sick?

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sick?

Posted : 7/15/2006 6:19:56 PM

I've got an older dog (Cocker/Border Collie mix...11 years old) who has been on the same diet for about 4 years now. In the past week her eating has drastically increased (she usually eates one cup of food in the morning and one in the evening and leaves a little food in her dish during both those feedings). Now, she finishes both of those and cries when done and goes to the cloest where I keep the food. (She NEVER cries).

Also, I noticed that she's going to the bathroom move. She poos 4x a day as opposed to 2x.

Should I be concerned in this new change in behavior? I thought eating decreased in older dogs. A few more days of this and I'm taking her to the vet...but I don't want to "panic"

calliecritturs

Posted : 7/15/2006 9:33:24 PM

Appetite usually does decrease and a week is long enough. I'd be at the vet's Monday and ask for a full senior blood panel to start.

My suspicion is thyroid -- that can often be an older dog thing, but it could be a LOT of things including parasites. Have you noticed any weight loss or weight gain lately??

You aren't panicing -- this is abnormal behavior for THIS dog and when it comes to an older dog you have to be proactive like this to ward off problems before they become insurmountable. Good catch!!