Dog problems. Is there a vet here?

[de8212]

My brother has an eight year old black lab that has been ill recently. It first started with a milky brown/green discharge coming out of the corner of her eye. Took her to the vet to get some medicine for it.
Within a week we noticed she was looking really thin. At first it seemed normal because we buy her dog food with more fat during the winter months and then healthier food in the summer. Days later we could tell that she was dropping weight really fast.
After going to the vet he mentioned she may have diabetes (sp?). We have been giving here insulin shots twice a day for a few weeks now. SHe has gone back twice during the time and they just keep upping the dosage.
The vet said to keep it up for 10 more days and we'll see what happens.
She has kinda lost her appetite for her dog food but that is also normal over the past few years. She gets picky and won't eat as often. However when we buy her hamburgers or "human food" she scrfs it down with no porblem. Unfortuanetely she hasn't put bac on the weight.
Her hind legs seem to be affected by this illness because they shake real bad from time to time (especially when she uses the bathroom).
Just thought I'd see if anyone has any info or experience with something similar.
Thanks for any help.
de

 

[Isla]

I'm not a vet but I was a veterinary technician for several years.

It may just be that she's a geriatric dog now... 8 might not seem old to you, but it's getting up there for a black lab, especially if she's pure bred.

You might want to read up on older dogs so that you'll be prepared to deal with what's to come. She may still have a few good years left on her, but she's not the same pup she used to be (even if sometimes she acts like it!)

Best Wishes~

 

[TheNinja]

Karl Malone say, why they gotta call it diabetes, they should call it livabetes instead.

Sorry, I think labs are prone to hip problems so the shaking legs aren't too shocking but the rest is. I'd say just trust your vet on this one, that is basically all you can do. sorry for your dog.

 

[de8212]

Thanks for the info.

so the shaking legs aren't too shocking

Well, I geuss I didn't describe it in detail. Here hind legs shake so bad that she actually falls and can't get up for a minute or two. It's really sad to watch her in that position.

Any body else have any thoughts?

thanks

 

[Eli]

Never feed a dog human food, especially fast food.. It's garbage. It's amazing we can live on it for so long.

Sorry I can't help with more with her problem.

 

[PlasticJesus]

We had a dog that had just the hind-leg problems. One day she just couldn't stand on her hind legs. Took her to the vet and the guy picks her up by the tail and sets her on her legs. After a few times she finally stands up. Vet said she had "my excellent compatriot-dog botulism" which comes from eating road kill. We live in the country so it made sense. Lots of antibiotics for a couple weeks and she was good to go.

At the same time, if your vet says diabetes, surely he knows what he's talking about. A few months later we lost that dog and another to anti-freeze. Not cool. Hope everything works out for ya'll.

 

[ZaneNBK]

I'd think the best thing to do would be to take her to another vet for a second opinion.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

NO HUMAN FOOD - seriously wtf don't feed them it ever

I'm sorry for the puppy and your situation, it is never easy to watch a friend in pain

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: ZaneNBK
I'd think the best thing to do would be to take her to another vet for a second opinion.

I agree. This vet is so ... ready... to up the dosage of insulin. I don't think my vet would have done that with my dog (RIP Mindy).

Hopefully she gets better.

 

[Parrotheader]

Definitely get a second opinion. Your vet could very well be right, but it doesn't hurt to double-check with someone else. Our dog goes for regular checkups at a vet we like a lot because he actually has experience with our breed (which is rather rare.) But we also take him to the groomers at another vet's office which also has a great reputation should we ever need another option. If I ever get any critical news from my vet I've already got a solid history with another vet's office.

I've personally thought about looking into that pet insurance stuff at times. I know that sounds laughable to some, but if something ever happened where I had to pay for a very expensive procedure or regularly pay for expensive medication there's no doubt in my mind I'd do whatever it takes to take care of my dog. Some plans supposedly cost next to nothing.

 

[cjchaps]

I don't know why people are against feeding a dog people food. Look at the ingredients on most brands of dog food out there and tell me what is more natural for a dog to eat.
1)The grains, corn, and other "vegetable" matter that are the main ingredients in many dog foods.
2)A hamburger patty?

I don't mean to thread-jack, and I hope your doggie gets better soon. My dog has had siezure problems it's whole life

 

[de8212]

cjchaps

I agree w/you about the human food. I would think that anyone that had a dog lose 40+ pounds wihtin a month or so would feed their dogs anything possible just to get them to gain some of the weight back.

I have suggested my brother take the dog to another vet. The current vet is a long time familyt friend so he is well trusted but anyone could mis-diagnose.

Thanks for all the help everyone.