Shivering When Not Cold

[Sheridan]

Unfortunately dogs often don't show us other symptoms when there is a problem. Have you done hydration tests? checked gums? felt stomach?

I don't tend to feel his gums on the grounds that I don't want to lose my hand. He's drinking, he's otherwise happy. Stomach seems fine.

I was going to suggest pain as well.

Glad to hear he is feeling a tad better.

Just on the above. Does your own dog not even let you look in his mouth, or have I read this wrong?

I hope Sheridan will allow me to respond to this question as someone who has known Grumpy for a couple of years now. Grumpy is not called Grumpy for nothing! He does NOT enjoy being handled at all, by anyone. At over 14 years of age he does not deserve any attempts at behaviour modification now. Sheridan is devoted to him and to making his twilight years as comfortable and stress free as possible. The challenges involved in providing bathing, grooming, transport and veterinary treatment are signigicant. As long he is well and content in his himself then Sheridan will make whatever adaptations are necessary to maintain him in comfort, even though that means "Don't Touch Me".

A trip in the car is not known as Operation Grumpy for nothing. His breeder once told me that Grumpy has never done a thing in his life that he didn't think was his idea and this is now cemented thoroughly in his ever-cunning wheaten brain. Just this morning, he decided he didn't want to go outside and eventually he decided that the trail of tuna biscuits I laid to the door was his idea. Due to his failing eyesight and a certain amount of dementia, exacerbated by a bad drug episode last year, he can be a challenge particularly getting him anywhere but he's still my lovely boy and I adore him completely. I have learnt what he can handle and what he can't. He is a thoroughly loving dog who has exquisite manners (he still waits to be invited in for a pat and cuddle from me) but he's the fact is, he's also an old man. As I said to the vet nurse today as she held him for the vet, 'Careful, he's quick.' If you're ever at a vet surgery and a woman with a wheaten co-opts you to help lift a crate out of the car, that will be us.

How is Grumpy today?

Well, we tripped off to see the vet. I explained the shivering and that he didn't lift his leg when he did a wee that morning. I also said that I had to change his food due to those useless #@!(*!!!!!!! at Eaglepack failing to import his kibble. I've got him on Proplan and neither he nor Princess Mini like it. Vet found some pain in Grumpy's back but said it was hard to tell if the issue was back or tummy. He took bloods and suggested we try a change of diet to start with (given Grumpy was having a very loud gurgly tummy episode tonight - no dinner again). I bought some Royal Canin Hypoallergenic (tapioca, blurk) and will see if I can ease Grumpy onto it to have a food trial. Next step after this is Joint Guard or Sasha's Blend (possibly some green lipped mussel powder, which seems to be enormously expensive). It might take a little while to work out what is going on.

Now, Grumpy wants me to go to bed as he's hovering. What Grumpy wants, Grumpy gets. Princess Mini has eaten all his bikkies.

[Sheridan]

:rolleyes: :D

I came home early. Gave Grumpy a sheep's ear and a mackerel biscuit for a treat. He just threw up. Re-ate them before I could stop him. Last time I saw that happen, three weeks later my other wheaten died from a protein losing disease.

:p

[JulesP]

Oh dear :rolleyes: Is that something that can be tested for? Hugs

[Sheridan]

Yes, it is, but there's no cure since the dog will have lost 75% of kidney function prior to symptoms showing. It's unlikely, I know, but just seeing that brought everything back because it was precisely this time five years ago that my previous lad was diagnosed.

[JulesP]

Gentle hugs. Hopefully he has just pulled a muscle.

[OSoSwift]

Oh no, I hope poor Grumpy is okay. Hugs for you.

[Sheridan]

Just spoke to the vet. Have to call back tomorrow for blood test results but he said it sounded like Grumpy didn't chew his food (and he didn't, admittedly). Grumps wants his dinner but I remain firm. No food until tomorrow morning, poor starving man.

[persephone]

Oh

Hoping for good blood results .

[Sheridan]

Grumpy just took a leak in the yard. No lifting of leg again.

If it is some arthritis, which is better Sasha's Blend or Joint Guard?

[RuralPug]

Grumpy just took a leak in the yard. No lifting of leg again.

If it is some arthritis, which is better Sasha's Blend or Joint Guard?

They are both good, for some reason individuals can respond better to one or the other.

Just anecdotal but I have noticed the larger breeds here seems to do better on Sasha's Blend, the smaller ones on Joint Guard - admit it's not a huge sample base though LOL.

[Sheridan]

Got a call from the vet first thing. Blood test results show no kidney issues, slight dehydration, and a slight elevation in lipase, which indicates a tummy irritation. Vet said if the results had been in the 1000s, it would be pancreatitis, so he thinks the change from Eagle Pack to Proplan has irritated Grumpy's tummy.

Here are the Proplan Sensitive ingredients:

Salmon, brewers rice, canola meal, oat meal, fish meal (natural source of glucosamine), animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), salmon meal (natural source of glucosamine), pearled barley, brewers dried yeast, animal digest, salt, potassium chloride, Vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), manganese sulfate, niacin, calcium carbonate, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite.

D-4449

Here are the Eagle Pack Anchovy:

Anchovy, Sardine & Salmon Meals, Oatmeal, Ground Brown Rice, Ground White Rice, Menhaden Fish Oil, Dried Beet Pulp, Flaxseed, Dried Egg Product, Carrots, Sun-Cured Alfalfa, Peas, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Quinoa(organic), Apples, Blueberries, Inulin, Beta-carotene, Cranberries, Dehydrated Kelp, Glucosamine HCl, Yucca Schidigera Extract, DL-Methionine, Vitamin A, C, D3, E, B12, Riboflavin, d-Pathothenic Acid, Niacin, Choline Chloride, Pyridoxine HCl, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract, Inosol, Polysaccharide complexes of Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Copper, Cobalt, Potassium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus Faecium, B. Subtilus, Bacillus Licheniformis, Bacillium Coagulins, Aspergillus Aryae and Aspergillus Niger.

Animal fat highlighted in the Proplan; hadn't even realised that was there! Vet suggests that Grumpy has had an increase in fatty foods. The only changes are the Proplan and a couple of pigs ears. I've cut out the pigs ears entirely and he hasn't had one for several days; he's previously had them without issues. I'm changing him over to Royal Canin Hypoallergenic to see if it makes a difference. His wet food is sardines, mackerel or tuna (Woolies canned) and his biscuit treats are homemade mackerel or tuna biscuits (simply canned mackerel or tuna with wholemeal flour and water as the only ingredients).

He's still quite flat today. Ate a little breakfast but not a lot. No drink thus far. Still sleeping a fair bit.

[Mollie10]

Hi Sheridan,

I had my two on Eagle Pack Holistic too, but have changed to Nutro (due to necessity) and both seem to be doing fine on it. I also feed them the 4 legs Chicken and rice balls from the supermarket.

I hope Grumps is doing ok. I know what a worry it is. Anouk had an upset stomach a couple of weeks ago and was on antibiotics (we think she ate something disgusting) and you just start stressing about PLN/PLE. The vet (who is fantastic) recommended we put off their annual testing for a couple of months to ensure that everything is back to normal after her tummy upset.

Mollie, Anouk and the Z-man!