Weight Loss

D

Dancing_Diva

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 May 2013
Messages
895
Visit site
Quick history.

Around a year and a half ago I took in a friends dog. My friend bred this dog, which she had along with the mum, dad and other pups that was born.

Friend sadly had health problems and one day when visiting I was told to take one of the dogs as they couldn't cope. So I left with one of them despite already having four dogs at home. Anyway long story short after her being so scared, she settled in and become very attached to me.

A few months in to having her we found her teeth was in a very bad way, result being she now only has 14 teeth left. Otherwise she's always been fine health wise. She ended up becoming too attached to me and we have problems with separation. I started working on this with a behaviorist through my vets and things was going well.

I then house sat for someone and took my little dog with me for a few nights, upon returning home one day she pee'd on my bed (I wasn't pleased) few days later she pee'd on my bedroom floor (again wasn't best pleased). Her separation problems became worse but soon improved again. I then had an operation and have been pretty much at home all the time for the past four weeks. She's become very clingy and at a social visit to the vet's last week at checking her weight she's gone from 3.5kg to 2.6kg (she's only a small dog, so 3.5 was good for her)

I've booked an appointment for Monday for her to see a vet but can't stop worrying and thinking the worst! She's fine in herself, she's eating as normal, she's not drinking any more than normal. It could just be stress/worry causing the weight loss.

Can anyone possibly give me any idea's on why she'd have dropped weight? Any personal experiences?

I need to get her spayed, my vets mentioned this when I got her as she's at a guess around 6/7 and not been done. What if something is wrong there?

We lost one of our other dogs about four months ago under an anesthetic, so if she needs one I'm scared I'll loose her too! I'm having a real bad time depression wise at the moment and just thinking about it makes me cry. She's pretty much become my best friend this past year and I couldn't imagine my life without her right now as sad as that sounds.

I know I'm most likely worrying over nothing and it's most likely something small. I've already moved her vet appointment from Wednesday to Monday because I want to know if she's OK sooner than later. I'd have her seen today (Sunday) but the vets are fully booked (my vets are open seven days a week even for normal appointments).

Someone just give me a slap and I guess tell me not to be so silly! I just look at her right now and get upset worrying something's wrong and I'll loose her :(
 
Just wondered, have you also contacted the behaviourist you were working with - maybe they will come out on a sunday too?

You don't say if she has a good appetite or not, but is it possible that your worrying is also making her worry (as she sounds a sensitive sweet dog). The peeing on bed and floor definitely sounds like a stress thing, but getting her urine checked is always advisable too in case of an infection (very common in us girls of both species!).
It is hard if we are feeling down ourselves not to project that onto our dogs too and she may have worried about you not being well with the op as well. If so, then the vet and behaviourist will be able to help her in various ways and she will soon put on weight once she is eating well. The vet will also give advice on a high-performance type of food, so that if she is not eating much then at least what she does eat will be packed with essential nutrition.
On the plus side, you have a dog that really loves you and that you really love. Yes any anaesthesia carries a risk, but I am sure that your vet will reassure you that major complications are quite rare. Also, if she does have something medical wrong with her, then there are so many great treatments and solutions available these days, so it might help to imagine her bouncing around happy again soon.
Are you both well enough to go for a nice walk somewhere? Or a little play in the garden or something else you enjoy together?
It sounds like you have been having a **** time, so fingers crossed that everything will improve soon and that you will have a happy vet's visit on monday. :) :)
 
Good post above,I agree she sounds an anxious dog and any change in your routine will throw her off kilter.A blood test will be a good idea to check her kidneys are fine.
Re weight...Is she actually thin?What breed is she? many small companion dogs are over weight.Once she is spayed you may find she has a tendency to gain a pound or two so if she is underweight through stress she should recover this.
Re the teeth...if her mouth has been sore you may want to soak her kibble and mince any meats you give to help her a bit. the vet has removed a lot of teeth so he will also recheck her mouth to see all is well there.
Re the spay..she's at a good age to spay ..not an old girl,so should be fine...my dog has recently been spayed and they just took the ovaries,which was a faster op,less invasive to the dog (smaller incision)and has a faster recovery time...if the dog has a healthy uterus( no fibroids etc) this could be a possible way to go...ask the vet.
Finally,be kind to yourself and try not to worry...you are a good person to take on another dog for your friends.She sounds a little gem,a loving little girl .Your own routine has been thrown out balance at the moment,but once things get back on track things should settle down into a calmer pattern.This little dog also needs to settle in,so give things a bit more time. Good luck for Monday.
 
Thank you, she's fine in her self, eating habits are normal for her, she's not drinking any more then normal, she's her hyper playful self.

She was thin like this when I brought her home from my friends, I could feel her spine and I can again now slightly. She was a nice weight at 3.5kg.

She's a Papillon?

I'm waiting to speak to my behaviourist, she's a vet nurse as well as behaviourist at my vets so possible that I'll see her Monday to speak too, I do wonder if this is behaviour rather then medical.

I'll let you know how Monday goes.
 
Oh tell me about it, I have another dog who was on the fat side. She's down to 25.3kg and ideally should be around the 23kg mark.

Where getting there slowly lol.. She is a bigger dog don't worry so she's not grossly over weight!

If only she could pass her fat on to the smaller dog lol..

Will def let you know how we get on at vets tomorrow x
 
Well I'm happy, vet's given my little girl a clean bill of health :)

For my peace of mind I'm having some blood tests done, vet did say that they are an option if I want an extra peace of mind but he didn't feel like he had any reason for concern to say he wants to run any.

Some might say I'll be paying for them for nothing, but I'd rather do that and be 100% sure I've checked everything.

He does think from me giving a history of her behavior and seeing it in person that it's due to stress etc the weight loss. So his having the nurse/behaviorist call me this week and we'll be going from there.
 
Big relief.
I don't think the bloods are a waste of money, as peace of mind is very important and worth the cost.

Re the fat dog passing weight onto the smaller dog: a friend of mine had a lean whippet that wasn't a good eater and always hooned around burning calories like mad. We wished we could find a way to transfer fat from us to the dog so that she could burn the calories for us! I reckon we could make a fortune...
 
Me neither, that's why I said yeah I'll have them done.

If only we could ah? I'd have plenty to pass onto my little girl lol..

We did have improvement at the vets whilst waiting to see the vet. One of the nurses I know very well came sat in waiting room chatting to me and my little girl went and choose to sit next to her and have a fuss. She'd never ever have done this a few months ago :)
 
Great update.I would probably also have done the bloods too for my peace of mind in this situation...tHe blood work will give you a baseline to compare to if she does get ill in the future..(justifying the money spent,grin)
...what about giving an evening biscuit to her? they soon put weight on a dog...
 
I had a really good long chat with our behaviorist yesterday, so that was good.

She's not been keen on eating tinned dog food recently (she does find it hard as hasn't many teeth and is a bit fussy) so I gave her tonight as I want her to eat some boiled rice and chicken (was chicken slices as had no proper chicken lol) she ate that well, so am going to get a chicken and more rice and just feed her that for now.

I'm aware I might make it hard to get her to eat tinned food again but if it's something she'll eat then I say so what. She can't loose any more weight! I'm at the vet's Wednesday with her so will speak about food then, but for now it'll do for her to eat something at least.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top