Older dog has slowed down - supplement?

paultf

My older dog, Darby, a cocker, turned 9 last November. Over the last 2 months he has completed slowed down.

If he is lying down and I call him he won't move - I have to call him a few times - this is very unlike him because before, anytime I moved, he moved too. He seems to be labouring a bit. Does this indicate problems with his joints?

Also when walking he has slowed down too. He is not as eager - before he would be leading the way, now he walks beside me or even slightly behind. Before when we met other dogs he would bark - now he doesn't bother.

When I announce to the dogs we are going for a walk he doesn't get excited, stays in the corner and I have to go looking for him to put his harness/lead on - before he would come up to me. I now think a 2 hour walk is too much for him.

Is there a supplement that can:
* perk him up
* help with his joints

Or should I go to the vet?

Or is this just old age?

Connavar

I would go to the vet if I were you.

Not trying to scare you but something similar happened to my dog and it turned out to be due to him having cancer.

It could be nothing major or just old age as you say, but still better off getting him checked

paultf

Connavar wrote: »

I would go to the vet if I were you.

Not trying to scare you but something similar happened to my dog and it turned out to be due to him having cancer.

It could be nothing major or just old age as you say, but still better off getting him checked

I wonder what tests can a vet carry out in this case?

Is it just a matter of taking a blood sample and sending it away to a lab to get tested?

Is 9 years old too young for a cocker to slow down?

marley123

If it is the joints, highly recommend below!

http://www.lintbells.com/products/yumove

suziwalsh

I would highly recommend YUMOVE supplement

But I would recommend contacting a vet first if his slow down is that sudden

DBB

The vet will take bloods and may x-ray and/or scan too to establish what this is. Age of slowing down will differ from dog to dog, but if he's reluctant to go on walks, then he is trying to tell you something! Could be joints, could be his heart, could be any number of things, so forget about supplements etc until after he's had a thorough "old age" work up by the vet, and you've a better idea what you're dealing with.
Older dogs can have their quality of life greatly enhanced by an age-appropriate diet, medication if necessary, and just making things easier for them e.g. breaking the 2 hour walk into several shorter walks. But again, that's all stuff you can start to think about once he's seen the vet.
Good luck!

paultf

Folks, thanks for all the posts. Great advice. I have never really had to deal with old age before.

Toke Darby to the vets. The vet checked his body all over. Everything seemed to be OK - she commented that his joints were flexible enough. She toke a blood sample and was able to test on site. Results were OK - the vet said all the organs were OK, Darby was hydrated, no cancer, etc.

The vet started to talk about mediciation if had early stages of arthritis. Then she started to check his heartbeat from nearly every position on his body. After what seemed like an age, she said Darby may have early stages of heart disease. So he's booked in for an X-Ray tomorrow.

Hopefully it'll go alright. I'll let you know tomorrow.

Connavar

paultf wrote: »

Folks, thanks for all the posts. Great advice. I have never really had to deal with old age before.

Toke Darby to the vets. The vet checked his body all over. Everything seemed to be OK - she commented that his joints were flexible enough. She toke a blood sample and was able to test on site. Results were OK - the vet said all the organs were OK, Darby was hydrated, no cancer, etc.

The vet started to talk about mediciation if had early stages of arthritis. Then she started to check his heartbeat from nearly every position on his body. After what seemed like an age, she said Darby may have early stages of heart disease. So he's booked in for an X-Ray tomorrow.

Hopefully it'll go alright. I'll let you know tomorrow.

Best of luck!!

Our dog is 13 and was like that until she got dentastix
i think they're like drugs to her or something
no problem with her bounding around the place if she's on them, but if she doesn't get them she acts like she's on her deathbed

so... if the vet finds nothing, try those

paultf

Just by chance I did a search on a dog being hungry all the time and the results showed diabetes.

Darby for a while now has been looking for food even though he is well fed. His meals/treats are at set times so I always thought he was clever cause he remembered the times. In saying that he would get his 2nd meal at around 5.30pm - yet he would come pestering sometimes at 3pm and keep it up till the due time. Now I am wondering? I'll check with the vet tomorrow but I can't remember if the blood test she did today covered diabetes.

