Aging Min Schauzer

Question
my 12-year old male schnauzer has become incontinent, has  increasing degree of shaking in his back legs.  He has a history of frequent pancreatitis (like a lot of schnauzers).  He may have had a siezure recently.  Ever come across this before?

Answer
I can't say that I have heard of all those same symptoms in one dog, but some of them can be signs of aging, or something more serious.

As to the pancreatitis, he should be on a low-fat diet of no more than 12% fat, and the fat should really be closer to 9% or even less, and he should eat NOTHING ELSE other than his dog food.

The incontinence can be due to old age, and, in that case, may be helped with medication. Because he is a schnauzer, one must consider the possibility of a bladder infection or bladder stones. If the incontinence is due to increased water intake, it could be something more serious like diabetes or Cushing's Disease. Cushing's can also cause shaking.

Thyroid levels tend to drop with age, and low thyroid levels can cause seizures; they can also cause shaking and weakness in legs. You might want to have his thyroid checked.

Your dog needs to be checked out by a veterinarian to diagnose the exact cause(s) of his problems.