I've written before about my 15-16 year old yorkie/pom, but a short recap is he was diagnosed with a continuous heart murmur 2-3 years back and has bad teeth. Vet [and I have gotten 2nd opinion] feels surgery is too much of a risk for teeth, so we have always just managed when he gets an infection with antibiotics and pain pills. He is on a water pill all the time.
He goes through phases on his eating habits, some times normal and some times real demanding. He's never had a weight problem, always been a real lean dog up until his murmur...even now, he's not really all that overweight, though I would guess he's gained a tad [he stays pretty much between 7-8 pounds each time weighed at vet, dropping closer to 6 when he's having a real bad bout].
But he's become VERY demanding when he is hungry. I wish I could give a accurate routine, but it changes. For example, this week he is demanding. Without mercy, stands up placing front paws on leg when I'm sitting, pacing, staring intensely, dancing/spinning/hitting back of my leg [when I walk across room, this is his ritual for feeding time, except I have no food in these cases], knocking things around [searching in crazy places], start attacking my other dog, etc. He won't give up, I feed him or he just keeps going...I've tested it, he's relentless. lol
So that's what I do, feed him and then he will be satisfied, until around night time, where we repeat the cycle [which is odd, as he's usually not wanting to be fed again...when not in demand mode, he will put nose up to food twice a day]. I keep him on mostly a diet of canned [pro plan savor, beef/rice entree] because of his teeth...I have tried to pre soak hard food into the mix to give him a little more filler, but some times that causes him to go off his food so I try not to push it. But I'll be blunt, I'll feed him a steak covered in gravy if that's what he wants regardless if it's healthy or not...his time is getting shorter, despite him proving me and vets wrong time and time again, it's going to happen. But if he is still dancing, and showing signs he wants to be here...I'm not going to take that away nor be particular about what he wants during that time. I tried doing things I 'thought' would be better and healthier for him and wind up with an infection. I just think now, it's not going to matter. His time is set and he will pick it, regardless of what he is eating.
It just seems like he's gone into a crazy mode during these times and I'm not sure what to make of it. I mean, it's fine if that's what I have to do, no complaints...but I do wonder why he is SO hungry. He's eating well over a dog his size should, and not gaining...he stays same weight whether he's eating normal or going through demand mode. Is there something going on with his body that tells him he needs more food than normal?
It's more of a curiosity, I am not going to take him to vet and run him through a bunch of tests to find the answers, but thought maybe someone would have some insight here.
He goes through phases on his eating habits, some times normal and some times real demanding. He's never had a weight problem, always been a real lean dog up until his murmur...even now, he's not really all that overweight, though I would guess he's gained a tad [he stays pretty much between 7-8 pounds each time weighed at vet, dropping closer to 6 when he's having a real bad bout].
But he's become VERY demanding when he is hungry. I wish I could give a accurate routine, but it changes. For example, this week he is demanding. Without mercy, stands up placing front paws on leg when I'm sitting, pacing, staring intensely, dancing/spinning/hitting back of my leg [when I walk across room, this is his ritual for feeding time, except I have no food in these cases], knocking things around [searching in crazy places], start attacking my other dog, etc. He won't give up, I feed him or he just keeps going...I've tested it, he's relentless. lol
So that's what I do, feed him and then he will be satisfied, until around night time, where we repeat the cycle [which is odd, as he's usually not wanting to be fed again...when not in demand mode, he will put nose up to food twice a day]. I keep him on mostly a diet of canned [pro plan savor, beef/rice entree] because of his teeth...I have tried to pre soak hard food into the mix to give him a little more filler, but some times that causes him to go off his food so I try not to push it. But I'll be blunt, I'll feed him a steak covered in gravy if that's what he wants regardless if it's healthy or not...his time is getting shorter, despite him proving me and vets wrong time and time again, it's going to happen. But if he is still dancing, and showing signs he wants to be here...I'm not going to take that away nor be particular about what he wants during that time. I tried doing things I 'thought' would be better and healthier for him and wind up with an infection. I just think now, it's not going to matter. His time is set and he will pick it, regardless of what he is eating.
It just seems like he's gone into a crazy mode during these times and I'm not sure what to make of it. I mean, it's fine if that's what I have to do, no complaints...but I do wonder why he is SO hungry. He's eating well over a dog his size should, and not gaining...he stays same weight whether he's eating normal or going through demand mode. Is there something going on with his body that tells him he needs more food than normal?
It's more of a curiosity, I am not going to take him to vet and run him through a bunch of tests to find the answers, but thought maybe someone would have some insight here.
