My Googles (Stuff I Just Wanted To Know)
Subject: My Dog
MY QUESTION: How do I know when it is serious enough to take my dog to the vet?
Reference materials: http://dogtime.com/incontinence.html
Decreased heart function and kidney function. As animals age, the risk of kidney disease increases. This may be due to
changes in the kidney itself or result from the dysfunction of other
organs such as the heart, which if not functioning properly, will
decrease blood flow to the kidneys, the first organs to show signs of aging. Decreased mobility and arthritis. Chondroitin and glucosamine
can be beneficial to support healthy joints. Some anti-inflammatory
pain relievers such as aspirin and Rimadyl are often recommended for
dogs with arthritis. Incontinence. Dental disease
is the most common change seen in older dogs and about 80% show signs of gum disease. If they do not receive
proper dental care they can develop significant dental disease and may develop life-threatening complications. Constipation is a common problem (although I have not noticed that with our old dog). Hearing and eyesight loss. You will need to monitor your older dog more closely. Do not disregard a
change in your dog's activity or behavior as 'just being old age.' Many
of the changes can also be signs of a more serious disease. If you are
in doubt, consult your veterinarian and be sure to discuss with her/him
any concerns you have about your older dog during his regular physical
exam.
My girl, Teddi, who is now 14, has a definite bladder control problem. I suspect it is due to the infection in her body from her rotting teeth but also could be related to a bladder infection. She stinks very strongly and licks herself a lot. When she gets up she often leaves a puddle that she sometimes licks up after herself. We often have to force her to go outside and insist that she go because she does not seem to want to urinate without our influence. When she was about a year old, Teddi was put on a drug (diethylstilbestrol or stilbestrol) as an aid in the control of urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (idiopathic incontinence, hormone-responsive incontinence). Incontinence seems to happen a lot with dogs who are female spayed about 3 to 5 years old. She was on this drug for several years for the incontinence problem but on this drug we noticed she would get sick a lot so finally one day before we moved to the country, I decided to take her off of it. We have lived here in the country for 3 years and now she is aging fast and this incontinence is becoming a significant problem. The following is from dogtime.com and says that if your dog is dripping or dribbling urine or has more than one significant accident when he has ample access to the outdoors, it's time to see a vet. Signs that you need to see a vet:
My girl, Teddi, who is now 14, has a definite bladder control problem. I suspect it is due to the infection in her body from her rotting teeth but also could be related to a bladder infection. She stinks very strongly and licks herself a lot. When she gets up she often leaves a puddle that she sometimes licks up after herself. We often have to force her to go outside and insist that she go because she does not seem to want to urinate without our influence. When she was about a year old, Teddi was put on a drug (diethylstilbestrol or stilbestrol) as an aid in the control of urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (idiopathic incontinence, hormone-responsive incontinence). Incontinence seems to happen a lot with dogs who are female spayed about 3 to 5 years old. She was on this drug for several years for the incontinence problem but on this drug we noticed she would get sick a lot so finally one day before we moved to the country, I decided to take her off of it. We have lived here in the country for 3 years and now she is aging fast and this incontinence is becoming a significant problem. The following is from dogtime.com and says that if your dog is dripping or dribbling urine or has more than one significant accident when he has ample access to the outdoors, it's time to see a vet. Signs that you need to see a vet:
- Accidents that occur most frequently when he's asleep or extremely relaxed (your dog may rise from rest, leaving a puddle or wet spot behind).
- Irritation or frequent licking of the genital area, causing raw or inflamed skin.
- Increased drinking of water.Some dog owners fear that urinary incontinence is a natural result of aging and delay taking their dog to the veterinarian. While many dogs do develop age-related problems, there are many other causes to consider too. Urinary incontinence is easily treated, and the medications are not expensive, so the sooner you get your dog to the veterinarian, the better. Phenylpropanolamine in veterinary medicine, under trade names Propalin and Proin it used to control urinary incontinence in dogs
How to know when I should put my dog to sleep (euthanasized)
Reference: http://pets.webmd.com/features/pet-euthanasia-how-to-know-when-its-time
We all hope our pet will pass painlessly in their sleep,
but that rarely happens, Damewood says. And while it may feel like the
right thing to let nature take its course, a natural death is rarely
kind if it means prolonged pain. But how do you know if your pet is suffering, and how do you know the right time? See your vet and share your thoughts and fears with your vet, and get their input. Explore your pet's treatment options and the pros and cons of each option. Be honest with yourself.
So think of three or four things your pet really enjoys -- such as fetching a ball, playing with a certain toy, or just being with you.
Can they still do and enjoy these things? Then ask: Does your pet still have an appetite? Can they maintain bladder and bowel functions easily? Are they interested in doing the things they normally do? When there are no effective treatment options, when their bodies are failing or they’re in pain, and when most of your pet's joys are compromised, it's "probably time to consider humane euthanasia," Kow says. "I often tell clients that 'just because your pet is alive, it does not mean that they are living.'"
Do dogs need to be detoxed?
Why I asked? We bought a new brand of dog food for our senior dog who just hates it and we have to trick her into eating it. My husband and I take turns coming up with different concoctions. We've added water, we've added chicken stock, we've added beef drippings, cheese, bread, meat, sweet potatoes and other kinds of smaller kibble. We suspect there may be something wrong with this dogfood we bought but can't afford to buy something else. He says it smells like vomit so it doesn't surprise him that she doesn't want it. I thought the pieces were to hard for her (they stay hard for hours even when soaked in liquid) but she gnaws on a bone from time to time so that theory doesn't make any sense. The food was PC Nutrition First Large Breed Chicken & Brown Rice not to be confused with PC Nutrition First Senior Dog Food Chicken & Brown Rice that she loved but we cannot find it in a large bag.
What I found out? Like humans, many chronic health issues of your pets is due to toxins built up from the environment, diet, vaccines and other drugs. Feed your pets a balance diet of preferably raw, either homemade or commercial (mostly protein but avoid grains). There are detoxifying agents to support removal of toxins from your pets organs and it is recommended to check with a holistic vet but here is some of the herbs that are suggested by Dr. Becker:
- Herbs assist liver function and cleanse the blood = burdock root, dandelion root, licorice, Oregon grape, yellow dock and milk thistle. Milk thistle not only helps detoxify the liver, it is proven to actually stimulate regeneration of liver cells.
- Herbs that help support kidney function = cranberry, corn silk and marshmallow.
- Herbs that help your pet's lymphatic system removing toxins from the tissues of the body are red clover and cleavers.
- Herbs that help support immune system function are garlic, echinacea and astragalus
- Chlorella is a super green food that is excellent for detoxification.
- Another vital liver nutrient and detoxifier is SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine).
- In my practice I also use the homeopathic detox agent Thuja for all vaccines except rabies, and Lyssin for the rabies vaccine.
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