Rufus tugged at our hearts and our wallets simultaneously

[Lynn49]

Walks....You've received such wonderful advice here...All I can do now, is pray for Rufus...

[hollyquaiscer]

I am starting to wonder if I can just start " making " Rufus dog food myself ( like I know SnowInSummer feeds her Yorkie chicken breast cooked herself and some veg too ) because the cost probably would be less to do that?? I am unsure.


.

When I first got BIG T, I made her plain white rice (nothing in it, not even salt) mixed with ground beef that I fried until it was cooked, then I rinsed it in a colander in hot water to wash away every little trace of any fat. I mixed the 2 together and gave her 1/2 cup 3 times a day. That along with a tablespoon of plain pureed pumpkin once a day got rid of her runs in 3 days. You can make the food, just make sure that he's not getting a lot of fat and or salt. They love fish, chicken beef, any of those mixed with plain white rice is good for them. You can slowly add some veggies too.

[walkonby]

well holly THAT is great news! We have a very large bag of white rice here that no one will eat anymore ( starch, the evil carb that turns to sugar, lol ) and I can certainly cook ground meats up and rinse them. ( I am already cooking salt free for us anyway, so no biggie there)
I am going to ask my vet if I can feed him that way instead of overpriced commercial canned stuff. I know they will probably talk about missing nutrients and stuff but there are supplements I can add I am sure. Right now he gets Glucosimine every day, so we'll see.

[Lynn49]

Does it count that Jenny gets fried, rinsed ground beef mixed in with her wet food every day?
Walks, my late girlfriend fed their dog that way, and yes, adding in supplements (I think they mixed them into her food), and she was as healthy as can be.

Here's some homework for you...

http://www.rodalenews.com/dog-food-recipes

https://www.petfinder.com/dogs/dog-n...og-food-diets/

Hope whatever you do, helps!!

[walkonby]

thanks Lynn and Andit for the " recipes" lol. Back from the vets today and counting our blessings.

1. Rufus heart murmur is on the low end they said between a 1+2, so that means ?? to me but it was good news to them, so I am happy.

2. his bladder stones are on the smallish size, which is good sort of , but I am adopting the special diet food for a short time period to dissolve them enough so that he eventually " pees " them out.
As always there is a risk that one can actually lodge in his urethra and block things....we are hoping that does not happen.
Of course IF they do not pass, or if a blockage occurs, then surgery is needed to remove them AND they said a special diet will then have to be followed from that point onward to prevent anymore from forming. (ugh!!)

3. the pain and back end mobility issues are now confirmed to be actual " back pain " so the next 2 weeks he is to be strictly resting ( note to self, read Hamlet the RIOT Act that he is not to aggravate Rufus or entice him into a chase )
4. a new pain med, only given once a day and causes no constipation ( hooray!)

Sad part is I have to place Rufus into the " corral " when I cannot be in the main room here with him. It is a large-ish octagon shaped metal cage thingy and I have filled it with his bed, toys, water/food etc. just so I know he is not leaping up and down on the furniture. ( shhhh.... he does not like it)

So that is the update, thanks for your kind words and concern everyone.

[beckie.c]

Sad part is I have to place Rufus into the " corral " when I cannot be in the main room here with him. It is a large-ish octagon shaped metal cage thingy and I have filled it with his bed, toys, water/food etc. just so I know he is not leaping up and down on the furniture. ( shhhh.... he does not like it)

Awe poor Rufus hopefully he is back to his furniture bouncing self soon!!

[wolfwoman]

Awwww. Poor baby, he is NOT going to be happy with that. I had a cat that had gall stones that got stuck. What a nightmare for was! Have you researched all the possible side effects of the pain meds? Good luck with Hamlet! Somehow, I think he will test how far he can go.

[Dee09]

Good to hear it wasn't more serious Wob. Poor Rufus. We live in a mid sized city and many people head to a smaller town 1/2 hr drive away. Their prices are 1/2 the cost!

[walkonby]

Awwww. Poor baby, he is NOT going to be happy with that. I had a cat that had gall stones that got stuck. What a nightmare for was! Have you researched all the possible side effects of the pain meds? Good luck with Hamlet! Somehow, I think he will test how far he can go.

This once a day liquid pain med could have caused diarrhea, but so far Rufus has not had any, ( hooray!) Plus he is walking wonderfully again since the weekend, wiggling the backside, wagging his tail, no problem keeping up with Murphy at all when I take them out to do their business. I do have to keep the trip short though, once around the grassy spot close to home and then back. Then I put him in " jail " ( the circular pen ) for part of the day to ensure no more activity ( like chasing Hamlet )

[Patty Smyth]

Sounds like all good news to me, hope he continues to improve.

[Natalka]

So glad there's been improvement!

[wolfwoman]

Far better to cook food for them than feed them commercial food. I watched a documentary on commercial pet food and it was eye opening at the CRAP in it.

[walkonby]

Far better to cook food for them than feed them commercial food. I watched a documentary on commercial pet food and it was eye opening at the CRAP in it.

Now I am suspecting that as well, because I see all the crap that is in our human foods on the shelves, why would pet foods be any different? I am in limbo now trying to use up what is on the stockpile shelf and maybe consider after that changing tings up here for both dogs.

[walkonby]

so Rufus is back to his old self ( and he is getting older I can see that ) again, walking, running just fine. We have not returned to the regular vet to access his diet going forward as yet. ( I dread that visit) but for now he is enjoying going back to the doggie park with Murphy and he finally got to have his grooming appointment a short while ago.
here he is at the dog park relaxing....one of the gals started a FB page for the park, the pics are so beautiful of all the dogs.

[Natalka]

I'm so glad all is well - he is quite the gorgeous doggie!