Figma

We've been dealing with weight loss and lack of appetite here with our 12-year old Grey. Took him into the Vet and ran blood work, urinalysis, chest x-ray, fecals and ultrasound. We think he may be having issues with renal problems. I picked up the ID to feed him. I also contacted Dr. Dodds, who has been most helpful. She said NOT to give Prescription diet. This is what she wrote me: Prescription diets are not the way to treat them . We give a grain-free lower fat senior diet -- like Wellness Super5 Mix for seniors or Eagle Holistic Select for seniors, or Natural balance or Taste-of-the-Wild etc. You can add the canned version of these food or just add the cooked chicken and rice [be sure you steam brown rice twice as long as white rice so he can digest the hulls] My Vet had me giving 10 mg of Pepcid 2 x a day. Dr. Dodds told me to give Pepcid, 20 mg twice a day. Our Grey is a picky eater on a good day, always has been. I went to a local pet store and they gave me a bunch of samples to try. Actually, he seemed to like the TOTW cut he seems to really like the Natural Balance Fish and Sweet Potato and has been eating 2 good meals a day, so far. Of course, we are probably dealing with different issues due to the age difference but you might try the Natural Balance. I also buy the canned and add a little of that each meal.

Oh, we've had our Grey, Ranger, for over 8 years. He has always been pretty good in the house except for peeing on the coffee table in the living room!!!! That room is seldom used and when Christmas came, he went in there and peed on the tree and the tree skirt! I was not happy and it certainly not because he had to go. It's that boy/marking thing. The room doesn't have an actual doorway but is pretty wide open. Now, esp if we aren't going to be home, I pull an ex pen across the opening and close off the bathroom and 2 bedrooms. This gives him the main bedroom, den and kitchen. He has never had an accident in those rooms when left alone but I know, if that pen were not across the living room, he would probably go back in there in a New York minute and get the coffee table. Using the ex pen just saves me a lot of cleaning and aggravation. Yep.

Thank you for all the information. I did pick up a couple of cans of the green tripe at Pet Co today but haven't tried it yet. I've been communicating with Dr. Dodds this past week. She recommended I feed Eagle Sr., Wellness or Taste of the Wild food. Ranger is such a picky eater. Luckily, one of the pet stores here carry the brands although they are going to stop selling Wellness. They gave me a bunch of samples of the Taste of the Wild and the Natural Choice. I also bought some canned in the Taste of the Wild. Well, Ranger has eaten twice a day for the past 3 or 4 days now. She suggested I also give the Pepcid, 20 mg twice a day and start the BP meds, which I did 3 days ago. Ranger seems much better this week as compared to the last couple of weeks. He still looks thin but what is going in is coming out okay. He does seem to be a bit more gassy but I can deal with that if he is feeling better. I thought those foods would be too high in protein but Dr. Dodds said the source of the protein makes a difference and, per some of the articles I've read in the links on kidney disease, seems like keeping the phosphorus low and adding calcium is more of a concern. Anyway,for now, he seems no worse and seems to be feeling better. I still have that sinking feeling something else is going on but keeping fingers crossed I'm wrong. Sure appreciate the help from the people here.

Oh my goodness!! I'm just reading this and have never heard of such a thing. Prayers on the way for Dustin and please keep us updated.

Thanks for the link.. I have been on that site reading. Can get pretty complicated to try and figure that stuff out. As Ranger's BP was so elevated at the Vet's office last week, he had me bring him back in the next day to recheck it. The BP was high but not like the day before!!! Vet wants to try and keep the pressure down in the kidneys. I gave the first BP med this morning but I had to go out. Came home and was glad to see him still alive. LOL!!! Hate giving meds and not being able to stick around. He seems to be eating the Taste of the Wild food pretty well. He wasn't feeling too well yesterday but then finally ate last night. From what I read, good to add something to those foods so I added some rice last night. Fingers crossed. He still looks so thin but seems active, well, no less active then he has ever been and still waits for *dad* to take him on his daily walks.

