Senior Dog Health Issues - Grief, Loss
Hey everyone.
This is not a happy post, be warned. I just really wanna vent or let things out somewhere. And well, here feels like a pretty good place.
So yah, my dog, wonderful unique fella. Mix of Labrador, Dalmatian and Golden, is pretty much terminal. He's 12 years old so we (me and my parents) kinda figured he wouldn't have much longer.
It was just such a shock. We were at the vet last night, they checked him out and did an x-ray. I kinda just figured "we're in 2022, medicine has taken huuuge leaps surely they can do something to help him." And then we hear the opposite. He has arthritis, which we have known about for years. And it's like narrowing or "hugging" the nerves in his lower back. Not squashing but yah effecting them negatively. He doesn't walk well, sometimes it's like he forgets that he has hindlegs.
We have medicated him for about two years but it doesn't seem to be doing a lot lately. Sooo....we're in a predicament. The vet said they **might* be able to do surgery, which **might** help and give him more time. But his quality of life is of course also a factor.
I'd just love to get him a better ending. Like yah do a surgery which would make him better for a while. Just so he could at the very least enjoy the time he has left, walk properly for one. But we got a lot of "the odds are, chances are" etc. Surgery might not do much, then he might just have post surgery things to deal with. And at best it might only buy him a year.
Ahh man.......soooo we are like.....get him some more time. But what kind of time would that be, more discomfort?? Or maybe, put him to rest within 10 days or so. He's my first dog that I practically grew up with, so yah......this sucks! 😢😢😢
We don't really know what to do. Of course we don't want him to suffer, or get worse. But I don't want him to have a bad ending where he struggles to walk properly. I just want more time. Well who doesn't. The vet also said the kindest thing to do might be to put him to sleep.
I'm just super duper grateful I still got a cat, healthy cat. Senior cat, but at least cats typically live longer.
Anyone who has been in a similar predicament who has any insight?
Btw we live in Sweden. Soo yah treatment options, procedures etc is different from country to country. Maybe I'm silly, but feels like my dog would have more options in the US or even in the UK.
My dear little dog sustained an injury in November that has slowed him down. He is most likely 15yo and i love him dearly. Each day with him is precious. Just wish he didnt wake me up at 0600!!
@barncat Hugs to you and Diego ❤️
@VDarkAge I posted down here because I was too lazy to scroll 😂 to Oh gosh yeah. He definitely needs to be safe. Animals are really good at judging how people are. Cosmo is a baby yet too. Puppies are alittle more trusting
😂 Yeah those little teeth are super sharp! It doesn't take long to chew through shoe laces and put little holes all over the rest of it. Lol I'd definitely wait until it's warmer to take him swimming somewhere because you'll probably end up getting wet too - he'll have to share the fun with you 😁
Hey that's great that he's eating better! That seems like a really good sign. I really REALLY hope they have some good news for you both on Friday. I know it's hard not to get your hopes up but yet you have to have some hope. I've got my fingers and toes and anything else I can cross - crossed ❤️
@mytwistedsoul I'd say puppies are very trusting. 😂Though it depends on the dog and breed, some can also be really shy.
It's snowy and icy here sooo yah, not best timing to go for an outdoors swim. xD 😊 I'd like to take him to the sea. Let him explore! Was fun yesterday, Cosmos met two other dogs on a walk. One adult Golden and another puppy that was soooo small. Great little random socialization. Was fun to watch them mess around hihi. 😄
We shall know about Truls in...24h give or take. Well I doubt I'll get the blood sample results the same day. It is indeed difficult to stay neutral, not get carried away with hope. Come on my little furball, fight the darn bad stuff!
@VDarkAge I've always wanted to take the dogs to the beach but never did because it's a couple hours away and they never liked to travel. Next pets will definitely see it
@mytwistedsoul Yah same for me, the beach isn't exactly nearby. It's some distance to drive but it's not very far away.
Hehe yah it was fun to watch Cosmos play with other dogs. 😊On Sunday he's taking a little trip to see a friend and we're gonna meet her dog. I'm very curios how it will go, how they will react to each other.
Actually I got the news quite fast, when I was heading back home. Truls values have improved! 😃Gonna give him some more time on this antibiotic, new blood test in about 10 days give or take. After that maybe surgery. Like...he might actually get the surgery...0.0. It didn't feel real before, but now when the vet even talks about booking it....yah feels unreal now. How will he be in a month?
Now we're more discussing the risks, it's a gamble. The surgery might make him all well, year/s to live. But....if there is another underlying problem that we don't know about the surgery might not do much. After the surgery he might have pain and discomfort...or he may not.
Well best not to speculate. But if the surgery actually happens I'm probably gonna have a long conversation with the vet just so everything is clear. The surgery itself, after the surgery etc.
For now all is well, it's Friday! Weekend has come, time to relax a bit.😄
@VDarkAge Aww how did he do with the trip and meeting your friends dog? Hopefully he made a new friend
@mytwistedsoul The dog meeting went well. 😄Think Cosmos was a bit overwhelmed at first, you know new place, new smells and sights and of course a new dog. The other dog is a sheltie and they can bark, a looooot. Which he sure did, think Cosmos found it a bit annoying. He would get close to the other dog and then "bark bark bark!" Not aggressive barking, the other dog just barks a lot in general for everything. Like if he wants you to throw his ball "bark bark bark!" hehe. But overall it went well. Eventually Cosmos relaxed more and even "stole" the other dogs ball and ran around with it.😂 Think he will feel more confident as he grows.
We know Truls has some infection, probably the nasty bump itself. Which we are treating with antibiotics which seem to work well. The fear is that if there is some other infection, amputation may not cure him completely. I was also asked if anyone had ever mentioned Truls metabolism, I said nope. His weight could be due to some hormone thing or imbalance. So they were gonna check that. Nop no increase on his weight, which I thought was odd. But yah, we sometimes imagine things. He's eating well. 😊
At the end of the day it's not much of a choice, to be blunt it's his leg or his life.😐
Just to break it down, the facts. His blood values aren't great but seem to be improving. He has an infection, which an amputation might cure, or maybe not. He is not at optimal weight, but that doesn't seem to be an important factor yet.
I actually joined a forum specifically for three legged dogs and cats, there they often say "age is just a number" and how it's the animals behavior that counts. Like if Truls is still active, energetic, cuddly etc. Or if he's slow, docile, doesn't wanna do anything. If Truls still has...."life energy" so to speak. I'd definitely say he does. Long story short, he behaves like himself and is still as cuddly as ever. 😍
One thing that really bothers me. What if we amputate, he goes through all that...and it doesn't work, he's still sick. Ish, a leg removed in vain.😐
But as we've talked about, it's his only option. Only way to get rid of the cancer.
Got a time machine? I'd love to jump...say a month into the future and see how Truls is doing. Ahh yaah, well a week to go. Plenty of time to think and ponder, and cuddle with meow.😊
@VDarkAge I can totally understand his feeling overwhelmed with all that new information coming at him. And the constant barking that would probably get to me too lol 😅 but I'm glad he relaxed and had fun. As he grows yeah he'll be bigger and much more confident
That makes a lot of sense. And you can treat the infection but it would be nice to know where it's at and what's causing it. I mean - I hate to say it but what if there's cancer some where else? I mean x-rays and blood where can tell a lot but yet not enough. Maybe he's burning up the calories he takes in with his body fighting the Infection?
I'm glad you found a place with other people whose pets have gone through the same thing. They really know what you're facing and can give you some guidance on what to expect. I do agree that alot of it does depend on how he is day to day. He still has his spark 😊 I know with the neighbors dog when she was diagnosed with myelopathy - she lost her spark. They had a cart for her and everything to help her get around but she just lost the desire to try it seemed 😞
Boy I wish I had a time machine. I'd love to know too ❤️
@mytwistedsoul Yah he was nervous at first. Like "oh my where am I? I've been pupnapped. 0.0" But he settled down after a bit. We had pup class this week as well and it was fun. We trained recall command, my little fella is a star pupil hihi. It went very well and he was much more relaxed in the car.😀
We did also do an ultrasound and have not found any cancer anywhere else. But we know that part of this nasty tumor is necrotic. So your theory sounds quite possible, he could be burning a lot of calories fighting the tumor and infection. I was actually told at the forum for three legged pets that Truls being underweight could be a good thing. It would mean less weight on his healthy leg after any surgery. But yah I don't like that he is underweight. I'd also love to know the cause. He is eating, and he wants candy like all the time. xD
He has his spark yes! Ish sounds very sad with your neighbors dog. Well Truls is not like that.
This other forum is very informative and supportive. They're like "any questions? Just ask, you are not alone!" Can sometimes feel like I'm dealing with all this on my own, so it's nice to hear.😄
Back to the vet next week, another blood test and we take it from there. Maybe surgery in a week, depending on the results. I really hope that they do the surgery. It seems to be the only way to get him healthy and free of cancer. Surgery and after that I really want him to just be alright.
Enough animal illness. I demand.....six months without any vet visits, at all! Alright Truls vaccination is usually around June, soo three months with no vet visits...please.😊😸
@VDarkAge Pupnapped! 😁 Awww I'm glad he's doing so great at school! And that he's doing good with those car rides 😊 opens the world up to all kinds of adventures with him
@mytwistedsoul Yes indeed. Will be a lot easier to go on fun adventures in the car with Cosmos, if he's already quite chill about it. Can take a car vacation with him somewhere. 😀
Mhm you'd think all the candy calories would do more. Ah well, at least he enjoys them. 😊I try not to give him to much candy, on the other hand I sometimes go all "eh screw it, here ya go" hihi.
I was given quite an interesting statistics chart. Just wish more people had answered it, would be more accurate. It was quite enlightening. For one that cancer is quite a common cause for amputation and that many cats are around Truls weight during amputation. Also the age, 1/5 of the survey was cats around Truls age.
Yah true. If Truls gets surgery they will no doubt want to firstly remove his stitches. Also make sure that he is actually getting healthy and normal now. If he continues to have for example lower blood values, that means there is still something going on. Ish I don't want Monday to come, and his birthday is in a week. I can't help but think what if he gets surgery during next week but goes on the table, just days from his birthday, meh.
Well maybe I shouldn't think about the worst possible outcome. Positive thoughts. Enjoy the weekend with my kitty and puppy.😊
https://tripawds.com/2020/06/17/amputee-cats-quality-of-life/
@mytwistedsoul
Some news. After todays test, we are going ahead with the surgery. Assuming all goes well with the surgery, Truls will be free of the cancer....and a leg...on Friday.
Final results are in. He is alright enough for surgery, and the vet is not worried about him surviving the surgery. In his condition and all, the risk with anesthesia etc. Now we just hope that this actually cures him. That this is the main villain for his issues and after this he will just be healthy!😊
And....it's his birthday on Saturday. Like "Happy Birthday Truls, your gift...one less leg." What?? Lols. Well one can say that it's a great gift to have cancer removed.
I just hope that in a week Truls will be all good, just recovering and healing and that this actually does get him several more happy healthy years. 😄❤️
@VDarkAge Omgosh that is BIG news! You must be a bundle of nerves right now - even with the vet not being worried. Will they keep him there for the weekend?
@mytwistedsoul Definitely a bundle of nerves, yap! He will stay there for one night, so I won't see him again until Saturday.
I hope for the same things. Enough trouble. Let this be the fix and he will just recover, adapt and in a few weeks just be alright again. 😊
It's just bizarre, and I can't help think...what if this doesn't work. What if he goes through this and remains sick. x.x Well I shouldn't think like that. Thinking logically we have done like every test in the book and found no other possible cause for his issues.
I will definitely be on edge on Friday, when he's under the knife. Waiting for that phone call, did he get through the surgery and all is well, or....bye bye. Ish.😐 But I know if I don't try this, I'll probably regret it. This could cure him completely and get him healthy.
Think I'll try to spend extra much time with Cosmos on Friday, keep me sane. 😊
@mytwistedsoul
Only 12h to go! Until I leave Truls at the vet. I'm nervous. 😐All surgeries have risks, his chances for making it through the surgery are good. But you never know, ish. Really just want this all to be over. Have Truls healthy and happy.
Now that it's kinda spring want to be able to let him out, supervised. So he can sit in the sun, smell the air and listen to the birds.😻
Please be okay after this kitty.
@VDarkAge I'm sorry to hear that, yes our animals are very much connected to us emotionally. Family they are. My wife calls me a senior dog with health issues, but that's another matter entirely. Best to you, well wishes.
