Ideas and Advice

[Georgie]

My 13 plus dog Poppy I have had since 2009 is a Yorkshire Terrier/Jack Russel. She has been the purpose in life since my husband died three years ago. On a visit to the vet to have her teeth and weight checked she weighed 4.5 kilos. A week later she was 4.4 and was taken because she has started to drink more often and twice her bed was wet in the morning. She is normally a very clean dog. It was suggestred she had a blood test which would need to be done at the main surgery rather than at the local village surgery. It was suggested that it could be Cushings disease, but that a further scan would be necessary to identify what the liver and bladder showed. I am reluctant to put her through unnecessary procedures at her age. She doesn't show any signs of distress, but asks to be let into the garden more frequently and drinks more frequently.
Diabetes would seem to be a more likely diagnosis? Unless I return to the vet incurring more cost and distress to Poppy, where do I go from here, please?

[Harley PoMMom]

Hi and welcome to you and Poppy!

I have manually approved your membership so now all your posts will be seen right away. Also, please just disregard the validation email that was sent to you from k9cushings.

I would definitely want diabetes to be ruled out and also an UTI as both will cause a dog to drink and urinate more. I'm sorry that this post is so short but I'm at work right now so I will try to get back later to add more thoughts. I'm sure other members will be by to welcome you and share their thoughts as well.

Hugs, Lori

[Squirt's Mom]

HI and welcome to you and Poppy!

I would ask that the glucose be checked asap. Diabetes is a life-threatening condition, Cushing's is not. Weight loss is more often seen with diabetes than with Cushing's and they both share the signs of increased water consumption and urination. Has her appetite changed at all? What about her skin and coat? You can also join our sister site, K9Diabetes, and talk to them. I think you can do some of that testing at home and get a fair idea but they would be the ones to best guide you. You can find them at -

http://www.k9diabetes.com/forum/

Do let us know what you learn and decide!
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang