Wah, the vet kept my Ozzy...Update Page 3

[Glacier]

Ozzy has been loosing weight for a few months and nothing I do has helped. He's been de-wormed. He is fed a high fat, high protien diet. He eats more than Heyoka who weighs more than triple what Ozzy does. So off to the vet he went this morning.

There's nothing abnormal on his physical exam. The vet, Dr. Jessica(new to our clinic), did a very complete exam, much to Ozzy's dismay! No suspicious lumps she can feel from the outside, other than his ribs, spine and hip bones! Temp was normal and his, ummm, internal exam, apparently felt normal. His heartrate was way up, but he was pretty nervous in the clinic.

I was very impressed with his behavior at the clinic. Ozzy is a timid dog to start with and last time he was at the vet, Dr. Rick had to crawl under a chair to examine him. Ozzy let Jessica handle him. He was obviously stress, but not completely freaked out. He prefers women so that probably helped. She's very gentle and soft-spoken. She's covering for a friend/vet who's on maternity leave. I like her so far.

Ozzy is spending the day at the clinic for testing. They drew blood while I was there. Depending on the results he may need x-rays or an ultrasound. I decided to leaving him there would be less stressful than making another trip back if he does need something else. Get it all done in one trip. Ozzy is not going to be happy with me, but I need to figure out why he's a bone rack!

Please cross your paws for my little guy. I'm very worried that the parvo he beat as a wee puppy left behind some other damage.

[Queen of Poop]

Prayers that Ozzy will be ok. You may discover after a day with the new lady vet that he doesn't mind the vet so much. She sounds really nice.

[Cinder & Smoke]

HI God ~

Sorrie fur the short notice ... but we need sum help wiff wunna da Snow Dawgs -
Ozzy keeps loosin weight no matter how much grub he eats.

Kan You hop onna Silver Klowd an *zipp* down to da Yukon this afternoon?
Give Doc Jessica a lil help lookin stuff up inna Big Book - You can prolly find da answer.

Maybe take a treet along? Ozzy dint know he wuz stayin inna Klinik all day!
Anna big {{{God'sHug}}} fur Momma Tamara, if You will ... She's *wurried*!

We'll send a Follow-Up Prayer at BigBed Tyme.

THANKS, God!

/s/ the Prayer Pups

[loveallfurryfriends]

Smokey & I are praying for Ozzy!!

[gini]

It always upsets me when I have to leave one of my cats at the vets overnight for anything at all.

There is such a huge void at home - with even one of them gone.

Prayers for Ozzy - that all is well - and you can start packing on the pounds once again!

[lizbud]

It always upsets me when I have to leave one of my cats at the vets overnight for anything at all.

There is such a huge void at home - with even one of them gone.

Prayers for Ozzy - that all is well - and you can start packing on the pounds once again!

That is so true Gini. Even one makes a difference in the feel of the house.

Glacier, I hope they find the cause of the weight loss ASAP. I have heard
that dogs who do survive parvo have a weaker immune syetem. I hope
Ozzy gets to eating more & enjoying it.

[Glacier]

I hope
Ozzy gets to eating more & enjoying it.

His appetite is not the problem. He eats like a little piggy and is always very excited about food! For some reason he doesn't seem to be absorbing the calories though. I'm feeding him the high test formula, not the off-season stuff the other dogs are eating. He should gain weight like crazy on that stuff when he's not working.

Thanks everyone. I'll update again once I hear from the vet.

[Catty1]

Maybe he needs more carbs with the protein?

Prayers for Ozzy! {{hugs}}

[Glacier]

Maybe he needs more carbs with the protein?

Prayers for Ozzy! {{hugs}}

Dogs can't absorb most carbs. They lack an enzyme that breaks down cell walls in most carb sources. They can produce their form of carbs from protien. But at this point, I'll feed him spaghetti if it help!


Update:

Apparently Ozzy's problem is me! The vet says he appears to be extremely healthy. All his blood tests are perfectly normal. His heart rate returned to normal once he had settled into his kennel. No masses or weird things on the x-rays.

Current theory is that he has some sort of freakishly fast metabolism and just needs more food! I had increased his food quite a bit already, but it's going up even more! He's going on their winter diet at almost double what Heyoka eats. Heyoka weighs close to triple what Ozzy does. I'm going to make him some Satin Balls too--mix of meat and fat that is apparently good for adding weight. My butcher buddy gave me some pure fat trimmings for Ozzy. Just have to be careful that I don't cause a new problem, like pancreatitis, by feeding him too much fat! Sheesh!

He has to go in weekly for the next month to get weighed. If he still doesn't gain weight, we'll have to do more tests--the really expensive ones that can't be done up here in the boonies! Hopefully, the problem is just a bad Mom and more tests won't be neccessary.

[Catty1]

You're a GREAT mom - it's not your fault that you have the canine equivalent of a teenage boy with a hollow leg!

How old is he?

[Glacier]

How old is he?

He just turned four a couple weeks ago. Been here since he was a yearling.

[Queen of Poop]

Like a teenager, he's going to eat you out of house and home!! I hope you can fatten him up. He could always visit my parents if you have trouble. They had the roundest husky/malamute ever! With his own piece of peanut butter toast every morning, plus something for lunch and dinner it wouldn't take long!!

[Cinder & Smoke]

Hey OZZY ~

You back HOME at the Husky Ranch yet???

Sure hope so - Mom prolly has sum GUD STUFF for you to *munch* on.
What'd your new GirlBuddie - da Pretty White Coat, have to say?

Y'all keep *munchin* now - gotta put sum meat under that fluff!
{{{Hugs}}} to You an Mom!!

/s/ Phred & the FurGang

[Catty1]

Buy peanut butter in bulk! Here's to PB Toast for Ozzy!

[crow_noir]

Prayers for Ozzy whether it is just that you need more food or something else is going on.