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Old dog not eating, diarrhea, arthritis

My 14 year old dog has been loosing her appetite more and more over the last 3 months, and I can barely get her to eat anything anymore now. It started with her not liking certain snack's anymore, I changed them she ate them for a while and then didn't like them anymore either. Then came her dog food (Iams Dry), which she has been eating all her live, first less then none, then Iams wet food, same thing. As this whole eating dilemma went on her stool became softer and softer then turned to diarrhea sometimes with mucus and she was also straining at this point. I took here to the vet after about a month into this and we thought that the whole eating disorder is related to her having arthritis which has become worse also. Stool & Urine test didn't show anything of help and the blood test was normal. She was prescribed the pain med Tramadol to which she had a severe reaction and it gave her a urinary tract infection also but Antibiotics cleared that up quickly.
After that the vet and I decided on Dexamethasone SP injections which helped her arthritis somewhat but made her weak, plus it has some serious long term side effects. After 2 Injections we decided to give her Adequan injections also and take her off the Dexamethasone if they proof to be effective. Adequan is helping her a lot after only 10 days and no more Dexamethasone is needed, she gets the Adequan 1x week for a month and after that just when needed.
She is walking much better, not as weak, and seems to be without pain from the arthritis.

But her eating has not improved at all, she still is not eating enough. I've been giving her a teaspoon of Pepto once a day for 4 days now and that seems to help a lot with the diarrhea.
So far everything me and my Vet could think of was tried for the eating problem, from bland diet to added fiber, pumpkin, boiled chicken and rice, most prescription diet foods, but she tries it and then turns her head. I'm lucky when I get a cup a food into her in a day, which is not enough for a Black Lab mix.

Any help and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. How do I increase her appetite, what could be wrong and is it save to give her the small amount of Pepto once daily?

She needs to eat more, she lost 5 lbs (down to 46 lbs) so far and was always at a perfect weight prior to this.

Sorry about the long post, just wanted to make sure everything was mentioned.



Best Answer
974371 tn?1424653129
Sorry your dog isn't doing well.  It is so hard to watch them get old and deal with the issues that come along with that.  Thank goodness we don't have to tell you to take the dog to the Vet.  I assume your Vet checked her mouth thoroughly for any dental problems that may be affecting her eating.  Did he do a blood panel and urine test to check for any kidney and/or liver problems?  Did he suggest you use the Pepto?  
You might try picking up some canned Evo food or Solid Gold Tripe and see if she will eat that.  Just get a can to see.  Both are good foods.  You can try cooking a small batch of food yourself. Try doing chicken with lean ground beef, liver (I prefer calf's liver), some brown rice, you can add green beans, squash, the canned pumpkin, some garlic and chicken broth.  You might also try feeding some low-fat cottage cheese.
Ask your Vet about trying to give her Pepcid twice a day instead of the Pepto and maybe, if she has an upset stomach, that will help settle it.  
You might also ask your Vet about giving Vitamin B-12, either by injection or orally. This sometimes helps to stimulate the appetite.
good luck.  
6 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
10821430 tn?1439580883
Hi you're responding to comments made many years
ago, Margot may not see this?
Maybe your vet needs to readjust the medication for
your guy,sometimes the first doses can be off,high or
on the low side? BUT I feel you should call your vet
ASAP,let them know what is going on,how he is act-
ing so they give you the information you need to help
him he should not be throwing up.
Jan
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Our 15 year old Border Collie is on Adequen too.  We see a huge difference in feeling better and being able to walk, go up and down the stairs outside etc but he has NO appetite and throws up bile once a day.  When he does eat, that comes up too.  I've been boiling rice but even this morning he threw that up.  I will try the mixture with chicken and the other stuff you suggested.  Hope it stays down but if plain rice doesn't, I don't know....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have changed my two dogs food eating and what a difference in them. I get organic carrots and organic string beans and etc. cook them ,put them in the blender fine. and freeze them . Then I make brown rice in salt free chicken broth and freeze. then I cook chicken and freeze.  Then they are on blue dog food, I only give them a little  of that for their stool. They have that every night. They are so much better ,they love it. My one Multipoo dog is 15 years old and what a difference when I started my new food. But everyone should try this ... hoped I helped you...









































Helpful - 0
974371 tn?1424653129
I'd still ask the Vet about trying the Pepcid.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you, I have been cooking for my dog for a while now and it hasn't helped much as for her eating more, or fixing the diarrhea. I will try some cottage cheese now because of the probiotics in it, hope that helps.

Somehow I think my dog actually associates eating with her troubles of diarrhea. Last night she ate almost like she used to, then before going to bed she had diarrhea again and now she is not interested in food again. I'm pretty sure if I somehow can manage her bowel movement to be more comfortable she'd probably will eat again. I don't think she has an upset stomach it's more likely something in her intestines, the question is what?

She has no liver or kidney problems her tests all did come back good.
Helpful - 0
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