Zeus Doesn't Appear Too Well
- Thread starter MaryK
- Start date
648117
Honored Member
When Paris was in heart failure she lost a lot of weight, the vet suggested putting potato chips/crisps (whatever you call them in your country) on her food. It made it more attractive for her to eat and all the oil etc in the chips were supposed to help her put on weight (works with humans).
We don't normally have chips so just bought one of those big bags with all the little bags inside it, a mixture of flavours (I think we mainly gave her chicken or salt ones though) and would crunch some up and sprinkle it on her food each meal.
It's not the healthiest (by that stage it didn't matter with Paris) and you might have better options, especially considering all the salt.
Maybe just think of foods that make humans put on weight?
We don't normally have chips so just bought one of those big bags with all the little bags inside it, a mixture of flavours (I think we mainly gave her chicken or salt ones though) and would crunch some up and sprinkle it on her food each meal.
It's not the healthiest (by that stage it didn't matter with Paris) and you might have better options, especially considering all the salt.
Maybe just think of foods that make humans put on weight?
ackerleynelson
Well-Known Member
Sorry Mary...Hope so Zeus is fine now...not eating is really a reason of worry....it could be due to loss of appetite too... Lot of prayers for Zeus... please keep us posted about the current condition of Zeus.
So happy to see this today! 
Glad Zeus is doing better. No suggestions as for feeding, sorry, but I know you'll find what's best for your Zeus. Your vet sounds just lovely; you and your pups are blessed. Warm thoughts and prayers still going your way!
Glad Zeus is doing better. No suggestions as for feeding, sorry, but I know you'll find what's best for your Zeus. Your vet sounds just lovely; you and your pups are blessed. Warm thoughts and prayers still going your way!
MaryK
Honored Member
Oh yes, please keep those prayers coming Kassidy, they're working that's for sureI'm so happy that he's sounding so much better! It sounds like our prayers are working, and we'll keep them coming! Is Leaf happy to have her big bro back home?
Leaf is very happy her Big Bro is home, LOL now she's got someone to lay on agin
!!!!!!!! Zeus lays on the sofa, then Leafy lays on top of him, so cute and yes, Zeus just ADORES his little sister too, they're both very happy to be together again.
MaryK
Honored Member
Thank you
Zeus is doing really well, he's not out of the woods yet, but hey, don't tell him!!!!!!! He's his old self again, eating his head off now, thank goodness!!!!!!!!!!!!!Went for a 10 minute power walk (the only kind of walk Zeus likes) and wanted more, I had to say no way Zeus, you've gotta build up muscle strength and tone first.
At present he's peacefully snoring his head off, with the odd kick or two, must be a grand dream he's having!
MaryK
Honored Member
Makes me very happy to post good newsSo happy to see this today!
Zeus is doing so well, not out of the woods yet, so please keep those warm thoughts and prayers coming, I KNOW they're working so well.Friend jogged my memory - feed Zeus as if he's a stray/rescue under fed dog - three meals a day, plus cheese for treats and a little pasta and rice added to his meal. He's LOVING it, such a change for him to have to actually GAIN weight and not be told the dreaded 'D" word
Eating well and went for a 10 minute Power Walk, he wanted more, but I said no. He needs to build up muscle tone and of course weight, then we'll see about longer walks! Mom really does know best this time Zeus!
MaryK
Honored Member
Zeus is 12.5 years young
MaryK
Honored Member
Crisps, didn't think of those. Zeus will LOVE them, he's not normally allowed any, LOL 'too fattening' and none too healthy, though I do buy organic ones. But I think I can make an exception of them now
Will got for the low/no salt ones, that is a factor to consider, thank you so much Good idea too to buy the big mixed bags, will do that.A little bit of something 'naughty' is good for the soul, not as if he's always fed that way, though I'm sure he wishes he was!
I'm adding pasta to his meals and he's having three meals a day, like an underfed rescue dog would be fed.
MaryK
Honored Member
Thank you Sara. I'll change to beef, he's on Kangaroo, my usual but that is very low in fat. I'll get some more organic coconut oil, I usually have it in the house, didn't know it was good for fattening dogs.
I'll watch he doesn't gain too quickly, thanks for the reminder on that score.
kassidybc
Experienced Member
Oh, excuse me, how 'young' is Zeus?Zeus is 12.5 years young
Man, if he could still live another 10 years, they must have long life spans!
Carbs really wont help him gain weight, and aren't beneficial in any way. Healthy meats and fats are best. If you can find tripe, that helps too. Cut back on veggies and just feed meat, and a variety of meat at that. Veggies are just bulk and mostly empty calories. Feed 4 or 5 different kinds of meat with the proper bone and organ percentage. I don't know what supplements you're giving him, but salmon oil, coconut oil, primrose oil, and vit E, are supremely good for the immune system and as natural anti-inflammitories.
