Drastic Weight Loss

yvonne · Master

Drastic Weight Loss

Gail · Big Cheese

I think it's always a worry when anything at all seems wrong with our dogs. I'm no expert but it could just be the move that's upset his balance a bit and at least your vet will monitor it. Hopefully by the time you go back for his next appointment he will be putting it all back on.

Best of luck and keep us posted.

Teresa · Enlightened One

i'm no expert either but hope that the house move is the only explanation for his weight loss. if all else with him seems ok, i wouldn't worry but it's good that your vet is monitoring him.

crossed fingers and paws here for him

max · Enlightened One

Sasha has lost a lot of weight too over the passed weak or so, we have put it down to the stress of being on holiday in a strange place , the traveling as she is not the best traveler and of course the heat. Hope Angus puts on a bit more weight soon and gives you nothing to worry about.

Nora

FAJ · Enlightened One

Hi, Yvonne - our two tend to go baldy when they're stressed, rather than lose weight, but the definitely show some physical signs. It's more than likely that Angus is showing his stress of moving house through his weight loss. Try not to worry (easier said than done, of course!) if you can.

Excuse if you've already tried this, but would Angus enjoy oily fish like sardines or mackerel on his dinner? A tin each day mixed in with his food would be a good source of calories.

Let us know how he gets on at his next weigh-in.

Fiona

emma · Guru

Yvonne,

They are a worry arn't they! I think the others are spot on - I bet its the move too and if it has been anywhere near as hot there as here I'm not surprised at his weight loss.

Poor wee soldier I think it was Fiona that said sardines and you could try a bit of pasta too, I must admit Chad has been looking skinny of late and his pal Mrs Blackbird (yes she comes into the house whether you like it or not) often finishes his dinner for him.I don't let him eat after her but occasionally she gets in without being spotted. You would all laugh at her in his dinner bowl and him he lays there looking well fed up with her!

Hope he eats a bit more soon and piles on the weight (don't we all wish we had their problems!)

Em and Chad x

-- Edited by emma at 16:31, 2006-08-02

BOWGANG · Master

We found that pasta helped Gambol put on some weight as he was very skinny compared to the other 2.Hopefully it's just the stress of moving and not something more serious,but it's good that your vet is keeping on top of it. Try not to worry too much..easy for me to say I know.

Keep us posted.

Shirley and the gang

TheStylishHound · Old Hand

This may seem like a silly question but did your vet do any tests to rule out it's nothing more than possibly stress related weight loss? I hope it's not serious but me being the overly cautious pet owner that I am :) I would want to be sure that everything is functioning the way it should be. If all is clear, then you can try adding some sweet potatoes which is also a good way to add some carbs and weight and they taste yummy!

Teresa · Enlightened One

Jenn, interesting about the sweet potatoes. My two don't have a weight problem but I might add a touch of these to make their dinners more interesting. Thanx.

TheStylishHound · Old Hand

My guys luvvvvvvvv sweet potatoes! Pumpkin too and that's also good if the additional food is giving your hound The Big "D". Firms things up nicely! LOL.

Another thing you could do is blend up a fruit mixture if you're looking for some additional caloric intake. Bananas are great and add some other mixed fruits (blueberries, strawberries, apples) and a dab of yogurt which is so good for their digestion anyway. I used to put this over a bit of brown rice for an evening snack.

hugahound · Master

And I thought mine were spoilt with their cooked sausage treat after the lunchtime ramble, sardines once a week and cottage cheese once a fortnight as well as the usual pigs ears, tenderloins, cow hides etc!

yvonne · Master

Thanks to everyone for your words of support and advice. Will definately be trying pasta and fish, don't know so much about the sweet potato and fruit things. My two are not very keen on fruit and veg, but i'll try anything once to see if it helps.

I have been uppingthe amount wet food in his meals and although i can't see any immediate weight gain there has certainly been a gain in the weight of his poo!

My vet seems reluctnt to do test at the moment as everything else, ie heart, kidneys lungs etc all seem to be functioning fine. and obviously his bowels are doing their job to perfection.

Only another 10 days to go before weigh in.

