Sorry if this is not spelt correctly................we have a Golden Retriever aged between 10 and 12 years...........uncertain as he is a rescue/rehome dog. We have had him for about two years and he has not had any serious health problems. He is wonderful company for us as pensioners.The last two nights he has messed indoors.........most unusual for him so we stopped his regular canned food for a day as he was not interested in it. He has been through a couple of days of being tired but now seems more like his old self......happy to do short walks,seeming to ask for food so we gave him light stuff like chopped chicken,scrambled egg etc which he took happily and is drinking water OK. However he is still unable to control his messing indoors which is still very runny and coloured dark brown. He does not like making a mess but we have not told him off just cleared it up. Does anyone think should we try him on his regular canned food again now as he is on a vastly reduced diet at the moment which may now be the cause of the runny feacies. It's the weekend so the vet is unavailable and anyway the dog is not in apparent distress or obvious pain so we would prefer to self fix it if possible using the advice of kind people like you.

Is it only overnight he is loose?  Did you initially starve him for 24 hours?  I would then have given him small meals of a very bland food - fish/rice several times a day if he could tolerate it.

Bearing in mind his age, there could be something going on inside so a trip to the vet would be advisable, but for today I would try and see if you can get some Kaolin and Morhine from a chemist or ProKalin if you can get any.  This usually sorts my lot out very quickly!

Ensure he is drinking well and possibly add a little glucose so he's getting something for energy.  Don't over exercise him as he must be feeling weak - give him a duvet day!  If he is no better tomorrow I really think he should visit the vet.

I also think if he's no better on Monday a trip to the vets is advisable. They will probably prescribe canikur tablets. I've had these for mine in the past , and they are great for sorting out upset tums. Although you can get them cheaper online and no prescription is needed , I always keep a supply of them incase any of my dogs come down with the bug!

A bowl of sugar water will help as well.

p.s If you order from the likes of hyperdrug they are nearly always delivered the very next day , which I think is great service.

thanks ............will try this and see how he gets on.........your help is appreciated.

thanks Cani...........will try the advice given here and see how we get on. watch this space!

Any improvement over past 24 hours?

Actually he got worse and collapsed so had to go to the vet as you suggested...........he has a number of issues that apparently have developed since his last check up but they can do nothing till the diahhoria has passed so he can digest his food properly and get his vitamins and minerals etc. Looks like a long job for the old fella but we will know more in a few days. It really is heartening to know there are folk like you people on this forum who care............thanks so much.

Sorry to hear that, but at least the vet can now start to treat him and hopefully get him sorted out quickly.  Let us know how he's getting on.  Fingers crossed all will be fine soon.

Sending hugs and cuddles for your pooch xx

Sandy sends thanks and a woof!

Im so sorry to read this about your old goldie.
I hope he continues to make the best recovery as possible for you both. x

Hello goldie...........and everyone else who has been helping us. We had to have a blood test for Sandy and this,and other tests heve revealed that he is 15 not 10 years old as we were told when we rescued him,also that he has a heart murmer....which we now discover he has had for years. But far more worrying is that his kidneys and liver are giving excessively high blood readings and that he is so anaemic that if he were a human he would by now be having blood transfusions.In addition he is diabetic. non of this was evident when he was last checked about a year ago. Now here is what he and we have to face.......
The vet is recommending scans and X rays.......they fear there may be a tumour at the bottom of some of this, in addition this could lead to treatment involving surgery. Now the problem for us is........... should we start to submit our 15 years old dog to all this or should we let nature take it's course and as long as he is not showing signs of distress or pain leave him alone. At the moment he seems almost normal,barking at the doorbell,enjoying short walks,his motions are back to normal, he is eating well. It may be that there will be a time when he will face being put to sleep. what woud you do?

I would be inclined not to put him through any surgery but work with the vet on alternatives.  Its better to spend it on your boy to make him happy than throw money away that won't help him.

I think as long as he is ok and happy, leave alone until you have to face things to relieve any suffering.  I'm not sure how they can tell how old he is from a blood test, but I suppose its not impossible.  i'm sure someone will be about to explain that one.

Sounds like things are picking up for him at the moment.  They could do an untrasound to see if any tumour are there rather that giving a GA to him.  Some tunours are harmeless or at his time of life might not cause the symptoms to upset him.

I would look at special diets to help his blood and diabeties.

I would take this decision on a daily basis for now and go by your boy.  If he's happy then I'd interveine as little as possible except with meds and lots of TLC.

Big hugs to you all.

