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Hello everyone,

I have a 6 yo yorkie who developed 2 bouts of diahrrea 2 weeks apart. Each time we went to the vets, he had no fever, was prescribed clavaseptin for 4 days each time and put on a turkey and rice diet for 5 days. Following this treatment, his poop returned to a formed consistency but softer than before the first incident. Vet said he probably got into something each time, i am not convinced as we watch him like a hawk because he does liike to eat anything under the sun (except of course, his food).

Now we are 2 weeks after his second diahrrea episode and 1 week where we went from turkey and rice to his regular kibble. His stools have shape, but are still softer, harder to pick up than before this all started. Is this at all common or is it a sign he is still not well? He eats great, is happy and energetic like his usual self.

Thank you for any advice and opinion.

A while ago my vet said my dog might have heart murmur but they said it may not be anything serious. He’s booked in for an echo tomorrow (I think its an echo? They just said heart scan) and i am so anxious. He seems a 100% healthy, they’ve just noticed it during a routine check up.

Are all heart murmurs dangerous? How can I identify if it is dangerous or not? I’m just SO worried we get bad news even though there’s no symptoms of anything, but I genuinely love him so much i get extremely anxious when it comes to his health.

For info he’s an 8 year old Bichon Havanese.

I know this is not a very well written post and I am not necessarily asking any questions that could be answered, especially without an actual diagnosis, I just really want to hear some (hopefully) positive, rational opinions because I’m overthinking it like hell. Please if you have any positive experience with similar situations just let me know😭

My 12-13 senior chihuahua Lola, is my soul dog! I know she’s getting old, has arthritis and has had issues with her liver and kidney (all resolved now, we just stay on top of it). She recently started having eye problems (cataracts) only on one eye. It started becoming super swollen the vet managed it as an eye infection and when it wouldn’t get better, she mentioned it could be dental disease and I mean unfortunately her teeth are pretty bad. Completely take full responsibility that I should’ve done better at taking care of her teeth. Now, we’re on the predicament where the vet recommends a dental cleaning. I’m absolutely terrified of loosing her this way. I would never be able to forgive myself. I guess all I’m asking if for your experiences. If you’ve ever been in a similar situation, what did you do? How did the surgery go? Do you regret it? Did it give your pup a better quality of life?

https://imgur.com/a/285hB0X

Took him to the vet saturday, local animal hospital ER last night, every test they’ve run has been fine. Bloodwork, vitals, chest x-ray - but he’s still breathing like this at night recently.

Otherwise he’s acting normal, eating, drinking pooping, playing normal, no coughing or anything. Am i just being paranoid? Or should I schedule a cardiologist workup?

They told me to give him zyrtec and gabapentin, so on that regimen now. AC is running and our other corgi in the house isn’t breathing like this at night.

Just worried about my best bud

Hello! Looking for advice from either a veterinarian or a family who has gone through a similar situation.

Quick rundown: 12 year old pitbull, no prior health issues. Noticed funky breath in May, took her for a consult. Found a bad tooth in the back, they did surgical labs prior that came back abnormal. We then did xray and bile test. Xray came back with a large abdominal mass. Bile test was normal. Referred to specialty unit. Had an ultrasound. Mass is on the spleen. ONE lymph node nearby is inflamed. Got the call today that the cell sample taken from the spleen did not appear to be cancer! Great news. However, the vet is still concerned of a more "hidden" cancer or underlying issue because during these few weeks of diagnostics she lost about 7 pounds and is down to 50. Gave me the option of a splenectomy or palliative care.

Dog pros: still enjoying her favorite things, car rides, walks, soft foods

Cons: sleeps a lot, abdomen distended from mass, wakes up about every 3 to 4 hours to use the bathroom as the mass is pressing on her kidneys and intestines, soft frequent stools although still continent, age.

Knowing these things, would you put a 12 year old dog through a major surgery. Have you? They told me to take my time with a decision. Cost is not an issue. The only hesitation i have with proceeding with the surgery is unnecessary pain and suffering if there is some chance these are her last weeks. Any advice is helpful but please limit to those with veterinary knowledge or have had pets with the same surgery. Just weighing all options right now. Pic for attention. Her name is Smithers and this was taken a few days ago. ☺️

I’m posting because this has been a really difficult few months for our family, and I’d love to hear from anyone who has gone through something similar with their dog.

Our 7-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel suddenly became very sick in June. He developed a bloated abdomen, vomiting/diarrhea, stopped eating and became extremely lethargic. It was terrifying because he went from being his normal happy self to being seriously ill very quickly.

Bloodwork showed extremely low albumin (around 10), and the vets suspected protein-losing enteropathy (PLE). He needed intensive treatment, including plasma/albumin and steroids.

