| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
|
karen d
Gold Member
United Kingdom
847 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Apr 2009 : 3:31:57 PM
|
We have had the sad news that our old GSD has kidney faliure, so we must come to terms with the fact that he may not be with us for much longer.
We would love to be able to offer anther GSD a life time home with us if anyone knows of one looking for a good home.
we have had shepherds for the last 20 years, so are fairly knowlegable and experienced with the breed.
We are looking for a male, must be good around horses, other dogs, cats chickens etc.
i do have a 7yr old boy who is well trained with animals!!!!
if anyone knows of one looking for a good home please dont hesitate to contact me.
01425620492 / 07825795525
thanks
|
www.gkjarabians.co.uk |
|
Report to moderator
|
|
|
akitamom
Gold Member
England
903 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2009 : 6:30:46 PM
|
If you go onto DOG PAGES that is a rescue site that lists dogs all over the country...log onto the forum and put in a message in the homes offered section and you will get lots of dogs offered to you.
Sorry to hear about your old boy. |
Report to Moderator  |
|
|
cazza
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1674 Posts |
|
|
mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 06 Apr 2009 : 7:06:47 PM
|
I can also vouch for GSD rescue, they have some lovely dogs and they'll match the right one to the right home.
x |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
karen d
Gold Member
United Kingdom
847 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2009 : 12:50:29 PM
|
I have now registered with the GSD rescue and Vigil GSD rescue and we are having a home check on thurs at 2.30 so we will have to wait and see what they say!!
Better clean the house pretty quick!!!
Leo is pretty good at the moment. the vets have suggested he may have a tumor on the kidney and they want to do a scan, and possibly Chemo, but to be honest leo hates leaving the property and hates the vet even more so i dont want to put him through the stress of it.
lets face it they cant fix his kidneys any way so why would i put him through all of that?
its such a horrible position to be in, i hate this part of owning animals.
I have researching the internet and diet is very helpful in dogs with kidney faliure. so leo is now enjoying a diet of raw tripe and cooked chicken
poor graham looked rather worried when he came home to smell the tripe the other evening, he thought i was dishing him up another one of my cooking disasters!!! lol
what i dont understand is that even though leo has lost a dramitic amount of weight in a short space of time, he looks as bright as a button, his coat is shiny, he isnt drinking excessively, goes to the toilet as normal. runs off to find his ball or a stick if i ask him.
so how can he be so ill??? |
www.gkjarabians.co.uk |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
alix liddle
Silver Member
England
421 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2009 : 8:46:52 PM
|
| We have had two GSD/crosses from Vigil and they have both been lovely dogs. The information given about the dogs was accurate as well. Good luck! Sorry about your dog too. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
ali bali
Gold Member
Scotland
641 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2009 : 9:34:46 PM
|
Hi I'm sorry to hear about your dog, Ive no experience of renal failure in dogs but would like to tell about my cat, Hobbes. He was diagnosed with renal failure in January last year and was immediately put on a prescription diet (Royal Canin renal). Also Fortecor tablets which were originally developed for heart problems but a noted side effect was improvement in kidney function. Over the course of a year his blood levels returned to within normal range on this treatment. The prescription diet is expensive but my best friend (who is the vet who teated him) told me that diet is the key too prolonging a happy healthy life in renal cases.
I lost Hobbes last month to an entirely unrelated condition, he is sadly missed. I am convinced that had the second condition not developed I would have had the pleasure of his company for a long time yet. Obviously every case is different but dont give up all hope.  to you and your dog. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
karen d
Gold Member
United Kingdom
847 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2009 : 9:17:21 PM
|
THANK YOU everyone for your kind comments and thoughts
things are a bit up and down at the moment.
the good thing is we have found a lovely german shepherd. he joined our family on sunday
12mths old and we are his 4th home 
He is absolutely super, fantastic with the other dogs, horses my little boy etc. in fact its just like he has been here forever he has settled in so well.
Leo has been doing really well up until today
I have been giving him 3 meat meals a day. he has been having fresh chicken, tripe(YUK) and the horrendously expensive science diet fron the vets.
He still hasnt put any weight on, but is quite bright, and has a lovely shine on his coat.
BUT this morning he didnt want to eat his breakfast, and yesterday i noticed that his breath was absolutely awful, this i understand from the vet, is another sign of kidney faliure.
I eventually managed to get him to eat some tripe if i hand fed it to him. He wasnt interested in any of his lunch, so this eve i tried the chicken, then tripe, then science diet but he is just not interested. i have just been round to a friend who feeds her dogs, hearts and pinched some from her and he has eaten about half a heart. He allmost seemed to be burping each time he swallowed, but at least he has something in his tummy and he isnt being sick.
He is still wondering about quite brightly, and doesnt seem to be in any distress at all.
In my head i know that his time is coming but my heart just wont accept it.
Who am i to play god to make the phone call to the vet to say whether something lives or dies?
I just cant bear it.
At the moment he is showing no signs of any suffering or distress and i could never allow that to happen.
But when do we make the call???
|
www.gkjarabians.co.uk |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
gossy
Platinum Member
England
3639 Posts |
Posted - 16 Apr 2009 : 9:29:59 PM
|
You will know, my dog was 14 and had the same thing, went on for many years after diagnosis, but one morning he wasnt wagging his tail to greet me just lay down looking like he wanted to go, it was a terrible day, the vet said that we could take him home and he would just die, but he couldnt get up, couldnt walk properly and it was no quality of life for him, that was 25 years ago now, but i still miss him loads. Have a tear and thoughts for you.
|
   |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
pat day
Moderator
United Kingdom
5324 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2009 : 09:00:57 AM
|
Karen,
I go by, when they have more bad days than good, they are depressed, and its all too much for them.
Take care, make the most of the time you have left, and then go forward to make the youngster your rock. |
       
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TREASURES AT TEMPLEWOOD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
mogwai
Platinum Member
England
2717 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2009 : 11:34:27 AM
|
You'll know. You'll look at him, and he'll tell you when he's ready to go. I know it's terribly, horribly hard to watch him go down hill. Just take every day he's ok, and still enjoys doing the things he always did as a gift. I know you'll do the right thing by him, and i also know how awful this is for you, but no one but you and he can decide when the right time is.
Big hugs for you lady. Look after yourself, and don't beat yourself up about whatever decision you make. Leo has had the most wonderful, amazing life with you.
Call me if you need to
xxx |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
karen d
Gold Member
United Kingdom
847 Posts |
Posted - 17 Apr 2009 : 7:06:24 PM
|
We have had a better day with Leo today, and i am feeling so much more positive 
After he decided he wanted lambs heart last night i have been to the butchers this morning and bought loads of chicken hearts
Ive spent most of the day cooking them up for him and so far he has eaten 3 small meals
I know that its not the Science diet from the vets(he decided yesterday that he didnt like it!!) but i have come to the conclusion that what little time he has left with us he should enjoy and have whatever he fancies.
he actually seems a bit perkier, although graham says it could be wishful thing on my part , But i have just come in from poo picking the fields and he has pottered about with me and seems to have a bit more energy.
He is still bright eyed and barks if anyone comes round, so i am praying for a bit more time with him, Keep every thing crossed for him
xxxxxxxxxx
Thanks Mogwai, youre an angel, Made my eyes leak again!! |
www.gkjarabians.co.uk |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
sarifah
Junior Member
30 Posts |
Posted - 18 Apr 2009 : 11:04:27 AM
|
We are in the same situation with our olest boy and I have done a lot of research into feeding himm. He definately does NOT like the Hills diet. The most important thing is not to give them too much protein. The following works well for us: for protein he has either boiled chicken breast, fish fillet or hard boiled eggs. If you cook the chicken and fish with potatoes or rice or pasta and ad as many vegetables as he will eat. Let it all boil together to flavour everything. Well I just attach the article I found best A diet suitable for dogs and cats with failing kidneys can be prepared at home by adding one-half cup of cooked ground chicken breast or two crushed large hard-boiled eggs (no shells) to four cups of mashed potatoes or four cups of boiled brown rice. 30ml (Two tablespoons) of Canola oil, one-quarter Centrum tablet, 100iu of vitamin E, and 500mg of absorbable Calcium from any human calcium supplement, which is free of phosphorus on the label. As with all home-prepared diets, the addition of a taurine tablet and the vitamin E from a drug store is advisable in cats of all kinds. Taurine deficiencies can lead to heart problems. Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate is known to slow the aging process by scavenging free-radicals). Garlic or onion powder can be used in moderation if the diet is fed to dogs. It must never be fed to cats. The amount prepared should feed a ten pound cat for two to three days, or a 25 pound dog for a day or two, depending on its activity level and metabolic rate.***
A second recipe, originally published by Hill’s Pet Foods, for renal failure in dogs but somewhat modified by me, consisted of ¼ pound ground regular beef (not chuck or round), 1 large hard-boiled egg, two cups of cooked white rice, three slices of white bread, and a teaspoon full of calcium carbonate. I would add a multivitamin with vitamin E to this recipe.
A second recipe, originally published by Hill’s Pet Foods, for renal failure in cats but somewhat modified by me, consists of one quarter pound of lightly cooked liver (retaining the fat or adding two tablespoons full, if none is present) two large hard-boiled eggs, one teaspoon-full of calcium carbonate, one tablespoon full of canola oil, and one quarter teaspoon full of Morton’s Nu-Salt (salt substitute). I would add a multivitamin with vitamin E to this recipe.
In any of the renal diets, the addition of fermentable fiber may be helpful in controlling uremia. The theory is that the bacteria that ferment this fiber in the intestines utilize some of the excess urea in the pet’s blood stream
All the best
Marianne
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
barbie h
New Member
28 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 7:06:25 PM
|
| hi,a lot of ,but not all kidney problems in dogs are for feeding too high a protein. Maintenance is about 18%,adequate for some,23% suits my gsd any higher lose weight.I know in a growing puppy they will need more protein, but I have seen many growth problems in hounds with some foods. Google complete foods and the manufactures make there brand sound the best, it is like horsefood.it is trial and error sometimes. Most dogs like tripe and look good on it, cut up tons of that stuff,it has varying degrees between grass and dung stuck to it, dogs love it. Probably hasn't all the vitamins a dog needs but they can be added. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
karen d
Gold Member
United Kingdom
847 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2009 : 9:50:23 PM
|
Thank you so much Sarifah and barbie h for your advice, it is very much appreciated. x
Sadly on saturday Leo had had enough and we made the devasting decsion to let him go. 
he was cuddled up with his dad in his favourite part of the paddock, and went very peacefully.
Leo is laid to rest in the front of the house where he loved to sit in the sun on guard duty.
my son who has grown up with him since a baby is beside himself and we all had a tearful evening planting bulbs and forget me knots.
Thank you all for your kind words and support, its very much appreciated.
RIP Big guy, miss you loads xxxxx
|
www.gkjarabians.co.uk |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
akitamom
Gold Member
England
903 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2009 : 12:21:37 PM
|
Sorry to hear about Leo..he left this world knowing he was well loved.
The memorial garden sounds lovely. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
SEZ
Gold Member
England
1101 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2009 : 08:45:08 AM
|
| It was so touching to read this thread. You loved Leo very much. I am sorry for your loss. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
| |
Topic |
|
Topic Locked 
