Jasper (12 yr old Mini Schnauzer) is now at peace

Awww, thanks you guys. Yes, I was really needing this long weekend. We have enjoyed today, maybe too much as I didn't get much constructive work done! Tomorrow I have a graduation party to go to, but other than that, just hanging out here. Which of course will meet the approval of both Jasper and Shelby! Isn't that funny how we all have long weekends but on three separate consecutive weekends? So nice.

Sharlene, I hope Molly's poops straighten up, that is so stressful.

Trish, Jasper was switched to Royal Canin GI lowfat prescription food back in January I think, when his triglycerides went sky high. Thank goodness they make a canned version also. This morning he wouldn't eat until I mixed in a bit of the canned food. Poops are ok so far *whisper*. I am getting ready to see if he will eat supper in a few minutes.

There is a hockey game on tonight, I didn't realize that. Guess I won't be getting any chores done tonight either! :D :rolleyes:

Excellent, another couch night. Flynn was on that food after his surgery when we were worried about pancreatitis. He went off it too, would you look at giving him a change?

My friends are waiting for the Habs (Montreal Canadiens) to play tomorrow.

hugs
Sharlene and molly muffin

Trish I don't think he will be able to go off the lowfat food because his triglycerides were so high, my vet was worried about pancreatitis of course, but also the value was so high that it was in the range where it could cause seizures.

She said if the food didn't help he would have to start the medication for it, which she doesn't like to prescribe. Thankfully the food made a difference along with the fish oil. The last result was still quite elevated, but not at such a critical level. He has schnauzer hyperlipidemia, which doesn't help matters.

Sharlene, I love the Canadiens! Such tradition there. I think they are the only current NHL team that existed before the formation of the NHL, if I'm not mistaken. I LOVE Stanley Cup Hockey, all the teams are so good by the time they get to the conference finals. Very exciting hockey. Ok I'll shut up now, lol. :D

But there must be other low fat options?? I am going to google!

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-d...-fat-dog-food/

Tons, I am just thinking maybe bit of a swap may perk his appetite?

Thanks so much for the link and checking into it! There are lots of choices there, but it looks like they all have quite a bit more fat than his current food, and also pretty high in protein, which we also have to watch due to his kidney issue.

His currents food has fat 5% and protein 20.5%. The Royal Canin that Jasper is eating just happens to be what Dr Peterson recommends in his blog too, so I felt pretty good about that when I discovered that!

I know, a change would most likely help his appetite, but we are very limited with what we can try, I think. :o I remember my vet saying that the over the counter lower fat foods would not be low fat enough to lower his triglycerides. :(

Hey Tina

Has it been a good week? I hope so :D It is coming up time for me to order new food for Flynn. He loves the ziwipeak he is on now and his IBD seems stable on it, but I am worried about the fat content after having this conversation with you. His is 27% fat :eek::eek: that is not good with his liver problems so it is going to have to change. It is just so hard with all his different maladies!! We have had to focus on IBD so I am a little loathe to change, but this whole fat thing is worrying me. Will let you know what I come up with. We could go back to the RC one Jasper is on but he quickly started refusing it. Hopefully hear from you over the weekend ! xx for you Jasper and Shelby!

Hi Everyone,
Haven't meant to be absent, just a busy busy week at work, typical end of the month BS. Yesterday I was out at the assisted living with my Nana most of the day taking care of some things out there for her. I was wiped out when I got home, and now today trying to get caught up on things at home.

Jasper has been hanging in there and we managed to make it through the time my vet was out on medical leave without an emergency, so I am very relieved! He continues to take baby steps with progress. For the most part I am able to get him to eat his regular kibble, but he back pedals often. He will do good for 2 or 3 meals, and then the next time he won't eat it at all unless I mix some canned food in. But I am just grateful that I have been able to get him to eat something so he can take his meds. It is definitely much better over the past week, mostly going in the right direction but still not back to normal. He seems to feel better overall, but still low energy and mopey a lot of the time. The frequent urination has shown some improvement also, but we still have a little ways to go there.

