toxic dog food

Question
Hi Patti,
I have a black labrador that is approx. 10 or 11 yrs of age.  At times in the past she would have problems walking as if she could have had a stroke.  Onset of winter it got worse, so I had local vet come to look at her.  There hasn't been any tests run.  He thought she could have had a stroke and also arthritis pain because of her age.  About 2 years ago there was an episode where she moaned in pain and couldn't walk straight.  I was told than that it could be something she ate and she had hotspots.  She has had maybe 4 of those same episodes up until about 6 months ago when she started walking funny all the time.  Today I called vet because she was panting and her heart was beating irregular and really hard.  Before this I was telling my mom that I think food had some link to this problem and each episode is progressivly worse.  She heard on the news that there was an ingredient in a certain brand of dog food that was hurting dogs but she didn't catch the name.  Have you heard of this.  I want to believe its her food and not that she is dying.  Please let me know what I can do, I don't want her to suffer she is such a good girl.  Thank You

Answer
Hi Shelly,

I'm sorry to hear about your poor dog.

The pet food which has been in the news lately is Diamond Maintenance Dog  Food and Diamond Premium Adult Dog Food. It's been contaminated by a substance called Aflatoxin. This poison is know to cause liver damage in pets.

Based on the fact your dog has had some kind of episodes, starting two years ago, I doubt that she is a victim of food poisoning.

It sounds as though your dog may have suffered some kind of a back injury, such as a ruptured disk, which would be very painful and could leave her lame in her rear legs.

There isn't a way to cure your dog's back problem or lameness, but your vet can give you medication to lessen the pain, and give your dog more mobility. At this stage of your dog's life making her more comfortable is very important.

Your dog should be examined by the vet to see why she was breathing heavily, and why her heart was beating so quickly. If she is diagnosed in the early stages of heart disease there are medications available to treat her. These drugs can help your dog live a more normal life.

There are a few things you can do to make your dog more comfortable.

You can raise her food and water bowls so they aren't standing on the floor. Elevated feeders make eating and drinking more comfortable for arthritic pets, particularly if there is stiffness in the neck or back.

As dogs get older they tend to enjoy softer surfaces as opposed to the hard floor. She may not be able to make it up on your bed anymore, so provide a firm, orthopedic foam bed on the floor, one that she can call her very own. Keep your dog's bed in a warm place in your home.

Older dogs loose some tolerance for temperature extremes. You should always consider the dog's comfort. Don't keep your dog outside in cold or damp weather.

If you notice that your aging dog's skin is a bit dry, try to brush her more often to encourage the production of her natural oils. Be gentle when you brush her back and rear legs.

Your dog is indeed elderly. Lessen her pain, and let her know how much you love her every day. However long she has left on this earth should be happy for you both.

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti