Diane and Magic,

What a convoluted ride you are on right now. I hope that you both are getting rest since you seem to have a full 36 hr day. You both are in our thoughts and prayers.

Regarding Magic's willingness to eat, that is one thing that I have extreme experience with during Miss Cherry's chemotherapy. She never vomited, or appeared to have nausea, but rather it was just the horrible taste that made her loose all appetite. While she would sometimes eat biscuits and jerky that was offered during her truck trips, I would estimate that nearly 85% of her solid foods were stuffed during the chemotherapy treatments. (four treatments - three weeks apart from each - starting hours after her amputation) However, the one thing that was nearly constant was her willingness to drink VanillaFlavored Soy Milk - the full rich type and not the light. I went with the Soy Milk because Cow's Milk can sour in the stomach, and that would not help. Often I would add some Ensure to the Soy Milk to get more calories and other nutrition into the drink, but if I added too much, she would not drink. In addition to the syringe, I have had excellent success using a test tube wash bottle. You can fill them with the liquid, place the tip of the bottle deep into the corner of their jaw, and squeeze. I like this method because you can keep the bottle upright and do not have to rely on a downward angle to get the liquid to the tip. I have always found this easier on the dogs and it works well with liquids like chicken or beef broth, soy milk, or Ensure.

I am sure that you have tried offering all sorts of things to find something that clicks. At one time we had six type of canned foods, four kibbles, four biscuits, three jerkies, and the old standbys like hard cooked eggs. What may work one day would not work the next. Often we were left with hand feeding Cherrios for breakfast. At the end, one of the very few things she would eat was Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream. This and her soft serve Baskin & Robbins cone is one of the reasons Miss Cherry always suggests Ice Cream for Ampuverseries.

If you need more ideas, or just support, I will be here. Pawsitive Thoughts and Prayers,

Spirit Cherry's Dad

 GGGRRRRRR !! Some kids NEED to be whacked!! And some adults too !! 

One time when my old dog, Keaton, who was 14 years old at the time, was out for a walk with the dog walking group that Sophie still enjoys, they encountered an old woman at the off-leash park. She was out for a walk, too, except that she was walking through the off-leash dog park and she was afraid of dogs - HELLO !! - I gather Keaton was the closest to her - so she kicked him in the hind end - took his legs out from under him - and he went down. She kicked him again. It was a good thing I wasn't there - I would have been arrested for sure. As it was, my dog walker (and friend) Angie said she told the woman off and even swore at her (used the "f" bomb) which, if you knew her, you would know she never does. She said it was all she could do not to punch the woman out. Some people just shouldn't be allowed to live.

Anyway ... good restraint on your part, Diane, for not punching out the little kid kicking Magic. I'm not sure I would have been so nice. 

So - back to the news at hand - 

Glad to hear the OJ is home. Sending him lots of ear scratches and chin rubs from Chester and Wolfie.  Lots of catnaps and treats, OJ.

Pilling the dog: Sophie is smarter than me about pills, too. She can suck a pill out from inside anything. I've tried mashed potatoes, peanut butter, pill pockets, lunch meats, bread, etc., etc., etc., I even crushed pills and mixed it into yogurt - she wouldn't eat the yogurt. The ONLY for sure way to get pills into her is to literally stuff them down her throat ... as you said - your whole fist down her throat. Then I hold her muzzle shut and put water on the end of her nose so that she has to lick it off - or get water up her nose. If she has to stick her tongue out to lick off the water, she has to swallow. It's not pretty - but it works - usually.

btw - when my little terrier neared the end of his life - the only thing he would eat was "headcheese" (gag). 

I admire your restraint on the kitties, Diane ! Probably not the best time for a new addition ... but they sure are fun to cuddle, aren't they!

Diane; 

I am so sorry to read that you lost OJ. 

Tana