@VDarkAge Just a few more hours to go. This week has just flew by hasn't it? I'll light a candle and send you and Truls strength and lots of love. He's in good hands. The vets and you really put in some effort to get him to this point. I hope everything goes really good and there's absolutely no problems ❤️
@mytwistedsoul
Yap, now he's there. I'm home with Cosmos, now the dreaded wait. 😐No news is good news, well at least no news to soon is good. Soo....kinda hoping that my phone doesn't ring for a couple of hours. Now or soon, Truls is under a knife. Literally gonna cut him in two pieces....yiches. x.x
I know I shouldn't phrase it like that. It's cancer treatment, his only option. When I called this larger animal hospital a month ago, I was like "probably need to amputate his leg"...
But now when it's happening.....ahh yah, doesn't feel quite real.
My best friend is coming over this afternoon. I don't think it's a great idea to be all alone during situations like this.
This week has gone to fast! Feels like I've barely had time with Truls. Well I have of course, just gone fast. Time goes fast when you want it to go slow. Time goes slowly when you want it to go fast.
I'm gonna stay busy, keep my mind from wondering. I recall when I was waiting for the CT results from Ajas scan, darn I was nervous. Well I don't want to be a bundle of nerves. Truls will be different, but he will be alright. He's a tough little guy, he's strong.😊😻
@mytwistedsoul
Update:
Truls is alright! Surgery is over and he's recovering. I'll pick him up tomorrow.
So now we just hope that he recovers and doesn't have any complications. Just gets better and healthy again. :) 😺
@VDarkAge Omg I'm So glad to hear he's alright! I hope his recovery is quick and easy with very little pain or discomfort. Go Truls! Give him a gentle cuddle for me and wish him happy birthday! Hugs to you both! ❤️❤️
@mytwistedsoul Yap it's a huge relief. 😀 One concern was if he would make it through the surgery, the vet wasn't worried, but ya know they all have risks. Soo that's done.
Concern two is if this actually cures all his ailments. That he now gains weight, blood values go back to a normal level etc.
Gonna be quite strange to see him later....but so glad that he's alright! 😍And yes now he's 14! Happy Birthday to the tiger.
@mytwistedsoul
Update: Truls is home. 😀😍He seems to have no issues at all moving around with only three paws.
He just wants to cuddle hehe. Granted that is probably the drugs, he's high as the sky lols. xD
Now it's just the recovery. No stairs, avoid him jumping as much as possible. Just resting and cone on 24/7.
Ahh man, I'm just so looking forward to when the stitches are removed in 1-2 weeks. That's when he can be more normal, no cone, just do whatever he wants and go wherever. And in maybe a month maybe he can actually go outside again supervised, just sit in the sun and listen to the birds. He loves that!❤️😻
@VDarkAge I'm glad he's home and getting around. I think that's a good sign - that he's mobile. He's eating ok? Yeah that cone has to be a pain for him to get around with that on. Does he have to go for a check up before they take the stitches out? Gosh you won't know what to do with yourself when you don't have to go in every ten or so days lol 🙂
Aww yeah that will be nice for him to be able to sit outside in the sun and watch the birds 😊 I'm really glad this surgery is behind you both now. Now to focus on the healing and enjoying the good things like sun and birds and little furry piranhas 😊❤️
@mytwistedsoul He is eating very well! 😊Actually surprised, first thing he did when he got home was use his toilet and eat some food. So that is a great sign, since cats in pain usually don't eat.
He's also in "lockdown", in his own room. He isn't allowed to roam and use stairs etc.
But yap we're going back in 10 days or so to remove the stitches, check the wound and probably take another blood test. Just make sure that he is indeed recovering.
First two days with him home have been very encouraging. 😄😻
Ohh I'm also really glad all this trouble is behind us. Now things should, hopefully, only get better.
Cosmos lost his first tooth. Well his first tooth that we've noticed. Little baby is more or less soon a teenager, not much of a baby anymore. 😱 But he's still got plenty of growing to do. 😊
@VDarkAge That's so great! I'm so glad he's eating and that he used his potty and ate when he came home! That is definitely a good sign!
@mytwistedsoul Yap, if a pet doesn't eat and has no apatite at all after surgery, not good. Can probably make their recovery more difficult.
