Guest crazy4greys Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 Tucker's racing weight was 80#'s. I have had him 3 years and he has always been around that weight. At today's vet appt. he only weighed in at 70#'s! He is eating 4 cups a day of Precise Plus and is currently taking Forti Flora. You can see the outline of his last 3 ribs pretty well. Otherwise he is his normal self. The vet is doing bloodwork and he did not see any sign of Giradia (sp?). I am supposed to worm him with Panacur and Flagyl for 5 days. He was on Panacur last week for 3 days and his poop was nice and firm, but as soon the Panacur stopped, his poop got soft again. Anyone have any other ideas of what to check for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cris_M Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 I don't really have any advice. However, giardia has a shedding cycle. That means a stool sample will show up positive only about one day out of four. Just because the vet didn't see any giardia one day doesn't mean Tucker doesn't have it. Hopefully, you will be able to get to the bottom of Tucker's problems and we'll soon see a update about how great Tucker is doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest IrskasMom Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 No Advice but lots of Hugs for Tucker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest crazy4greys Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 Thanks. Headed to Dewey tomorrow, so no updates until next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 When was the last time he was weighed? Any changes in activity level? Will he eat more if you give him more? Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queenwinniesmom Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 Tess looks thin to me too, so I was interested to see any suggestions. We can see her ribs. She's a tiny girl, and totally normal and active and looks great otherwise. When we get back from Dewey, I'm going to have her checked. Quote Nancy, Mom to Evangelina and Kiva Missing Lacey, Patsy, Buster, my heart dog Nick, Winnie, Pollyanna, Tess, my precious Lydia, Calvin Lee, my angel butterfly Laila, and kitties Lily, Sam and Simon My Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Catsburgandhoundtown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SusanP Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 He may have lost muscle since his racing days, which I'm guessing could cause a little weight loss? But probably not all of that weight loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest crazy4greys Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 He was weighed yesterday at his vet appt. He still has pretty good muscle mass as he runs everyday inside and out His ribs really show when they haven't before. He will stick his head in the food bag like he hasn't eaten in days! He hasn't changed any activity level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LindsaySF Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 Poor Tucker. This was the problem a few months ago right? Didn't someone suggest SIBO? Teagan had similar problems, but Panacur and a food change did the trick. Teagan's problem was that he wouldn't eat (picky eater), but he likes the Blue Buffalo now. I also feed A LOT of canned food now. It is hurting the wallet, but it makes him eat! Does he act hungry all the time? If he is still eating but not gaining weight maybe there is a hormonal or metabolic problem? I hope Tucker feels better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest argolola Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 Prayers for your little cutie pie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytbookert Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 Poor Tucker! Maybe thyroid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 When was he weighed last before the other day? If he's lost 10 pounds over the course of a year, that's of concern but not as much as if he's lost 10 pounds in, say, the last 2 months. One other thing to consider is, sometimes vet's scales are off or need to be calibrated. That can make a difference of several pounds and could be the case if he looks kinda lean but not *that* skinny to you. Couple other pups on the board have had issues similar to what LindsaySF describes -- food that always worked in the past doesn't work any more and just goes on through. Hope it is something simple like that and you can get it resolved quickly. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 Lots of good thoughts coming for Tucker Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest crazy4greys Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 When was he weighed last before the other day? If he's lost 10 pounds over the course of a year, that's of concern but not as much as if he's lost 10 pounds in, say, the last 2 months. One other thing to consider is, sometimes vet's scales are off or need to be calibrated. That can make a difference of several pounds and could be the case if he looks kinda lean but not *that* skinny to you. Couple other pups on the board have had issues similar to what LindsaySF describes -- food that always worked in the past doesn't work any more and just goes on through. Hope it is something simple like that and you can get it resolved quickly. He was last weighed in February when he had a poop problem back then. He weighed 75#'s. Everything was negative. The vet gave me Hills' Prescription Diet W/D which has more fiber than protein. He said that should help his poop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burpdog Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 Why not feed a good food and add fiber? Have you tried Eagle Pack Senior? It's 26/10 Have you tried a home cooked diet or raw? Quote Diane & The Senior Gang Burpdog Biscuits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest crazy4greys Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 I have added beet pulp to his food regularly with no success. No I haven't tried home cooked or raw. Which Eagle Pack Senior? The only one I found is 26/3.5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 If he's losing weight, W/D is the LAST thing you want to feed him. Really. It's an extremely low-calorie food. It can be useful for fiber-responsive bowel disease, but if your pup is genuinely underweight it would be a bad idea to feed only W/D. What you might do is feed his regular food and mix in half a cup of W/D at each meal and see if that helps. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest crazy4greys Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 If he's losing weight, W/D is the LAST thing you want to feed him. Really. It's an extremely low-calorie food. It can be useful for fiber-responsive bowel disease, but if your pup is genuinely underweight it would be a bad idea to feed only W/D. What you might do is feed his regular food and mix in half a cup of W/D at each meal and see if that helps. Thanks. I was thinking of doing that since I just opened a new bag of Precise Plus and didn't want to throw it out and I would have to do that for a transition anyway. I try that and see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LindsaySF Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 Hopefully the mix helps a bit. Have you tried other kibbles? I think I remember you saying you were going to try something besides the Precise Plus. Maybe you just haven't found the right kibble yet? Teagan is doing better on wet food now, and he decided during Dewey that he liked Kirkland kibble again. He ate it straight! He did eat the BB once I mixed it in though. Weird dog.... I swear he just likes variety! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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