Calling All Dogs Over 8 Years Old

[Rosie 1]

We have Mukie who will be 16 yrs old April of 08... Cindy who is now living with my friend Beverly who will be 18 yrs old Nov.. 15..Max another friend has two of Mukie's puppy's that will be 15 this Dec.. We lost Posha Cindy's Mom 24 days from 18 yrs.I tried to get them to take her to a vet but they wouldn't I think she had a bladder stone blockage..She was awonderful girl. I'd like to see one of my dogs make it over 20.. So far Cindy is doing great sleeps alot but as to vets isn't on any meds.. Her mom at 17 was taken to a vet who didn't beleive how old she was as she had all her teeth and the only sign of aging was here hearing wasn't as good as when she was younger.. Here is a pic of Posha...and one of Mukie who is going on 16.. Posha is Mic's grandmother longevity..

[Rosie 1]

Heres a pic of Mukie at around a yr old....

[crystalsmom]

Welcome Rosie and all your lovely yorkies. You will have to teach us your secret to getting your dogs to living this long. Of course I know they are not all living with you.

The picture of Mukie at a year old is adorable. Again Welcome.

[Rosie 1]

No secret... Genetic's Genetic's Genetic's....~~~!!!! This line I've been working with has teeth when they are well into their old age none are on meds just good dog food and many aren't even taken to vets very often just for shots and things like that... This is why I keep from my own stuff.. I don't have any idea as to what adding Ceylon and Soleil will do with the length of life.. I won't be breeding much longer to know.. I'm 60 now and if they live to 15 will make me 75... I sure hope if Jesus taries I can still keep my dogs going.. But with the way of the world today.. I can't see that happening..But were ever I am my dogs will be there too.. AMEN...

[jrsygal37]

NAME: Newman
AGE: 9 years will be 10 years in December.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU OWNED: Since a pup.
M/F: Male.
HEALTH PROBLEMS AND WHAT YOU HAVE FOUND TO HELP: Newman has been pretty healthy up until this year. Newman has a stage III tumor in his foot. We had it operated on in March (Lumpectomy) and less then four months later it returned. It's a rare cancer. Our vet who has been practicing in well respected hospital for over 30 years has never seen it before and neither has the oncologists he's consulted with. So... We are goiong through pre-op testing to make sure it has not spread and if all is good Newman will be having his leg amputated in hopes of curing him.
DO YOU GIVE VITAMIN: I do not give any vitamins although I question whether I should or not. I do home cook for him as well as my other Yorkies. I use Chicken Soup dry and keep it out all day and at night boiled chicken, brown rice and carrots.

The only other thing I can think of is that Teeth Cleaning is very very important in small dogs. Their teeth can rot out very fast if not taken care of and that in itself will cause a load of problems. I start at the age of one or two years of age and have their teeth professionally cleaned. I usally have them done every other year or if I see they needed earlier I have them done yearly. I notice as Newman is aging his teeth do seem to need cleaning yearly whereas when he was younger I could go every other year to have them done. I also think that having more then one dog keeps him younger. Before we had others and he was our only he seemed more like and old fart. LOL. He's now like a young stud. LOL. He's neutered but still seems to have the urge if ya know what I mean. Tee hee.

[Rosie 1]

I fed Purina for yrs till they changed their formula and my dogs would not longer eat it.. I'm feeding Royal Canin and wonder as to it's quality??? I'm thinking of researching Purina again as all substances come from with in the country as far as what I've been told.. I'm so sick of this China crap and all the stuff they've shipped in with problems.. We are wide open to the whims of our government... It's a known fact that the heavy metals in all that they produce as far as food is really toxic stuff.. Why we would consider using anything thing from that country in a food product is beyond me.... As to cancer I feel it's food and exsporsurer to chemicals that are unhealthy... As we all know the cancer rate in humans is sky rocketing.. All the additives are not good.. As to dog treats don't feed any with flavor enhancers in them. People having trouble with dogs eating their own poo or some other dogs poo is do to those additives... I only feed those little milk bones as I don't like what the others have in them... My dogs also get a little goats milk every day as a treat.. they get treats from the table like if I fry fish they are given that which they love.. Baked chicken I give from the table in limited amounts.. I don't like beef and don't eat it.. We do have our own pork which the dogs will get little lean pieces of but beg like crazy for it. It's all limited and their diet is mainly the dry dog food.. Oh... I do give cheese as a treat too.. I try not to give the dogs anything I would not eat myself except for the dry dog food.. Some people give their dogs awful stuff.. As you know yorkies can't tolerate fat but know people that feed it and wonder why their dogs get sick.. The only vitamins I give are to pregnant females a few weeks before having puppy's and all though nursing of that litter.. Keeps them from blowing coats and in great health.. I find giving the vitamins before whelping the pups come out all wiggly and active..

[crystalsmom]

Welcome Jrsygal34 and Newman. Little Newman will be in our prayers and when it is something rare it is hard because you can't get a direct answer to many of your questions. You are certainly doing all you can do and hopefully for out for Newman.

I agree about the teeth in small toy breeds. I had Crystal's professionally cleaned every year for ten years but she still had problems. She is now getting amoxicillin in 2 (50mg) tablets the first three days of every month to help her keep the ones she has.

I might mention that I was in the vets office once when a dog came out after having a leg amputated and the owner told everyone in the waiting room that the vet told her the dog would walk like he had never had a thing done and he did. The look on this face was not fearful and was as happy as a lark....they do adjust so much better than we do.

Keep us updated and you both will be in my prayers.

[crystalsmom]

Rosie have you ever used the Missing Link?? I am thinking of trying it but I have her on Solid Gold to extend her life (she is 13) and is doing really great on it. I have heard good thing about Royal Canin and I did feed it to Crystal for awhile. Lots of great food is not always good for senior dogs unless they have a product just for senors I've found. Most dog owners I know including myself do not like purina....they spend alot on advertising and not a lot on product..just my opinion and alot on the forum. It's working for you and you have the age of dog to prove it works for some so I always hate to say one is better than the other. I do like human grade dog food though.

Did you read about Newman that just joined, this has to be so hard to go through when even the vets are not sure what to do. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Also daisysis's Buddy needs prayers too.

[SophieRose]

When my eyes stop filling with tears, I will post about Sophie and Charlie. This is a tender thread and there is something so special about senior pups. Warmly, Deborah

[crystalsmom]

We'll be here Debbie.

[crystalsmom]

Please send me a pm or post on this thread if your senior dog is having a September Birthday and pls give me their age. A picture would be nice but don't worry about that if you do not have one. Sasha was born 9-23-95 but that is the only one I see, I will check with doglover since I have not heard in awhile. Thank You All and Kiss your sweet babes for me.

[crystalsmom]

Also Sherry Lynn hasn't been on in awhile and we miss her, I will see how Dempsey is doing since Dempsey has a Sept. B. D.

[Rascal 01]

NAME: Rascal
AGE: 8 years old
HOW LONG HAVE YOU OWNED: less than a week
M/F: male
WEIGHT: 4 lbs
HEALTH PROBLEMS AND WHAT YOU HAVE FOUND TO HELP: sensitive stomach, bad bad breath, dry itchy skin, goopy watery eye,snores
DO YOU GIVE [COLOR=green! important][FONT=verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif][COLOR=green! important][FONT=verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif]VITAMIN[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR]: not at this point
FOOD: Sience Diet (previous owner said don't dare try to change it or he'll throw up blood and have diarrea)

He is absolutely perfect though!!!

[crystalsmom]

Welcome Rascal and Mom, glad to have you here. Was he in a rescue situation?? Looks like he has a few issues to work through and a vet visit will probably give you a better idea of what your dealing with here. He is darling and I'm sure he will keep you busy wonderomg how you ever lived without him before. So nice of you to give a senior dog a home.

[Rascal 01]

The ladie we got him from has 3 small kids and works full time. So she just felt terrible b/c she couldn't give him any attention.

He went to another home before ours and only lasted 1 night. That person only wanted a dog for her kids and I guess he felt that that was not a good place for himself and acted up.
We got him last Friday and he has done soooo well!! He has made himself right at home.

I found out last night that this month is his 8 th birthday!! So happy Birthday to him!!