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Thread: Urinalysis results pg2 #33 Coping with FLOODS!

  1. #1
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    Urinalysis results pg2 #33 Coping with FLOODS!

    Starting back in November, I have written a bit about how Marlin is aging. Although we were told he was age 9 when he was surrendered in to rescue, it is not uncommon for owners to make a dog younger. They worry that even a rescue won't take on an older dog. This would mean Marlin will be 13 next week. Well, he is acting MUCH older.

    He has another vet appt on Aug 2d, and I'm sure all sorts of blood work will happen. Here are the ongoing, and worsening issues:

    - he drinks water CONSTANTLY. And what goes in, must come out. So we have regular FLOODS. He is not always aware that he has to go, or even that he IS GOING! When he knows, he asks to go out and boy, one of us best RUN to get that door open for him. You know how the morning pee is highly concentrated, very yellow, and this is the one vets prefer for testing? No longer, with Marlin, For over a month now, he is up to pee at 2 AM and again at 4 AM. He drinks gallons in between, so it is always very dilute. I've tried a belly band, but nothing can hold that much liquid. He pees on pet beds, floors, pillows, he just can't help himself. Several times, he has been at the water bowl drinking, and it is coming out at the back as fast as he is lapping it up at the front.

    - since November or so he has been eating 3 times what the others eat, daily. He hasn't gained any weight. If anything, he may have lost a tiny bit.

    - he has a lot of difficulty walking. He can no longer do long walks, and does not come with us to the Farm any more. I walk him down the street and back, and some days that is too much and I have to carry him back home.

    - he howls, yes HOWLS, if he can't find me. This is unfortunate as it happens when I walk the other dogs, go out for groceries, or just go in the yard to mow the lawn (all the dogs stay in then, as I have all the gates open.) Dad tries but nothing consoles Marlin until I am back in. I make a point to talk to him and touch him to let him know I've returned.

    - he gets out of breath rapidly on these slower - than - molasses walks

    - he has some doggie dementia going on, gets stuck behind bedroom doors, and the door to outside. Coming in, he roams the garage barking and has on 2 occasions recently tried to get through the WALL when I open the door to let him in. He can't figure out which door I am at when I return from grocery shopping, and may be at the CELLAR door barking for me, rather than one of the doors to outside. I have the cellar stairs well blocked, as he fell down them once. (Have to keep the door open as the cats have their litter boxes down there)

    - he doesn't see well, bumps in to things. It is comical to see he shuffle and then give a HUGE LEAP to get over a tiny crack in the asphalt in the road when we walk down the street. But also sad, as I know he hasn't a clue what that dark spot is, it could be going all the way to China!

    He's been tested twice for diabetes, thyroid, Cushings and other stuff, all with negative results. I am sure the vet will run all that in the blood work again next week.

    Marlin has never been one to sit in your lap, or even next to you on a sofa. But in the past month, he takes great pleasure in having a good rub down! Awwwwww.
    Last edited by Freedom; 08-05-2011 at 09:54 AM.
    .

  2. #2
    Aww poor Marlin. I hope the vet trip offers some help with the peeing issues.
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  3. #3
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    Poor baby! Sounds like hearing/sight loss with a touch of dementia is catching up. The drinking/peeing the vet should be able to pinpoint pretty quickly I would think. Prayers it's easy to cure! Pinot sends kitty kisses (whether appreciated or not).
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  4. #4
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    I'm so sorry to hear Marlin has all these issues. It's not fun for neither of you. It does sound like he is older than what you thought. Hopefully the vet visit will help clear up what is wrong, so he can get help for it.

    Give him some scritches from me.

    Good thoughts and best of luck!



    "I don't know which weapons will be used in the third World war, but in the fourth, it will be sticks and stones" --- Albert Einstein.


