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BauersMom

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    Will Not Gain Weight

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    That pup is so far from fat that there is no danger whatsoever of his achieving fatness any time soon.

     

     

    I don't mean to be argumentative, but are you looking at the last picture, which is as he is now, or at the one where all his bones are showing and he was at his thinnest, which was actually taken just after adoption?

     

    Just to clarify, I'm not talking about a couple of pounds making him fat, but several pounds. Again looking at that last picture of him by the window, if he were mine, I'd put that line at about five extra pounds, and after that, I think he'd be too well-covered for his size of frame, remembering that you are supposed to be able to see some ribs on a greyhound. But it does depend on whether the extra poundage is muscle or fat. Muscle weighs heavy but is healthy, fat is just baggage.

     

     

    Even in the last photo, you can see all the ribs - that's still on the skinny side. Regardless of whether or not people "prefer" their dogs on the skinny side or not, I don't think the OP has any reason to believe her dog will be fat any time soon.

     

    While it's true that there is only so much you can determine from a photo on the web, the combination of unexplained weight loss with changes in stools means that something is going on. A healthy dog doesn't lose weight and have lose stools for no reason - even if it's something minor, it will be good for the OP to know what's going on so they can avoid further weight loss, etc.

     

    The suggestions to try either the BilJac frozen or some sort of home-prepared/raw diet are an easy thing to try, and certainly less expensive than an ultrasound or other diagnostics.

    Laryngeal Paralysis ?

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Yes, that sounds like LP. I would suggest you consult with a specialist to see if he is a candidate for a tie-back surgery.

     

    LP is very dangerous - one of those "spasms" (if you are referring to him panting violently) could kill him. I don't want to be alarmist, but it has happened and you need to be prepared to get to a vet ASAP if he can't catch his breath. If the tie-back surgery is not an option and it is LP for sure, keep him cool and relaxed - no running in the heat, no high stress events, etc.

     

    Here is more info:

     

    http://www.acvs.org/AnimalOwners/HealthConditions/SmallAnimalTopics/LaryngealParalysis/

    Will Not Gain Weight

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    i should say though that, after about three months, and while nothing seemed to be working, he did at one point quickly drop weight down to a little under 64 lbs, which was definitely way too thin. thats when i got really concerned, and had most of his tests done. he had a second weight drop just after he had stabilized and got up to 74 lbs. all seemed to be going great -- perfect stools, putting on weight -- when, in what seemed like just a week, he dropped back down to 68, where he has now been for some time.

     

    That amount of weight fluctuation, with no other changes to diet, etc, would concern me, so I would certainly continue trying to find a solution. If you were feeding him the same amount of the same food you are now and he had firm stools then, I would doubt it is the amount of food.

     

    The fact that he was doing well and now isn't points to something going on. Did IAMs change their formula, perhaps?

     

    Good luck :)

    Will Not Gain Weight

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    A few thoughts - how long ago was the last time he was wormed (or a fecal run)? It might be worth re-treating, just in case, esp. if he's eating dog park snacks.

     

    Have you tried a course of home cooked, with limited ingredients? Usually if dogs don't improve with a straightforward home-prepared diet, I usually start looking for medical reasons over food-related causes (not always fool-proof if you are dealing with a food intolerance, but a starting point...)

    Mighty, My Best Friend

    in Remembrance

    Posted

    I am so sorry for your loss. Godspeed, Mighty.

     

    I also lost a dog while I was away on a trip and he was in a kennel - I know how hard that guilt of not "being there" is to deal with. I had to learn to forgive myself and accept that nothing I could have done would have changed the outcome, and cherish all the good memories.

    Have You Ever Seen Pads Like This Before?

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    what has your vet said about his pads?

     

    When we first had him look at the pads, they were all cut up - and since he was a mess of infected pyoderma on his skin, we just assumed that it would resolve once he got somewhere out of the sand, etc. I haven't brought him back in yet, but he has an appt to go back for a recheck and I'll have them looked at again.

    Have You Ever Seen Pads Like This Before?

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Oh my. I have a question - it looks a bit like fungus - is it hard?

     

    For some reason I'm thinking the houndie has been standing in his own "stuff" for a while.....just wondering how clean his space was while living there.

     

    Yes, hard - if I try, I could probably flake off the overgrowth stuff (but I don't). Doesn't seem "deep" like a corn. He was in a clean kennel before I got him - but since Feb he's been at my house and the house is clean (it is, I swear! :lol)

     

    Has the hound been checked for hyperkeratosis? Although rare in greys, we did have a foster with this condition and his pads looked very much like this. In addition, if they were left untreated they would split open, causing open sores similar to what I see here.

     

    Interesting, no hadn't looked into that.

     

    Has the neosporin ever made his feet better?

     

    I only ask because some people--and presumably some dogs--are allergic to neosporin, so that treatment with it only makes things worse. If there's any doubt, try polysporin instead. (My mother, sister, and I all are allergic to neosporin.)

    I only used it the first week when his pads were bloody and a mess. Haven't used it since, though.

     

    Mizzy's feet look similar, Diane - just minus the sores. I haven't messed with his feet at all, except to keep them clean, so the overgrowth or whatever it is seems to crack open on its own...

    Have You Ever Seen Pads Like This Before?

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    This is my foster with the +VF titer. His pads were alllll cut up and open sores when we first got him. Kept monitoring, keeping them clean, watching as things improved... but now I think we're at the end of the 'improvement' stage and they still are just not right. The spots don't seem formed like the corns I've dealt with, but the pads are hard and calloused like a corny pad would be. But it's on almost every single pad, and some are still quite open and sore-looking.

     

    Three different feet:

    pad3.jpg

     

    pad1.jpg

     

    pad2.jpg

     

    No doubt this causes some of his limping, but watching him move, you can tell he has pain coming from other areas too, like his hips, etc.

     

    Any ideas on what I should do?

    Osteo Thread

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    Sorry, I don't want to hijack this thread. But is there anyone who I could PM with or

    phone? We learned on Friday that our Finn probably has osteo in his left front shoulder.

    I don't want to get into a debate with anyone about treatment choices. If anyone

    is on now and recalls our Penny history, they may understand why.

    Finn is a cousin/half-brother to Penny. He is nine years old. My main

    concern is spontaneous fracture. Thanks.

     

    No one debates here - just support. As has been said, there's no right or wrong decision and you aren't hijacking at all. So sorry that you may be facing this diagnosis. I would suggest sending the x-rays to OSU (link in the first post of this thread) for a second opinion.

     

    This thread had a lot of advice of what to do in the case of an emergency. The risk of a break is always there, so best to be prepared.

    http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/284087-need-some-input-please/

    Introduction And Bad Health News About My Dogs

    in Health and Medical discussion

    Posted

    I am very sorry you're facing this. :(

     

    We brought Berkeley to Dr. Wood at Angell Memorial for the second opinion and to discuss the options for osteo treatment. I highly recommend the Angell onco team, they are truly compassionate people: http://www.mspca.org/vet-services/angell-boston/oncology/meet-the-team.html

     

    They worked with OSU for the consult and chemo, etc.

     

    Good luck and don't hesitate to join us in the osteo thread if you need some advice.

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