DycksDogs
Boxer Pal
We are back on Boxer Board after 2 years when we lost our Lexi to a brain tumor.
We got our little Cooper 6 weeks ago. He is now 18 weeks old.
He has been diagnosed with Congenital Mega Esophagus.
Basically, his esophagus does not work properly so when he eats and drinks, his esophagus does not move the food or water to his stomach.
We now have to feed him in something called a 'bailey chair' (named after another dog with the condition). Feeding takes 20 minutes and then he has to sit in the chair for an additional 30 minutes to allow gravity to take the food to his stomach. Unfortunatley he will always be at risk to develop aspirated pheumonia due to regurgitating his food and water.
What I am looking for is some ideas of ways to entertain him during the 30 minute "quiet time' in his bailey chair. He is not a big 'toy' dog, so he is constantly trying to get out of the chair. We usually end up taking him out and holding him on our lap in a vertical position, which he likes. Problem is, he is only 30 lbs now, but will grow into a 70 to 80 lb boy, so this will not be an option in the future.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Some little games you play with your boxers to keep their attention.
I'm am sure as he gets older, he will be able to sit for longer, but now in this puppy stage, he doesn't have much of an attention span.
We got our little Cooper 6 weeks ago. He is now 18 weeks old.
He has been diagnosed with Congenital Mega Esophagus.
Basically, his esophagus does not work properly so when he eats and drinks, his esophagus does not move the food or water to his stomach.
We now have to feed him in something called a 'bailey chair' (named after another dog with the condition). Feeding takes 20 minutes and then he has to sit in the chair for an additional 30 minutes to allow gravity to take the food to his stomach. Unfortunatley he will always be at risk to develop aspirated pheumonia due to regurgitating his food and water.
What I am looking for is some ideas of ways to entertain him during the 30 minute "quiet time' in his bailey chair. He is not a big 'toy' dog, so he is constantly trying to get out of the chair. We usually end up taking him out and holding him on our lap in a vertical position, which he likes. Problem is, he is only 30 lbs now, but will grow into a 70 to 80 lb boy, so this will not be an option in the future.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Some little games you play with your boxers to keep their attention.
I'm am sure as he gets older, he will be able to sit for longer, but now in this puppy stage, he doesn't have much of an attention span.
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)...play kissing games - peek-a-boo (our 2 rescues figured this one out on their own & play with each other either over the top of the sofa with one hiding behind it, or around the kitchen/family room->dining/living room doorways while playing chase). Could be a great time to get a beauty routine going - brush his hair, teeth, clean his ears...take your time and make it as fun as possible.