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I adopted Oscar, an approximately 12 year old dog, and just 4 3/4 pounds. He has been a finicky eater since I got him from the shelter. At first he was on science diet, nut the kibbles were big and he had trouble eating it (because of a huge overbite). I switched him to my regular kibble, which he ate for two days, then turned his nose up at that. I found a really good canned food that had mostly meat, and he loved that and has been eating it for just over 2 weeks. Then Thursday night, he wanted nothing to do with it. He didn’t eat at either meal Friday. (He came to me skin and bones, and after started the wet food he was putting in some weight). Finally this morning I got ground chuck and brown rice. I cooked him that and he ate heartily. I dint know if it was because he was so hungry, or if he was really interested in it.
With him being so tiny, how many meals can he miss before it’s detrimental? Is it normal for seniors to suddenly stop eating? He acted just fine and never like he didn’t feel well. Now that he’s at least eating something should I take him t the vet? And if not now, when would I need to take him? I was so worried about low blood sugar and tried nutrical, but he hates it. Won’t eve lick it off his paw. He did lose just a bit of weight after missing these meals... I could tell by the way his ribs felt. I believe I can’t let him miss meals. I dint mind cooking for him. Just need to find a recipe he can live with and likes.
He also has a cataract on his left eye, but it’s small. The vet called it adolescent. Do the grow quickly? Should I watch the other eye closely to see if one starts there? Or watch the growth of the other eye? Also he is hard of hearing I think. I have to speak loudly to him, but sometimes he surprises me when he is in my lap, by hearing and his ears respond to pretty soft talking, but not all the time. The vet wouldn’t even do an old fashioned hearing test, (she wants me to go to specialists to address these issues).
I want an old fashioned vet who knows how to diagnose issues ina good, physical exam. I was charged $35 to smear ear gunk on a slide and look at it under the microscope to diagnose a slight ear infection. Whatever happened to looking into ears with a light, and diagnosing and treating? This is the first time I’ve had a vet do this. I am looking for another vet.
Most of the time he just wants to lay next to me in the recliner, but sometime, for a very shirt time, he gets playful and zooms around the room.
I have only had one dog his age, and had no problems except going deaf and blind. He was never sick a day. He lived to near 16 yrs. I just don’t really know what to expect.
I a, reading threads in here, but I must admit most of them scare me.
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With him being so tiny, how many meals can he miss before it’s detrimental? Is it normal for seniors to suddenly stop eating? He acted just fine and never like he didn’t feel well. Now that he’s at least eating something should I take him t the vet? And if not now, when would I need to take him? I was so worried about low blood sugar and tried nutrical, but he hates it. Won’t eve lick it off his paw. He did lose just a bit of weight after missing these meals... I could tell by the way his ribs felt. I believe I can’t let him miss meals. I dint mind cooking for him. Just need to find a recipe he can live with and likes.
He also has a cataract on his left eye, but it’s small. The vet called it adolescent. Do the grow quickly? Should I watch the other eye closely to see if one starts there? Or watch the growth of the other eye? Also he is hard of hearing I think. I have to speak loudly to him, but sometimes he surprises me when he is in my lap, by hearing and his ears respond to pretty soft talking, but not all the time. The vet wouldn’t even do an old fashioned hearing test, (she wants me to go to specialists to address these issues).
I want an old fashioned vet who knows how to diagnose issues ina good, physical exam. I was charged $35 to smear ear gunk on a slide and look at it under the microscope to diagnose a slight ear infection. Whatever happened to looking into ears with a light, and diagnosing and treating? This is the first time I’ve had a vet do this. I am looking for another vet.
Most of the time he just wants to lay next to me in the recliner, but sometime, for a very shirt time, he gets playful and zooms around the room.
I have only had one dog his age, and had no problems except going deaf and blind. He was never sick a day. He lived to near 16 yrs. I just don’t really know what to expect.
I a, reading threads in here, but I must admit most of them scare me.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk