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Well if you were a tiny little budgie and you suddenly found yourself in a swamp of cake mix, how you would react? Never mind. A hot oven for 30 minutes will have killed off any pathogens. And what the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over...

CW my eye flicked ahead so I misread that as you being "grown and grey at the muzzle." I was going to say I know just how you feel!
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Corgis will also herd anything that moves - including small children - by nipping at their feet and ankles to get them to move. I took my late Corgi to ONE parade - she tried to leap out of my arms so she could herd the 4-H group horses as they went by. No more parades for her.

I *almost* had a new dog today - he was the same color as my late pup, but totally different breed and about 1/16th the size (Boxer/Shepherd vs Dachsund!) - and the kicker? He even had the same name. I was *so* tempted, but didn't have the money for the adoption fee, so I guess that was the universe telling me it wasn't time yet.
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Ha ha, Pam - I still wonder to this day if he had a poop in there!
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Dori,, that is what friend are for.. to share our funny and slightly wicked stories! At least he didn't poop!!  ( Or did he?  evil laugh inserted)
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Oh pam! That just reminded me....

When I was about 18, I volunteered to make a birthday cake (from a mix) for my older brother's girlfriend, whom I adored.

At the time, I had a pet budgie, Jasper. Being my only pet and my best buddy since I was 12 (he left home with me!), he was fairly free to fly around my apartment whenever he wanted.

Well. Guess who flew RIGHT into the bowl of cake batter?

I didn't have the money to buy a new box of cake mix. So I cleaned Jasper up under the faucet, picked the feathers out of the batter, and went right ahead and baked that cake!

Never told a soul until now....
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As for the staring.. they say pets can see things we can not.. (booklover? you know this?) Our new puppy at least once a day sits on my feet and stares into the foyer.. sometimes she wimpers.. or barks a bit. I like to think its dad watching over us.. and not something else! We had some strange issues when we first bought this house...
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When I was a newly wed and wanting to impress the ILs.. I once put the dinner meat in the sink to defrost. One cat got that dang frozen thing out of the wink,, onto the floor,, and had a fun old time. I was horrified.. what to do for the dinner I planned? Yep, you know me.. I washed it off and cooked it.. and they loved it! Hubs and I laughed and laughed.. and nope. no one died... Maybe this belongs on the Behaving Badly site?
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cwillie - I love how border collies will try to herd anything! Even children, lol.

CM - that must have been REALLY good pizza.
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I had two cats with dementia. It was strange, for one cat it was 10+ years ago, and she use to cry whenever she walked though the main hallway. It was a mystery, for awhile I thought maybe it was my antique library table was haunted and she was reacting to it.

Then she couldn't remember where were the litter-boxes, so she would go on the carpet or wood floors... but only on the east side of the house. She did live to be 21.

Then ten years later another one of my cats started with the same crying in the same hallway. Once again I thought here we go again with the library table. So out of curiosity I placed a small antique cabinet next to the library table. I was so surprised the cat stopped the crying for awhile.

But a year later she started the crying again. This time I added a very long antique colored runner over the hardwood floor. I guess the design in the rug was enough to distract her from crying. She did live to be 17.

The vet said some pets as they age will be in a room and not see anyone or the other cats, so they become confused. Thus, my gals were "getting lost in the hallway".... [sigh]. Other cats I had that lived mainly to 17 or 18 didn't develop dementia.
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I've been feeling nostalgic about the dog we had when I was growing up. He was a beautiful black and white border collie, likely a mix but he looked very show ready. I remember once when a mama duck lost her ducklings in the long grass he herded them all back to the barnyard on instinct alone, none of us knew anything about training a working dog. He was the best, most intelligent dog and friend that a dog can be and I never appreciated how exceptional he was until I was grown and he was grey at the muzzle, I thought all dogs were that way.
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He seems to have pulled a muscle in his back leg. Very hobbly on this morning's walk. So: the same dog who can't get into the car, too high, Mummy lift me up, can suddenly manage a vertical take-off and forward snatch manoeuvre of well over an extra foot?

Serves him right.
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Ahh, CM, Macy once scarfed a salad that I left much too easy for her to get to. Whoda thunk it?😕
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Oh sorry, I see you did add in his standing height. Hm........................................................

I've got nothing
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You forgot to add in the length of his hind legs CM: back paws to rump to muzzle to tongue.... hop and snap!
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I can't let this go.

From muzzle to tail Dog is 34" long. Allowing for back legs, I reckon a full standing height of no more than 44". Plus extended tongue..?!

The counter is 37" from the floor. The pizza was on a 3" thick board approximately 15" back from the front edge of the counter.

Did he have an accomplice? Did he fetch the step-stool from the hall, get the pizza, and put the stool away to cover his tracks? - (in which case leaving the hot peppers on the kitchen floor was the wrong move).

It's some consolation that the empty box says he saved me 726 calories. Almost makes up for the hour he spent contentedly washing his paws and looking pleased with himself. Delicious pepperoni, that. Can you get it again, Mummy?

I hope he has tummy ache ALL DAY.
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Primal instincts.

To be honest, pizza triggers a primal instinct in me, as well.
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Abrupt end to all sympathy for Dog, please. Bad Dog!

Scores for tonight's dinner: Dog 2, Self 0. While I was posting, he spotted the American Hot pizza waiting for the oven to preheat and snaffled it off the kitchen counter. Amazing how stealthy and agile a supposedly demented, arthritic, geriatric dog can be when there's a pizza in it for him.

Lucky he doesn't like Bistro salad, I guess.

I've a good mind to tuck into a frozen block of lamb with brown rice and mixed vegetables just to get my own back.

He is not looking very repentant.
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Oh, CM, I feel that dilemma every time I stand in the pet food aisle. Still, I feel I took on the responsibility of the animal. I have been adding my voice to the call to end global poverty for decades, so I hope it balances out someday.

One time, though, I had a cat diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. The first option was to FLY the cat (who was 11) to Vancouver for 6 MONTHS of radioactive iodine treatment! Umm.....

Ok, I loved that cat to bits, but that would have cost 2.5x more than I paid for my car at the time. So it also turns out I have limits, lol.  (Plus she had major separation anxiety, so that helped with the decision to turn down option #1.) 
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Not an indulgence to wonder - I hope! - but I'd been trawling through pages about dementia drug therapies for dogs... I already get incredibly uncomfortable when elderly domestic animals get things like interferon and prostheses when there are still kids in the world dying for lack of clean water. One year's vaccination = 1/100th of a well for an entire village.

I haven't yet found my personal line to draw (I once spent £25 trying to have a hamster resuscitated), I just feel there must be one.

There is a blind Scottie dog near us who is a wonder - he's learned to chase and retrieve his tennis ball using hearing and scent alone, and I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it. His owner said the main problem is getting to the park when it's quiet enough, because Scottie really doesn't like being near other animals, understandably. And he is totally blind: his eyes were removed because of some sort of infection.

We do also have a bionic pug with the rear wheel arrangement, he belongs to a pug pack and it's lovely to see how well his friends include him.

Staffy resents being made to wear a coat. How he'd react to a wheelchair harness...

I have thought about hydrotherapy. I'm not sure he'd ever speak to me again.

I like the three things idea.

#1 Snoring over crucial dialogue in crime dramas

"Boyd! I'm at the house now."
"Claire! Forensic just came back - it wasn't [snoooooooorrrrre]!!! and the gun [snoooooorrrrrre] !!! Wait 'til [snoharrumph]!!!!!

#2 Demanding treats with menaces. Unspoken menace, no teeth or anything. Just: I am going to sit immovably in front of you and stare into your eyes until you cough up. Thank you.

#3 Carrying his toy puppy around after meals, whining to it. I have consulted an animal behaviour specialist about this because I can't figure out if Staffy only loves the toy or really does think it is a puppy and gets anxious because he can't feed it. The specialist said, more or less, "search me."
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CM - I don't see why it's an indulgence to wonder. Pets are living longer now, too, like humans, thanks to better food and veterinary intervention.

I'm so sorry you're going through that. It's so hard to watch a beloved animal decline.

When BFF's aging dog's back legs started going, they found a special "wheelchair" online, designed to support the dog's legs and back end. Dog loved going for walks in that wheelchair!

(On that point - BFF recommended a chiropractor to me and I saw her today.  Turns out BFF met the chiropractor because she also works on dogs!  Who knew?  I never would have thought to take a dog to the chiropractor!  Anyway, BFF says she was skeptical about chiropractic care maybe having a "placebo effect," until she saw the change in that dog after each visit.  Also, the chiropractor says of course I can bring wee Brucie next visit!) 
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Oh CM poor Dog, he's certainly earned his keep keeping you sane the last few years. Things tend to do downhill very fast with animals so prepare for the worst and enjoy what ever time you have left with him. The Vet may have some ideas. Sorry dr herrick is no longer around. Hugs for you and dog. I do look forward to news of him.
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Realtime, that's a very good thought to keep in mind. Countrymouse, sorry about your dog.
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Our vet told me this when my cat, Begonia, started to fail: Think about the things that make Begonia, Begonia. As long as she's still doing three of them, it's probably not her time.
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Countrymouse,
Treat the pain.
Even though this may be his last days, his life could continue waxing and waning for some time, even a year or more. Vets say we will know when the time comes, if they do not die of natural causes, we will know when it is time to have the vet intervene.  No guilt, no regrets, you will just do what needs to be done for your dog.

There are great supplements to brighten his day, ask the vet.

Bless you and your dog.
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Aw, CM...I'm so sorry.

I don't know what can be done - definitely a vet question. At some point, there's probably little they can do to help improve that - just like for humans. :-(

Your post really struck my heart this morning. Sending you hugs - I wish I could do or say something more to help.
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What do we think about treating suspected dementia in companion animals?

Is it a) completely idiotic First World self-indulgence or b) worth further investigation?

Dog has been a bit "off" for a few months but now it is getting... tricky. Eating non-food items - soil, toilet paper, soap. Going into his pre-supper routine twenty minutes after he's just had supper. Forgetting which door he came through and getting lost. Roaming from room to room instead of settling in his basket.

He's thirteen this year, eyesight and hearing deteriorating, back legs weakening.

:(
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Gershun, so happy that your Henrick is doing well.
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Thank-you Lu!
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That's downright Wonderful news Gershun!
Henrick is beautiful,too pretty to be sick.I'm so glad he's ok~
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Good news about my Henrick. His bloodwork had been abnormal around Christmas time but we took him in yesterday and got the call today that everything is back to normal. I'm so relieved. :) He looks just like the orange cat in the Hugs photos :)
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