My dog is giving me mixed signals

[footinmouth]

I posted a few months ago about my elderly dog (getting towards 17 now) and everyone here assured me that when she was ready to go she would let me know.

She's almost totally deaf and is losing muscle mass in her back legs. We had an awful couple of days with her over the holidays. She kept collapsing on the ice outside and I'd bring her back inside and she'd fall into her food dish. I performed many a doggy rescue in the back yard. It really looked like it was time to seriously consider putting her down. She reminds me of an elderly person who gets up every morning to sit in the chair all day. It's just not a great quality of life for a human or a dog.

Then yesterday, we had two episodes of indoor romping. The dog actually was able to run and play for 10 minutes or so. Today I caught her rummaging through the waste baskets and she tried to steal some candy. I really don't know what this dog is trying to tell me anymore. I don't want her to be unhappy or to suffer, but I really can't tell what's up with her.

She had her annual wellness exam last week and the vet could find nothing visibly wrong with her other than weight loss and weakness. I guess I'm just looking for someone to hold my hand here or some advice.

[radfringe]

1. don't know what kind of dog it is

from her age I'm guessing she is a small breed?

she could also have arthritis and that could account for difficulty in standing. On those days -- what was the weather like versus the "romping days"?

our 8 yr old airdale has a touch of arthritis -- when we see that she has problems getting up or moving around we give her a baby asprin (1x a day) for a few days. Seems to help -- check with your vet on this

weight loss is not unusual in older animals -- not sure about dogs, but our 19 yr old cat lost weight and a blood-workup determined she had an over-active thyroid (not unusual in older cats) -- she's on meds for it and has gained weight -- again check with your vet

[mopinko]

2. when my boxer got old

she had spondylitis, which is painful and made it hard to walk. i had made up my mind that when she quit following me around the house, it would be time. she hated the winding stairs here, and she had trouble for a long time. but she still would haul herself around, just to be near me. i knew when she couldn't do that anymore, that she was in too much pain.

maybe she has something like that that you can use to gauge her attitude.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. I would get a second opinion. All vets are not the same

I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with yours, but you can always benefit from a fresh perspective. And different vets have different specialties and the newer ones are much more cutting-edge and embrace new technology.

I lost my Samantha, who was on an anti-convulsant for seizures, to liver failure as a side effect of having been on it for so long. When my Sheena, who I learned had seizures when I got her, began suffering more frequent and violent seizures, I didn't want the same thing to happen to her. I took her to a younger vet, who also offers alternative treatments, who my regular vet had sent me to when he ran out of options for my cat. This guy treats seizures using herbs and acupuncture. When he suggested an anti-convulsant, he gave her potassium bromide, which is a salt and doesn't harm the liver. He also diagnosed her as having Cushing's Syndrome, which also required medication, on her very first visit. I researched this extensively and she had all the symptoms, but it took him to notice this.

Acupuncture might benefit your dog. I brought my 17-year-old cocker spaniel to him for acupuncture for back problems. At one point, he could no longer get up, but with two sessions of electro-acupuncture, he was walking just fine again. Ask your friends where they go and what's available. I have recommended this vet to many people. Good luck and keep us posted!:hug:

[RadicalMom]

4. There is a product on the market called Fresh Factors, from

a company called Springtime Products. They have a lot of testimonials for many products which could address some of your dogs little difficulties. Quite a few people I have known have recommended them to me over the years, but I didn't actually end up needing them, so I can't vouch personally, but they backed up the sentiments in the testimonials, especially regarding renewed energy and dramatically reduced old age symptoms, limping, etc. Their stuff used to only be available through their catalog, but I just Googled them and found lots of sources.

As far as telling you when it's time, that has been my experience with four animals. Sometimes, though you don't want them to suffer, they don't want to leave yet. My mom mostly can't leave her chair and watches TV and naps a lot, but doesn't show any real signs of wanting to leave us, though she has down days. Animals are like that, too. So I guess I'm giving you the same advice. I worry when they have muscle wasting, but I have succeeded in reversing that with vitamins, a change of feed, pain control through supplements and massage-like techniques such as TTOUCH, developed by Linda Tellington-Jones. I have improved many animals lives with that, and humans too. It's not just massage, as it appears at first to be. It stimulates the neural pathways to the brain, affecting behavior, body movement, all kinds of things. Definitely worth trying the techniques. Have you checked her toenails. That can add to the slipping problems on ice or smooth floors, if they are too long. Also, if she fell into her dish soon after slipping outside, it could be because she strained her already weakened muscles when she slipped outside. Be sure she doesn't have to walk on floor that is slippery, like tile or hardwood. It's very difficult for most older dogs. We use rubber backed throw rugs (like bathroom rugs incolors that go with the rest of the house, to create pathways over difficult floors when we have challenged older dogs. She may have a lot of quality life left yet if you can figure out the cause of her problems. Remember to use positive thought.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. I am very familiar with Fresh Factors

I ordered them for my 16-17-year-old cocker, who, as it turns out, had calcification of his spine. His chiropractor, who was mainly an equine vet, supported this choice, but not his subsequent vet who treated him with acupuncture. He prescribed Chrondroflex, in combination with acupuncture, since he said that he saw a significant difference using this, and I did, too. He really got much better than he did with the Fresh Factors or chiropractic. I know that everyone doesn't have access to chiropractic or acupuncture, but any good vet could prescribe Chrondroflex. And I am also aware of the Tellington Touch, and sent for her materials. I would love to attend a workshop, if one were held close enough to me. It sounds like you are doing a very good job with your guys, and I surely sympathize.:-)