Elderly Dog Weight Loss & Slipping

Question
Hi Patti:

We live in Mexico otherwise we probably would go straight to the vet and get a trusted diagnosis and treatment.  Unfortunately our local do not have the tools to diagnose anything other than basic canine/feline problems - they mostly handle livestock.  

I am taking her to the vet tomorrow but am hoping to have a little knowledge so when they tell me she's old and dying, I can say something back so they can dig deeper.

Our 11 year old Australian cattledog has been in perfect health until about 3 months ago.  

3 months ago she started to loose weight and remains very thin.  She's furry so she doesn't look like skin and bones but I know she's thin.  She also got diarrhea which is gone.  In the last 4 weeks we have noticed she is loosing control of her hind legs.

She did get hit by a car when she was about 8 moths old and was in traction for 8 weeks.  She hasn't had any problem since that we know of in this regard.

She did swim in a dirty estuary about 3 months ago and that's when the diarrhea and weight loss began.

She doesn't seem to be in any pain at all.

Can you offer any opinion?

Thank you,
Cheryl  

Answer
Hi Cheryl,

I'm sorry to hear of your dog's illness.

I'm not a doctor, but your dog's current problem seems to coincide with her swim in the dirty estuary 3 months ago.

There are many parasites that can be transmitted through dirty water. Did your dog ever have a microscopic fecal examination run? If not, can you request it, if your vet doesn't think to have the test done?

I know that at least one parasite, Giardia (and possibly others as well), that can have symptoms that at first may disappear for a time before flaring up again. Giardia may cause damage without revealing symptoms in the early stages. Occasionally this can go on for a long time before severe illness occurs.

The weakness in her hind legs may, or may not be related to the gastrointestinal problems you've noted. It wouldn't be unusual for an 11 year old dog to have some arthritis or hip dysplasia.

I'm really sorry that I can't be more of a help. Can you request that your local vet have a phone consultation with a veterinarian in the USA? There are also some veterinary sites on line that seem to have consult or support services, you'd have to check these out to see if they are something you or your vet could take part in:

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/library/vetaccess.htm

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/consultant/consult.asp


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8898573


https://www.petvetpro.com/consultations.php


http://www.theholisticvet.com/phone_consult.html


http://www.wilnerveterinaryconsult.com/


http://www.compassionatevet.com/


DR  VICTORIA M  LUKASIK  DVM, DACVA  
Southwest Veterinary Anesthesiology
13076 N. Pier Mountain Road
MARANA  AZ  85653  USA
vlukasik@comcast.net
(520) 626-7999 or 520-572-4930
(520) 626-6943 Fax
Services available: Telephone consultation and personal case management. Consultation is charged at an hourly rate with references provided. Also available by telephone during case management if questions arise.


Veterinary Consultant - Drs. Foster and Smith
715/369-2022
Vets on call for consultations. Hours: 9am to noon CST, T&Th.


Best of luck!
Patti