Firstly Im so sorry about his age...that must have been a shock for you.

As for surgery on the old boy...well if he was mine then I would allow him to enjoy what time he has left.....rather than putting him through the truma of surgery....15 is a wonderful age.
Enjoy every moment with him.
I lost my 3yr old goldie last year and wish she could have made it to 15.
What ever you decide....then im sure you will make the right decision  for your boy x

Hi TheTwoPeas

I've been following the thread, and I'm so sorry about what you have had thrown at you.

We all have to do what is right for us and our dogs.  Some people would want to explore every avenue, whatever treatment that entailed.  My elderly Beardie has slowed right down, and had numerous problems.  She's on tablets for her thyroid problems, has a grade 2 heart murmer, and, like your boy, has kidney problems.

Add to that, she had a splenectomy to remove a tumour 5 years ago, and took months and months to get over it.  I know that if I had the same as you thrown at me, I wouldn't want her to go through surgery again.  It was bad enough when she was young and strong.

But, as I said, you need to think through what the right decision would be for you and your family.  As long as your boy is happy enough to wag his tail, and eat well, you may want to just leave it until he is no longer happy.  And you will know when the time is right to let him go.  And then love him enough to let him go.  No easy decision for any of us.

{{{{  HUGS  }}}}

Hi , I'm sorry about the news you have had about his various problems , but I'm also pleased to hear his previous diahorrea has now cleared , and he sounds as if he happy at the moment.

If it were me I wouldn't let him have surgery , I think he may be a bit too old to take a big operation. I am sort of in the same situation but my dog is only almost three years old , she had a mammary tumour removed earlier this year and a lot of complications afterwards. Well she has developed another and my vet has advised against surgery as it is aggresive. I do have the option of surgery / chemo with another vet but I don't want her suffering only to lose her young anyway , my vet says it will keep re occurring. I have decided to just keep my girl as happy as she can be and at the moment she is in no pain and her normal self, however I do believe she will let me know when it's time.
I really feel for you , but I would take a lot of comfort knowing that you have and still are giving him a lovely life.
xx

On the whole I agree with the others and wouldn't want to put an oldie through major surgery. I had to make the heartbreaking decision earlier this year to put my old Goldie Charlie to sleep at 17. He went down hill rapidly and following an x-ray it turned out he had a massive internal tumour. I opted not to put him through surgery. Having said that at 13 he had a stroke and a spleenectomy to remove a tumour and was otherwise in good health, strong heart and no underlying problems. He recovered quickly and had another 4 years good life.

To all our friends here on the Forum.........thanks so much for all your thoughts which have helped us decide to just let nature take it's course. Sandy has settled into a slow but usual routine of eating and drinking,going on short walks and wagging his tail at everyone he meets. Like many an old chap he's now not too interested in getting up in the morning till nature insists but he is our mate and we'll love him till he decides it's time to go. Thanks so much all of you... you will notice we now have a picture of him in his earlier days. Pat and Pete.

Certainly sounds as though Sandy is happy at the moment - enjoy the time you have left and keep him comfortable.

Hello everyone.
With great sadness we have to tell you that Sandy died at 02.40 today. We had hoped he would go in his sleep but all the multiple organ problems combined to make it difficult for him so we kept a vigil with him to the end. Although we are washed out and heartbroken at the loss of a lovely,happy pal who we were able to get ove his horrible past, we are pleased he is out of his suffering. We are also so appreciative of the kind and understanding help and support given to us by all of you and we are in your debt. Thanks and godbless to you all.
Pete and Pat

I'm so sorry to hear your news, remember the good times. Best wishes.

I'm so sorry to hear this. Take care x (((hugs)))

I'm so sorry to hear this , but you right he is no longer suffering.
Sounds like you gave him a wonderful life which more than made up to his poor start.

Run Free at the bridge Sandy.
xxx

I am so sorry to hear your news.  He is now free from suffering, which must be a relief in some respects.  He had a lovely life with you and he couldn't have asked for more.  He'll be waiting for you at Rainbow Bridge.....

Oh bless I was so sorry to read this its so sad for you but what a life Sandy had with people that loved him so much!
Take care of yourselves, and run free old friend at the bridge.

Oh dear Im in tears now, keep well you two.

Viv
XX

Sorry to hear your sad news.  You gave hima life to be proud of which I'm sure he loved.

Big hugs to you both.

Am so sorry to read your sad news. You must feel absolutely drained. Take care.

So sorry you have lost your friend - sending love and hugs