Older dogs (especially greyhounds and lurchers) and eating......

[{97702}]

I feed my dogs Skinners Duck and Rice kibble once a day - I soak before feeding as they prefer it that way.

As you may know, I lost my beloved Islay last year aged very-nearly-14. She had been getting increasingly old and frail, but the deciding factor was when she was diagnosed with megaesophagus and started regurgitating her food regularly; this got unsustainable so I had to make the right decision for her

Just recently I have noticed that my two eldest greyhounds (both aged 11) have slowed down eating - not a huge surprise at their age, Hoover only has 2 teeth left but has never let that bother him Flick has pretty much a full set, give or take a few....

But they both eat better when I raise their feed bowls, and I am now paranoid that they will get megaesophagus too They are due their annual boosters very soon so I shall consult my vet as well, just asking for experiences really?

Yours in paranoia....... Levrier......

PS - that has reminded me of a quote on a greyhound FB page recently - "ils ne sont pas des chiens, ils sont des lévriers"

 

[Clodagh]

Following with interest, as our older lab has recently started taking forever to eat her meals, having always behaved like a canine hoover. Perhapsd I sould raise her bowl, I have never tried that.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Not got any experiences of megaesophagus at all but I do think it is perfectly natural to be utterly paranoid about the thing that the last animal died off. My smooth collie that was my family/growing up dog, died because of an inoperable growth in her urethra... it was linked in some way to a UTI. I now have boy dogs who pee little and often because they are boy dogs... the amount of times I have convinced myself they have a UTI and are going to get a growth and have to be PTS relatively young just like my collie? Many. Many, many. Its just cos you've had the symptoms burned into you and you start to see them everywhere.

I'm sure your two oldies are actually 100% fine, just starting to slow down a bit, and the vet will have a good look at them and tell you there's nothing to worry about.

 

[{97702}]

Not got any experiences of megaesophagus at all but I do think it is perfectly natural to be utterly paranoid about the thing that the last animal died off. My smooth collie that was my family/growing up dog, died because of an inoperable growth in her urethra... it was linked in some way to a UTI. I now have boy dogs who pee little and often because they are boy dogs... the amount of times I have convinced myself they have a UTI and are going to get a growth and have to be PTS relatively young just like my collie? Many. Many, many. Its just cos you've had the symptoms burned into you and you start to see them everywhere.

I'm sure your two oldies are actually 100% fine, just starting to slow down a bit, and the vet will have a good look at them and tell you there's nothing to worry about.

Thank you very much PF, any reassurance is HUGELY appreciated Hopefully it will be as you say

 

[{97702}]

Following with interest, as our older lab has recently started taking forever to eat her meals, having always behaved like a canine hoover. Perhapsd I sould raise her bowl, I have never tried that.

Maybe it's an old dog thing Clodagh? I'm sad to admit I have never had greyhounds to this age before so I really have no experiences to compare to

 

[Aru]

It could be just stiffness and its easier to reach the bowl at a height. I know a few grey owners who mentioned their dog's much prefer the raised bowls as its easier to reach and less strain down through the legs. Any bit of even early Osteoarthritis in the paws or anywhere on the forelimbs would make the lean down for these guys a little harder.Mind you one is 45 kg beautiful 3 year old black boy...but is like a fawn when hes eating off the floor legs everywhere,the bowl is also much less messy for him

 

[{97702}]

Thanks Aru that is really helpful - Hoover is also a big dog, he always reminds me of a giraffe when he eats! But I am sure he is getting older and stiffer (aren’t we all...) so what you have said makes absolute sense It is no problem feeding them from raised bowls so I’ll keep doing that

 

[paisley]

Maybe (despite your very reasonable fears), this could be filed under 'worry of the week?' Perhaps with the mast cell tumour that never was?

 

[GinaB]

As Beastie got older, she also slowed down her feeding. She had always been very content with dried kibble but as her teeth got poorer with age, I think it was probably more uncomfortable to eat dry kibble so we started mixing it with tinned food. Her favourite was the little Caesar ones. As she was smaller though I wouldn't have thought to raise her bowl!

 

[Clodagh]

It could be just stiffness and its easier to reach the bowl at a height. I know a few grey owners who mentioned their dog's much prefer the raised bowls as its easier to reach and less strain down through the legs. Any bit of even early Osteoarthritis in the paws or anywhere on the forelimbs would make the lean down for these guys a little harder.Mind you one is 45 kg beautiful 3 year old black boy...but is like a fawn when hes eating off the floor legs everywhere,the bowl is also much less messy for him

Aru - d'uh! Lab bitch has arthritis in her elbows, so no doubt you are right. Some days I don't deserve to own dogs. I have been worried about her tongue or throat, as I knew her teeth were OK.

 

[Rowreach]

Maybe (despite your very reasonable fears), this could be filed under 'worry of the week?' Perhaps with the mast cell tumour that never was?

I've always "filed" any knowledge or information I've gathered on any animals I've owned or looked after and kind of used it as a benchmark against subsequent ones, so I think it's a reasonable concern.

I like raised bowls for taller dogs and my hound has one and is far more comfortable eating. Mind you, I still can't bend over very far so at this rate the JRT will be getting one too!

 

[Clodagh]

I've always "filed" any knowledge or information I've gathered on any animals I've owned or looked after and kind of used it as a benchmark against subsequent ones, so I think it's a reasonable concern.

I like raised bowls for taller dogs and my hound has one and is far more comfortable eating. Mind you, I still can't bend over very far so at this rate the JRT will be getting one too!

Perhaps you could adapt him a mounting block, so hje can reach a height to which oyu can bend?
It is only after shooting that Brandy eats slowly, which of course is when she is sore.

