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Post by aijee on May 15, 2016 19:18:37 GMT
So lovely to hear about the relationship developing between you and Margot Thank you so much for all the updates on the beginning of what I hope will be a long and happy life together. Great to hear that Margot is able to be offlead - it's such a joy to see our hounds running free. I am so pleased that you can let her off lead - it makes their life so much fun. As far as food goes, and I may be shouted down about this, but she is in control and shouldn't be. YOu need to stop worrying. If she doesn't eat, don't try and find an alternative, lift the bowl up and then try again later (with the same food). If she is hungry enoough, she will eat. UNless its her teeth or an intolerance, Rowlfsmum is spot on in my opinion. She will NOT starve. I totally agree with Philippa and Heather on this one. I suspect that what Margot actually needs is for you to be confident and take 'charge' of her feeding. All the chopping and changing may well be confusing and unsettling her. I strongly suspect that Margot needs you to take the weight of responsibility off her shoulders and so I'd suggest that you choose one of the foods which you feel comfortable with and then stick with it - no wavering. Good luck with it all and please keep those updates coming
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Post by Margot's Corps de Ballet on May 15, 2016 19:50:52 GMT
Haha! I hear what you all say, in that I am pack leader. But. I was cooking Sirloin steak, creamy mashed potatoes, carrots and broccoli for us. Plus I'd started defrosting chicken breasts. Margot came into the kitchen, snout in the air and I sliced her a tiny knoble of raw steak. She then, (having won??) proceeded to trot then gallop around the garden. Triumphant zoomies? Guilt tripped over the horrible imms experience, I gave her cooked chicken breast, creamy buttery mash and carrot through the ricer with broccoli, ensuring the protein was coated. She feasted royally! Went back for seconds! It is the first time I have seen her actually relish food... And she's now comatose-de-bum-bum in her bed ...what was that Simon, about being a willing slave?! From tomorrow onwards it's the tuff luv 'ting. I weighed her pre jab today @ The Vet and she's 16.9kgs. Slowly but surely. No more Mrs Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy Japanezy Nice Guy*. Come tomorrow, I play hard ball. *Only pandered to her as I felt sorry for her, having whisked her into have her spaying op so soon after taking charge of Margot.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2016 21:03:30 GMT
Don't worry - when I first got Zephyr (my first dog as an adult) I had taken all the 'new training methods' on board, reward based, praise good behaviour etc. BUT I got it slightly wrong and Zephyr didn't hear the word 'no' for his first 6 weeks which delayed his training somewhat. We are all learning constantly. My new dog, Lilly, needs different motivations and methods to Zephyr so I am now learning how to get the best from a more timid personality. You are doing fine, Margot is obviously happy and we all love your updates.
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Post by Mimsmum on May 16, 2016 9:33:50 GMT
I am so pleased that you can let her off lead - it makes their life so much fun. As far as food goes, and I may be shouted down about this, but she is in control and shouldn't be. YOu need to stop worrying. If she doesn't eat, don't try and find an alternative, lift the bowl up and then try again later (with the same food). If she is hungry enoough, she will eat. UNless its her teeth or an intolerance, Rowlfsmum is spot on in my opinion. She will NOT starve. Agree completely. And try putting the food down in the garden and walking in. She won't want those pesky magpies to have it!
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Post by Margot's Corps de Ballet on May 16, 2016 10:10:03 GMT
Thanks for all the sage advice. I woke her for a toilet trip early this morning. She dutifully performed, stretched, yawned and took herself back to bed. Nothing unusual there. She shows absolutely no interest in the general breakfast hubbub so I left it until 9.15 before I went to serve her Nutriment raw duck from the fridge. I did detect a flicker of interest as that's where the fresh marrowbone and cocktail sausages emerge from I announced, "Breakfast", showing her from a distance, clunking the dish into the stand and walked out and upstairs. I had a sneaky look at her bowl when I came down and she hasn't touched her food. I've not pressed the point. I am about to rouse her, taking the dish out into the garden as I hang the washing... Update: Margot came out into the garden, saw her food bowl being devoured by her nemesis, BlueBottles, and sauntered back in again. Normally she'd have been straight at them, jaws snapping like Tick-Tock, the crocodile in Peter Pan, but was she bovvered? A resounding, No! It's now being binned and she'll be rather more eager @ 6. Hopefully. Is this the after effects of the 2nd imms Or is this the beginning of a hound style Mexican stand-off?