I talked to my vet Friday afternoon. She feels he is making improvement and she wants to continue the clavamox for another week, for a total of 4 weeks. She said he has been fighting so hard, and while it would probably be ok to stop treatment after 3 weeks, she doesn't want to take any chance whatsoever that the infection might not be totally gone and could recur. And she feels he is not quite back to normal yet. I am in agreement with that plan, as he seems to be tolerating the clavamox for the most part, thank goodness. And I remember she said previously that he may need to be treated for 3-4 weeks. Better to be safe than sorry. We have come this far. She is right, this has been a very hard fight for my little man. She also said that there may still be some nausea associated with the clavamox that is affecting his appetite, and is hopeful this will continue to improve once we can get him off the antibiotic. He will continue on the reglan bid as long as he is on the clavamox.

We have been under a severe thunderstorm warning for the last couple of hours, several separate cells have moved through. 60 mph winds, and my neighbor's back fence partially blew down again. He still had not fixed the post that snapped a couple of storms ago, he just did a band-aid fix. Well, it is near where our side fence joins and puts a lot of pressure on my back fence, but so far mine has held. It is always such a worry with high winds. I wish he would just fix the damn thing already! This same neighbor has a poorly maintained above ground pool that apparently was empty, because it went completely airborne, and is now resting up against and on top of the other side of his back fence. :eek: :eek: I saw it happen, and about had a heart attack. Thank God the wind was blowing the direction it was, or that thing could have ended up on my fence or yard, or house! We are in a break now, but it sounds like things are revving up again, lots of thunder and lightning. Hopefully the severe stuff is over.

Jasper and Shelby are doing pretty well with the storms, considering all the wind and thunder. Jasper is the one with the fear, and I have just been ignoring him when he is acting anxious. It is so so hard, but must be done. I have to just act like nothing is happening as he most definitely senses everything from me. It is so hard to see that pitiful face and pacing out of the corner of my eye, I can't even look directly at him or he takes that as a sign of encouragement or something and tries to get me to hold him, which would reinforce his anxiety. I just keep typing away on my iPad like nothing is happening. :o

Well, it took about an hour and a half but he finished his food, one bite at a time. He kept looking at me like "when are you going to add the good stuff". I usually wait about a half hour or so before I mix a little canned in, but wanted to use tonight as a test to see if he would finish without it, since I had time to wait.

Trish, thanks as always for checking in on me and Jasper. Happy to be able to chat for a little bit, I hope you are enjoying your long weekend! I posted about the food over on your thread. Looks like you have signed off now, maybe catch up with you a bit later. :)

Hugs,
Tina and Jasper xo

Sorry I disappeared, I had to take Mum up town to buy a new stereo for her bedroom, we had Queen's birthday sales on. With a bit of supreme control I managed to not buy anything... I don't know why but whenever I go to those stores I have to look in all the fridges and ovens :D:D

But pleased to get home and see the Jasper updates!! Sounds like he is progressing Tina, that is great news!! I was just wondering if you could put a little something non fat but tasty even some flavoured stock on his kibble to tempt him to gobble them up?

When the cats were here and if Flynn happened to be off his food, I would leave them around while he was picking at food. If they even looked like going to sniff his food Flynn would run over and eat any left in his plate up super fast, ain't no puss going near his food!! He still does that at Mum's with Elle, but it is not often that there are any leftovers... he is a definite gobbler, not a grazer. I was just wondering if Jasper would eat more if Shelby was around, or would he just not care if she ate his yucky biscuits? :rolleyes:

I reckon the clavamox will be affecting him, even with the reglan. Are you planning to repeat MSU at the end of the AB treatment? Gawd I hope that is gone and never to make a return, it has been a bugger to get rid of!

Wish I had done what my friend had and took the next days off work, but did that at Easter which was only last month!! So back to work in the morning for me!! Might see you if you're up for a pitstop! x