smear it onto the top of their palate and they have to lick it off, I found doing this with Ben encouraged him to start eating on his own, they don't have to eat a large amount of it to get the required calories.

Keeping my fingers crossed she perks up.

as the tramadol maybe adding to her lack of enthusiasm to eat ? <img alt=":-)" src="/images/default/sml_pos.png" class="sml" />

My old Goldie had Tramadol given the other week, she crashed out once or twice, the vet did warn me.  She went off her food thr first few days and probably with joint pain as well not helping.  I had to give her packet ham and corned beef for a meal.  One day i blended pasta with it and added butter for some calories.  I wondered if made her feel sick as she's on a far higher dose than i am and can only take half of hers and feel sick (thats if its the same strength for sor strength).

I thought mine was giving up a few years ago, she would sleep a lot, a new puppy livened her up, not suggesting you get another one just thinking what perked her up.

I'm in the same boat as you, she's doing well at the minute and would go for the walk she can't manage if i let her.  i feel so mean leaving her behind or going for a little on our own.  The tramadol has helped so don't stop it amybe look at a stronger dose.  mine's on 100mg 2xdaily iof that helps.  Maybe ask the vet.

I keep getting asked about ending her time but i know she's not ready, like others have said you'll know.  Trying very hard not to get upset just from reading your post, not read the last one.

We have to be brave when that comes or they go in their sleep when ready.  big hugs.

Forgot, maybe try a little honey in her water, always give it to mine when off their food or poorly.  Does help.  You can also give it her off the spoon or finger.

I fancy she's been a bit more enthusiastic about food today, she had some lactose free milk and a whole pouch of puppy food for breakfast, I got that as I thought it might be more gentle and more calories. I have to hand feed it to her although she will happily drink the milk.

She had another drink of milk this afternoon and this evening she had 2 beef sausages and 2 spoons of scrambled egg.
The one thing I'm pleased about is that she hasn't been sick all day whereas when on the Previcox she was being sick as much as 5 times a day, the Tramadol is making her very sleepy and a bit more wobbly than usual.
The Tramadol is 50mg capsules, the packet say's 1-2 capsules 3 times a day, but the vet did say that she thought that might be a bit too much for her and to start her off on 2 a day but I have to be honest I'm only giving her 1 a day as just after the first tablet the sleepiness took hold very quickly.

She still want's to go for the morning walk but takes it at her own pace. It seems so unfair to see her next to my BC of the same age give or take a month, the BC is still running about even though she had cruciate surgery last October.

We're just taking things at her pace and I've got goodness knows how many types of goodies to tempt her from probiotic yoghurts which I put honey in, porrage with honey, rice pudding, sausages, boiled chicken you name it and I've got it, even tried a bit of black pudding today yuck.

So we're just being quiet calm and gentle with her

Your last sentence speaks volumes :-) x

You might find the dopey effect wears off as she becomes accustomed the Tramadol, it did with Ben, he's on 2 100mg a day.

That's what I'm hoping for and the vet did say that once she becomes used to it the dopey effect should pass.

She was quite bright this morning and wanted to walk but only a short one. She wouldn't eat breakfast when the other's did but I managed to get some sausage into her later and she's also had a little bit of lambs liver, it seems that the only things she will eat is human food and things with strong flavour.

Is there a dog equivalent of complan or build up?

There is, it's very expensive though, and there's the Hills AD which I mentioned earlier, I'll try and find the dog version of Build Up and post a link.

Thank-you that would be very useful as I very nearly bought build up today but then thought it might have a bad effect on her

Found it

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/dog-food-cat-food-liquivite-liquid-pet-food-c-62_440/liquivite-liquid-food-for-dogs-400g-tin-p-2344

also came across this

http://www.vetscriptions.co.uk/SENIORAID.html

and this is the Hills stuff

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/hills-prescription-diets-hills-ad-prescription-diet-ad-c-62_66_94/hills-ad-hills-prescription-diet-ad-for-cats-and-dogs-tins-p-345
Unfortunately you can only buy by the tray on this site but I'm sure your vet would sell you a couple of tins to see if she'd eat it.

Found it

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/dog-food-cat-food-liquivite-liquid-pet-food-c-62_440/liquivite-liquid-food-for-dogs-400g-tin-p-2344

also came across this

http://www.vetscriptions.co.uk/SENIORAID.html

and this is the Hills stuff

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/hills-prescription-diets-hills-ad-prescription-diet-ad-c-62_66_94/hills-ad-hills-prescription-diet-ad-for-cats-and-dogs-tins-p-345
Unfortunately you can only buy by the tray on this site but I'm sure your vet would sell you a couple of tins to see if she'd eat it.

Try pedigree chum loaf and mash up,

Sheila

Here's Royal Canins range of convalescent food, bit cheaper too http://www.vetuk.co.uk/royal-canin-veterinary-diets-royal-canin-convalescence-c-62_65_78

Celli 

thanks for all of the links and also all of the good suggestions from everybody else, I will order several of them this evening.

Today has not been a very good day, she has eaten nothing and will only drink water. She may also be finding it a bit too hot these passed couple of days, she's vomitted several times today so I think we will have to see the vet again very soon.

I have not even been able to get her tramadol capsule into her.

Most dogs love cat food (pouches type) and Frolic seems to be enjoyed by poorly dogs. I do feel for you and wish you well with her. 13 is old for any dog but many Goldens go to over 14 so don't let the vet give up just because she is 13.

poor girl.its so hard when they stop eating,I found the smoother the food the more likely they are to accept.

Sheila xx

I have not even been able to get her tramadol capsule into her.

it has been warm so fingers crossed, will she soup or jelly just to get liquid in her.