  5. #5
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    Has your vet ruled out kidney disease? Myndi was showing some of the symptoms that Marlin has when I took her in for a check. I really thought it was diabetes, but her blood sugar couldn't have been more normal. She had been drinking gallons of water, and peeing constantly, but she was diagnosed with kidney disease. She's been on the K/D prescription food ever since, and is doing great on that.
    She has weakness in her back legs - when she stands in one spot, all 4 legs quiver and the back legs are more balancing her than supporting her. Surprisingly she doesn't have a problem walking. We never have done long walks - just exercise around the yard - but she gets around okay. First thing in the morning the legs are really bad, and sometimes she will even fall over. I just stand her up and support her for a few seconds, and then she's good to go.
    She also is getting a little confused. One day last week she wandered into the family room (which is off limits to pups), and got lost behind the sofa. My son heard her fussing and rescued her.
    Of course the problem with the legs and the confusion, is just probably part of being old, as could be the same with Marlin. Myndi is pushing 16 and has been around over a year more than I expected, after how sick she was a year ago.
    So for now, I'm just happy that she is content and happy and doing well on her special diet. It really made a world of difference. I hope you can get to the bottom of Marlin's problems and get him on the right track. It's just so darn hard to watch our furkids get old.........
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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  6. #6
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    Those symptoms sound exactly like my moms RB Min Pin, Kodi. He lived a happy 17 1/2 years.
    I hope the vet can help with the flooding issue and at least help him be comfortable for many many more months or even years.
    Our goal in life should be - to be as good a person as our dog thinks we are.

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  7. #7
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    If all else fails, of course diapers would at least contain the floods for the time being. Hopefully the vet can be of some help!
    I've Been Frosted

  8. #8
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    Had a 14 year old greyhound that couldn't hold it in in time to go outside. Eventually, we had her laying down on a doggy pee pad just in case. It's good that you're keepin' him walking, that's really important. Dogs can get bed sores if they don't move around a lot when they're that age. You're doing all that right stuff, hopefully the vet can help you find some solutions.
    The pups

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    "Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer." - Dean Koontz, False Memory

  9. #9
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    Thanks for all the posts. Sometimes it helps just having others listen.

    Marlin is definitely fine in himself, thus far! He gets such a HUGE smile on his face come meal time! Offer him a treat and oh my, he's in heaven, lol. So he hasn't changed THAT much! Starvin Marlin is still constantly hoping the Food Fairy made a delivery to his dish, which he checks regularly, just like always.

    I've always had to make sure he gets one walk a day, he gets constipated with out it. Makes for some interesting times in rain, snow and cold! Even if none of the others are interested, Marlin has a walk, I've always had to be sure of that, lol.
    .

  10. #10
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    Poor Marlin. I hope that your vet will be able to make a diagnosis this time so you'll at least know what you're dealing with. I also hope that whatever may be causing this can be treated. It's so hard to watch are furkids age but I'm glad to hear that Marlin is still a happy boy.

  11. #11
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    Those Bichons are a worry...so sweet all of the time and when they act different it is a real worry. Give him a kiss for me.

    I just had Kirby (my 9 year old Bichon) to the vet yesterday. He's been acting strangely the last couple of weeks. Very fearful and clingy - so unlike him. Had an x-ray to look for tumors on the liver - nothing (phew). But his thyroid was a little high for me. The vet said to wait a couple of months and we'll run it again. He may be developing Cushings. We'll wait and see.

  12. #12
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    Hi Robin, yeah Cushings is a worry w/ bichons, they are so prone to it. We suspect that is part of Marlin's issue. But they get so many false negatives w/ the Cushings test, that sometimes the disease is quite advanced before it is actually diagnosed.

    Hugs to Kirby!
    .

  13. #13
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    Give Marlin a great big hug for me. He and my Kirby would get along so well. Sweet goofy little guys.

  14. #14
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    Lots of love to darlin' Marlin! We sure hope everything is fixable and turns out ok.
    Lilith Cherry
    "
    "Love never claims, it ever gives. Love ever suffers, never resents, never revenges itself." -Mahatma Gandhi

  15. #15
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    Thanks, Lilith. We'll see tomorrow what the vet can offer.
    .

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