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2016 10:46:23 GMT
I wonder if the temperature of her food might be a factor as you mentioned feeding her Nutriment raw duck food from the fridge. Too cold??
We never feed ours fridge cold food (and even when we had a cat, his sachet food would have the chill taken off before eating (good old microwave).
Does she eat food more readily if slightly warm/room temp (a la chicken breast and veggies readily scoffed previously)?
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Post by Margot's Corps de Ballet on May 16, 2016 10:50:29 GMT
@ Loz. That could be a factor but it's been out of the fridge since 9.15, so it's room temperature. The blood was swirling around, hence the fly attractant, but I'll warm it through later @ her next scheduled feed time, @ 6.
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2016 10:52:49 GMT
Ok, just a thought. Watch the bluebottles though, you don't want flyblow (them laying their eggs in her food) and then her eating it.
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Post by Margot's Corps de Ballet on May 16, 2016 11:02:03 GMT
Of course, I have chucked this mornings' contaminated duck offering. I will warm a fresh amount for 6pm. I have to be out this afternoon and my hound-sitter is under strict instructions not to feed her, which considering the distain she shows for anything other than human home cooked cuisine, shouldn't be difficult
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Post by poppyandann on May 16, 2016 15:35:56 GMT
I really do sympathise as she sounds very much like my Poppy, with regard to food. It is really hit and miss with what Poppy will eat. I feel that I have tried most things, and most ways of feeding her but with little success. Over the years |I have spoken to various vets, all of whom have not been worried and have said that she will eat when she wants. She has remained very thin and healthy. I now just put her breakfast down and feel pleased if she has finished it by tea time. Recently I have been adding plain natural yoghurt to her food, and this seems to go down better with her.
I hope this helps a bit Kaaren. You sound as though you are really doing your best for Margot, and your updates are heart warming.
Here's hoping Margot eats her tea.
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Post by rowlfsmum on May 16, 2016 15:46:58 GMT
I wonder if some of these hounds haven' t been used to regular food in their former life?
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Post by Margot's Corps de Ballet on May 16, 2016 16:03:16 GMT
Thanks for the reassurance PoppyandAnn and you might be onto something Rowflsmum. I've been out in Lundun,(innit) to a Hospital appointment since 1 and I'm just home. Margot didn't seem bothered as no whimpering or crying and she hasn't been offered nor asked for food. This is the longest she's been left and it went well. I've since warmed the raw salmon complete meal and she's refused it both indoors and down with her hated flies in the garden. It's been binned. Again. She's bundles of energy and is chomping on a bulls manhood. Frustration reigns! I'll take her out for a walk and try later. Gggrrhhh!
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Post by Margot's Corps de Ballet on May 16, 2016 17:48:37 GMT
This is a definite journey of discovery. Margot will not eat or drink indoors. I have no idea as to why but I'm going with it for now. Perhaps she feels threatened in some way in an enclosed space?, albeit its a huge space and the door is always open. Feeding outside does attract flies so I warmed little more than a tablespoon of Turkey Formula Nutriment, so as not to overwhelm her. She delicately finished the lot. I have to sit with her though. Reassurance/ protection/ security that I will not allow anyone to steal it from her? She's now resting whilst I'm cooking and we will go for a walk in another 20 minutes or so and I shall offer her another teensy portion when we're back home again.
