Juggling With Tango

Before coming to us, it seems that Tango had a break in her elbow, which is now arthritic, thanks to a great deal of new bone that has grown over the site of the injury. She really does suffer with her joint and so is on Metacam daily. We have never been able to reduce the dose, indeed, at the grand old age of just 7, we are aware that the Metacam won't help for much longer.

Long term use of Metacam can create problems in the gut and it seems that this may be happening with her, either that or she has developed an intolerance to part or all of her diet...or perhaps she has giardia or some other bug. This all manifests itself into regular gastrointestinal upsets, we are just slowly coming out of the most recent one, on Monday night she was up every 20 minutes either vomiting or straining to go to the toilet, culminating in her pooing out blood on Tuesday. All her blood work is 'unremarkable.'

So....what to do. Currently she is fed on Naturediet and lamb Arden Grange. First of all we are going to change that as it is a very rich diet and she does tend to put weight on, due to her age and arthritis. After much thought we are popping her onto sensitive Naturediet and chicken and brown rice Burns. We shall see how she goes on that. I thought a complete brand change for the kibble would be best...as would a change in the protein source, the Naturediet is fish and the Burns is chicken (obviously).

We have also been asked to get small amounts of faeces for 3 days to send off and be analysed...what joy. On the plus side at least it isn't a urine sample as that is almost impossible to get from her!!!

If all that fails....then we shall change the metacam to another drug, currently she can't take it anyway as her tummy is so upset.

Tango is eating chicken and rice (well, the rice that is stuck to the chicken at least, she spits the rest out) and is also on Pro-Kolin. She is feeling much better in herself today but produced a blood filled poo again earlier, so we are monitoring her. Poor girl. She is exceptionally stoic.

I just wish we could explain it all to her.

Cosmo proves a point.

I mentioned in my last blog, an experiment that had been done with a wolf, a dog a treat and a known handler. The treat was locked in a box, but was visible, with the known handler beside it. When the wolf entered the room it put all it's energy into tearing the box to bits to get to the reward. The dog came in, tried to get the treat, then went to sit by the handler!!!

Tango was a lucky girl who got a new boredom buster/treat dispenser toy for her birthday a couple of weeks ago. It is shaped a little like a dumbell with holes in either end in which you place the rewards. Simple idea, but it is actually almost impossible to get the treats out. :-) A friend of mine was round yesterday and I gave said toy to Cosmo, (Tango was upside down and snoring).
Well, muppet boy lay down and licked either end. Fail.
He then decided it must be a kong and spent ten minutes picking it up and bouncing it around the kitchen. Fail.
More licking/chewing. Fail.
More bouncing. Fail.

Sit by me with it in his mouth and look very handsome...almost but not quite. :)
Sit by my friend....result.

Who trains who exactly...did we really domesticate dogs??!!! :-)