Senior moments to look forward too.....

[lmcpug]

Well I'm running out of ideas

As the summer started so too did our spotty nutritional intake with Pugsley
I am constantly trying to find something that is palpable, nutrionally sound and
will be accepted by the old Poop!

It is something to think of if you are going into the golden golden years.

I do admit, I am running out of options and feel so bad for the old guy!

Some days he will eat and some days it is a struggle to get him to eat.
Which unfortunately is not good as his weight goes down very quickly and
then we are trying to get it back up again.

Some of his fav's lately (and yes, just remember desperation sets in and you too will
do whatever it takes to keep them healthy LOL):
Oma's lasagna - loves his Oma's spaghetti too
scrambled eggs and cottage cheese - sometimes he will eat it with bits of cooked chicken
yogurt (always) - never ever says no to yogurt
veggie macaroni and cooked grd meat, sometimes with spaghetti sauce
and various other concoctions!

I am out of ideas some days but we try and we somehow maintain!

The other two are still on raw food and loving it. Bubba has shown no desire to slow down.
He pretty much keeps up with the youngster although he gets tired faster and will
wander off and find a quiet spot on his mat to sleep the aft away.


Any ideas on food would be welcome!

[Jane aka 71337]

While I don't have experience with seniors, I have experience with a picky eater so I know how stressful it is when they won't eat Lori and how desperate you can get to get any nutrition at all into them! 

The impression I got from your list of things he will eat is that it's all mushy stuff so my suggestion is baby food but it's probably wicked expensive. Have you tried blending his normal food into a puree and warming it slightly for him? I'm just guessing here but maybe the soft consistency would appeal to him 

Sending lots of good thoughts your way (((hugs)))

[lmcpug]

LOL! thanks Jane
I was going to write that I have also been mushing it up!
It works sometimes and sometimes it doesn't?!?!?!?
He either wants soft or he wants little bitty chunkies and
I can never guess.
I use yogurt or cottage cheese to get it to a mushy state!
and lord forbid he smells anything he does not like; even mushed up....
the nose goes up and the mouth clams up!!

The other two are cleaningup lately, cause what Pugsley doesn't eat they get it split in their food,
sorry grew up in a house where it was "waste not want not"

BUT your idea of baby food bang on and DOH! to me
Never even thought of baby food!

Thank you, Jane

[SpeedyPug]

...a pug magic bullet?    pug baby bullet?  Does Pugsley have a sweet tooth?  Can a pug eat carnation instant breakfasts?  Obviously not chocolate but maybe vanilla or strawberry?  My picky stepson will ONLY drink those for breakfast and while not the greatest thing in the world (high sugar), its better than nothing.  Would it work for a pug, too?  It pretty nutritionally balanced.  I was in the same boat with my 19 year old cat- NOTHING appealed to him so he got anything and everything his scrawny bod could tolerate.  Who cares about "nutritionally sound" when Pugs is the canine equivalent of Methuselah.  My theory with the super-old is if they can eat a Big Mac- GIVE IT TO THEM!  Who cares if its healthy?  The boy needs calories!!!

[lmcpug]

LOL!  oh I totally agree with you, Shannon!

I have been trying anything and everything. Perhaps that is the problem too!
Pugsley gets fixated on fav things and none too healthy... like cheese
but I don't want him getting too much cheese cause that bungs him up and
then we are trying to get stuff in him to make him dump  OY!!!!

It is definitely a merry-go-round here lately and today for instance....
I called Oma's place twice to chk on the old pooper and all I could here was him
giving lip service in the background. Had not stopped since I dropped him off at 06:30 this morning.

So my lunch, at noon, consisted of the following:
drive to my place and let the 2 left behinds out, quickly get them back in
and stuff their faces with yogurt and back to bed with a treat. 15 min's tops
felt bad for them......
jumped back into the veh and winged it to Oma's (which thank goodness
is only 5 min's from my place)
run in and slap some yogurt in a dish with a pain pill and inot the old pooper.
get him a drink and pick him up for a cuddle.
Lately, he needs to rest on me while I rub his side and he will fall asleep - took 20 min's tops and then I was flying back to work.........

mentally and physically exhausted does not even compute anymore
all this within a 1hr10min break! and now I'm the old pooper LOL!

[lmcpug]

oh and the idea of carnation brkfasts is good but I have a problem with the high sugar content??

not sure what that would do to his system??

I try to keep sugars and sodium to a minimum for his organs to
not pooch out on him

not sure if I'm being paranoid or not??

[lmcpug]

FYI to all heading into "high" senior years

whoever mentioned "baby food"

great idea  

I picked up jars of squash and yams to try.
So far so good. I have been mixing it in with cooked grd (xx lean) beef and cottage cheese.
Pugsley has been gobbling it down.  So am feeling better about nutrition.

[lmcpug]

Well at set back last week and we are back on form again.

It seems he goes for several days good and then he decides not to eat
again.

The baby food has definitely helped tho and I added rice pablum which
is making a great hit with the old geazer!
I have been stuffing it with extremely teensy tiny bits of cooked
chicken, mashed beans and pulverized veggies. On top, (because if
it isn't there we wont eat) butternut squash! If the "bits" are too large again Pugsley will not eat!!
So I am basically pulverizing everything into a "gruel" mush! A little lumpy like oatmeal
but no big chunks anymore!
Plus I have brought back in yogurt.
So far so good. I am hearing his stomach "growl" which I had not for the longest time
So a good indication he is hungry
We are doing mini meals every 2 maybe 3 hrs when possible. Pugsley gets tired out
quickly when eating so, rather than lose out on what ground we have gained, I am going for
the mini meals. He seems more satisfied and relaxed with this.

It is just trying to understand his signals. BUT, I think I am catching on
Especially the horrifying "YOWLING"  so hi pitched and agonizing, for both of us!
It usually means he has to go out and do a dump! The "Flailing" that he has been doing, is usually
a sign he has to go out and whiz.
The "Curl" > head on butt, typically a pug in half,  hunger sign!
LOL! or at least that is what I'm perceiving as signals LOL!

I hope that this info helps anyone else out who has a senior senior!

[Anna]

Have you ever tried banana or sweet potato french fries or peanut butter?  My guys will do anything for them.
And have you tried any of the canned dog food?  I know it's not as good as fresh but at this point, who cares?  I'm betting he'd love the texture of some of the Merrick or Wellness stew types.  Picky customer dogs love them.  Canine Life muffins also work great with the picky guys.  And the seniors.  One of my coworkers senior dog has cancer and has been doing great for 4 years since diagnosis by eating the Canine Life muffins cancer formula.

Hugs to you and the ol' geezer! (and Cpl. Bubba and the Young Offender too of course!)

[lmcpug]

Hey Anna

yes, I've tried a few of the Merricks and other canned dog food

He is one picky little geazer.
I have been wasting more than getting anything into him.....
the other two have fattened up a bit since this all started.
Peanut butter wouldn't work, he never really cared for it. This
is Bubs fav food to date.
I've been thinking of trying some of the fruits. He did like bananas
at one point but in the summer when I tried to get him to eat a banana
the nose went up, however the puree might work.
I truly believe it is the consistency anymore.
Anything with large lumps or is "too dry" he wil not eat or look at.
Won't even do a lick to see if he would like it.
They really are too smart for their britches!!!

Kudos for your friend
Wish this type of food and info were available when Honey
was around    

Young Offender is on a short leash these days! Ahem!
We are having issues of jealousy and (my fault) but she pee'd on my bed again...... grrrrr!
Doesn't matter how much attention I give her, if she feels Pugsley is getting more she acts out!
What a cute rotter!
Bubs is the quintessential laid back pugman.Goes his own way and defends his dish when necessary
He may be 16+ but the Young Offender gets what for if she crowds his dish LOL!

[keep on pugging]

Is he really almost 19? 

[lmcpug]

sigh, yes Deb,
end of March and the little booger will be 19!

course, he may make it, but not sure about me