 

[Rowreach]

Perhaps you could adapt him a mounting block, so hje can reach a height to which oyu can bend?
It is only after shooting that Brandy eats slowly, which of course is when she is sore.

I had him on the steps for a while but his overenthusiasm for eating meant his bowl shooting off the side, followed by a lot of frantic terrier hoovering before the others get there.

 

[deb_l222]

I've nothing constructive to add about the slow eating, I've always had springers who would consider it sacrilege to eat slowly. I have however had a few dogs that have developed what I refer to as 'little old lady / man syndrome' whereby, in their later years their appetite hasn't decreased but their capacity for food has. Current elderly lady (Button) isn't eating anywhere near the amount she was 12 months ago. She just can't stomach a big meal anymore. Is there any way you could split your meals into breakfast and dinner possibly? Or would your dogs think you had gone bonkers?

I have mentioned Button's foibles to my vet and he just looks at me with his 'raised eyebrow' look and says words like "well, it's not doing her any harm is it" and "being on the slim side isn't going to hurt her". To be fair, he's more than used to my paranoia now.

I don't think there's any harm in being paranoid, as long as it doesn't rub off on the dogs and every day is just another day for them. I lost two dogs to pneumonia caused by lung secondary tumors - what are the odds of having two????? I look at the current two all the time (combined age of 24) when they're asleep to check their chests are going up and down at a slow and steady rate. I'd rather be paranoid and get my dogs to the vets in a timely fashion, than not notice anything is wrong until it's too late.

Embrace the paranoia!!

 

[{97702}]

I've nothing constructive to add about the slow eating, I've always had springers who would consider it sacrilege to eat slowly. I have however had a few dogs that have developed what I refer to as 'little old lady / man syndrome' whereby, in their later years their appetite hasn't decreased but their capacity for food has. Current elderly lady (Button) isn't eating anywhere near the amount she was 12 months ago. She just can't stomach a big meal anymore. Is there any way you could split your meals into breakfast and dinner possibly? Or would your dogs think you had gone bonkers?

I have mentioned Button's foibles to my vet and he just looks at me with his 'raised eyebrow' look and says words like "well, it's not doing her any harm is it" and "being on the slim side isn't going to hurt her". To be fair, he's more than used to my paranoia now.

I don't think there's any harm in being paranoid, as long as it doesn't rub off on the dogs and every day is just another day for them. I lost two dogs to pneumonia caused by lung secondary tumors - what are the odds of having two????? I look at the current two all the time (combined age of 24) when they're asleep to check their chests are going up and down at a slow and steady rate. I'd rather be paranoid and get my dogs to the vets in a timely fashion, than not notice anything is wrong until it's too late.

Embrace the paranoia!!

I was thinking about feeding them twice a day to give them smaller meals - I think I'll give that a try, thank you! I have always been aware that it is a big bowl of kibble that they are faced with every evening.

As for the paranoia - well yes, naturally, I totally agree with you I love my dogs very much (probably too much! Mad middle aged woman with greyhounds and lurchers!) and I want the absolute best for them, so if it means an early intervention for possible problems then I'm all for that. The dogs themselves couldn't give a stuff, and every day is definitely another day (and another lot of fun) for them I am so lucky that the 11 year olds and the 10 year old really don't act their age at all for the majority of the time, I suppose that means that I notice the subtle changes a lot more

 

[Chiffy]

Only just caught up with this post.

Levrier, I have always fed lurches and greyhounds from a raised bowl and I always divide their meal in two, a third in the morning a two thirds evening.

Rowreach, when I had my hip replacement and wasn’t allowed to bend, I bought a long handled dustpan and brush, I could sit the bowl in the dustpan, lower to the ground and slide out. It worked a treat once the dogs got over the surprise!

 

[Rowreach]

Only just caught up with this post.

Levrier, I have always fed lurches and greyhounds from a raised bowl and I always divide their meal in two, a third in the morning a two thirds evening.

Rowreach, when I had my hip replacement and wasn’t allowed to bend, I bought a long handled dustpan and brush, I could sit the bowl in the dustpan, lower to the ground and slide out. It worked a treat once the dogs got over the surprise!

Chiffy what a brilliant idea!!! Thank you

 

[CrazyMare]

My greys have raised bowls too. Lucky thinks the floor is for lesser dogs and won't consider bending down!! Maggie is more foody and would eat from anywhere.

I must do Maggies into thread!!

 

[Britestar]

My old collie started to leave his food and be reluctant to drink. Turned out he had arthritis in his neck. Put bowls on upturned flower planters and he was good for another 2 years!

 

[twiggy2]

Arthritis in the neck or forelimbs would be my guess too.
I always feed my lurchers at least twice a day, the current one is three times daily or I can't get enough food into her to keep the weight on.

 

[tda]

After reading this thread I've placed our old border collie' s bowl on a box. She's never been a big eater, more exciting things to do �� but has been getting more reluctant to eat. Because of her teeth she's on wet food anyway, we,'ll see how she is after a couple of weeks.

 

[Alec Swan]

It could be just stiffness and its easier to reach the bowl at a height. I know a few grey owners who mentioned their dog's much prefer the raised bowls as its easier to reach and less strain down through the legs. ……..

An interesting post; Greyhounds were originally bred to catch wild game. Today they are bred to race, today they are SO short coupled, and SO short of neck that they struggle to reach ground level. So what do we have? - dogs which as they age, need assistance.

Yes L, it is a question of age and our consideration of that. …….. I'd suggest that it's a case of the animal's capabilities and considering its capabilities. It isn't easy, but if you offer a retirement home, and I applaud that, there is a price to pay.

Alec.