Julie's Nala 10/2016 Conservative + ongoing arthritis pain

If the vet has no objections, I think you should just offer it to her.

I've decided to try getting Nala to drink more water this week and see if it makes a difference. Her x-ray isn't scheduled until next week. I've read about putting some peanut butter powder in water and also a little meat food. And of course, chicken broth. We'll see if it helps. Cross your fingers. After the urinalysis and blood work it would be nice to avoid another procedure if possible.

Yippee! I've added 1/2 cup of water 2x daily to Nala's food and gave her a tiny spoonful of meat food mixed into water once. And it seems to be working. She peed twice today and the second time was pale yellow. We pet parents get excited about the funniest things! LOL.

Nala didn't pee on her own. But she did have enough pee in her to express 2x. Evidently she's not drinking from the water bowl so I'll just have to be diligent about providing extra and monitoring the amount.

I've been seeing a lot of recalls, too, Julie, and am not sure what to do. We know processed foods aren't good and yet we feed our dogs these hard highly processed kibbles. Most likely the most healthy food would be food we prepared ourselves. We would have to familiarize ourselves as to exactly what should be in that diet. But I'm a vegetarian and would have a difficult time cooking meat for Jeremy, although I know that the food that I currently give him has meat in it. I haven't bought meat and cooked it in over 15 years and don't want to start. Raw food might be an option but there is controversy about that, too. Plus Jeremy has allergies and I've finally found a food that he tolerates well so I don't really want to change from that. Luckily the Kirkland food that I give him hasn't had a lot of recalls.

I think Blue Buffalo only had the one food recall recently, at least that I've heard about. www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/blue-buffalo-dog-food-recall-february-2017/

Check this out, Julie!  

truthaboutpetfood.com/blue-buffalo-agrees-to-pay-32-million-in-settlement/

Julie, updates make our day! May Nala have many years ahead of being a stinker! LOL She sounds happy and certainly enjoying accompanying on you on your trip.

Hi Julie,

I wonder if Nala got startled by Fireworks last night while you were at work?  Not sure if  it was as noisy out your way as it was here last night.. Horseshoe bend across the river were doing their yearly fireworks, two sets of neighbors were shooting them off..   We all felt surrounded.. All my pets were freaked out, even with calmers and we have this  to look forward to (NOT!) until after July 4th.  

Glad the intrepid Nala is ok..maybe she found a quieter place to hide in the spare room.. 

Julie, how is Nala doing tonight. No issues since her ordeal with the baby gate?

I'm glad to hear that Nala is OK, Julie. Jeremy also gets upset with fireworks and the very loud firecrackers neighbors have been setting off all around us. I can't say I'm too fond of them myself. Rest easy there, little Nala - quieter days ahead.

Julie, that is the best news!  A Christmas miracle indeed!  Oh yes it happens, and Nala is living proof  that there is no time limit for nerves to heal!  I am so happy for you and Nala!  

Nala may be at the  beginning of getting bladder control back, so continue to do the sniff and pee test  outside starting tomorrow..and follow it with a quick express check to  make sure she is empty.   She has the ability now,she proved that.  Likely she just needs to get back into the habit of going on her own.  It's been awhile. 

Thanks for keeping me posted..  

Julie, as you can imagine we will be very interested in you keeping us updated.

With Nala's conservative episode back in Oct 2016 you mentioned she had never regained bladder control with the surgery in 2007. The fact that she had in the past squatted but no urine was released likely tells she feels the need to go, but didn't yet have the ability to control the elimination part. Yesterdays observing a squat and then release of urine is very, very interesting....sure do hope you will be able to report more instances of being able to control elimination.

You've given her acepromazine before, correct? And that usually helps calm her down?

How do you usually transport her to the vet's office? Maybe she'd be so happy to be going for a ride in the car that she would tolerate a crate. If not, could the laundry basket be secure with a seat belt so it won't shift when you stop and start? And it's deep enough so she can't get out of it?