Fortunately Truls is eating like a champ hehe. 😻
Having his own little space is indeed beneficial for the reasons you mentioned. There is a short distance between his bed areas and his food and toilet. Which I think is good, so he learns how to get around on three legs. Plus he is still kinda messy with his toilet, so it's a good that his food & water and bed is a short distance away. 😊
Ohh yah these past couple of months with my fluffs, mhm not nice. I really hope this is now the end of a bad chapter. Now only good times with baby (teen?) Cosy and tripawd Truls. 😀😃❤️
Yah Cosy is a handful at times. A month ago he was smaller and teething. Now he is probably in the most intense teething period and he's larger. His increased size makes it more difficult to avoid his chomping. xD
@VDarkAge I'm so glad he's eating good. The vet says the same thing with Taz and her age. That her eating is a good thing but I have to admit some days it seems a little harder to entice her at first. But I try not to worry too much because some days my own appetite isn't the best either lol
@mytwistedsoul Unless I'm mistaken think Truls looks larger, as in a visible change in his weight. Which is good, since he was underweight before the surgery. Think I'm gonna weigh him tomorrow. I know I shouldn't expect him to just, poof, be normal weight. But he should have gone up some now that he's actually eating very well. 😊
Oh yah makes me think of Ajas. One could tell he wasn't alright when he would almost ignore food, show zero interest, ish. Appetite is healthy. To make Taz a bit more interested maybe add some extra yummy flavor or I don't know, bits of bacon. Whatever Taz loves. 😃
Truls has already improved in his toilet skills. Saw him use it just a few hours ago, he is not stupid. He goes in head first, after when he is finished he exists backwards. So his head is the first and last thing that leaves the box. Hehe that's one way to do it, and he is still very much capable of kicking out a loooot of sand. Sometimes I wonder if he does it on purpose like "revenge". But he has always been a bit extra messy with his toilet on occasion.
I've seen that as well, young dogs being referred to as T-rex. Made me go a bit "?? o.O huh?" But I get it. They still got lots of teethie behavior, they're just larger and have larger teeth. 0.0
But yap he is a very gorgeous guy! Very photogenic, super easy to take nice pictures of him hihi. Truls is also like that, two photo models. 😻😎🐶🐱
@VDarkAge It could be that he did gain some. With the bad spot gone now maybe he's not using as much energy trying to fight it. Did you weigh him?
Oh yeah Taz likes bacon 😁 and cheese burgers and chicken. She's a big fan of chicken nuggets - which who's not lol! If I'm totally honest she's always been weird with food. She's never liked certain things. Like French fries or popcorn. Pretzels or eggs and peanut butter. I always thought dogs like peanut butter but Taz doesn't lol. She does like gummy worms and swedish fish candies 😂
Lol! Sounds like he gets a little over zealous with the litter! My grandparents had a cat years ago that Omgosh you would have thought he was trying to reach the center of earth the way he dug in his box! Then he'd coming flying out of it like he just met the devil and scatter it even more!
If you think about it though their mouths are how they learn things. Since they don't have hands to grab they have to use their mouth and being young they don't realize how strong they are or how pointy those choppers are lol but they learn and get better. How's class going for you both? He's probably getting more comfortable being there and with the car rides. Oh! Truls goes for his check up and his stitches out next week right? It'll be so nice for him when he doesn't have to wear that cone!
@mytwistedsoul I actually haven't weighed him. I want to, but if I wait until his next vet visit in a couple of days the numbers should look even better. He should weigh a bit more by then. So I'll wait, but just by petting him it feels like he's got a bit more meat on him. 😊 He will be very glad to have the cone removed, absolutely!
The theory was that the cancer was "stealing calories" or the infection was just taking down his appetite. Don't know the exact cause, but he eats much better nowadays. 😃
Taz likes bacon, I'm shocked! Hehe, but there ya go lots of options. Lots of things you can add to her meals just to make them more yummy. 😛 Cosy likes....everything. 😄 Haven't let him have any human food yet, since labs get fat very easily. But I'm quite certain he would devour anything.
Lols hehehhe sounds like quite a cat. 😂Before Truls got sick I would sometimes hear him dig really vigorously in his box, like he was trying to get through the plastic. Like "watcha doin??" And watching him it was just a rain of sand flying out. Ahh cats, they sure can be silly.
Ohh yap I know. Dogs explore with their mouth, especially as babies. So of course it's no surprise that Cosmos bites and nibbles much. He is better, sometimes he's not very teethie at all. Puppy class is great, got one more gathering and then pup class will be over. The instructor calls all puppies little geniuses hehe. 😃And Cosy is very chill with the car, hardly says a pip. 😃 He still needs to learn to walk properly on a leash. But overall he's a very good boy, very smart!!
