Chloe or 10 yr. old Silky

Question
QUESTION: Chloe' had a bad spell of retaining fluid in her tummy due to her enlarged heart.After taking water pills she is better, but has lost too much weight. Please tell me what I can do to put a little back on. She is a picky eater and anything out of the norm gives her diareha. She has been opn pro-plan dry all her life..I want to do this ina a healthy way..Thank you. I am at wits end...

ANSWER: Hi nancy,

I'm concerned about this as weight loss can be a sign the disease is progressing, or it could be an unrelated but serious issue. Have you had a full geriatric screening done recently?  Are you able to upgrade to a high quality food, or even consider home made? Are you using natural support, such as fish oils, vitaminE, hawthorn, L-carnitine?

I run a group called caninehearthealth, and have extensive experience with various cardiac conditions as my own dog  was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy many years before she died. Believe me there is so much you an do. And I understand how picky a little Yorkie can be - but, the foods I am likely to suggest all have a high palatability quotient -  do NOT just go to a generic supplement or formula, this is a serious condition and requires individual management.
Let's start with the above questions, plus I'd like to know if she has any other conditions - kidney, liver - before making specific recommendations.

Hang in there!
Catherine

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The only thing the vet did was blood work which was all normal, except her protein was a little low. The vet actually thought it was her liver, but the numbers were good. They compared them back to last Aug. I am open to any and all suggestions. They weighed her and said she had lost only 1/4 of a pound, but I know it was more. She weighed a little over 10lbs. which is not bad for her, probably ok. I just can tell, guess thats because I'm her mom. The groomer thought she had lost too. As far as I know she has no other issues, except her heart. She is a very good eater and enjoys her meals..I am not using natural supports..
Thanks for getting back to me.
Nancy

Answer
Hi Nancy,

I am going to suggest you join my discussion group ThePossibleCanine-Nutrition, for starters. We have a lot of information on fle there and a large membership of very friendly people with a willingness to share experience. Because the group is moderated by myself and other trained, knowledgable moderators, we can intervene when nonsense is posted (which it rarely is, but that can be the downfall of public forums, one never knows who to trust). Since I do this for a living I am scrupulous about knowing my topic and knowing when to refer to a veterinarian.

I would love to see you join and post your questions there as well.

Ideally I'd like to see CHloe on a home made diet, where we can manipulate the minerals and so on; but I understand that the time and expense makes that project daunting for many. My basic recommendations for Chloe would include a high protein, premium grade diet designed for a little dog; here are a few recommendations you can look into.

http://www.championpetfoods.com/acana/show-product.php?formulation=asb


http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/products/showproduct.php?id=68&code=140


I would also recommend adding some fish body oil (not cod liver) some natural Vitamin E, as well as L-carnitine and hawthorn, and CO Q10. If adding these supplements is of interest, contact me for doses and brands. I like to know more about a dog before I make supplement suggstions, such as the specific type and stage of disease, any supplements, renal involvement and so on.

Good luck and hang in there!
Catherine