beagadorable
Champion
Posts:16
 | | 06/28/2008 12:46 AM |
| hi all- i appreciate any advice or input... my dog (8 yrs old-beagle/yellow lab mix-overweight @ 53 lbs- he was a rescue & was 35 lbs, had heartworm, nearly died, gained 10 lbs on prednisone treatment, then gained the other 8 with me- its been a struggle...however, i have drastically cut back his treats this week), has suddenly stopped jumping up on the sofa, & appears to be having trouble maneuvering steps (luckily we only have 1 or 2 outside to get to our condo). he doesnt appear to be in pain, i run my hands on his neck, spine, legs, feet, paws/pads, & he doesnt yelp or anything. it seems like maybe a hip issue- i do give him cosequin twice a day. i also have been changing his food from iams weight control to purina one healthy weight (i've read that the 1st ingredient should be a meat not cornmeal, so i was hoping that would help with the weight loss goals)- but he's been eating it up, with no problem. i'd like to know what it sounds like to you- and do i need to take him to the vet, or should we ride it out? thanks! | | | |
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DPFrank
Best of Breed
Posts:353
| | 06/28/2008 7:10 AM |
| | When dogs show signs of something wrong with no sign of improvement after 3 or 4 days, i take them in to the vet. no use speculating.dogs can go down quickly. | | | |
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beagadorable
Champion
Posts:16
| | 06/28/2008 8:51 AM |
| thanks dp- i thought i would give him the weekend & go on monday either way. i am just upset & am hoping to hear what others have gone through/done in this situation. it is just upsetting because its so sudden & i dont know a cause- except that it could just be his aging process. thanks for the support  | | | |
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Dobeluvr
Champion
Posts:104
| | 06/28/2008 11:43 AM |
| | I don't think this will help with the problem (or never know) but I used to feed my dog IAMS until i read about the food and also some of the other foods sold in Walmart, KMart.other stores. You might want to switch to a more natural food, I'm using California Natural but I know there is a forum relating to premium foods and I'm sure you want to keep him around, healthy, for as long as possible. | | | |
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beagadorable
Champion
Posts:16
| | 06/28/2008 6:51 PM |
| | i do- thats why this is upsetting- i know i need to get his weight down pronto, no more falling for his sweet eyes begging for a treat. where do you get that california natural? does anyone have opinion on science diet? i am not sure what food to try- but i have read that diets higher in protein can exacerbate hip/joint issues (moreso in growing pups- but i thought it might be true in any dog, who knows). thanks for all the advice & caring everyone- this little guy is my life! | | | |
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cathyam76
Best of Breed
Posts:383
| | 06/28/2008 11:28 PM |
| I would make an appointment with your vet ASAP. I live in your area, and work in a vet clinic, and I would recommend having your baby tested for tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme. Lyme disease in dogs is very common in Bucks County. The good news is, if caught early and treated early, your puppy can make an (almost) complete recovery. The bad news is, if left undiagnosed and untreated, Lyme can affect his major organs.
You can also try baby carrots as treats instead of biscuits. They work well - some dogs love the carrots - they're crunchy, no fat, and have fiber to help take the weight off. You can switch to a senior dog food, or a lite dog food, anything high in fiber to help him feel full longer, so he doesn't need to eat as much.
Keep us posted as to what the vet says! ![<img src=]() " align="absMiddle" border="0" src="/DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/AnimalAttraction/emoticons/smile.gif" />
Cathy and the Crew | | | |
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Dobeluvr
Champion
Posts:104
| | 06/29/2008 9:49 AM |
| | HI again. I actually purchase California Natural from "HeartyPet.com" and have it delivered to my door since i get the 38# bag at a time but you can go to their website and they list Pet Stores, etc. where you can get it. I just found the price with shipping comparable to purchasing at my closest store. But there many others that i'm sure as just as good - Canidae, for one. I found that this was the best for my rescue because of the stomach problems he had when i got him. But I do agree that a visit to the vet is a necessity, hopefully it's not serious. | | | |
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beagadorable
Champion
Posts:16
| | 06/29/2008 10:17 AM |
| thanks for all that info.
chance doesnt like carrots- but sometimes would eat green beans, so i may continue to try them. i divided his regular Lite treat into 4, so he has been getting less- but doesnt seem to mind so far. its so humid & hot, i feel badly that i cant take him out a bit more right now- but i guess he shouldnt overdo it.
he had a lyme vaccination- could he still get it? he seems to be a bit better- he hopped up the 2 steps outside twice, which i think is great- but ilike i said i dont want him to overdo. he hasnt ventured back to the sofa, but i think thats ok for now. i am going to see the vet tomorrow. luckily his spirits seem fine, and he doesnt appear to be in any pain- so thats got to be a good sign.
thanks again | | | |
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PedigreeChallenged
Best in Group
Posts:1001
| | 06/29/2008 12:09 PM |
| Glad your taking the pup to the vet. Let us know what you find out. | | | |
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cathyam76
Best of Breed
Posts:383
| | 06/30/2008 1:07 AM |
| With the Lyme vaccine, you can still contract Lyme disease, although it will be less severe than without any vaccination at all. It could be any of the tick-borne diseases that occur around here. Or, it could be none of these. Please let us know what the vet says!
Cathy and the Crew | | | |
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beagadorable
Champion
Posts:16
| | 07/01/2008 8:16 PM |
| hi all- i talked to my vet, and since chance is MUCH improved, she didnt think i needed to bring him in right now. she said to give him another week & see what i think about his improvement- and of course if i felt nervous, to call her anytime. she reminded me he was recently tested for lyme which was negative- and we talked about weight management (btw- i weighed him tonite & he is down 2 lbs from the last time i weighed him earlier this month- i know he wont drop like that all the time, but its a great start!). she said for sure to check in with her in 4-6 weeks about his weight, and that she could test his thyroid if we were having trouble getting his weight down still. our feeling is that less weight will help his joints/hips, etc (remember, he is 18 lbs heavier than when he was first rescued & had heartworm- thats a big difference, which i feel badly that i havent gotten under control sooner- but this has scared me enough to be strict). she can also give him anti inflammatories if it happens again- but she isnt in a hurry to start injecting him or give him pills.
i feel pretty good about this decision- if he didnt improve the way he did, i would be more concerned. he has been getting in & out of the car with no hesitation, and even was galloping down the street yesterday. i am not taking him for terribly long walks, even the vet said to limit activity for now to ensure he heals- she feels he may have just pulled a little something jumping off the sofa or something like that. she knows him well, knows the breeds of beagle & lab very well, so for now i think we are heading in the right direction.
thanks for all the advice- i guess you have to just go with how they present, your experience, & your gut- i just wish they could talk to us!! | | | |
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beagadorable
Champion
Posts:16
| | 07/04/2008 4:09 PM |
| | just another quick update- chance is back to jumping on the sofa he is doing great with less treats- i got some green beans & we will see how it goes... thanks again everyone, happy 4th! | | | |
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PedigreeChallenged
Best in Group
Posts:1001
| | 07/05/2008 9:39 AM |
| | Glad to hear Chance is doing well. Try some baby carrots for treats too. My sisters dog love those. | | | |
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