@VDarkAge Good point! The vets would be more accurate too. I'm glad he feels a little meatier. The not using as many calories to fight off the cancer or infection makes alot of sense to me. I'm really glad he's eating better. He probably feels alot better too 😊
@mytwistedsoul Truls seems a lot better that is for sure. 😃Only two more days and bye bye stitches and bye bye cone. But he doesn't seem to mind the cone a lot, he's soooo cuddly.😍 Also going to take a new blood sample. It should indicate that he is much better now.
Cosy has nooo trouble getting motivated nope, none what so ever. If you got some candy or food he's hooked. 😂 Sure there is some people food which we can give, like meatballs. As long as they don't become little fat pigs.😊
Truls used to do that when he was younger. Run around in the middle of the night and "scream", aka meow very loudly. Like what the heck?? Ahh cats hehe, they can be silly indeed.
Yap last time is tomorrow. No clue if we will have some graduation, would be fun though. 😄
I think I'll do a mix of both, continue just training him at home and more classes. My aim is to do obedience competitions with Cosmos, maybe agility as well or other sports. We shall see. 😊
Oh my word, that was perfect! Either in a hurry or they dawdle, brilliant! 😂Very very accurate! Cosy walks a bit better now, but he can get even better. I just want him to walk nicely next to me, not pull ahead like a nut. Ah well, he's still a baby...or a young teen, he will learn.
@VDarkAge He knows you saved his life. And with feeling better. You saved him and made him feel better. He's a smart kitty. You had alot of really tough hard choices to make and you did great!
@mytwistedsoul
I am also REALLY happy. Like finally a good turn, finally just something good. Now Truls could have several more happy healthy years. :D😃😍😻 I'm just smiling so much now hihihi.😊
What will happen at rehab...hmm unsure. The vet mentioned some exercises, help him balance and not put to much weight on his other hindleg. Exercises that will help him move around better with only three paws. I've never gone to rehab before, should be interesting.
Puppy class was lots of fun. 😃 For the final time we tried out rally obedience, never done that before. While the others went their turn around a little rally obedience course Cosy and I practiced a bunch of things. It's very beneficial for him to practice and rehearse the basics in new environments and with distractions, like other people and other dogs. Otherwise there was no special gradation thing nope. We talked a bit about future classes. I'd love to attend a continuation class of this one. But Cosy sure learnt a lot from this puppy class. :)
Cosmos is reaaaallly smart, you can tell just by looking at him. He's got a ton of potential. So yap I at least wanna try competitions, see how things go. 😃Cosy also gets a pass sometimes when we're out on walks. He is just a little baby after all, or a youngster. Sometimes he needs to just have fun, run around and sniff, grab some sticks. 😛🐶
@VDarkAgeI can understand because u've no one to talk to or speak the way u want to believe me i know it freaking sucks
@AJ1232005
no kidding Dark
@VDarkAge That makes sense to work on his balance and have him moving around with just three. It'll give him some confidence getting around and help him live a fuller life. That's awesome!
Cosmo sounds like a really smart guy! Especially that he focuses on you when there's so many other different things going on. That's great! I hope you do decide to go to the next level classes. It could only help if you want to try competitions
Oh yeah they all need passes. They have to be able to be dogs too while they're out and sniffing things is part of it lol. And yeah they need to grab some sticks and just be silly 😊
@mytwistedsoul
Oh he has no trouble getting around. He can be quite quick the little tiger hehe. 😻But he could perhaps get better at it. I was going to remove the cone a few days ago, but hmm nope. There are still these tiny wounds where the stitches were, they have yet to fully heal. So nope. Not gonna risk Truls going at them, getting an infection or anything like that.
Cosmos is very very smart. He is also very reactive to things, the slightest little sound and he goes "0.0 what was that?" Because he's curios about all new sounds and such. It can be a little tricky outside on walks to keep his focus.