Diabetes: drinking more, weight loss, looking for food, peeing more and lathergic.

He does drink water but I didn't think it was excessive. He hasn't lost weight - he is well fed and he is the type of dog that carries. Toilet: at home during the day he is let outside every 90 minutes so I can't tell - but during a walk he does excessively mark. Definitely looking for food alot and lathergic.

Could diabetes be the problem? Should I ask the vet to check that first before doing the x-ray?

Millem

paultf wrote: »

Just by chance I did a search on a dog being hungry all the time and the results showed diabetes.

Darby for a while now has been looking for food even though he is well fed. His meals/treats are at set times so I always thought he was clever cause he remembered the times. In saying that he would get his 2nd meal at around 5.30pm - yet he would come pestering sometimes at 3pm and keep it up till the due time. Now I am wondering? I'll check with the vet tomorrow but I can't remember if the blood test she did today covered diabetes.

Diabetes: drinking more, weight loss, looking for food, peeing more and lathergic.

He does drink water but I didn't think it was excessive. He hasn't lost weight - he is well fed and he is the type of dog that carries. Toilet: at home during the day he is let outside every 90 minutes so I can't tell - but during a walk he does excessively mark. Definitely looking for food alot and lathergic.

Could diabetes be the problem? Should I ask the vet to check that first before doing the x-ray?

I have a 3 year old lab who had slowed down a lot. Ucd literally investigated everything including diabetes (which is a blood test), Addison disease etc. Turns out she has heart disease (they do an ultrasound to diagonose). I think it is called dialated cardiomyopathy. She has been on a cocktail of tablets and is now down to two heart tablets per day. And is doing grand now

meoklmrk91

The blood would have been tested for diabetes if it was a full panel. Haematology and biochemistry, the latter would include glucose levels.

paultf

Darby had a x-ray of the heart today. Not good news. He has an enlargement on the right hand side of the heart. Heart diesase.

He is on tablets for the time being. My vet is going to make an appointment to get an ultrasound ASAP in either UCD or Blanchardstown in order to identfy the type of heart disease and the extent. Which location depends on how soon we can get an appointment.

Anyone ever go to Blanchardstown? (A woman from UCD freelances there.)

The vet said that nowadays heart defects are treatable with the hugh range of medications available. From the supportive posts on this thread some people say their dog has a similar heart problem, on meds and doing well. So that's positive and something to hang on to.

EDIT: just did a google - I think this is the woman www.emmatobin.com who does the ultrasound in Blanchardstown at www.anicare.ie

DBB

The exercise intolerance, typified by not wanting to go for walks any more, is a strong indicator of heart problems, which is why I mentioned it as a possibility above, as it sounded more like heart than joints... This thread is a great example of some of the things owners should look out for which indicate there's something serious underlying a recent or sudden change of behaviour, and I'm delighted you've highlighted it OP! Early intervention often makes a huge difference and your quick response to your dog's changed behaviour is great and will, I'm sure, stand to you.
Whilst the condition is serious, it could be worse, as heart meds are pretty good these days. As for ultra sounds, there is a super, really super vet who specialises in scans in Raheny Vet Hospital. I've had several dogs with her, the latest was 3wks ago, I called them on a Monday and got an appointment two days later on Wednesday. The vet is Emi, she is just fab.
I have to also use this opportunity, if I may, to highlight how important it is for owners to get your dog to the vet if you notice an unusual or sudden behaviour change, and not faff about with supplements or diets until you know exactly what you're dealing with. All the supplements in the world would not have helped OP's dog... Not having any class of a go at you here OP, I hope you don't mind me using your situation to highlight the issue :-)
Good luck with all that's ahead, and well done again on your prompt action.

Millem

paultf wrote: »

Darby had a x-ray of the heart today. Not good news. He has an enlargement on the right hand side of the heart. Heart diesase.

He is on tablets for the time being. My vet is going to make an appointment to get an ultrasound ASAP in either UCD or Blanchardstown in order to identfy the type of heart disease and the extent. Which location depends on how soon we can get an appointment.

Anyone ever go to Blanchardstown? (A woman from UCD freelances there.)

The vet said that nowadays heart defects are treatable with the hugh range of medications available. From the supportive posts on this thread some people say their dog has a similar heart problem, on meds and doing well. So that's positive and something to hang on to.

Are tablets called vetmedin by any chance? Anne French is Ucd cardiologist but
Is only there once a month as she lectures in Scotland. I know there is some woman from cork/Kerry/limerick (can't remember) who freelances? Ucd can do ultrasounds without Anne French. My dog was like yours it just happened suddenly after lots of investigation she was on vetmedin, then vetmedin and corvental d, now just vetmedin. Her condition is not straight forward her contractility is very poor. One vet said they don't know how she is alive! Ucd wanted to keep testing and overnight stays and a muscle biopsy. After 6 months we drew the line on all of it! The reason why is that we felt Ucd were using her as research and wanted to put her under general anaesethic (which for me is too risky). Ucd said they are finding more and more young dogs with heart problems. She is leading a semi normal life (2-3 walks per week, she sleeps for Most of the day, she loves the beach and ball. Ucd said she is not allowed off lead anymore. I let her off lead to play ball as she loves it and I feel she needs to have a life too).
My advice is try not to worry too much! The tablets are great these days. They may also want to check your dogs lungs for fluid.

paultf

Millem wrote: »

Are tablets called vetmedin by any chance?

I know there is some woman from cork/Kerry/limerick (can't remember) who freelances?

The tablets I got are called "Fortekor" (by Novartis Animal Health) for treatment of congestive heart failure. I'd say after the ultrasound the vet could change/add to the meds.

I think this is the woman www.emmatobin.com who does the ultrasound in Blanchardstown at www.anicare.ie She is a freelancer from Kilkenny. My vet said she was associated with UCD - looking at her website she studied & lectured there - not sure if she still works in UCD.

paultf

Thought I'd update this thread for anyone interested.

Went to Dublin for the scan today. I was a bit anxious on the way up as Darby hardly moved. Plus he has diarrhea for the last week aswell. Emma scanned the heart - the left hand side was in good condition and his heartbeat was OK. On the right side there is a swelling which is caused by a valve leaking. Hopefully this will be treated by meds. We'll get a better picture over the next couple of weeks.

Emma scanned the abdomen. No tumours but there was alot of gas because of the diarrhea. Since one of my other dogs has picked up something too, the vets reckon it's a bad infection so they are now both on antibothics. Might have to go back for a scan of this area again when it has cleared up.

She is going to do up a report. Another visit to the vet next week.

Big relief leaving the vets! I was worried today. He has slowed down so much, so rapidly - completely caught me off guard. Hopefully now this has been sorted and we have a good run.

No more long walks for Darby. He'll be spoilt even more now!

Millem

paultf wrote: »

Thought I'd update this thread for anyone interested.

Went to Dublin for the scan today. I was a bit anxious on the way up as Darby hardly moved. Plus he has diarrhea for the last week aswell. Emma scanned the heart - the left hand side was in good condition and his heartbeat was OK. On the right side there is a swelling which is caused by a valve leaking. Hopefully this will be treated by meds. We'll get a better picture over the next couple of weeks.

Emma scanned the abdomen. No tumours but there was alot of gas because of the diarrhea. Since one of my other dogs has picked up something too, the vets reckon it's a bad infection so they are now both on antibothics. Might have to go back for a scan of this area again when it has cleared up.

She is going to do up a report. Another visit to the vet next week.

Big relief leaving the vets! I was worried today. He has slowed down so much, so rapidly - completely caught me off guard. Hopefully now this has been sorted and we have a good run.

No more long walks for Darby. He'll be spoilt even more now!

That is great news! Hopefully he will make a speedy recovery.