We need advice!

[booger]

hey everyone i have a 13 yr old shepherd when we got her when she was 4 or 5 we were told she had stomach issue nothing we couldnt deal with. time went by vet visits meds the whole shabang. over the past year or 2 there have been many BIG accidents (diarrhea) in the house more meds more visit to the vet. over the past couple of month it has gotten alot worse shes been urinating and diarrhea in the house in her bed where ever she feels like going she goes, she has a hard time standing she slides on the floor she wont go up the start or down the stair she lays in her bed all day but when it comes to dinner time she gets up and get excited waits for her food eats then goes back to sleep she stares at walls her nose has changed color. we dnt kno what to do she still eats gets excited bout food she barks sometimes the vets doesnt really give us any answers just puts her on more meds tht dont work i need some advice thank u in advancce

[msvette2u]

Have you consulted your vet?
It sounds like canine cognitive disorder (like dog Alzheimer's) and/or spine or hip problems.

[booger]

the vet want to do xrays and other tests but they would have to put her under for but the vet says if they do that she might not come out of it so we dont kno wat to do

[msvette2u]

I doubt they'd have to put her under for x-rays, it's not an extended thing, and bloodwork would be easy enough to do without sedating her.

[Twyla]

Originally Posted by booger

the vets doesnt really give us any answers just puts her on more meds tht dont work i need some advice thank u in advancce

Try one more visit with the vet, let them know you aren't happy with the responses you have been given and need more information then what you have received so far. If you have questions, insist on the answers. If you still feel the same.... that you aren't getting the info you need, get a copy of her records before you leave and locate another vet.

[Stevenzachsmom]

My old dog just turned 14. Her rear end has been getting progressively weaker over the past year. She no longer goes upstairs. I take her outside by the front door, so she only has to do 2 steps. Sometimes she even has trouble with those. Getting up and down is very hard. She sleeps a lot. She has accidents, but only her bowels, not urinary. She had been having periodic diarrhea, which I attributed to her heartworm preventative - interceptor. I stopped giving that.

What is your dog eating. My dog has food allergies. She does best on the fish based grain free formulas. Orijen was too rich for her. I currently have her on Taste of the Wild. She does well on that and her feces is small and not messy. She needs to eliminate twice a day. If I take her out frequently, I can usually avoid accidents in the house.

I feel for you with the diarrhea. When I was having to clean that up in the wee hours of the morning, I was getting pretty weary. I hope you can find some answers. Just with our old dogs, this is a common occurrence.

[KSdogowner]

Originally Posted by booger

over the past couple of month it has gotten alot worse shes been urinating and diarrhea in the house in her bed where ever she feels like going she goes, she has a hard time standing she slides on the floor she wont go up the start or down the stair she lays in her bed all day but when it comes to dinner time she gets up and get excited waits for her food eats then goes back to sleep she stares at walls her nose has changed color. we dnt kno what to do she still eats gets excited bout food she barks sometimes the vets doesnt really give us any answers just puts her on more meds tht dont work i need some advice thank u in advancce

Hi, Welcome to the board. Since your Vet is not giving you concrete answers, I would change the Vet. The incontinence issue could be the result of various issues including Hip or Spine issues. Definitely something that will have to be addressed so your dog can be helped. Ask the Vet to do blood tests and x-rays to determine what is going on.

Sending good thoughts your way.