My Nan's Dog Needs Some Help

[EmmaKate]

My Nan has a beautiful westie who has just turned 11yrs old. She however weighs approx 13.5kgs and looks like a massiive barrel, not a rib to be felt or a waistline and she struggles to sit let alone move, it's really awful. On top of this she has incredibly bad allergies and is constantly rubbing her belly which is red and black and has sores all over her back, she smells despite been bathed about once a week by my nan.

If things don't change, she is going to run in to all sorts of problems, if she isn't already. I can see her back starting to sway and she hurt her leg the other day, rolling down some stairs which she was too big to get up. I feel so sorry for her, she's such a gorgeous thing.

My Nan is ridiculous with her when it comes to her weight, she feeds no end of crap throughout the day and any time she wakes up at night, plus she has an endless supply of goodos on hand ( ) and recieves two meals a night (one at 5o'clock and one when my nan sits down to eat ). When I go over with my pup I have to spend the first 10mins picking up all of Genies treats.

We have been telling my nan for a long time this has to stop but it falls on deaf ears- it started back when my Grandad was alive but with dementia and use to feed her everything he ate- I'm sure my Nan is doing it on part for him and because she's never really formed a bond with Genie.

So here is what we're doing with the weight issue, I bought a bag of the Nutro choice adult light.....which sat at my nans house unused. Fortunately my Nan has gone away for a few days and my Mum is staying to watch Genie, so has started intergrating the food into her ONE meal a day. We have also cleaned out the cupboards and are taking away the endless supplies of schmakos and goodos and biscuits and canned foods- leaving only the nutro and ziwipeak treats we purchased also. Mum and I are both prepared to buy the food for her as she needs it, so this change wont cost my nan any extra. If things don't change however I am prepared to take Genie on myself if my Nan will part with her.

With the allergies I don't remember exactly but I think she may be on cortisone tablets, or was for a short period just recently, she is bathed in Aloveen on the vets recommendation, but not much improvement so far. I am hoping a change in diet and some weight loss will help the allergies, but we don't know what she is allergic too. I was wondering if some Omega oils added to her food may help also, I give me pup Melrose Omega 3 liquid and he seems to be doing really well on it (mind you he's got no allergies to speak of).

I don't think she would benefit from a medicated shampoo such as Melasab, especially since she has sores, I would prefer to go in the other direction and take the natural path, as I think that gives longer and better results.

Any help and ideas would be greatly appreciated. Sorry this post is so long and probably confusing, but I'm trying to cover everything I can think of.

[he'smyhero]

In regards to the allergies - they will probably leasen as you change her diet as I'm sure they are the result of her being fed things she shouldn't, but a trip to the vets may be worth while any way just to be sure. My girl has sensitive skin is doing wonderfully on the Nutro lamb I also occasionally add a flax seed oil capsule to her mince.

You seem to be on the right path and I bet she'll come good with a countinued diet plan but, as you are already aware, your biggest hurdle is going to be you Nan. Old habits die hard and old people tend to get set in their way of doing things. I'm sure she is really doing what she thinks is best for Genie. Maybe if you could take your nan to the vet with Genie and get them to explain that what she is doing is hurting Genie and have them give her a new diet plan.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

EmmaKate - good on you, this is almost an RSPCA case by the sounds of it. It is cruel to overfeed animals and just like people, will shorten their lives. The skin problems are common in westies - can I suggest you contact DOL member Westielover - she not only owns and rescues/rehomes Westies but is involved in the Westie Club and really knows her stuff.

She may even know of a vet in Melbourne that knows Westie probs. Best of luck although I believe it will take about 2 months to shift the weight, you can only do things slowly in the beginning - 3-4 short walks a day and nothing in the heat.

Your nan may have Wandering Jew in her garden. What flea treatment has she used (if anything)? Many people put flea treatment on within 24 hours of a bath which will render it useless. The dog's skin problem could be caused or worsened by the on the spot neck treatments.

For a rescue Westie cross I got at Christmas 2005 with an infected and festy skin, I put nothing on her skin but purchased "Proban" from the vet - a tablet form of flea treatment. She's still on it as she will always have a sensitive skin and I daren't put anything else on her.

She is also went on a natural dried food diet, specially formulated for dogs with skin and ear problems as she has, I brought it from the website www.pricelesspets.com.au.

Good luck!

[Fit for a King]

dogmad - do you mean the Natural Balance food?

Edited October 4, 2007 by Fit for a King

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

I think it is called Natural Balance. It fixed up her skin problems and then she lost most of her teeth so can't manage any biscuits but the skin problems have never returned!

[Poodle wrangler]

SO sorry to hear the dog's in such a state .

Not much help from me, but cleaning up the diet is a good place to start. Perhaps your Nan will be more receptive if you make the strict new diet all about the allergies, not the weight.

Good luck ;)

[Rappie]

A diet change is a great place to start, as well as a massive reduction in food intake (which will in part be taken care of by reducing all the treats). Some dogs will do better on two small meals per day (ie. half of their daily intake for each) rather than one - see how you go.

