she is thirsty a lot, and not eating much at all, I'm worried about her age with these symtoms, she has cateracts, hip displasia, artritious, but dispite that is a pritty happy dog, I'm worried about losing her I have had her, her whole life, I would love to have something to go on when we go to the vet so I'm just not walking in there again saying "something is wrong with my dog, help" that usualy cost a lot with tests and ex-rays and stuff. any help will be apreciated.
2007-09-24 00:44:11 · 9 answers · asked by Laura 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I would tell the vet her symptoms and once the vet goes over her, the vet will know what to do.\
Drinking extra water can mean several things..... diabetes.... gradual kidney failure......
Is she overweight and could loose some weight?
Have you cleaned her teeth and checked for bad, painful ones?
Has her thyroid blood work been tested?
Your dog is in for some needed bloodwork. That could be $50 to $100 Ask the price and maybe the vet can get just the basics.... I would get a whole profile because of her age.
She may not need an x-ray since some of her problems are already evident and a whole lot can't be done.
Go ahead and ask the vet to worm her for all types of worms.
Make sure she is heartworm free and does not have a tick borne disease - like Lyme disease.
Tick disease can make a dog not feel good. A course of anti-biotics over 3+ weeks will usually get rid of that disease.
Ask about a supplement for the joints.
glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM is used in people and animals. My senior dogs get the Bio-Flex with MSM in the Wal-Mart store.
My old guy gets omega fish oil capsule, a large spoon of organic apple cider vinegar, cranberry pills for his kidneys, and loves carrots as a snack. He eats Canidae dog food for older dogs.
I would not put her on an everyday pain pill; just when she needs it. Ask the veterinarian about a aspirin 3 times a week...... the vet will see if the bloodwork and platelets are in good enough shape before starting something for pain.
I had to make a ramp up the back stairs - used a wide board on concrete square 'stepping stones' or maybe they are for making patios. Anyway, my old guy can go up the board and then only has 1 step after that. He is 14 years old.
I also bought a sling harness to help me get a dog up which may have an injury, be drugged out on medications, or has a hard time getting up and walking. You can also use a towel around her body and hold both ends.
For the most part, I put one hand under his chest and take my other hand to both sides of the tail. I get him in position, and I assist him up..... but make him do most of the work for exercise. He can get up on his own, but sometimes he can't get his feet under him right and he does not have hip dysplasia.
I know your dog is very important to you; she's given you so much, so now you can return the favor and make sure she's as healthy as she can be.
Good luck !
2007-09-24 01:16:12 · answer #1 · answered by MoonStarsandRoses 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If she's not eating and is thirsty, get her to the vet and have her checked for diabetes. That's how our lab/Weimeraner mix started out. She also has cataracts, which are due to the sugar build-up she had before we realized what the problem was. It's a fairly easy test--they can check her blood sugar on the spot, and if you want to do it yourself, borrow a tester from someone--her blood sugar should be roughly what a human's is.
If she does have diabetes, it's not a death sentence. Our dog was diagosed about 1 1/2 years ago, at age 4 1/2, and she gets insulin shots twice daily. A one hundred count box of needles is less than $20, and about a three week supply (for her) of insulin is about $40. As soon as we started giving her the shots, she perked right up, began eating again, and stopped drinking too much. You will need to have the vet check her blood sugar periodically, especially in the beginning, but a good indication that she need more insulin is when she starts drinking too much again.
2007-09-24 01:08:03 · answer #2 · answered by cross-stitch kelly 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3ibs a day seems an awful lot to be feeding. My shepherd is on half that amount! Vegetables contain carbohydrates and are an essential part of the BARF diet as well as fruit and even nuts and seeds. It needs some processing or pulping to aid digestion but once they get used to it dogs and even cats love it! Check out the BARF diet on the internet! This will give you all the information you need and tell you how to balance everything so that over a period the dog gets all the right balance of nutrition. I also feed my dog rice and some cereals, oats and bran occassionally but never corn! I used to have a diabetic dog and didn't realise that it was the pet food that had caused it! I'd never heard of the BARF diet then and so went along with what the Vets recommended. Also join one of the breed forums, (I belong to the GSDuk one) they all seem to have a raw feeding category now where other owners can give you good advice. I know several on our site have diabetic dogs who seem to be doing well on BARF or natural feeding diets! Good Luck!
2016-04-05 22:45:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Drinking alot and going off food could be a sign of alot of things.
My 17 yr Rott was doing that and she was in early stage of kidney failure and also had thyroid cancer. She also had arthritis in her hips. She was drinking water like crazy, but not really producing a whole lot of urine. She was barely eating...she lost 25 pounds in just a couple months. The only thing I could get her to eat was canned food. She was also loosing control of her functions and would just lay there and go on herself.
When I found out about the kidneys and cancer I made an appt to have her put down...I did not want to let her suffer. The day I was to take her, she was running around wagging her tail...I couldnt do it, I didnt think it was time.
2 weeks later, her hips gave out and she couldnt get back up. So, we carried her to the car and took her to the vet. I stayed with her. I knew it was time, and I honestly think that she did too. I had her cremated and kept her ashes.
Good luck
2007-09-24 01:09:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also have a13 year old black lab mix . My husband and I got him out of the dogie pound when he was 10 his old family just thew him away :-( He has been the best dog I have two other labs also. About a year after we got him he started drinking a lot of water and not having much energy our Vet took some blood and it came back that he had low thyroid so now he takes a pill in the morning and at night and he act like a puppy most of the time!! I wish you the best and your labe mix friend.
2007-09-24 01:54:06 · answer #5 · answered by thethreems2001 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is she overweight. Are her teeth in good condition. This could effect both her thirst and her appetite. To be honest a dog oh her age might need some blood work. I realize the cost, but maybe you can work something out with your vet if money is the issue. She is depending on you, don't let her down. You are needed at every stage of life.
2007-09-24 01:03:10 · answer #6 · answered by Joey D. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please have her checked for diabetes (I had a Lab that had it)
Please make sure she is not in a bunch of pain, it wouldn't be fair to her if she is. I know vets are expensive but it will be well worth the money to get her checked out and see if you can put her on medication for her arthritis and hip displasia.
But if the vet says she is in pain, please don't make her suffer.
My beautiful and precious Lab (Thunder) had to be put to sleep with the angels on July 6, 2007 because he was suffering so much.
Do what is right. Prayers are with you and your precious dog.
2007-09-24 01:24:20 · answer #7 · answered by Lynn M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have her checked for diabetes, thyroid and cushings. Its just a blood test. Ask the vet what the cost will be.
2007-09-24 00:50:47 · answer #8 · answered by dogperson 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
with is being an old dog it could have kidney failure. talk to your vet and get it checked
2007-09-24 00:58:05 · answer #9 · answered by tassiequartz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