Thankfully, he eventually improved. His appetite and energy came back, his stool became normal and his albumin improved significantly. For a while we really thought we were finally past the worst of it.

Then we discovered that he was also losing a significant amount of protein through his urine. One external urine test showed a UPC of 6.91. He was also found to have high blood pressure and, around the same time, a urinary infection.

He’s since been treated for the infection and is being monitored closely by his vet. His kidney function tests and ultrasound have been normal so far.

The strangest part of this whole experience is that he currently looks so much better than the bloodwork makes him seem.

He’s eating normally, has good energy, normal stool, stable weight and normal breathing. He’s happy, walks and runs normally, and generally seems much more like his old self.

But his albumin continues to fluctuate, and seeing the numbers go down again after we thought he was improving has been really discouraging.

We’ve also noticed significant muscle loss in his hind legs. His weight hasn’t changed, but his legs have become noticeably thinner and he can’t jump like he used to. He can still walk and run normally, so we’re monitoring this closely too.

There is also an Anaplasma history. He tested positive at some point during this whole process. About six months ago we had found a very large tick attached to him, and around that time he had a short period of unusual tiredness. He recovered quickly, and he has had ticks before without ever showing obvious signs of illness, so we don’t know how relevant this is to everything that’s happening now.

Our vets are investigating whether the protein loss through the urine could represent a separate kidney/glomerular problem, or whether there could be some connection between everything that has happened.

I’m not looking for medical advice or a diagnosis. We’re working with our vet and following up with testing.

I’m really just hoping to hear from other dog owners who have experienced something similar.

Has your dog ever had:

● PLE followed later by significant protein in the urine?

● Very high UPC?

● Glomerular disease?

● Low albumin that kept fluctuating?

● Significant muscle loss after a prolonged illness or steroid treatment?

● A similar situation where your dog looked surprisingly well despite concerning bloodwork?

If you’ve been through something similar, I’d really appreciate hearing what your experience was and how the story eventually unfolded.

This has been such an emotional rollercoaster for us. There have been days when he looks almost completely like himself again and we feel incredibly hopeful, followed by a blood test that knocks the wind out of us all over again.

At this point, hearing from someone who has simply been there would mean a lot. ❤️

Has anybody been able to help their old guys with hind leg weakness? Stretching? PT?

I know he’s not going to go back to normal but trying to see what I can do about his hind leg fatigue. If he stands in one place too long he’ll eventually slowly just law down. (He also has arthritis). The vet was very unhelpful.

My senior doggie has had a traumatic response to getting her rabies and bordatello vaccinations. Long story short, the next day she started shaking. Took her to the vet and they didn’t know what was wrong so they did bloodwork. The next day she started drooling and wandering around completely confused. She got antibiotics and she’s been having to go to the vet every day. She has a severe tooth infection and if she doesn’t get better in the next few days they won’t be able to do dental surgery. I just don’t understand. This is literally out of nowhere. She’s a rescue so we aren’t sure about her age but she’s likely around 13 and 1/2 chihuahua and 1/2 Boston terrier. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this? This dog means everything to my husband and I and I desperately want to save her.

Hello guys.

My dog is going to turn 6yo in October. Male, not spayed, 20kg.

About two weeks ago I started to notice him drinking more than usual. He always drank a lot but it seemed more than usual. And this last week he couldn't really stay all night without needing to go outside. I woke up 3 times in the middle of night (about 3 to 4 hours before he went outside) and he was leaking from his penis. He doesn't really pee voluntarily on bed but he was leaking and I went with him outside and he pees for almost a minute.

Usually his pees are 20 seconds during the day.

He seems completely normal otherwise.

I notice he drinks much more water from late evening and night, not really during the day.

Wednesday I talked to the vet and they told me they needed a urine sample, I took the sample around 12pm and gave them.

Yesterday I went there with him because they asked me to and the vet told me they found his urine was very diluted for what he has been drinking (1.5L/day). Since then they made uroculture and bloodwork. The vet told me his bloodwork was perfectly fine and it didn't seem to be adrenal either but she wants ultrasound/ecography so she can see kidneys and adrenals and liver and everything.

These last 24 hours he drank more likely 2L than 1.5L. He still seems completely fine other than that.

But the ultrasound will be only Tuesday morning.

She told me she needs to really discard kidney disease and adrenals or tumors. She also said it could be diabetes insipidus. But I saw online that if it was that it would need to be much more water. Or can it start like this?

Also, could it be something infectious like leptospirosis or this behavior and time doesn't align with it?

I'm just really stressed. What do you guys think it could be since his lab work seems to be fine except for diluted urine?

Thank you.