Prayers on the way it is nothing serious.

Can I ask what low phosphorus diet you were feeding? thanks so much for the info

Thanks so much for the replies. I'll feel a little better giving it to him then. He only had that one high BP but he was sick and really stressed at the Vet's office. Took him back the next morning and it was still high but lower then the day before. I still have a sinking feeling something else is going on with him besides/or including kidney issues.

I've never had a dog I had to give BP meds to. Was wondering if any of you have and, if so, which ones? My vet has prescribed Enalapril, 10 mg, once a day, which I haven't started yet. any feedback? Side effects?

I'm so sorry to hear about Luna. We *think* we are dealing with renal issues with our 12-year old Grey. His blood work wasn't bad, actually, but there is protein in his urine. Vet prescribed the Pepcid and told me to try Enalapril to try and keep the pressure down in the kidneys. I haven't started that yet because I have had to run in and out and hate to give him a new med and not be here *just in case*. I contacted Dr. Dodds and we have been communicating There was possibly a thyroid issue but she doesn't think so per his blood work, breed and age. She told me specifically NO Prescription diet!!! She actually suggested Taste of the Wild, Eagle Senior or Wellness and to use canned of the same brand. Said the protein, and I quote, " the protein content of grain-free foods will always be higher (because they don’t have the bulk protein being wheat or corn or soy – cheaper protein sources) but you feed less of it to maintain caloric needs". Our Grey has lost so much weight. I started him on the Taste of the Wild and he ate very well for about 2 or 3 days, Today, he hasn't eaten again. He's a tough dog when it comes to diet because he has always been picky even on a good day. We did the labs, x-rays, ultrasounds, etc. I did have him checked for TBD also, which was negative. Some *feeling* is just telling me we are dealing with something other then kidney issues here, just not showing up. Good luck with Luna. I think I would probably be making the same decisions.

Ranger had an abdominal ultrasound yesterday that really didn't show much but possibly some thickening in the bowl. The Vet that did the ultrasound and my own Vet said it looked pretty good, really, and that bowel area could just be some irritation, etc. The next step would be biopsies of the kidney and liver. I spoke to my Vet about this and we both agree that would be costly, traumatic and may still show nothing definitive and we are opting not to go that route on a 12-year old dog. For now, he wants me to keep him on the Pepcid 2 x a day and possibly switch to a fish and potato diet. I've been feeding him the canned ID with some chicken and brown rice and a little of his kibble. He has actually eaten two good meals yesterday and one so far today. My Vet also mentioned putting him on Enalapril, I think he said and said it may help the kidney function. Anyone ever use that medication? I did mention the possibility of a TBD and he said the lab probably still has the serum so he can order it but he doubts very much that is the case, esp living here and being at home all the time and us having him for over 8 years now. I guess I'll have him check it. I'm wondering how many here have actually had dogs show up with TBD after several years of no symptoms or history of having a TBD. I also talked to him about doing another Thyroid test and sending it to Dr. Dodds. He said we can do that. Think we should?????? His thyroid was a little low. He also said he could put him on some thyroid meds and see what happens. Any feedback? Oh boy.

Thanks for all the replies. Actually, my friend, who lives back East, said she bought it at PetCo so I'll check there.

Thanks. Actually, I see it listed on the link Vers sent also. I'm going to ask my Vet about this.

Do you just buy it at the grocery story and is it canned?

Took Ranger over for the ultrasound this morning and just got back from picking him up. Doc didn't see any tumors or anything really suspicious except maybe a small thickening in the intestine but is not concerned about it. He will talk to my own Vet. Discussed a few things with him and, he suggested maybe a kidney and/or liver biopsy but then he reminded me of Ranger's age (12). Ball park, that could run from $1,000 to $2,000. Well, we've all been down the Vet bill road and I've already spent about $1,000 this week. Being realistic, I don't know that I would put him through that and if they found nothing, we are no further ahead. I am going to discuss with my Vet *should* it be something like that, what would be the course of treatment. I am presuming Pred, possible meds and diet. I think I would opt, at this point, to treat him as if he may have a kidney issue. Even a Vet I consulted on line said that, sometimes in these older dogs that lose their appetites, some pred can at least help with that. Sorry if some disagree, but with him being 12 years old, I would not consider surgery and/or chemo. As he is in no pain or discomfort now, my concern would be quality of life. He is still up and around and enjoys his two daily walks. Thankfully, he has been eating the ID food with the rice and chicken the past couple of days. Hard decisions but I will be discussing all of this with my Vet. I will mention the tick panel to him. Thanks for all the support and feedback. It has helped a lot.

