Dog Community

Amount per feeding question.

Posted : 12/29/2008 6:32:59 PM

Buster's tumor in his mouth is getting worse everyday. I think it is becoming more and more uncomfortable for him to eat. I usually feed him a cup of food per feeding with some yogurt, or rice, or something added to it. He hasn't been finishing his meals and I think it is because it is uncomfortable to eat. So I wet his food with warm water and added rice a few days ago. He finished it for a few days, but now is back to eating about half to 3/4.

I would like to maybe add wet food and reduce the dry stuff a little. I don't want to give a half can per feeding, that will just get too expensive for me. Maybe a quarter can per feeding, but then how much should I reduce his dry food to? Is there something else I can do to keep him eating? Any suggestions are greatly welcome. I know I don't have much time left with him, but I want him to be as comfortable and happy as possible.

Thanks a bunch!

JackieG

Posted : 12/29/2008 6:56:39 PM

I don't have any advice on the feeding but don't you think you should have the Vet give him a quick look? I would want to have his mouth checked to see if the tumor is obstructing his throat to the point that he can't swallow well. Have you looked in his mouth and throat?

Sorry I don't have any other advice but the experts will be here soon, hopefully. I'm sorry this is happening.

georgie4682

Posted : 12/29/2008 7:16:52 PM

We've already discussed with the vet that he isn't having any more surgeries. When he was diagnosed with bone cancer our options were to either have part of his jaw removed and put him through chemo or let him live out his days. I chose to not put him through any more surgeries and let him live as comfortably as possible. Also, the tumor is at the front of his mouth. You can see it when his mouth is closed. It's right up front, nothing seems to be at his throat.

sl2crmeg

Posted : 12/29/2008 7:17:03 PM

I would skip canned food and just crockpot some things for him -- WAY cheaper :) and you can replace up to 1/3 (I think?) of his calories without throwing off the balance of his kibble. When I cook for Pirate I run everything through the food processor so it's like a mush and he can just lap it up. It's not super time-consuming either, since once it's all in the pot I can walk away for awhile.

I know Buster is elderly...so I wouldn't try to reduce his kibble that much at all, if he'll eat it.

erica1989

Posted : 12/29/2008 7:25:35 PM

sl2crmeg
I know Buster is elderly...so I wouldn't try to reduce his kibble that much at all, if he'll eat it.

Me either. Can you soak his kibble in water, so it's all soft? Like you would for a pup? Then add in a tiny amount of canned or veggies or something,mix it all up and let him lick it up. You can run the kibble through the blender too - we do this often with pups, it's faster than waiting for the water to be soaked up....

I mix Casey's canned with water in his kibble, so we don't use as much canned - but the flavor gets mixed all over. Make sense?

misstrouble

Posted : 12/29/2008 7:36:18 PM

I wouldn't take him completely off kibble.

Soften his food with warm water and mash it up some, use a crock pot to make yummy food for him, add in baby food...

I know most of this has been said so, I'm just really sending my sympathies and lovin's for Buster.

brookcove

Posted : 12/29/2008 8:00:45 PM

misstrouble
I wouldn't take him completely off kibble.

Soften his food with warm water and mash it up some, use a crock pot to make yummy food for him, add in baby food...

I know most of this has been said so, I'm just really sending my sympathies and lovin's for Buster.

Hmm, I totally would take him off kibble. This is a dog with nothing to lose by slight imbalances, and everything to gain from the upgrade to fresh food. Dogs have reserves to draw on that will take them for months or even years - this is why the argument, "My dog's been on nothing but meat and rice for six months and looks just fine!" is rather specious. You can find wonderful recipes on the internet - look for diets that balance the meat with elemental calcium sources like eggshell or mineral supplements. Or, just do whatever is convenient and enjoyable for you and him, and just remember to add about a quarter teaspoon of eggshell, dried and ground in the blender or food processor, per pound of meat (before cooking). Blessings and peace to you at this time. ETA: If you PM me, I can give you the recommended amounts for the ingredients you think you'd like to use, from the current NRC information available.

sl2crmeg

Posted : 12/29/2008 9:29:13 PM

brookcove
Hmm, I totally would take him off kibble. This is a dog with nothing to lose by slight imbalances, and everything to gain from the upgrade to fresh food.

Eee, I thought that but didn't want to say it and be wrong! :)

stanton

Posted : 12/30/2008 1:34:05 AM

I'm so sorry to hear this, it's very hard to see it happening.

But, what I can tell you, is switching my late elderly dog to homecooked foods for the last several months of her life was the BEST thing I could have done for her....she loved every minute, every meal, and I actually believe it kept her around longer because it contained a lot more nutrients then kibble could ever do for her.

mudpuppy

Posted : 12/30/2008 9:34:31 AM

why continue to feed him kibble? makes no sense. Soft foods all around.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 12/30/2008 5:18:03 PM

I agree. Just crock pot fresh stuff til it's nice and mushy, and serve it room temp or slightly warm. Make it super comfortable for him. The big bags of chicken quarters are really inexpensive, but cuts of beef, pork, and lamb are more nutrient dense, if you can find them on sale. The other dogs can eat a couple of spoonfulls of Buster's "super food" as a topper, too.

Sunshinegirl

Posted : 1/4/2009 12:22:33 AM

Oh, Buster, what a cutie! (All of them) What about giving egg, cottage cheese, liverwurst (my dog's fave), cooked chicken livers (another fave), there are so many options for soft food and so worth it in his final days/weeks/months. My girls also like baby food meat. The ground meat and the little wieners. Tonight they had the little wieners with some steamed sweet potato and a little cottage cheese. They gobbled it right up! MMMMM... Buster will be in my prayers!!