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Post by Margot's Corps de Ballet on May 16, 2016 18:59:47 GMT
Gawd! Poor form to keep posting on her thread. BUT. We have a breakthrough on the trust/food front. Margot asked for food so maybe the sample whetted her appetite? I willl admit I did have some leftover buttery mash in the fridge together with mashed carrots and broccoli which I nuked and added the Turkey Formula together with some finely chopped chicken. I'm thrilled to report that its the best she's eaten in 23 days. Perhaps she was fed on leftovers, scraps of human food? Plus any wabbits she caught? She's flaked out, digesting so that walk isn't likely to happen. Nevermind. I shall have a glass of red to celebrate
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2016 19:03:26 GMT
Really, really well done for persevering Kaaren. I'm lucky to have two proper foodies so can only imagine the frustration you might be feeling. Glad to hear she's eaten something now though.
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Post by Margot's Corps de Ballet on May 16, 2016 19:25:14 GMT
Thanks Loz. But it's the very least I can do for Margot. She absolutely deserves the best I can possibly give. Yes, she's an eye catchingly attractive hound with a few war wounds, scars on her face, but I have too. And I always like to think that scars make for a more interesting character. It's not the scars per se, but the fortitude, in spite of their aquisition. Margot has a beautiful soul. As you shall all see @ the SLR FunDay Let's say I have trodden this path before Both my sons were casein and lactose intolerant and soya wasn't an option either. Both had to be *re-graded* on dioralite under Hospital conditions and introduced to Progestamil, a predigested formula and Neutramigin, a non-glucose polymer which effectively trebles calorific intake, in order that they gained weight. All this despite being breastfed... These 3 weeks have brought back all those feelings of inadequacy, failure and anxiety. I so hope 'we' have turned a corner.
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Post by Socksmum on May 16, 2016 19:30:26 GMT
Well done Kaaren. You are both on a learning curve together and it WILL get easier, you'll be able to 'read 'her as you get used to each other and you've already found out that she does eat, just on her terms. Respect to you for your commitment to her; enjoy the journey, and please, pretty please more photo's of miss gorgeous xx
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Post by rowlfsmum on May 17, 2016 14:07:34 GMT
You are doing a fantastic job Kaaren. That must have been so worrying with your sons.
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Post by Margot's Corps de Ballet on May 17, 2016 16:07:45 GMT
I am absolutely ELATED! Margot and I, together with my sister and a borrowed "Who Ate All The Pies...you fat.......?" honey labrador, (who was doted on as a puppy but now relegated to a no exercise comfort eating boredom existence), have been out on a walk through Epping Forest right up to The Owl @ Lippitts Hill and back home again. A 10 mile walk. It has been such a rewarding experience for us all. Margot and Maxie hit it off immediately and are safe and respectful off-lead. Aspalls cider went down well... She was such a fab embassador for SLR and several people enquired about her and fostering with a view to adoption. ...and the hounds thoroughly enjoyed the rest, water and Maxie scoffed the treats. Margot - not bothered, as she seems to struggle with the density of a marrowbone, (resembles a sausage roll), treat. On our return they both rested in my garden, Margot munching on what's left of the bulls penis and Maxie attacked the filled marrowbone. My last visit to the local petshop for the Natural Instinct raw food included a purchase of "Nature's Menu Frozen Raw Tripe". I'd left it defrosting and offered a tiny amount, expecting her usual reluctance and refusal. However, she wolfed it down, even asking for more! This is the very first time in 3 weeks that I have seen this underweight hound eat with enthusiasm. I think I have unlocked the enigma that is Margot This frozen minced tripe is going to be her staple and I'll mix in the Nutriment so she's getting the complete nourishment.
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Post by alfie&tillysmum on May 17, 2016 17:40:37 GMT
You have been amazing with this little girlie and it has been a delight to read her adventures. She is one very lucky little Margot to have found you and I am sure will give you much joy.
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