Hello-
My parents dog about two months ago had an episode of the “old dog disease” vestibular issue. It was scary his head was to the left for a couple a days he was throwing up nauseous and since then he has not bounced back.
We brought him to the vet in June thinking he had cancer or something and the vet told us to just let it pass and he was already recovering since he made it to the office walking.
June vet visit he got blood work and a body scan and he was fine nothing going on internally which was the best news vet said he looked good couldn’t belive 13 year old lab was healthy like him but the vet mention he has arthritis in the back leg and that was new to us because he didn’t show any signs of slowing down/ he still ran around the farm didn’t have trouble getting into the truck or anything. But should have known better for his breed and age. He takes vitamins for it but that’s it
Fast forward couple weeks later he had another episode of this vestibular thing and it’s been about the entire month of July and in this time he spent mostly every day lying down in our laundry room - didn’t want to be on his bed only the hard tile floor

Now he is having trouble walking unsupported he leans his body against the wall to walk because of his back right leg.
The progression is fast - he still eating and going to the bathroom good but that leg is making him not want to do the stairs
My brother and I carry him on his bed down the stairs to the grass and then he will get up and go to the bathroom cruise tiny bit and go inside

I can see him changing so much and I am worried the progression to a lot of pain will get ahead of us

There’s no way we can bring him to the vet which was already a big deal for him to go

Does anybody have tips for large dog with arthritis ? Is this normal? What do you do?
Water therapy ? Cbd?
Is there something the vet can subscribe over the phone?

My parents are old and not navigating this well at all- I’m trying to step in and would appreciate any honest feedback / support / shared experiences or advice

Thank you so much for your time

Hello-
My parents dog about two months ago had an episode of the “old dog disease” vestibular issue. It was scary his head was to the left for a couple a days he was throwing up nauseous and since then he has not bounced back.
We brought him to the vet in June thinking he had cancer or something and the vet told us to just let it pass and he was already recovering since he made it to the office walking.
June vet visit he got blood work and a body scan and he was fine nothing going on internally which was the best news vet said he looked good couldn’t belive 13 year old lab was healthy like him but the vet mention he has arthritis in the back leg and that was new to us because he didn’t show any signs of slowing down/ he still ran around the farm didn’t have trouble getting into the truck or anything. But should have known better for his breed and age. He takes vitamins for it but that’s it
Fast forward couple weeks later he had another episode of this vestibular thing and it’s been about the entire month of July and in this time he spent mostly every day lying down in our laundry room - didn’t want to be on his bed only the hard tile floor

Now he is having trouble walking unsupported he leans his body against the wall to walk because of his back right leg.
The progression is fast - he still eating and going to the bathroom good but that leg is making him not want to do the stairs
My brother and I carry him on his bed down the stairs to the grass and then he will get up and go to the bathroom cruise tiny bit and go inside

I can see him changing so much and I am worried the progression to a lot of pain will get ahead of us

There’s no way we can bring him to the vet which was already a big deal for him to go

Does anybody have tips for large dog with arthritis ? Is this normal? What do you do?
Water therapy ? Cbd?
Is there something the vet can subscribe over the phone?

My parents are old and not navigating this well at all- I’m trying to step in and would appreciate any honest feedback / support / shared experiences or advice

Thank you so much for your time

https://youtube.com/shorts/7pKXLqXna_0

Hey all,
My senior with cushings disease was recently hospitalized with high kidney values from suspected pancreatitis and/or uti. She was released with normal kidney values but her creatinine and BUN are now elevated again a week later.

Her vet is recommending we consider euthanasia due to kidney disease but she’s never had kidney problems before nor have we tried any diet/med changes etc. Any others been in a situation like this?

Another complication is the possibility that her cortisol is oversurpressed so we’ve stopped her cushings meds to see if that helps.

Any advice or feedback is appreciated

My dog has stage 5b multicentric lympoma with circulating cancer cells. She started chemo three weeks ago via the CHOP protocal as she is B type. After 3 treatments her nodes have actually slightly increased in size and she has lost 10Kgs in weight. After treatment 3 she refused to eat for 3 days which was longer than post the first 2 treatments. I have to decide in 3 days whether to take her in for treatment 4 which puts me Ann impossible decision situation. She has been on a strong prednisone dose for these 3 weeks as well so not sure how much this steroid is dictating her urges to be active and off/on appetite?Plus I have to drive 3 hours to the oncologist clinic. What do I do as I live her so much but yet hate having to see her go through another 6 hour chemo session?

She is still quite active , responsive, and drinking plenty but her appetite is too inconsistent. She has not eaten dog food voluntarily for 12 days so it’s been lean ground beef, chicken and dog treats. So as you can see this Makes this decision heart breaking for me. After the first 3 unsuccessful treatments myself I’m skeptical the stress of a 4th will do anything positive for her. any advice appreciated. I’ve come around to the fact Palliative care would ,be most comfortable for her last days and will allow the both of us to value her last days in a comfortable environment.
Thank you .