I do distraction training. Just take him outside, stop at some busy area with cars, people, dogs etc. After that I just give him a piece of candy when he looks at me and listens to me. 😊
The little goof doesn't just grab sticks.😂 He grabs rocks, tree cones, like anything that will fit into his mouth. Ohh he's over 15kg now! He's about...35 pounds, give or take. And he has almost lost all his baby teeth! He has lost his lower baby canine teeth, the new upper canines are visible. So any day now and he will have mostly adult teeth, all adult canines. 😱
Gotta say this new teeth stuff, it's a bit scary. Several times I've gone all "why is your mouth red? Hey your bleeding. o.o" Of course he's fine, but it's a bit unsettling.
Poof, what happened to that little baby pup that easily fit in my lap??
@VDarkAge Your post made me smile 😊 I'm glad he gets around so well! It's so great to hear that he's doing so well! Yeah better to keep the cone on until the little spots heal. Those tongues are really rough and I would imagine he'd make them sore licking at them
@mytwistedsoul
Something new, today. 0.0 Truls jumped down from a chair. Like a normal kitchen chair, I placed him on it because he has always liked to be up there. After a while he jumped down on his own, no problems. Like gasp! :0 Never seen him do that before. Soo yup, he's doing good. 😊😻
Oh lols I heard some jokes, like "cats are master surgeons! They can remove stitches with ease in seconds" lols.
I haven't taught Cosmos wait yet, but he does know stay very well. Of course it's to soon to say he's mastered it. But most of the time he is very good with stay.😄
Oh he's very proud of himself. He will on occasion try to bring a stick indoors. We have this pile of sticks just outside. All sticks Cosmos has brought home, his little collection. 😊Sometimes he just goes nuts and tries to eat like....everything. Grass, moss, every stick he can find. And I'm like "o.o....wow....alright" lols. Puppies hehe.😂
But he's doing great, think he has all his adult chompers now. And yes he is a lap dog for sure. Just last night he jumped down from a chair and landed in my lap and just got comfortable there. Like "I'm good right here." In a couple of months could be 30 kilograms in my lap.😂
@VDarkAge Omgosh! It sounds like he is doing awesome! I can't tell you how glad I am that he's doing so good after all he's been through! You made the right choice with the surgery!
@mytwistedsoul That was indeed difficult, that decision. But yup Truls is pretty much fine now. Now he may have several more years. 😻
Test me? I've noticed. Even though he's changed all his teeth (I think) he still thinks I'm his chew toy. Sometimes he has these mischievous moments and tries to nibble my arm, leg, or even a butt. 😂 Like what the heck?? I did read that puppies mostly bite for play, so he's most likely just trying to play.
Yah I don't mind if he grabs a stick. The other day he tried to get a worm, blehh. At least he doesn't grab any poop, lols. Some dogs love to get a "free snack" outside.
He likes to do that, hop on me. If I sit in the couch he sees it as an invitation to jump on me at full speed and try to chomp on my arm. Like o.O....k, guess I'm not allowed to chill in the couch. Ahh puppies, can be sooo silly!
@VDarkAge I hope you have many many years of Truls! ❤️
LOL! I have a few memories of those days! Taz was good for catching me in the shower - nothing like a cold nose hitting your butt! 😂 Yeah he's just playing - you figure he doesn't have hands so his mouth is all he's got to grab things with
Ewww a worm 😝 chewy! And definitely no yucky snacks like poop! Idk why some dogs think that's a good idea. It's gross 🤢 I was always lucky with the girls and they never did that - thank God because outside there's all kinds of snacks like that from a variety of animals
😁 He sounds like he's a trip! All that energy and love. He would definitely brighten up the day and make you laugh 😊
@mytwistedsoul
Cosmos likes go to into the shower and lick any water from the floor. I sometimes take him to a small nearby lake. He seems to like it, just watch the ducks swim by. 😊 Well he is a water dog, will be fun when he goes for his first swim!🐶💦
Well thankfully he didn't eat the worm! Hehehe.😂 But when it has rained I definitely need to watch him more closely. Since all kinds of aquatic critters come forth, like worms, snails, slugs, frogs, toads etc.
Today we did a big environmental distraction training, he did great! Did it by a school, so lots of loud noises for him to ignore and focus on me. He did great! 😄Well alright, I did have a large bag of candy hihih. I'm sure that had something to do with it. 😊Just maybe. 😛
Tomorrow is Truls first rehab!
And yes he still wears the cone. 😊I know, I'm being silly. He has officially had it on for almost an entire month. I'm being cautious, I'll ask tomorrow if he can stop wearing it, like for good.
