Re: Molly in Minnesota is sick! I'm sorry I've only just seen this. I hope Molly is still improving. My old lab had liver failure at 14. He was sick in the morning then off his food like Molly. He was also shivering as if he was cold. The vet couldn't find anything wrong on examining him mentioned doing bloods but didn't seem to bothered to do it. I insisted because I knew there was something wrong. A couple of hours later she rang to ask me to take him back next morning for starvation bloods and a scan of his liver. (another thing for the list of why I changed vets. ). He was put on Denamarin, if I'd seen the thread sooner I could've told you about no food sorry . They are massive and really blue aren't they ? They did another starvation blood test I think a week later perhaps two. He should've had a third but unfortunately he had vestibular syndrome. The vet who came out thought it was a stroke and gave him a big dose of steroids (not a stoke another mistake ) so no point doing the bloods. Despite all that and then eventually being put on heart meds I had Murphy for at least another year and a half. ;D. He stayed on the denamarin though which as well as being massive and blue are also expensive : but they worked. I hope Molly continues to do well. I found Murphy liked nature diet cod and potatoe. I don't know if you can get that where you are but it's just wet dog food that really stinks of fish. ;D Good luck.
Re: Molly in Minnesota is sick! Sorry to hear about Molly. My lab is 14 too and was diagnosed with cushings disease earlier this year. I know it's such a worry when they start to go downhill. Good news though that the medication is working. Hope Molly continues to improve. We meet a man and his dog down the park, Banjo, the dog, has been diagnosed with liver disease. He's 10 and the vet suggested giving him Chappie wet dog food. I don't know if you are able to get it where you are. He's also on medication (not sure what) but he too has improved massively.
Re: Molly in Minnesota is sick! Nancy I'm sorry to read your news but it was lovely to read you'd seen improvement since the diagnosis.i haven't had a dog yet at this stage of their life ( I dread it :'() bit you will know what to do for the best for her and give her a lot of loving and comfort while you can x
Re: Molly in Minnesota is sick! Jen, are you familiar with Hills Prescription Diets? I don't know if it's just available in the US or is global. They make a variety of dry and canned foods designed for specific illnesses, so Molly is supposed to be on the liver diet (called l/d). She doesn't much like it, which is why I've been trying the other natural foods. We seem to have a good variety of both raw (frozen and freeze-dried) and processed but grain-free and more natural foods, so I think I can keep her eating. We go back in two weeks for another blood chem. Ours are not fasting blood draws ("starvation" sounds so grim! ) - wonder if the difference is in the machines they use for analysis? The pills are, indeed, big and blue! I'll look for the OTC version next week because the prescription pills are definitely expensive. Anyway, I'd be very happy to get another year, year and a half for Molly. At 14, I really can't expect much more. I just want her to stay as comfy and contented as possible before the time comes for that hard, hard decision.
Re: Molly in Minnesota is sick! Hi Nancy Yes we have hill prescription here. My dog was on royal canin sensitivity control vet diet before his liver problem. The vet didn't suggest I change but they did suggest fish4dogs when he got fed up of that food so I assume fish is ok. They also do an egg and rice diet which he really liked. I found he loved fish based food so maybe you could try that if you get stuck again. : 14 is a very good age and like you said all we want is for them to be happy. Keep going she sounds like she's doing well and I know its impossible but try not to worry.
Re: Molly in Minnesota is sick! Aw sorry to hear about Molly. I hope the meds help and you can find food she enjoys
Re: Molly in Minnesota is sick! Molly kinda walked away from the last mix of the Sojos freeze-dried food I made up, so I tried Blue Wilderness Trout canned food, which she loved! Maybe she's realizing how she can get some variety in her dinners now... I think I may be buying a can here and another can there and end up trying everything on the shelf before we're done! That's okay - she's worth it!
Re: Molly in Minnesota is sick! Nancy, sorry I didn't reply earlier, I know you asked about how things went for my old boy. He managed for quite a long time after the first diagnosis, and was really doing pretty well for several months - I would say about half a year. He was happy and eating well, although he continued to lose weight slowly but surely. On his last day he suddenly was in a LOT of pain, and basically just collapsed. Although the vet managed to stabilize him, he was still obviously in pain and I made the decision to have him put to sleep. It wasn't a difficult decision really, as it was so obvious that the time had come. But even that morning he had been for a happy walk, and had done some butt-tucking on the front lawn! I hope Molly continues to do well on her new medication and food for some considerable time to come. Don't we just love our old dogs? They are the best...
Re: Molly in Minnesota is sick! You see fish they love it. I think it's the stink. My vet told me to give Murphy whatever he wanted. At that age the main thing was getting him to eat not worrying about what he ate. Murphy had been a fussy eater all his life so that was easier said than done and he had a sensitive stomach so I still had to be careful. : If Molly can eat anything let her. She won't believe her luck a different tasty wet dinner every night instead of the same dry kibble. ;D
Re: Molly in Minnesota is sick! I laughed this morning when I opened the latest can of new stuff because it even smelled good to me! She ate around all the Science Diet l/d kibble, so I gave her more of the canned. Jen and Karen, I agree: Molly can have anything she'll eat at this point! ;D ;D
Re: Molly in Minnesota is sick! Bad news in Molly's latest blood chems. The liver values are starting to climb again, in spite of the meds. I've really been struggling to find anything she'll eat, too. I have a long list of foods I've tried, human, dog, fresh, canned, kibble, - you name it! She will eat a small part of many of them, for one meal, then turn away when offered it again. (The other dogs are really enjoying the leftovers!) We put her on a corticosteroid to see if reducing the inflammation may make her feel better and be more inclined to eat. I'm starting to try all the lower quality commercial foods because I've read that they contain more artificial flavoring agents and sweeteners, as well as grains. I know they're not as nutritious as a good dog food, but at this point, if she'll eat it, she can have it!! I guess it's just a waiting game at this point. I keep hoping she's not in pain, and wondering if I'll be able to tell before it gets really bad. She will sometimes get into heavy panting jags when it's not hot or humid and I know that can be a pain indicator. No appetite can also be a pain indication... So hard to tell!
Re: Molly in Minnesota is sick! Oh dear, it's so hard, isn't it. I guess you just have to keep in close contact with your vet and a careful eye on her, which I know you do. You know her best, you'll just have to trust your instincts on how she's feeling. Hope you'll find something she will like to eat, maybe just keep trying different things and you'll come up with a winner. :-\
Re: Molly in Minnesota is sick! Oh Nancy. Sorry to hear this. What an anxious time for you. I am sure you will know when she needs your help. Big hugs to you both xx
Re: Molly in Minnesota is sick! Very sorry to hear this. You know your dog and I think you'll be able to tell if she's in a lot of pain. Thinking of you.
Re: Molly in Minnesota is sick! Ah Nancy, feeling for you. Hoping Molly is comfortable, and that you are having happy days with her.