What were Goldie's thyroid levels? Do you have them or remember and who diagnosed it? MSU or Dr. Dodds? thanks

Oh, poor Onyx!!! Sending prayers and vibes that all will be okay. I've not been on the Boards for a while. You lost 3 to ice? Injuries?

thanks, everyone My friend told me about it and says it stinks. LOL She and another friend actually work pretty closely with a holistic person that has really helped them do wonders with a couple of their dogs that had various health issues.

With all due respect, I really think it's worth getting a tick panel completed. Every time there are strange symptoms or things that don't make sense, I always think tick disease. About ticks not being in your area, it doesn't matter. Shorty after I adopted Phoenix, I noticed that he became tired very easily. He couldn't even cross the street without resting. I finally found a vet who would send a blood sample out for testing, and sure enough he had a tick borne disease called babesia. The reason why I had so much difficulty finding a vet that would have him tested was because the offending tick (the brown tick) doesn't even live in Canada, which is where we live. Phoenix would have been infected sometime during his puppyhood or during his racing career. As Diane said, the disease can lay dormant for years. They can have a strange assortment of symptoms which often don't make sense. These diseases can be fatal if untreated. I have no doubt that had I not had Phoenix tested and treated (with medication that had to be imported to Canada as it isn't available here), he would no longer be alive. I'll mention the tick panel. Hell, what my Vet bill is now, what's a bit more? thanks Yes, going to be asking for a heart and abdominal ultrasound.

I can ask about the tick panel but really don't think that is the case. Well, can't ignore this. He has lost too much weight and is just unthrifty, poor coat, etc. Something is going on, even the Vet sees that. Nope still haven't found out what is wrong with me. Another ENT doc did more biopsies of my tongue and parotid a couple of weeks ago, nothing. He wants me to see an rheumatologist and a endocrinologist. Shoot, you have to wait months to get into see these specialists around here.

Good thoughts that all goes well!!!

On another dog list I'm on, a couple of friends are telling me to feed Ranger green tripe, said it's nutritious. He is having renal issues (ultrasound set for tomorrow) and I have him on ID food. He has always been a picky eater. Any of you ever feed this? Can you give it to a dog with renal issues?

Ranger has an appt tomorrow at another Vet's office for an ultrasound. This Vet has ultrasound equipment but is not really certified (?) in that field but my Vet's office said he is pretty good. The only other option is to wait for radiologists that go to other offices (they travel, I guess). Earliest I could get in to one of them was the 17th and I don't want to wait that long.

My Vet called me after 7:00 last night. He had another type of test done on Ranger's urine and even though the blood work is low, there is high protein in his urine. Long story, but I will be going to another Vet tomorrow to have an ultrasound done. Ranger did eat maybe a can of the ID plus some chicken and rice last night and I started giving him the Pepcid again. So far today, he has eaten maybe 3/4 of a can. Vet said he should probably be eating 1 1/2 - 2 cans per meal. Other then that, he seems no worse and still wants to go for his walks and follows me from room to room. I did write to Dr. Stack, who was nice enough to respond, and she also suggested an abdominal ultrasound. In dogs this age, best do kind of try to do a cancer hunt. Hope that's not the case and we can determine definitely what's going on and it can be managed. 12 just doesn't seem that old but I guess he is considered an old dog. thanks to all for the help, support and suggestions.

thanks. hard to believe they didn't charge. Dodd's tests are pretty expensive.