If she is smelly despite bathing and also has signs of skin disease, then it may be worth using something like Malaseb because secondary yeast infections are common especially in Westies. The primary problem could be food, environmental etc but a medicated shampoo might be worth a shot along with strict flea control just to keep her comfy. Omega oils are a good choice, as is switching to a narrower food spectrum - both of those are going to take a while to work, so at least the shampoo will cover the lag period. It doesn't have to be a permanent change.

If she is on prednisolone then that will be complicating things for you because it often causes a really profound increase in appetite, the dogs start begging for food and if they pester enough they generally always end up getting fed.

These situations are difficult for me to deal with as a vet also - I have had families bring their elderly parents and dog in so that the parents can "hear it from a pro". Sometimes when the owners are prepared for intensive help (weekly checks, lots of encouragement and simple instructions) it does go well, but sometimes it doesn't matter who tells them what. It is hard, but you're doing a great thing by stepping in and trying to help - lots of people would stand back and say it's all too hard.

PM me if you like.

[EmmaKate]

Thank you everyone for your replies.

Well I think my Nan is been quite good at sticking to her diet, we proportioned out her food in to individual daily quota bags, so that my Nan didn't feed more then required, mind you we went slightly under- knowing that she would probably sneek extras in given the chance.

My Nan really stresses though if she doesn't finish one of the bags each day.....despite us telling her that Genie will eat when she is hungry and if it's not everything, then that is perfectly fine. She does feel terrible and thinks she is depriving her not giving her treats every time she looks at her, but we have been very stern in telling her that it is much kinder not to do so.

We did discover a bag of missed treats that were hidden away =(, but they are all gone now fortunately. And my Nan still insists on giving her something every time she leaves the house, but considering what was taking place before, we have made some headway.

Anyway it seems she is losing a little bit of weight, though she has a long way to go. Her leg injury has recovered now, though she still limps occasionally (she seems to have always had trouble with her back legs). I was wondering if swimming in one of those dog pool places (sorry can't remember the name of it), would be beneficial? Although I am not sure about the chlorine on her skin?

My Nan had Genie at another vets yesterday and she diagnosed Genie with having atopic dermatitis, and has put her on another round of cortisone tablets (2 every day for 4 days, then 1 every day for 4 days, then one every second day to finished.....although my Nan was a little vague on this when I spoke to her) and she is also on a round of anitbiotics. The vet also mentioned atopica tablets (again Nan was vague), but said they were pricey and could cause diarrhoa, vomiting and loss of appetite. I will definately endeavour to speak to westielover about maybe finding a vert specialising in Westies.

But for now however I do feel like, especially as we are retraining my Nan more than anything, one thing at a time and the weight is definately the place to start and I think some progress is been made, albeit slow.

In regards to flea treatment, I'm not sure what ,if any, my Nan currently is using, but what would someone recommend? Dogmad you mentioned that the spot treatments could aggrevate her allergies, what are some other viable treatments. I have never seen any evidence of fleas on her, but it can't be ruled out as she does often play outside, under the house and in the bushes.

Thanks again everyone, will keep you posted as things progress, hopefully onwards and upwards! :D

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

I'd strongly recommend you contact Robert McDowell about this dog and the medical issues it has. He's a herbalist who treats people and a range of other animals...he's very good at treating the whole rather than the symptom. Itching can be caused by many things, allergies being just one of a number of causes. I'd say that cleaning up the dog's diet will help the skin problems no end and a top quality dry food such as Eagle Pack is the way to go rather than a cheaper, locally made product that uses inferior quality ingredients IMO. I would not suggest a raw diet in this case b/c of the circumstances but generally this is a good idea if the owner has the motivation and know-how to achieve a good balance in a raw diet.

Best of luck! :D

[EmmaKate]

Thanks Lillysmum, I have looked in to Robert McDowell's herbs before, and it is definately something to consider. But I also have to be practical and realistic about my Nan's situation, which is that she is a single pensioner with very limited funds, as it is I've bought her last two lots of Genies food (Firstly to improve her diet and secondly because it is considerably more expensive then what my Nan is use to), but I'm a student and have my own pooch to pamper. Although I long term solution would certainly be favourable and probably more cost effective then continued vet treatments and appointments, it is probably best to start simple rather then overload both Nan and Genie.

And you're right, a raw diet would not be appropriate, as it's outside my Nan's capabilities right now.

Am hoping to spend some more time with Genie and getting her sorted once this crazy uni semester ends.............whooooooo can't wait!

Edited October 13, 2007 by EmmaKate

[dogcop]

EmmaKate you are the best good luck with every thing I'll bet your nan loves you !!!!!

[axlerose]

Hills science diet r/d -reduction diet

Tell your nan to bulk up the meals with bran or something

remember this coud lead to diabetes, arthritis etc

Losing that bit of weight could ad years and comfort to her life

:D

[Nekhbet]

if she insists on snacks cut down the meal size again adn let her have some of the dry food as a treat. Try things like carrot and celery sticks, chicken necks as a healthier snack option