I'll let you know how it goes and thanks again to everyone

yvonne · Master

Angus was back at the vets today for his weigh in. There is good news and bad news. He has put on half a kilo which is really good news but the vet reckons that he is loosing his feeling in his nerves his back right leg.

I noticed something was wrong a wee while ago. He was loosing his footing going upstairs and i just put it down the fact that they were different stairs to my last house and he was trying to get used to the size etc. However, over the last couple of days when he's been out and 'running' ( he doesn't run very fast anymore) trying to chase Jenna, his back end would go away from him. Initially i assumed it was wet grass or he was trying to turn awkwardly but it has happened for 4 days in a row now so i asked the vet when i was up. He did a response test ie turning his foot upside down to see how long it he took to right it and pulling his leg away to one side also to see how long he would right it. With his back left leg it was instant but he didn't do it with his right. The vets says that there is nothing the can do to sort it and it will gradually get worse. So old age beckons...

Calatria · Master

Aw, poor Angus.

Does anyone know if this is normal in greys of that age, or is he just unlucky? At least he's not in pain, poor lad.

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

Yvonne, sorry to hear about Angus. I hope he manages to keep mobile for a long while to come. It must be heart breaking to see old age taking its toll in this way. Hugs to Angus from us all

Gail · Big Cheese

Hugs to Angus, really hope it doesn't get any worse for a long while yet so he can continue to enjoy life.

Teresa · Enlightened One

Poor old boy

As long as he's happy tho. Old age comes to us all - at least he'll have lots of love from your family and won't be parked in an old folks home to be forgotten by his kids !!!

max · Enlightened One

Big hugs to Angus, so sorry to hear the vets diagnosis. Guess he will just have to take things a bit slower, pipe and slippers at the ready. Take care and keep us posted. Hugs to Jenna too.

Nora

Isla · Enlightened One

Poor lad. I think everyone dreads old age arriving for their pets.

As the others have said, he's got the best care and attention he could possibly have and is with his family.

Give Angus a cuddle from the Maclagan contingent.

Karen, Will, Millie n Tigger

Jax · Master

Poor wee soul...big hugs from Dan and Sally xxx

Jennifer · Big Cheese

Poor Angus. He'll just need to sit back and take it easy from now on

emma · Guru

Sorry to hear about Angus and his problems with mobility. Old age is cruel especially for our hounds who are all go usually!

At least he is in a happy loving home where his humans will do everything for him possible. I am sure that Jenna will keep him going too it is always good to have a healthy hound to encourage the poorly one on.

Take care of them both Em and Chad xx

Valerie · Guru

You were obviously worried and watching, so at least you know what to watch out for, so Angus is very lucky that he has such caring folks around him to look out for him. I'm sure he will take heart from Jenna too.

yvonne · Master

Just a wee update on Angus' weight issue, He was back at the vets yesterday and has lost more weight again. He is now back down to being just under 27 kilos. This time he is going on 2 weeks antibiotics ( for a wee cough he has) and then getting a full blood screen done to find out if anything sinister is lurking which could be the reason for the weight loss.

Valerie · Guru

Fingers crossed and best wishes to Angus, he sounds a poor soul just now.

Lesley · Guru

What age is Angus Yvonne? (sorry if you have posted it elsewhere and I've missed it).

Isla · Enlightened One

Paws, claws, fingers and toes crossed here for you Angus.

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

All fingers crossed for Angus. Hope its not too serious.

yvonne · Master

Hi Lesley. Angus turned 10 in September. Old age doesn't come alone it would seem.

scoobcleecook · Master

Hello there, just to let you know that the Gibsons are thinking of you during your worrying time with Angus.

If it helps you at all, re the response test on his foot, I can remember our vet doing the same to our old Cindy with the same result (I came home and just broke down in tears thinking we were about to lose her). She learned to live with the problems and, despite falling over occasionally if she forgot herself and her abilities (and regularly walloping her foot off the door frame), she managed several more years (and happy walks) before she finally succumbed to something else entirely - it's amazing how adaptable they are!

Hopefully Angus's weight problems will be diagnosed and treatable! I'm sure I read somewhere that older greyhounds tend to go to "skin and bone", so, if there's any justice that'll be all it is!!!!

Anyway, good luck, and our thoughts are with you at this worrying time!

Jean and the gang