MaryK
Honored Member
Oh, excuse me, how 'young' is Zeus?
Zeus says you're excused!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Blue heelers do have very long life spans, some books claim they have the longest of all breeds. But before anyone jumps up and down, I know a Staffie who made 22.5 almost 23 years before she crossed and they too are reputed to have long life spans. And I believe a terrier (sorry not sure which breed of terrier) is now the oldest dog in the world.
So, he could make it to a very ripe 'young' age
MaryK
Honored Member
Thank you Sara. He's having a variety of meats, hard to get the raw in some here, other than buying human grade. I'm adding offal to his food, he's having coconut oil too, along with (alternated) egg with the shells ground, and organic yoghurt.
Tripe, can ONLY get human tripe, all nicely bleached with White King! It's illegal here for anyone to sell green tripe!!!!!!!!! Bummer, am still asking around but so far no joy, apparently the fines are very high if anyone's caught selling 'illegal tripe'!!!!!!!!
He's not having much in the way of veggies, just some pumpkin to add digestion, he gets seriously bad flatulance, but that's about all in the veggie department. Not much pasta, just a little at times, so he's on meat, chicken, turkey, lamb and beef.
MaryK
Honored Member
Well I have GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! His vet Kyle rang me tonight and said she had sent the xrays she took to a specialist radiographer, as she couldn't see the lump at all, and he said neither can he!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Both Kyle and Alan (Snr. vet at Zeus' normal surgery) couldn't see the lump, but they haven't seen the set of xrays that Veronica, the vet at their other surgery were Zeus was hospitalized, took. So Kyle is going to get those and send them to the same radiographer just to be absolutely 200% certain no lump.
Have to say, when I saw the second lot, I really didn't see what I would normal consider a 'mass/lump' more just a 'shadow' but accepted what the vet (Veronica) said as well, I'm not a vet
But at this point of time, no lumps/masses at all. And Zeus? Well he's virtually back to normal, except for the weight loss. He's eating like a horse, three meals a day plus treats, playing three way tug of war, stepping out at his normal brisk power walking pace, snoring as loudly as always, stealing Leaf's toys, demolishing jocks if left anywhere he can get them, barking for joy when he knows it's walk time, joining in trick training (he supervises) and is being ZEUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Never believe he was the same very sick laddy who was rushed to the vets a week ago!
So, he's just got a very bad urinary infection and will be back in two weeks for a check up to ensure all the infection has cleared.
To say his vet(s) are overjoyed is understating it all! And me? Well I'm sooooooooooo overjoyed I could almost cry with happiness!
Thank you all again so much. Will let you know when he's got the 'all clear' and also hopefully gained some weight! Nothing like walking a dog who looks like a refugee from a Doggy Concentration Camp!!!!!!!!!!!! But hey, he's my boy, he's feeling fine and all's well, so truly I don't really care! And I think I see a little weight gain, not sure, but certain he's not loosing more weight! Just need to tone up the muscles, especially in the hind legs and he'll be as good as a young puppy!
Have to say, when I saw the second lot, I really didn't see what I would normal consider a 'mass/lump' more just a 'shadow' but accepted what the vet (Veronica) said as well, I'm not a vet
But at this point of time, no lumps/masses at all. And Zeus? Well he's virtually back to normal, except for the weight loss. He's eating like a horse, three meals a day plus treats, playing three way tug of war, stepping out at his normal brisk power walking pace, snoring as loudly as always, stealing Leaf's toys, demolishing jocks if left anywhere he can get them, barking for joy when he knows it's walk time, joining in trick training (he supervises) and is being ZEUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Never believe he was the same very sick laddy who was rushed to the vets a week ago!
So, he's just got a very bad urinary infection and will be back in two weeks for a check up to ensure all the infection has cleared.
To say his vet(s) are overjoyed is understating it all! And me? Well I'm sooooooooooo overjoyed I could almost cry with happiness!
Thank you all again so much. Will let you know when he's got the 'all clear' and also hopefully gained some weight! Nothing like walking a dog who looks like a refugee from a Doggy Concentration Camp!!!!!!!!!!!! But hey, he's my boy, he's feeling fine and all's well, so truly I don't really care! And I think I see a little weight gain, not sure, but certain he's not loosing more weight! Just need to tone up the muscles, especially in the hind legs and he'll be as good as a young puppy!
southerngirl
Honored Member
I'm so happy that Zeus is feeling better.
YAY! Oh I'm so happy to see this. Give Zeus hugs for me and my crew (that's 8 hugs counting me and the hubby! Don't forget any! ) !
Oh I'm so happy to see this. Give Zeus hugs for me and my crew (that's 8 hugs counting me and the hubby! Don't forget any! ) !