Old dog is getting old

[drwex]

Somehow forgot to mention this - our dog Holly has been sick with some kind of kidney condition.

We noticed she was drinking a lot and peeing a lot. The vet measured some minor weight loss, and she wasn't eating regularly. So far we've done a couple urine samples and one ultrasound, which have been not particularly conclusive. We've switched her to a special kidney diet(*) and started her on a nighttime med per the vet's prescription.

Since nothing has been definitive about what has caused the problems the vet wants to do a biopsy, which is going to be expensive. The new diet (which she loves) and med seem to have improved things somewhat but she's still guzzling water and peeing a lot. She put the weight back on quickly, though. She went through a couple days of accidents on her bed so we've switched to twice-daily dog walks when we're all out and to more frequent walks when we're home and that seems to have fixed the accidents.

She's still our slightly crazy protective mutt and we love her. But she's getting to be an old lady dog and facing some of the ailments that old lady dogs face. Part of me is convinced she won't be around much longer so I make sure to crawl into her crate with her every day and have snuggles and scritches. Sometimes she still wants to play, but most of the time she just comes by to get her petting and then go back to lying down again.

(*) Anyone relatively local to us who wants an unopened bag of dog food let me know. We'd just gotten a new bag when we had to switch her. The dog food company refunded our money but doesn't want the food back so we need to find a good home for it.

Comments

[corylea]

Oh, dear. It's so heart-breaking to watch one's dog become old and sick; it's the tragedy of dogs that their lives are so short. Really, instead of breeding for perky ears or whatever, breeders should be breeding for longevity.

Drinking and peeing a lot while losing weight are also signs of diabetes. Has your vet tested her for that?

*hug* Sorry you have this to go through.

[ahf]

I am glad you are enjoying her and she is comfortable. If no one wants the dog food, I make regular trips to Northeast Animal shelter down the street with old sheets/towels and blankets I collect in the office for donations. I'll gladly take the dog food to them.

[drwex]

Awesome, thanks. Just need to figure out how to get it to you.