Multi vitamins

[DevoidOvTalent 0]

Bugger. Sadly no greyhound lads around here - so off to vet on Tuesday morning.

 

I think this is the start of something bigger, actually. He is not himself really - off in a dwaam (Shetland for dreaming). He just stands up and looks vaguely into the distance and then doesn't know why he is there - a bit like when you walk into a room for something and then forget what it was!

 

I can't put my finger on it, but he is not himself at all. Maybe old age is catching up on him. Most of his litter mates are dead (not a long living lot) and he is 12.

 

Sounds like he is starting to go a bit senile. I've a 13 year old Greyhound that way, he goes out in the yard and forgets why he's out there. He's also convinced that he gets fed three times a day instead of just two, and will not go to bed at night unless we give him another meal.

 

You can give a dog human multivitamins. Dog multivitamins are designed to be given with kibble, so they typically have very low amounts of nutrients, plus some kind of flavoring to make them palatable. Go to the drugstore and compare the amounts of the human vitamins with the dog version, and pick the closest one. Check out the children's vitamins as well, you may find a better match there, plus the sweet flavorings may appeal to the dog. You can also break the human vitamin up into portions that approximate the amount in the dog vitamins.

 

It's very common to give dogs with allergies human vitamins, because the flavorings used in dog vitamins can be allergens.

 

On the weight loss, don't mean to sound like the knell of doom, but unexplained weight loss can be due to cancer. Cancer causes wasting as it becomes more advanced. If you haven't already, a complete blood count and organ screen might give you more information.

 

Light colored poop can mean the dog is not digesting fats well. Liver or pancreas problems can cause this.

 

Good luck getting him sorted out, it hard to watch the old ones going downhill.

[Pignut 4]

Thanks for your thoughts. Appreciated.

 

Note for Monday - to make an appointment to see vet. I will be gutted if it is the dreaded c-word. I've had him since a pup (my marriage lasted less time!). He is a good friend.

 

Anywho cheers

 

Pignut

[Pignut 4]

Sadly not going anywhere - we're snowed in!!!

 

Vet will have to wait. The roads have all seemed to vanish!

[Pignut 4]

Update - been to see vet who examined him and took bloods. On examination, the vet could feel nothing but the blood tests have shown a raised ALT (200). He has lost 2.5kg in 2 months.

 

He will have another blood test in a month and will start hepatocyl.

 

We will see what happens. He seems alright in himself and caught a bunny this afternoon on a walk. He is playing and interacting with the others. Don't really know what else to do.

Edited March 30, 2008 by Pignut

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From a professional view, I would ONLY give vitamins or minerals that are for the veterinary industry to dogs...Ideally a licensed veterinary medicine is best or one which is produced to a high quality standard, cheap is not always good.

Personally i opt for the natural medicines if at all possible.

 

What has been diagnosed wrong with the dog?

[Pignut 4]

Not sure what the diagnosis or prognosis for the dog is, at the moment. The raised ALT indicates something is going on with the liver. The vet wanted to monitor him for a month and has put him on hepatacyl (pills that increase liver function) and see what like. They will retake bloods again then too.

 

He is on hepatic diet food and is happy on that. I want to try and keep the weight on. 2.5kg in two months is abit much and as a thin dog, there is not much to spare.