Dog symptoms

Has anyone experienced any of the following symptoms in an elderly dog.

Bobby is a 14 year old mongrel bitch. She is having problems with her water works, cannot stop drinking, its as though she forgets she has had a drink. She also has trouble with her back end. She has trouble going up and down steps, mostly down steps, she collaspes at various times. She is eating, although she is having trouble eating hard dog biscuits, now has cat biscuits with her food. She has lost a lot of weight, even though she is eating. When she stands her back legs fold in. But she is happy, she still gets excited and wags her tail, occasionally has a little run.

I think you should take her to your vet.... suddenly drinking a lot could be diabetes... and be careful with the cat food... it's meant for cats, not dogs.... and could contain too much salt... did the drinking thing start after you started her on the cat food? My advice is to soak her own food in a little water to make them softer (and in addition take extra good care of her teeth as the softened biscuits will no longer help in cleaning her teeth) , and stay away from catfood (my dog always gets diarrhea if she gets to the catfood...) ... and take her to a vet to check the whole waterworks....

good luck!

Thanks, the drinking thing has been going on for months, she has already been to the vet sometime ago, before her back end started collasping, she only has cat biscuits not food, but I will try soaking her dog biscuits in water to see if she will eat them, Thanks

hi
imo she needs to go back to the vet,there are alot of things we can do to help our 'oldies' enjoy life a little more,and symptoms like drinking excessively for months should not be ignored....there is no such thing as 'shes just getting old'
good luck

Hi does your dog normally eat cat food.
Or is this just a one off.

I agree with Tupac - definitely take your oldie back to the vet.

Good luck, and please keep us posted....

x0x

Take the poor dog to the vets now!,
Just because it wasn't sorted first time you should have gone straight back in and told the vet. They probably thought all was well as you hadn't been back to say otherwise. Try to take a urine sample with you too so they can check that while you are there. It could be a number of things and some are very easily treated.
She may well have rotten teeth and bad toothache too which is why she can't manage to eat the hard biscuits so soak them for now, stop the cat biscuits and get your vet to check her teeth while you are there.
Sounds to me like she is in a lot of discomfort and as her owner you have a responsibility to make sure your dog gets proper vet care, not just leave it because you think she is getting old. How would you feel if you got sick and suffered awful toothache and you were made to just suffer with it for the rest of your life.
She should be able to live out her life in comfort and happiness not suffering.
Please let us know how you get on and what the vet says.

Hi

Iwould definitely take her to the vets immediately if you havent already done so. If her back legs are going it could be age but could be more serious and as for the excessive drinking that could be one of many things. We lost our boy to a year ago and he was showing the same symptoms but more as well.

Hope all goes well and let us know how you get on. Hugs to you both x

She could have an infection in her waterworks which can be treated with antibiotics and to help with her mobility your vet could prescribe an anti-imflammatory like Metacam which could improve her quality of life.

twix

hi bobbadoo,

just wondering how she's doing now? have you been back to the vet yet? if so... what did he/she have to say?

good luck and give the old lady an extra cuddle,

Claire