Tell me this isnt...(My respect for the vet, is back)

[Jelani]

So, my boyfriend and I are living with his grandmother. And she has a OMFG-spoiled dog. I mean the dog barks she feeds him..

He's this little terrier mutt that seriously looks like a Chipotle burrito with legs -_- (if only I was joking)

He's 12 years old and has lived on a diet of boiled chicken breast, and pepperoni sticks..Like I said, OMFG-spoiled. She has also been feeding him anything she eats. And I mean ANYTHING, even candy bars. He refuses to eat dog food because he knows if he waits and barks enough he will get people food.

a few weeks ago he suddenly stopped wanting the chicken. Shes only been able to get him to eat pieces of what she is having and not even alot of that. She thought he was just going through a picky phase again and switched to giving him boiled chicken hearts. Which he was ok with, for about a week.

Over the last 2 weeks he has lost weight. Like dramatically. that alone was throwing up red flags but she said it was just because he was being picky. But yesterday, while she was at the grocery store..he started barking at something while she was gone. Like a seriously freaked bark like I have never heard. I went out there and he seemed fine but I followed him a bit. He went to his water bowl and started drinking. and didnt stop for nearly a full minute. he basically drank the bowl dry. the bowl was refilled...and he went back to drinking for another 30 seconds or so. I couldnt believe how much he drank. Then, when Grandma came home about 5 mins later. I was talking to her about it and he started drinking again!!

And now I am learning he is no longer chasing a ball around like he normally does. He doesnt get as excited about car rides. All these things he loves to do he never does anymore. He sleeps and eats..literally thats it.

We know he's old. But she seems to think he will go to the vet and get a vitamin and will be fine. I dont think it will end that well.

Shes going on a week vacation soon and we will have the dog. I am afraid something will happen while she is gone. This dog was her rescue after her husband died and for years was her only friend. I am afraid she will try and hold onto him even if he is in pain..

Am I reading too much into this?

[Rawr]

Vet, now. Sudden changes in eating habits means something is wrong, it may just be that he is getting old but still have him checked out.

[Jelani]

Oh yea. I have been trying to get her to take him to a vet for a week or so. shes taking her sweet time. She doesnt see it like I do >_<

I have had dogs all my life and watched 1 going down right before my eyes. I know something isnt right. But I cant up and take him myself. She would freak and probably kick us out >_<

[Finduilas]

I agree with Rawr. Vet as soon as you can. Drinking a lot can mean a kidney infection (which is bad) or diabetes (also bad) as most common symptoms. There also could be something wrong with his bladder. But don't keep yourself with guesses and let the dog be checked out. You say he get's everything humans eat so my guess would be diabetes, but you never now if you don't get it checked.
Tell your grandma it's urgent and if she doesn't want to loose her dog she should get up and do something.

[Boven]

It's definitely time for a vet to have a look. The weight loss and thirst make me think diabetes.

[Jelani]

I am just glad others dont think I am over reacting >_<

I am trying all I can to get her to go. She just doesnt think it as serious.

Her main comment lately is "I know he's old I just hope he dies before me because noone would want him because I spoiled him"

I'll try a little harder to get her to take him but she seems set on waiting for them to call her back with an appointment. the kidneys and diabetes are what I am fearing as well. the Kidneys more than anything.

[Dewclaw]

Vet asap. Sudden weight loss, lack of interest in eating, drinking nonstop, these are all big warning flags. Waiting could mean the difference between something treatable and euthanasia. Make sure she gets a full blood panel done to check kidney/liver/thyroid functions.

[Nachtwulf]

I have a cat that eats people-food in major preference to cat food of any sort. (He has a lot of food issues actually.) He started drinking a lot and lost a whole lot of weight (from over 20lb down to 12.5lb at his current point. Turns out he has T2 diabetes, just like a human would if they ate vast amounts of junk food, starch, and sugar. (He once ate half a loaf of bread that I forgot and left out on the counter. That's like three loaves in one sitting, to a human.)

Sounds like it's the same thing to me.

[Jelani]

Well the vet finally called back to get her an appointment set up. So shes going in today. BUT all she told them is he needs to be "pepped up"

And I cant go with her because she wont let me. she knows I will butt in and she it the kind of person thats demands control of the situation..

I am seriously worried she will kill this dog..

[Miyon]

I hope the dog is so sick that the vets see it clearly too, and can talk some sense into her :/ And that the dog will be fine in the end, despite being a spoilt brat..

[GormanGhaste]

Hope it's not renal failure.

[Dakonic]

I agree with other posts, vet! Could be a whole mess of things.


When she feeds the chicken breast, are there bones? Raw bones are fine if fed appropriate to size, but cooked bones alters the structure and causes them to splinter and become much much harder to digest.


Also, cooking the food just sucks out the nutrients
http://nutritiondata.self.com/topics/processing


She might be interested in this:
http://preymodelraw.com/how-to-get-started/

[Jelani]

I agree with other posts, vet! Could be a whole mess of things.


When she feeds the chicken breast, are there bones? Raw bones are fine if fed appropriate to size, but cooked bones alters the structure and causes them to splinter and become much much harder to digest.


Also, cooking the food just sucks out the nutrients
http://nutritiondata.self.com/topics/processing


She might be interested in this:
http://preymodelraw.com/how-to-get-started/

No there are no bones She buys boneless skinless chicken breast, boils it, then hand feeds it to him...yes hand feeds. -_-


Shes on her way to the vet now..of course I dont get to go with her *crosses fingers that vet notices sudden weight loss* Because all she keeps saying is shes gonna get him a pill to put some pep back into him..

[Jelani]

So...sorry for the double post.

She just got back from the vet. She says he told her it's just part of aging for a dog but he wants her to get a urine sample to run tests just to be certain. I am 99% positive that she didnt tell the vet about the excessive drinking...because NONE of our old dogs did that..we had a black lab/ husky mix that made it to 17. he never did that..

God I dont want to sit back and watch this. >_<

[Nachtwulf]

Well, if she actually gives them the urine sample, it'll definitely tell them if it's diabetes. Just be sure she actually does it.

[Jelani]

Shes already planning her day tomorrow around taking the sample in. so I am fairly certain she will...The fact that he wants a sample is good. I'm hoping something caught his eye.

[Vephriel]

Would you be able to call the vet's office while your grandmother is out or something and explain the situation or just express some of your concerns so that they know?

[Jelani]

I sadly dont know which vet she uses. and I dont want to go snooping around.

THough if nothing happens before the end of May, when she is gone a week I may find a vet and take him myself.

Shes well known around here because she is a children's book author >_< so it's hard to sneak around..

[zedxrgal]

I am going to put in my two bits simply because I worked as a vet tech for five years. She didn't tell the vet jack. There is no way in hell a GOOD vet would allow a dog with those severe short term symptoms to leave the vets office without blood work.
That dog of hers could have not just diabetes but renal failure and congestive heart failure just like an obese human. Dogs aren't meant to eat human food that's why it's called dog food. Diabetes and other issues can be checked with a blood test also.
Sadly you're just going to have to intervene on the dog's behalf and talk with the vet yourself. Snooping is probably going to be needed. Check caller ID history etc, if she has that. His grandmother isn't seeing that she is for sure killing that dog.

[Jelani]

I am completely with you Rex. And if I could snoop and do that. I would in a heartbeat.

I mean the woman constantly shares Snickers and Milky Way bars with him. I dont know how he is alive..