Loving my Oldies

When I was carrying Sooty upstairs after her “ablutions” break downstairs this morning, poor little Tamar was having a throwing up episode on the deck, so I quickly put Sooty on her bed and went to Tamar’s aid. After I took her into the kitchen to wipe her mouth and give her cuddles, I turned around to see Sooty at the water bowl; so she is now getting out of her bed and finding the water bowl . (Previously, I have always carried her to the water bowl and steadied her while she drank.) Yesterday I came out of the bathroom and she was at the door with the others which meant she’d come through the lounge area and down the hallway under her own steam. She is still very fragile and will be for a long time, I imagine, but her progress is very encouraging. Having had many old rescue dogs in the past, I find it hard to believe she is only 12 - particularly for a toy poodle Tamar and Mezza are 15 and compared with Sooty they look like puppies . Some old time DOLers might recall my toy Poodle Rover who I adopted when he was nearly 17 and he lived with us for another 3 years. Anyway, we will all be doing everything we can to ensure this little girl gets the best attention and hopefully becomes well again.

Just back from the vet. I had to collect some meds so I took Sooty to be weighed. I’m over the moon: she has put on 100 grams and now weighs in at a whopping 2.35kgs. Whoever invented Nutrigel needs to get a medal. Sooty is ravenous, but because she is so starved, I’ve had to be careful, so small meals often and supplemented with a mixture of homemade bone broth and Nutrigel via syringe. She is amazing: she is getting out of her bed and going for little wanders. Because of her condition, she tires very easily, so I don’t let her do too much.

On Sunday night a tiny little Toy Poodle came into care and foster at Myrtle Street. Nothing could have prepared me for the shock and horror, but the story will follow another time. Suffice to say that had I some money another foster carer and a vet (whose name I don’t know at this stage) would be finding themselves before the courts on charges of severe neglect and total dereliction of duty. In the meantime, meet Sooty: 12 years, completely blind, one eye removed and the other with a cataract and, what you can’t see from the photograph, skin and bone ..... little more than a skeleton on legs and one of those damaged and left untreated. fullsizeoutput_a63 by Cynthia Waters, on Flickr

You are not doing anything wrong, Sunny. You have a tiny puppy in your house.

That is such good news She is beautiful.

Delightful.

BUT LET US REMEMBER, THIS IS DOG BEHAVIOUR. HUMANS MUST NOT COPY. Yes, I am shouting because I really wanted to emphasise this.

I think we’ve all been there, Sunny. Our guilt is our punishment. You won’t do it again.

Most times, our anxieties are disproven LOL. I have a foster dog at the moment (male toy poodle) who, according to his rescuer, has spent his nine years in the back yard, no access to the house and just fed kibble. Taking this into account, I reckon he is doing brilliantly. Still the occasional pee in the house, but that is to be expected. All over the place on the lead out walking, but that is to be expected (and I am walking five little dogs). Goes apeshit when he sees other dogs, but absolutely loves people especially children. This will improve as he encounters more and more dogs and has more and more experiences. He has learnt a lot in the brief time he has been here too. I’m impressed. He does not jump up on the bed until invited, he does not jump up on me until invited and he goes easily into his crate for meal times (twice daily) - this latter really scared him initially. Main thing is not to expect too much (or too little), just remember where your new boy has come from, his limited experiences of all things, don’t over react, just behave normally and insert gentle training into everyday life and be consistent. Allow him to settle in for a day or two before you start insisting on whatever rules are the most important to you. And the main extra tip?? Have fun!!!

Just wonderful koala. These stories are so engrossing and uplifting. And to have so many adopters keep in touch!!! All down to you and the huge amount of love you put into it all. Loved the pix of Fraser and Finley and their “guardians”

Admittedly my experience is with small dogs, but I have never done the “meet on neutral ground” thing - I’ve always had too many of my own . New dogs have always been brought straight into the family. I have a large back yard though and generally shut my dogs away and let the new one explore and gradually let the others out as meeting half a dozen new dogs all scrambling to have a sniff can be a bit overwhelming .

Congratulations!! As RuralPug says: relax and enjoy them. Dogs will pick up on your nervousness and wonder what is wrong and will in turn become stressed. Easier written here than done . They’ll probably be so darned happy to have each other. Pix in due course, please.

You and me both, @PANDI-GIRL. Jeune is the most stubborn dogs I have ever known. I have seen her hanging over a bowl of food licking her lips and almost salivating. But if she decides she isn’t going to eat it, she won’t. I can SEE the difference in her weight in the past week, though, so I am very pleased with her.

8He looks beautiful in the photograph, Sunny. The diet as as you have outlined does seem to be a good one; perhaps you could give him a meaty bone from time to time as well - a big one so he can’t break it up or swallow pieces. Just so he can knaw on it for his teeth and enjoyment. You may not have many choices, but I would be looking at changing vets. Good luck. Your little Tuffy is much loved.

All the poos my dogs do in the yard are thrown in the compost heap. Never any smell.

I take them into the backyard before bed. The dogs have always gone outside, but as they get older with all the attendant problems, we do have accidents in the house. It can be a long way out for little elderly dogs (Bunter is the “biggest” at 6.6kgs): through the house, across the deck, down the stairs or ramp ..... sometimes they decide the deck is far enough and that’s okay as I wash up any mistakes and hose down every couple of days. Jeune has had THREE meals today. . I had to have a nap to get over the shock

What country are you in, Sunny1979?

Poor little baby. You obviously care deeply and want your puppy to be healthy and happy, but HE IS A TINY BABY. He is tired and overwhelmed by all the enormous changes in his life.

I can assure you that some days, I am all for bundling them into the car and off to the nearest pound I have a little foster dog now, so that means a fifth place to eat, but he is very easy - I brought the crate in from the garage. (In fact, I always bring a crate in when I have a foster so if I have to go out, I can keep the new one safe until they know I am coming home.) Bunter is still in the study and Mezza is in the bathroom. The bedroom trick with Jeune and Tamar lasted that one time (or maybe a second, I’ve forgotten), so they are fed now in the dining/lounge kitchen as the deck is like a furnace these days. I finally relented in desperation and, on the suggestion of a friend, am buying those little cans of dog food for Jeune. But when I give her those, I have to separate her from Tamar as Tamar is on a renal diet. I did take one of them down to the vet to ask the vet if the cans were okay for Tamar and she said only in tiny amounts, so that is relatively easy to police.

Run free sweet Tuppence. I wonder if you will find my little puppy, Tuppence, who died 68 years ago. Deepest condolences stellnme. They sure are precious.

I’ve not seen him gagging at all and I’ve “played” with his mouth to assess reaction and/or any pain with no indication of sensitivity. He also fetches the ball and drops it at my feet; although I know obsessive behaviours will ignore pain, I don’t think he has any problems there. Thank you all for the suggestions; I will be taking him to the vet next week. He is such a sweet dog, very needy as can be understood and I imagine the rescuer will be swamped with applications when he goes on the website. Loves everyone we encounter particularly children as they tend to sit down so he can climb all over them.

Wonder if this works? This was before my groomer gave him a gorgeous tidy up. He is looking very svelt now LOL. IMG_0899 by Cynthia Waters, on Flickr

Hmmm, I watched the you tube videos, @jemappelle, but what Simba is doing is quite different. He isn’t looking around like those Cavaliers seem to be and he is much more vigorous - for want of a better word. When I find how to get to Photos from Flickr , I’ll post a video.

I’m told by the rescuer that he has papers attesting to his being pure bred. But, thanks for the attachment which I will read. He sometimes just sits down and snaps away

She might be , but she sure is