Hi, Everyone...My name is Debbie:) My Beloved Pug is Sadie Fae Rose:)

[Debbs]

Greetings, everyone...I am the very proud owner of Sadie Fae Rose...She will be turning 16 this next May...I am dealing with issues with her, relating to her advanced age...but so far so good...Sadie has been putting weight on lately: which is comprimising how she walks..I notice her back feet will kind of roll in an odd way: so now I am forced to put her on a diet:(
I HATE having to do this to my Sadie: especially since I don't know how much longer she'll live...But I HAVE TO: for she HAS to be able to walk! Someone suggested I add some vegitables to her diet: so she won't feel she is being starved to death! She has a great appetite still:) So, this morning I steamed some French style green beans...I plan on supplememnting her diet with veggies: which is healthy for her, too:)
If anyone has any other good ideas on what to feed her, to give her a feeling of "fullness" with lower calories, I'd be very happy to hear it..she can't chew any longer, as she has growths in her mouth: but her veterinarian says surgery is too risky, at her age. Anyway, I'm happy to be a part of this Pug forum...I'll try and post a picture, when I figure out how to do it!

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

Welcome!! I have many seniors, including Miss Bailey, who is 16 or 17 and still doing very well. has your vet done a full blood panel lately to rule out other causes of weight gain, like cushings or low thyroid? If not, I would start there.

I cannot stress enough how beneficial a prepared raw diet is to the old dogs. their weight, blood sugar and such are all much easier to maintain on raw and it is soft so easy to chew for those with bad teeth or no teeth. It gives them very small, firm, almost odorless poops which is nice if they are becoming a little incontinent.

I feed my old ones Nature's Variety raw, some digestive enzymes and a glucosamine supplement. Most seniors of her age would get about a quarter of a frozen patty twice daily. You want to flood the food with water, like 1/2-3/4c., it helps them feel fuller and is good for their kidneys and bladder.

Getting the weight off will definitely prolong her quality of life and mobility.

I do not recommend supplementing with vegetables, especially for old dogs. A dog's digestive system is different than our's, much shorter, they do not digest carbohydrates well. They are carnivores. Carbohydrates, especially grains and starches can also breed yeast which will cause ear and nose roll infections, skin problems and a bad odor.

Would love to see pictures of your precious girl. I love the seniors.

Take care,
Lisa

[Tinker's mom]

Hello & to the village. So glad you found us.

[Debbs]

Thank you so much for the helpful tips! Where would I find Nature's Variety food for dogs at? I did steam some green beans for Sadie this afternoon: but she didn't like it..I have been feeding her Iams Senior dog food, with Glucosamine/Chondroitin....I really should ahve switched her to a soft food: I feel so bad about that! I definately am going to buy her the Nature's variety, when I know where to buy it at..
What are digestive enzimes, BTW?
You mean you pour 1/2 to 3/4 of water over a frozen patty? How long do you let it sit for, before feeding it to your dogs? I really appreciate the tips..I had never heard of Nature's Variety before...I want to keep Sadie going strong as long as possible...How do you attach pictures? I will check it out: maybe my hubby can help me out...Thank you all so much for the warm welcome:)

[Debbs]

Hello again..I cannot see how you attach pictures..Can someone help me figure it out? Thanks so much!

[MrsGreene]

Hi, to post pictures, you first need to upload them to a photo hosting site. Then, you click the little button at the top of the box that looks like a little tree. Then, paste in the URL of the photo and voila! Photobucket.com is one I use, as it is free and fairly easy to use.

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

Thank you so much for the helpful tips! Where would I find Nature's Variety food for dogs at?

In my area it is available at Petco and at finer independent pet stores, also online.

http://www.naturesvariety.com/InstinctRaw/dog/all

There are other good brands of raw as well, Primal and Stella & Chewys are also great.


I did steam some green beans for Sadie this afternoon: but she didn't like it..I have been feeding her Iams Senior dog food, with Glucosamine/Chondroitin....I really should ahve switched her to a soft food: I feel so bad about that! I definately am going to buy her the Nature's variety, when I know where to buy it at..
What are digestive enzimes, BTW?

Powdered digestive enzymes can be found at most pet stores and human health stores, they proide a boost especially for older dogs who do not digest their food efficiently anymore. It pays to research them because, just like with human vitamins and supplements, some are good and some are not honest about what is in them. Look for a brand independently tested. Right now, I'm using Mercola Healthy Pet.

You mean you pour 1/2 to 3/4 of water over a frozen patty? How long do you let it sit for, before feeding it to your dogs?

You take out the amount of food you will need for the next day the night before and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. No big deal if it is still a little bit frozen in the morning. I then divide the patty into serving sizes and crumble the serving into the bowl, like I would crumble ground beef into a pan to make taco meat. Then I add the supplements and then the water.

I really appreciate the tips..I had never heard of Nature's Variety before...I want to keep Sadie going strong as long as possible...How do you attach pictures? I will check it out: maybe my hubby can help me out...Thank you all so much for the warm welcome:)

Take care,
Lisa

[Debbs]

Thank you so much for the VERY helpful tips, Lisa..I happen to have a petco store very close to me:) I appreciate the help: as you can probably tell, I needed it! This is the first time I have cared for a very old dog like Sadie...I've hhad Sadie since she was 6 weeks old...and I know when she passes, I'll be so devistated..I am already thinking that I may get another Pug one day; but some time AFTER Sadie passes on...Pugs are such wonderful dogs..But actually, it's just difficult for me to even think about Sadie not being "here" with me..I so often cry, just thinking about losing her. It hurts me to see how age affects her body...but I still see the old Sadie pop out: especially when it's time to eat! She'll get so excited, she kind of jumps around! It's so cute! She is mostly blind now: she has very bad cataracts: but she still manages to stay close to me, when I'm home..She does have this really gross habit: one I've never been able to break: she will eat our 3 cat's poop, whenever she can...When I take her outside to go to the bathroom, she will start combing around the yard, searching for "the fresh stuff"..yuck! It's pretty disgusting: but she hasn't gotten sick from it: unbelievable! Anyway, you're an angel, Lisa: for the helpful tips...

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

Old Miss Bailey says hello to Sadie:



Take care,
Lisa

[Rugbysmom]

Hi & to you & Miss Sadie! Sadie is such a lucky girl to have such a loving mom who has taken such wonderful care of her for so long! I know, it is sooo hard when they get old....I so wish I'd had a board like this to visit on when our 1st Pug, our dear little Tawny, began getting old. It can be so helpful to have a place to visit with other people who truly understand just what it means to love a pet so much. I'm glad you have found this site! Hugs to Sadie!