I don't know how many times I will visit rehab, maybe once is enough. It's not mandatory, just recommended. But at least one visit is a good idea, so I can learn about exercises and such to do with Truls at home. He has gone up the entire staircase. 🐱 Up is difficult, down is easy. The cone probably hinders him a good amount. But on the bright side it stops him from any jumps which he might not be capable of, yet. Never been to any kind of rehab, this shall be interesting.
@mytwistedsoul
Back from rehab!
The rehab lady doesn't think we need to come back for any more visits. Not unless something happens, like Truls becomes unsteady or such.
Truls got to lay on a vibrating platform, had some laser on him. Some nice massage hehe and some balance training. She thinks he's doing great. No more cone. 😀Except for at night. And he can be free to roam, no more confinement. He can go anywhere he likes, well, assuming Cosmos doesn't pester him hihi.☺️
She recommends that we give him a joint supplement with his food, but that's it. No more medicine. One more needle, one more blood test. Just to be certain that Truls is staying healthy.
Otherwise he's good. 😀Officially defeated cancer and has suffered no I'll effects from loosing a paw.
Truls is epic! My little super kitty. Seriously such a strong fella.❤️😍😻 Got two healthy pets again.
@mytwistedsoul
(Correction)
***Suffered no ill effects from loosing a paw.
(Wish I could edit posts now.)
@VDarkAge He is going to have a blast at the lake! Maybe he'll bring you a duck friend 😁 The girls used to do that too when they were younger lol. I always wondered what the fascination with shower water was lol
@mytwistedsoul
Yap near a school. 😊Lots of kids outside and lots of noise. But that was my plan hehe. Cosmos needs to learn to respond to commands not just at home with zero distractions, but also out and about with lots of distractions.
Plus Cosmos loves alllll people, like everyone. He wants to greet every single person he sees. So by training him near a school he also learns to see people and perhaps chill a bit. Not feel this "OMG PEOPLE! HI PEOPLE!" Lols. xD I mean if we're walking through or near a big crowd and he wants to greet everyone, yiches....that sounds fun. I mean it's great that he likes people and isn't afraid. But we can't stop and say hi to everyone, plus some don't want a dog saying hi to them.
Yap I agree. I once saw this vet documentary about a kangaroo, it was frantic about licking it's toes. It started out normal, but it got worse and worse. Just wouldn't quit it, eventually it's toes were all bald and sore and ish. So yap animals can start out just licking or scratching something normally, but they can also overdo it.
Truls is epic hehe. 😻He jumps around on his tower no problems, just hop hop hehe. No more meds, just those daily food supplements which he eats like candy. He still needs to learn how to jump taller things, but he can do small jumps. He was surprisingly quick up the stairs today, like wow. 0.0
@VDarkAge It makes sense to desensitize him with people too if you want to do competitions with him. It would be hard to get him to pay attention to you and what you want if he's greeting all the people waiting to watch him lol! And yeah you're right not everyone wants a dog coming up to say hi. Plus it'll make it nicer if you can include him in alot of things you might want to do outside in public spaces. I've seen some people take their pets to farm stores and the dogs are every where and not listening at all. I mean - I love dogs and always welcome a visit but some dogs can come across as unfriendly
@mytwistedsoul Oh yah I've seen that to. People who bring their dogs to stores and such, like pet stores. A dog has to be goodie good and behave, be calm and chill around people for that to work. Not bark and jump like some little koko. xD
But I've done some more environment training, where it's busy like by a school. Kids being loud, people walking by, cars and cyclists passing by etc. Cosmos did great! 😄He listens to me very well when he's out and about near other people. But sometimes he can still get this need to get closer to someone walking in front of him.
Practice practice practice. Well he's only six months old, entering the rebellious stage. Now it's important to keep up with the training.😊🐶
I have no idea what made that kangaroo fiddle with his toes so much. I never watched the entire documentary. Could've just been some stress behavior which escalated to a medical condition. Stress can be a real issue for some animals, especially those who are very sensitive to certain things.
Nah we are getting another blood test done on Friday. Meant to get it booked sooner, but ya know other things get in the way. Besides Truls has been perfectly healthy and normal. 😃So haven't felt like we needed to rush the blood test. Truls only issue, if you can call it that. Is that his tummy doesn't like those joint supplement pills/candy thingies. So gonna have to try another kind, lots of different kinds in stores.
