Tootsie unable to keep water down...

[Bellabean]

I like the thick-it idea. What about something like a bottle that hamsters drink from mounted just high enough she has to reach up to drink? She is adorable!!

[Buster Brown]

What a little sweetie. I hope you are able to find a good solution for her drinking issues. Good thing she has you looking out for her.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by gemy

Great idea Judi. My Dad had to have that towards the end of his days.

Linda I was also thinking about wetting her food more. Adding some water to her every kibble meal.

How old is she now?

A couple of other thoughts, if elevation is helpful to the swallowing reflex, how about elevating her water bowl. I have two ideas, purchase a water bottle for doggies and install at appropriate height for her. Just above head level so she needs to stretch up to lick the water out. Razzle has stopped drinking from his water bowl (for some reason) and now has taken to stretching up on his hind legs to drink out of the big boys dish. Magic has taken over his small water bowl... Sigh....

Another idea, if you know of a good dog acupuncturist, I would explore with them the feasibility of using acupuncture to stimulate the nerves for swallowing. I have one here in Toronto I have used effectively for a quite different condition.

Lastly again I know this maybe out there for you, explore treatment options with a cranial/sacral therapist. These treatment can be very very effective and are of a very gentle technique.

I hope this sweetie stabilizes and goes onto living a great life.

She is about 3 years old.

I can try the water bottle thing but not sure she would use it. Funny thing I have noticed is that when she drinks she actually positions herself even with the bowl. So, I think she is trying to figure it all out herself.

I spoke with him about adding water to her kibble and that is something I plan to do but it can only be a small amount or we are going to perhaps have issues with her food. I am wondering if it might be better to just put her on canned food. Maybe she would be less thirsty...I know my pups who eat canned don't seem to drink as much as others.

Thanks for the ideas! She really will be ok as long as this does not progress...I wish they had more knowledge about it.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by gemy

ROFL You are certainly the "goto" lady! Did you know the old time hobos had this secret sign language that directed other hobos to good spots, to for example catch a nap, or find a good meal hand-out? Maybe doggies have their own secret signal language too

It is really getting to be very weird...seems that every pup in my house ends up with something odd. I am honestly beginning to wonder.

[theporkieyorkie]

Originally Posted by Bellabean

I like the thick-it idea. What about something like a bottle that hamsters drink from mounted just high enough she has to reach up to drink? She is adorable!!

What a sweet little thing!! I am sure there is a perfect home out there for her, even with this little issue!!


I give my boys both canned and dry food, but I also put water in it as well. You could try adding water to her food.

Does she like ice cubes?? I know some dogs like to eat them...and I know some people use broth to make the cubes a a yummy frozen treat. It probably wouldn't be a way for her to get all of her liquid, but I am sure every little bit helps!!

[lillymae]

How about adding a bit of applesauce to her water, just enough to thicken it up a bit & add a bit of weight to it. Also maybe an anti depressant as they help jumpstart nerves & help straighten out nerves that for what ever reason have just gone haywire . Yrs ago I had a Chicken that DH & I rescued as a bald chick & he developed this problem at around 8 mo & we put either apple or corn in the blender with the water & it worked well. Praying you find a way to make it work for this little angel.

[mimimomo]

Wow Linda, I know the YHR pups are special, but this makes them xtra special! Hope you'll find a solution for sweet Tootsie, I know you will!

Originally Posted by ladyjane

She is about 3 years old.

I can try the water bottle thing but not sure she would use it. Funny thing I have noticed is that when she drinks she actually positions herself even with the bowl. So, I think she is trying to figure it all out herself.

I spoke with him about adding water to her kibble and that is something I plan to do but it can only be a small amount or we are going to perhaps have issues with her food. I am wondering if it might be better to just put her on canned food. Maybe she would be less thirsty...I know my pups who eat canned don't seem to drink as much as others.

Thanks for the ideas! She really will be ok as long as this does not progress...I wish they had more knowledge about it.

I am always moistening Momo's kibble...bc he doesn't chew it anymore. Started moistening it when he had struvite crystals, needed to liquefy his diet. He's clear now, but he swallows the hard kibble whole! What would be the down side/ issues to that (moistening kibble)?

[ladyjane]

Lots of great ideas....the issue here is that I have multiple pups and cannot just add stuff to the water.

For now, I am going to moisten her kibble and put some canned in as well. That will give her some extra water.

I am also going to get the bottle that hangs and see if she likes that and if it helps. I missed the call from the specialist last night ... I may call him this week. BUT...the good news is that the ACTH stim test was normal so no Addison's! She is ok for now..she is not dehydrating or anything....the main concern is whether this could progress or not.

[lisaly]

I am confident that Tootsie will thrive under your care, but I'm so sorry that you have had to cope with so many medical problems.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by lisaly

I am confident that Tootsie will thrive under your care, but I'm so sorry that you have had to cope with so many medical problems.

Thanks, Lisa. I had a chuckle over the last part of the sentence...was simply going to reply "me too" I really don't get it....I think I am supposed to be learning something???

[lillymae]

I think it's not what YOU are supposed to be learning but rather what you are teaching others, Compassion. This is simply how to treat a living being.

[Marhcarter]

Originally Posted by gemy

ROFL You are certainly the "goto" lady! Did you know the old time hobos had this secret sign language that directed other hobos to good spots, to for example catch a nap, or find a good meal hand-out? Maybe doggies have their own secret signal language too

I'm starting to think this, too! The bonus for us is that you get the answers all figured out then can teach everyone else!
I like the water bottle idea as well as the thick-it. The problem with thick-it is that the longer it sits, the thicker it gets, until it turns into solid gelatin...yuk! It would not work to leave out in a bowl but would only be for immediate use times, like after eating kibble, then discard. In use like that, the other dogs wouldn't get into it. I like the idea of wet foods and the hamster bottle to get fluid intake up. Hope all goes well and that the condition doesn't progress.

[gemy]

Linda you are not going to believe this, but at our CYTA meeting today and discussing rescues et al, guess what came up? Laryngeal Partial or full Paralysis! Can you fathom the syncronicity of this?

Alright apparently there is a chiropractor vet here in the GTA that has some success with this condition. I can get more details if you like.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by gemy

Linda you are not going to believe this, but at our CYTA meeting today and discussing rescues et al, guess what came up? Laryngeal Partial or full Paralysis! Can you fathom the syncronicity of this?

Alright apparently there is a chiropractor vet here in the GTA that has some success with this condition. I can get more details if you like.

It is not the same condition. This is a reflex thing. I am not a fan of chiropractors but thank you for the suggestion.

[Maximo]

Very happy to hear that Tootsie tested negative for Addisons. That is a relief.

Do you remember the video, you probably posted it, of a dog who was trained to jump into the homemade "high chair" like contraption to eat and drink? The contraption enabled the dog to stand up and have his head at the right angle to eat and drink. The dog was amazing the way he would go in and flip the bar down that acted like a counter for him to put his paws on.

I think he had to stay in it for awhile to make sure his food and water went down.