I was told to put mine on Science Diet HD canned because it has a lot less salt then most dog foods. Salt increases their fluid. When you read the ingredients on their site, it makes you wonder just how much of a difference it can make. SD is the only company that I am aware of that makes special diets and that's the only company Vets use. I guess you could do some research for 'diets for heart disease in dogs' and maybe cook your own? Gidget refused to eat it. I had better luck at crushing the pill and mixing it with Nutra-Cal and when that stopped working. I then crushed the pill and added a couple of drops of sterilized water and put that in a syringe and gave it to her. That method seemed to work the best for me.
Some one posted once that they use liverwurst to hide the pills in, but if that has a high salt content, then it wouldn't be a good idea. Another post said that they used a pill popper that just shoots the pill down their throat, instead of using your finger. http://www.hillspet.com/products/pd-canine-hd-canine-cardiac-health-canned html -------Original Message------- From: Beth Michl Date: 4/11/2011 6:02:12 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen's Update Yes Enalapril is one of the ones Smidge is taking too. Vetmedin and Furosemide also. They want to see her in two weeks to do another x-ray and blood work. They talk about a perscrition food for her, but didn't really go in too it too much, as they were very busy. They just did a remodel of the building and were having an open house on Saturday.. My question is why is it a persription? & does it make allot of difference, Or can I make my own ? --- On Mon, 4/11/11, Kari <[email protected]> wrote: From: Kari <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen's Update To: [email protected] Date: Monday, April 11, 2011, 2:51 PM Pollie is on prescription diet food--for her kidneys but she just has it at night. I cook for my dogs and feed them in the mornings and they eat dry food at night. I also make a lot of their dog treats. Pollie takes Enalapril and a kidney medication once a day in the mornings and she takes Pepcid (5mg) at night. I have a pill crusher and crush the pill and I mix it up with Nutri-Stat and she takes her medicine that way. Some days i just have to be patient with her because some mornings she's just not ready to take it I won't leave the house until she's had her medicine. I don't want her to miss a dose. So i am late to work a lot, but it's for my baby. My dog food is a variation of the recipe found here: http://www.twobitdog com/DrFox/Dr-Fox-Homemade-Dog-Food I love Dr. Michael Fox! He's my hero when it comes to pet care. I also have a site saved at home for holistic dog treats. I try to keep my dogs' food and treats as natural as I can get them. i want my dogs to be with me for as long as I can keep them. I don't believe in giving up on them if they are sick. Of course, I won't let an animal suffer, but I won't put an animal down just because it has health challenges Pollie is as healthy as she can be with her deformities and she's happy and as long as she eats, wags her tail, cuddles, can walk without severe pain and enjoy her life, I would never consider putting her down. I've had people tell me that I should have put her down. I wrote a story about her to the newspaper on their Rescue in the Rock column (for Little Rock) and she won first place! Kari and the P-Crew in Arkansas (Piper, Pollie, Presley, Peyton and Paris) http://www.flickr com/photos/karimogensen/4864136189/in/set-72157625357712241 --- On Mon, 4/11/11, Beth Michl <[email protected]> wrote: From: Beth Michl <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen's Update To: [email protected] Date: Monday, April 11, 2011, 4:43 PM Oh how wonderful that she has done well then! Is she on Medication for it? What kind of diet do you feed? I have to give Smidge her meds twice a day, and its a pain, hiding it in her food now, before Saturdays check up I was poking them down her throat. I don't want to have to do that. Is Pollie on a persciption diet food? Beth --- On Mon, 4/11/11, Kari <[email protected]> wrote: From: Kari <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen's Update To: [email protected] Date: Monday, April 11, 2011, 2:38 PM Pollie is 3 years old. She was given a year to live last year but she's made it past that date and i hope to have her for more years to come. She was born with deformed hips, legs, knees, spine, trachea, and enlarged heart. I m sorry I am so behind on the message board. It was a nice weekend and I worked outside while I could. I'll try to catch up tonight. Kari and the P-Crew in Arkansas (Piper, Pollie, Presley, Peyton and Paris) http://www.flickr com/photos/karimogensen/4864136189/in/set-72157625357712241 --- On Mon, 4/11/11, Beth Michl <[email protected]> wrote: From: Beth Michl <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen's Update To: [email protected] Date: Monday, April 11, 2011, 4:18 PM How old is Pollie? Smidgen is 9, but the vet said she is young for her breed Beth --- On Mon, 4/11/11, Kari Mogensen <[email protected]> wrote: From: Kari Mogensen <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen's Update To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Date: Monday, April 11, 2011, 11:21 AM Pollie is at stage 4 beth. Sent from my iPhone On Apr 11, 2011, at 10:40 AM, "Beth M" <[email protected]> wrote: Smidgen had her re check on Saturday. She doesn't have Pneumonia anymore, they did an x-ray and her heart is very enlarged, rated a 5 out of a 6. I saw the x-rays and her heart is so big it is pushing against her lungs. She is on three medications now. Has any one else here gone through with this? Beth
