Wait Time After Eating

[Cindy Taylor]

Does anyone do anything special to keep your dog distracted/entertained during wait time? I've tried just talking to her, rubbing ears, telling stories, reading, we may try singing "Rubber Ducky" - she is getting more and more antsy with the wait now that she is feeling better.

[Marylou Kadziela]

Hi Cindy,
If you go take a look at bonnie in her high chair. it is on wheels . I wheel her to the big window so she can look outside, she can sit there for hours, (but I don't leave her there for hours) But today I heard her and her brother clyde, barking and making alot of noise, that little houdini was standing on her high chair tray oops
I don't know how she got out
anyway can your dog look out side while in his chair? Bonnie just falls asleep sometimes and somtimes it is a challenge
really there is no good answer---- trail and error
good luck
marylou and Bonnie

[Cindy Taylor]

Meggie doesn't have a chair as of yet. She is a big girl - 70 pounds, so I'm not sure I could make her mobile in one. We are using a corner of the couch to balance her and me sitting on the back/side of the couch and holding her with my legs to keep her up. She's actually becoming used to eating this way and the wait time, so maybe it's just something for her to become accustomed to. Thanks for the ideas though. If we make a chair in the future, the idea of making it mobile will be there.

[Lara Kretler]

I try to feed Jack V-E-R-Y slowly to help him build up patience and learn to wait. Then when he's all done, I wipe him down and try to hold him up as long as I can with hugs, kisses, talking sweetly to him, singing, etc. In general he loves attention and will stay with me holding him up for a while, but as he has gotten stronger and healthier again, it's harder to hold him if he really wants to get away! ;)

He's been asking to go on walks a lot, so sometimes we do that after a meal in the hopes that it will help move the food along down where it should go.

[Dawn (and Tim, the Dogfather)]

hi, cindy - we have a less than orthodox feeding routine. cassie cannot tolerate anything but broth consistencies (she forms wicked throat pockets), and water does not bother her if she happens to take a slurp or 2 of the bowl down for the other doggies (but because of the extremely brothy food, she is extremely well hydrated and has only shown interest in the water bowl a few times since her sept dx - mostly since we turned the heat on this winter). cass eats with her bowl on the stairsteps, step #2, with her front paws on step #1 and her hind paws on the floor. with her arthritis, this is the easiest on her neck. she asks immediately to go outdoors after the last slurp and hangs out for about 10 minutes then asks to come in. then cass and i corner-sit on the sofa and snuggle and kiss and whisper. sometimes we watch TV; sometimes we talk to each other, and i tell her what good work she is doing ;-) the 2 other dogs gather around and we have a group hug - they are very good nurses! when my husband sits with her, he puts her smack on his lap and she leans her head and chest against him - they can stay like that for the longest time; to say that scene is too adorable is an understatement! merry day after Christmas! - d

[Cindy Taylor]

Thanks for sharing your successes! Meggie does the "corner sit" on an old couch and she has times like tonight when she seems content to sit forever and then other times when she seems to slump and I can't keep her up very long. I think the trick for me is getting her in a good position before we begin. She's actually gotten really good at getting herself positioned in the corner of the couch when she sees me bring her tray of food. I've also found that rubbing her paws after eating seems to make her happy. So far, no regurg or vomiting, so maybe we are doing something right. :)

I'm trying to work on feeding her slower, she just gets so anxious!! She gets a thick consistency of mashed canned food, sometimes soaked dry food, and food processed chicken. We are also using the Knox Blocks with a little chicken broth in them to keep her hydrated, but she will occasionally go to the water bowl and so far, no problems. She also can still eat her canned pumpkin and frozen vanilla yogurt for treats and that makes her happy!

[Dawn (and Tim, the Dogfather)]

c - how is meggie oriented while corner-sitting? i have found that slumping can be controlled better if cass sits not facing forward with her back to the sofa back or diagonally in the corner, but with her back to the sofa arm and her side against the sofa back for support. i then sit with my back to the arm of the sofa with my (considerable) posterior fitting on it (more like off it) as well as it can :-) i have the one arm behind her and the other in front for her to use as a bar for her paws or i just hold her up in my arms. when she gets irritated at this, i put a pillow in front for her paws. when she seems uncomfortable, i let her stand on the sofa for a few seconds and then help her to change the position of her hiney, and we go again. cassie will slump something fiercely as she has very little strength from below her ribs, and i have to really brace her, sometimes holding her up or leaning her into the sofa back. i have also found that tilting back a few degrees with my arm around her shoulders to support her neck and head makes a comfy position for watching "House" ! - d

[Cindy Taylor]

Dawn - Oh a "House" fan! I do love the good doctor ! :) Wish I could be so blunt at times and not get fired.

I get Meggie sitting diagonally with her back toward the corner of the sofa with a pillow to help cushion and me on the side of the couch with one leg behind her and one leg in front of her so she puts her paws on my thigh. I've found in the past couple of days that the tighter I hold her with my legs, the better we keep her sitting. I like the idea of having her sit the way you describe too, so we may try that if slumping becomes a problem again.

Meggie's rear is weaker too. Does Cass have MG? Meggie tested positive, but doesn't show classic symptoms and the vets are puzzled with her because they really want to blame all this on her lymphoma - but she's not showing any cancer cells in their tests! :) I'm hoping she's whipped that nasty cancer's butt! Anyway, they aren't treating the MG right now because they feel side effects of the meds may make her worse and she seems to be doing well right now.

[Jennifer Bella]

My dog was diagnosed with ME about 1 Week ago, post OP for Chylothorax. I drove from CT to TX, (30 Hour drive) so the ride home was interesting trying to feed him and keep him elevated. This thread is very interesting and I'm excited to see what other methods are.

For the ride home what I did was made him stand outside the car, front legs up on the back seat, and me standing behind him bracing him so he wouldn't jump down. This worked well, but I'm sure people passing by wondered what I was doing to my dog. I even had a few people asking me if I needed help getting him into the car. :) I held him up for 15 minutes after he ate, and this seemed to work for a day or so.

At home, and at the hotels what I would do is make him stand, with his front legs on the bed, or couch, and feed him like this and wait again 15-20 minutes.

The first few days home were hard, keeping him calm, and separate from my 8 month old Rhodesian Ridgeback so he wouldn't get too excited and regurgitate. I did have a few vomit and regurg episodes, and today is the first good day Ive had with him. (Im only 3 days in... I know I have a long way to go.)

So, now at work, I have no couch or bed. So what I did was make him sit on his bed so he is comfortable, kneel down in front of him and put is paws on my shoulders, I like this method the best because he is straight up, and I feel this is the best method for his success, although he does get antsy, and I do get frustrated, I try to keep a good attitude, smile, talk sweetly to him and tell him how good he is.

This method may only work for larger dogs, my dogs was 100# before surgery, so his size makes it easier to have his paws on my shoulders.

I hope this helps others.
On a side note, please Keep your spirits up, and have a good attitude. Your dog will know your frustrated, and sad, don't give up! The key is to try different things, and give each method a day at least. Every dog is different = needing a different method.

[Cindy Taylor]

Jennifer - You are very resourceful!! I can't imagine the 30 hour car trip, but sounds like you all did great! Meggie has become used to being fed elevated now and it's just second nature for her - and for me. It's interesting to read how others are handling the elevated feedings.