How is Jackson doing this morning?

I'm with Crystal on going easy on physical activity for a bit, and staying away from the pool to avoid the possibility of ingesting any chlorinated water. Rest does a body good when it comes to any type of ailment or injury; helps the body to repair and recoup. Jackson has been through the wringer. Max didn't want to slow down with his eye problems, but when he had active ulcers, it was for his own good to rest. He would beg to play or go walking, but then he almost seemed relieved when I would sit down and relax with him instead.

Just saw your update and I'm glad he is doing well this morning.

You can try making a game out of eating kibble. Do some tricks and use the kibble as rewards. If you seem excited about the food, he will probably catch on.

I had been thinking about the yelping thing also. Not sure there is any way to say for sure, so it would be a highly uneducated guess on my part. But yes, I wonder if it was related.

I wonder if his pancreas has been a bit angry for awhile now (as Dr. Remillard told Cathy, these things can smolder for awhile). Jackson has gotten a lot of rich treats and chews and not all dogs can handle it. Well, it may appear that they are handling it fine when really they aren't or they stop being able to. Bloodwork can be somewhat of an indicator of how the pancreas is doing. If the lipase and/or amylase is up, that gives some clue about how things are going in there.

You can ask about using the EN canned.

Will he eat the EN if you put a little bit down 3 times a day?

Yes, you'll have to find a way to switch over very slowly. Grinding it together may work.

I have always been told to give canned after a bout of pancreatitis or gastroenteritis.

I am so glad Jackson is doing better. I read all the pages this morning, and read some out loud to my dh...he likes to give the dogs "treats" off his dinner plate.

I hope some of what I read stuck into his thick head!! I said you can give raw or lightly steamed veggies.... one plain without any sauce noodle... that is IT!!!

I have been reading your concerns about food. That is sooooo hard. I have a situation where I will be traveling (my dh is having a bone marrow transplant) a lot in the next year. I was home cooking but it is a lot of work. I have two larger dogs (one is 26 pounds) and thus the volume of food is more. I went to a pet store to look at freeze dried food, most brands use raw. Not putting down anyone who uses raw... it is not my choice (I think today's dog had evolved to the point that raw is not always the best choice--jmo)

So...back to you. I choose honest kitchen. The one capt noodie uses with uni. It has taken me 6 weeks of thinking to make that choice. I will add veggies and treat them with boiled chicken from time to time. I think ... in the future.. that may be a choice for you.

On home cooking, Cathy has given me such great advice and she knows her "stuff" but it is a commitment and is not the best for everyone. When my life gets back to its new normal I will go back to home cooking. Why? Because I think it is ONE of the best choices, and I WANT to.

So .. my words of advise... take notes, do your research, learn as much as you can.. then decided what YOU think is best. There is more than one correct answer.. and more than one BAD choice. I know you will find the one that is right for you.

Definitely! I am going to give at least a week or two of mostly chilling in the house, no walks, plus it's been too hot to walk anyways honestly. We haven't been doing our walks for a few weeks now. But I agree, his body needs rest, even if he doesn't know it.

How is Max's eye, btw? I forget if it was one eye or both that had problems. My God, the stuff these dogs put us through. :D They are so worth it though.

I am thinking it would make him really happy to visit my dads house this weekend, maybe on Sunday. He LOVES my dad. But if we go this weekend, I will be keeping him out of the backyard so he doesn't get in the pool or eat grass or find anything else to eat. But I definitely think he'd enjoy the company.

I will do this! Yesterday he did eat the kibble which I was happy about. I think he was so hungry. Plus it's something different so he ate it up. I will just keep acting excited about it!

I feel terrible now that I never took him to the vet for the yelping. :rolleyes: I planned on it, and things kept happening, and then he didn't yelp anymore so I just kind of put it in the back of my mind. I just wonder if we could have caught something earlier or not. But oh well, it's done and he's on the mend now.

I am also thinking this issue has maybe been smoldering for a while. In hindsight, it didn't seem like he was getting a TON of people food. But I guess for his little body, he probably was. He definitely was.

You need to put it all behind you. Nothing you can do about the past. We all live and learn. You only have today and can move forward in a healthier way for your sweet Jackson! :)

Good advice:thumbup::thumbup:

Brit, I am so sorry you and Jackson are having to go through this. But I am SO happy he is back home with you. I thing being in his normal environment will also help him heal faster. My pups are so much more relaxed at home than they are anywhere else. Thanks for all the wonderful updates and keep us posted.

I hand fed him yesterday, one kibble at a time, and he did eat it.

So if I don't need to add canned, I won't. He just won't eat on a schedule, really, and the only way I can make sure he's getting three small meals a day would be to mix something in.

Unless the 3 meals a day isn't a huge deal. I just don't know, you know?

I put 1/4 cup of E/N into his bowl today but he hasn't touched it yet (but he never has eaten food in the morning). Since he used to get 1/2 cup a day of TOTW.... I hope 1/4 is enough for the day (today). I don't want to over-feed or under-fed.

I thought it was odd they sent me home with kibble, too. They had told me earlier they were going to give him canned. So I don't know.

Thank you for asking, Max is doing great. It was one eye at a time, but both had problems over the past 6 months. The whites of his eyes are the whitest I have seen them since before his laser surgery, and the underside of his eyelids are nice and pink and smooth. Crossing my fingers they stay that way.

Can you give them a quick ring just to double check it wasn't in error. I don't know anything about Jackson's illness... just thinking about how crazy things can get sometimes at work and it simply could have been an oversight. I wouldn't wait on this one!

Other than that, wanted to say I am so glad he is home and acting like his normal self. I also agree with ladyjane that you shouldn't worry about the past and just move forward.

Give Jackson lots of hugs from us. He clearly has quite a YT fanbase :D

I don't know if it matters...probably not; but if he likes the canned better, I would just go buy it. I think you can return the kibble. I know that Hill's takes it back...I will bet that Purina also does! Most vets will take the foods back.

You might remember I posted a thread a few months ago, maybe May-ish, that he yelped when I barely touched his side a few times in one day -- thought it was odd.

I Was Just Thinking This, Last Night!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad Jackson is doing better, this a.m.!!
Can't wait to meet up with the two of you.... as soon as this heat subsides!! :)