Mine knew thw Tramadol was in what i gave her, she found it in a wine gum, ate all the others that way, and cheese.  Raw lamb breast worked quite well but the best with no quibbles is Thorntons carmel squares, no quibble and goes in one go.  Talk about crafty :)

I gave mine one twice a day for two days then one a day alternating for a few days, this helped with the sleepyness.  I still can't get over her running (galloping) up and down the next morning, i think she had such a restful sleep and must have been pain free?? for a few hours.

i believe in letting them do a little to keep everything as strong as it can.  I've given her a homepathic remedy as well which i think has helped.

We took our girl to a different vet practice today for a second opinion

He contacted our original vets for our girls notes (we were happy for him to do this) and then advised X-ray and ultra sound, we've had this done and he has discovered a very large mass in her stomach.

She is so laid back and good that she didn't need sedation for the x-ray, she just laid there for them even when they shaved herfor the ulra sound.

He say's that the mass could be removed, but it would depend on what type it is, which would determine whether it should be done or not. He say's that the mass does not APPEAR to have spread anywhere else.

He's taken a biopsy.

He say's that there are three options, an aggressive mass that has shed cells in which case it is best to PTS, and agressive mass that has not shed cells and he can remove, and finally a benign mass that can be removed.

We have the usual Antepsin and now Losec, she ate Royal Canin Sensitivity at the vets and they gave us a tin for today and tomorrow.

She is home now and has had both lots of medication plus maybe a tablespoon of the tinned stuff which she ate unlike the Hills that she wouldn't touch.
She is sleepy which is to be expected after the aneasthia (sp) for the biopsy, we are taking some time of work to be with her over the next couple of days just incase they are the last whilst we wait for the biopsy results on Monday/Tuesday.

We have decided that we should prepare a nice new home for her in our garden just incase we get the worst news.

It is very cathartic to tell you all as I know you will know how we are feeling.

I'm not crying now, I'm just glad to have my girl for this weekend and not putting pressure on her to stay with us if she feels she can't.

{{{{  HUGS  }}}}

Thinking of you all and sending [[[[[HUGS]]]]]

Sheilaxx

I think it's always a good idea to have a second opinion so in time you won't say - what if etc.

I just hope you get some positive news in the next few days and she can be helped.  It is a good idea also to plan for the worst case scenario - I've discussed this with one of the vet nurses in case we need to PTS any of our dogs quickly for any reason - they know exactly what we want done with them etc - saves trying to explain through the tears.

Give her plenty of your love and time this weekend, you're all in our thoughts

">I think it's always a good idea to have a second opinion so in time you won't say - what if etc.

We went to the second vet because our original vet just kept on about her joints even when we were taking her there because of her vomitting.

I have told OH that I want to prepare a nice spot for her just incase, he gets upset when I say this but I don't want to come home from the vets with my girl permanently asleep and then have to struggle to dig an emergency hole for her.

I want to make it nice and ready for her, lined with her favourite blanket, her favourite toy, her lead and collar, so that she can go to bed in comfort.

Sorry that you didn't have better news :-( If it were my dog - and this is only my opinion and others may differ - I don't think I would contemplate surgery for her at her age. I think I would just want her to have as good a life as possible and enjoy the time you have left with her until that sad day when you have to say goodbye to her. For me quality of life is far more important than quantity and I honestly believe that helping our beloved pets to slip quietly into their final sleep is far preferable than putting them through the ordeal of surgery to at best give them another year or so of life.

It is one of the hardest decisions we have to make for our dogs but for me it is also the last great kindness we can give them and I am a firm believer in the saying "Better a week too soon than a day too late". 

I am so pleased you went for a second opinion, its a natural need to need 'to know', we need answers and need to know what to do for those we love, I am so sorry it was such big news but at least now you can prepare for all eventualities as you have said. Sending you a huge hug and keeping you all in my thoughts.

> If it were my dog - and this is only my opinion and others may differ - I don't think I would contemplate surgery for her at her age.

I think it really depends on the general condition of the dog involved. As I'm sure you're aware Charlie had to have emergency surgery at 13 1/2 to remove his spleen. When the Vet phoned to say he would have to be operated on my initial reaction was that I didn't want to put and "old" dog through major surgery, but they said as he was fit and healthy in all other ways, I had nothing to lose. As you know he went on another 4 years and was still active until the end. So age, as such, wouldn't put me off operating on an "old" dog (and Goldies often live well into their teens). Charlie recovered very quickly from his operation and I'm so thankful to that Vet for giving him a chance.

To Pinky - my thoughts are with you x

Very sorry to hear your news, but at least now you've got to the bottom of her illness, you can make a more informed decision.

Agree with Pedlee here - you have to go with vets advice and dogs general health etc.  We had a 13 year old develop a pyo - I could tell in the vets voice he was trying to discourage us from having surgery but we decided to give her the chance, if she died on the table, then it wasn't meant to be, but she made an amazing recovery and we had her for another good 18 months.

I have to agree with Harley. We have a very fit 13 year old (he's a rescue so could be older). He had a minor eye op in January, but my OH and I have already decided that we wouldn't put him through any major surgery. He would be very distressed by any sudden immobility and change to his routine - he is not the sort of dog that sleeps during the day, he is always with us wherever we are in the house/garden and to be suddenly denied that would be extremely distressing for him :(

">I think it really depends on the general condition of the dog involved.

The condition of our girl other than her stomach is excellent, the vet say's her heart/lungs are fit and healthy, kidney/liver function is also extremely good and for her age and breed the joints are still good although a little stiff.

She is still keen to walk and is up with the rest in the morning, if she didn't need to eat she could go on for years.

So sorry to hear of the second opinion.Hugs and thinking of you having gone through something similar recently.

In that case, if surgery turns out to be an option, I'd say go for it, you've nothing to lose and everything to gain x