Worried about my dog

[Craigie]

Hi all,

I'm 18 nearlly 19 and get worried about my dog quite alot. In the front of my mind I know he's okay but in the back theres a tiny part of me that gets worried.

My dog is a 12 year old Border Collie Black and white and I love him to bits, I work away from home so the dog stays with my mum and dad but i've grown up with him as we got him as a very young puppy (under 1 year) so we've both grown up together and are like best friends. Every dog lover knows that you can see a dogs love to its owners and everyone that comes to the house always say that you can see the passion in his eyes towards me.

He's always been a playfull dog and still is even though he's getting older, he likes to play with me on the rare occasion I get home from work, it's like he feels he needs to because it's what we've always done together.

Now for the few problems. My mum wont take him to the vets unless he seems to be in pain, and I understand why. We all would be heartbroken if we lost him. There have been a few scares but he has always pulled through with the love and care that my household give him and me and my mum can not imagine life without him as he really is a real member of the family.

He has had a bad stomach all his life, he can't eat alot of things as they give him very bad diorear, but when he does have somthing to eat that doesnt agree with him he will hold in his poo to the point where he bleeds when he does finally decides to go. He doesn't like his "Rear end" and he looks so sad when he does this to himself. He wont wee or poo unless he is in my backgarden or if he sees somone stood in the window. So basically Does anyone know of a food we can give him that might settle his stomach a bit more? The vet said dry food...but it's got to the point where he's fed up of eating dry stuff and wont eat it! The vet said that there's nothing really wrong with the bleeding. It's just hes doing it himself because he's straining so much when he goes.

The second problem is he has a fatty lump, the vet told us that it is a fatty lump but to watch it to make sure it doesnt give him pain ect. It's grown and is quite big but he doesnt seem to notice it...Should we take him back to the vet? Like I said though he doesnt seem to even notice it's there and will roll over and let me feel it.


He snores incredibly loud...infact he's lying in my bed now next to me snoring his head off! Is there a reason why he snores so loud? Mum has always said it's becuase he's in a deed peacefull sleep?

That's about it really. I hope you can help with the food for his stomach! Below should be a picture of my baby boy! Do you agree he's beutiful!?

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/2923/cimg0191vx7.th.jpg (http://img525.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg0191vx7.jpg)

[siberianhusky101]

Try an all natural food with out any preservatives. the one i like for my dog is Blue Buffalo (www.bluebuff.com). and as for the lump i would get him to the vet ASAp. Its true it might be a problem but knowing about it will at least give you time to say goodbye rather than getting to the vets later and being told you should put him down. i do understand its a hard thing to do, as i grew up with a border collie who we got when both my nephew and I (and the dog) were all one year old and she lived until we hit 16. The snoring probably has to do with age more than a problem, i have a 13 yr old cat that can wake the dead.

[eldavino]

first of all y do u hav a dog this age on dry food? shouldnt it be what he likes? just askin cuz i never kept a dog to get old on me. i give them up wen they cross 8yrs lol. bcuz i cant see them suffer bcuz i suffer more lol. but i usually give them what they are comfy with. one thing though u shouldnt give any sharp bones!!!!!!! i wouldnt go into details right now bcuz i dont have time, but it can do alot of damages to the stomach!!!!

[hunter's pride]

Hi Craigie I use to have a border collie and he was my best friend. Great dogs I know how hard it is right now for you worring about your best friend. First off his diet do not change his diet too quickly. Example do not change his kibble off the bat with a new brand this alone will be too hard on your dog. Do 50-50 old kibble with new kibble Also I am a firm believer that a dog needs more in their kibble. What I do is add salmon to my pup's kibble make sure the bones are crushed and I also add the salmon water on the kibble and mix it in. Also I use tuna same routine as the salmon. Feed your dog this no more than 4 times a week. I also make my Hunter's dog food to go into his kibble. Use a slow cooker cut up some liver, carrots, sweet potatoe, and other veg. Just chop it all up and cook for a few hours you can also use beef. You shouldn't feed the dog liver every day. Now after the food is cooked put them in containers and add 3-4 tablespoons to a dish warm in the microwave 30 seconds and add to your dogs kibble and stir it in. Also if your dog is having the runs white or brown rice cooked with boiled beef can help with the runs even a bit of cottage cheese. I find if a dog has the runs do not feed for 24hrs then do the rice and beef and be sure never, ever switch a dog to a new kibble without doing the 50-50 ratio of old kibble to new for at least a week. Now the lump as hard as it may be take the pup to the vets or if you are unsure take him to another vet and see what they say. I also know how expensive vet's can be this is why I have started to get pet insurance. But I know the cost might be there now for your older puppy but if left it can be more later on. Above all spend lots of time with your buddy and just love him I wish you the best.