Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :
A. Most likely he has arthritis in his back legs (hips, knees). As long as his kidneys are working fine the best medications to use are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which you can get from your vets.
How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :
He has lost interest in all or most of his favorite activities, such as going for walks, playing with toys or other pets, eating treats or soliciting attention and petting from family members. He cannot stand on his own or falls down when trying to walk. He has chronic labored breathing or coughing.
You need to be part of all decisions that are made after diagnosis and regarding treatment. If your dog is in pain constantly, stops eating and drinking, or experiences incontinence due to complete kidney failure, you may need to consider putting your dog to sleep.
What is the life expectancy of the Bichon Shih Tzu? The Zuchon has a similar life expectancy to that of its parent breeds, and you can expect to enjoy a good 10 to 16 years of furry companionship with your Shichon. The Bichon Frise has an average life expectancy of 12 to 15 years, while the Shih Tzu`s is 10 to 16.
This is another question to ask yourself before knowing when to let your dog go. Most often, weakness and inability to move freely are clear signs that the animal needs urgent medical help or has declined to the point that it`s time to consider euthanasia or putting your dog to sleep.
Answer: Fortunately for us, dogs do not understand they are going to be put down and what happens after they are given the injection that puts them to sleep.
Give them all the things they enjoy most – their favourite toys, their favourite food. You know what will make your pet feel most at ease in the time that remains. If you become tearful, ask a family member, friend or other trusted person to take care of your pet so you can leave the room and have a cry.
Guilt is an emotion felt all-too-often by pet lovers who ultimately decide that euthanasia is the right course of action for a suffering pet. It`s an emotional response that occurs when a person feels they`ve violated some sort of moral or ethical code.
How long do shih tzus live? The average longevity of a Shih Tzu is 13 years, with the majority lasting between 10 and 16 years. At 23 years old, the world`s oldest Shih Tzu is still alive and well. Shih Tzus are highly independent dogs who may thrive in a wide range of environments.
Oldest Shih Tzu to ever live
The oldest recorded Shih Tzu, Smokey from Florida, lived for 23 years, whereas their expected lifespan is 10 to 16 years.
Vestibular disease is the main reason why an older dog may experience a sudden loss of balance and an inability to stand or walk normally. How can you tell if a dog has a vestibular disease? A few of the signs include dizziness, stumbling or wobbly steps, and falling over.
The collective answer from all the responding veterinarians is that a dog can go 3-5 days without eating, and possibly live up to 3 weeks without food. What is this? The vets also agree that drinking water is even more critical.
The heart and lungs will stop functioning within minutes after injecting the euthanasia solution, so dogs generally won`t feel pain because they are unconscious. They may react to the procedure by having muscle spasms or crying out due to underlying sickness, yet the whole process is quick, simple, and painless.
According to Dr. Brian Hare, a canine cognition specialist, our dogs do know we love them. Dogs and humans have the ability to form a special neural connection. This connection is the same human oxytocin bonding pathway used by parents and babies.
Chewing on your possessions, crying when you leave, and staring at the door after you`ve gone are all key indicators. They`ll also make a really big deal of you returning home; they may lean on your leg, or they might whizz around the house in glee.
Indeed, the Bible does confirm that there are animals in Heaven. Isaiah 11:6 describes several types (predator and prey) living in peace with one another. If God created animals for the Garden of Eden to give us a picture of His ideal place, He will surely include them in Heaven, God`s perfect new Eden!
People often struggle with overwhelming feelings of grief, loss, and guilt after choosing to put their pets to sleep. These strong feelings that accompany euthanizing a pet come as the result of their roles in our lives and the strong bonds we are capable of developing with animals.
Typically, green urine indicates late-stage kidney failure, cancer of the kidneys, or extremely severe urinary tract infection. Urine may turn green because bilirubin makes its way into the kidneys, where it is not supposed to be.
Kidney failure usually comes with a lot of pain. Most times we can see the signs; from the tremors to the vomiting and the loss of appetite. It is important that you prioritize your dogs` comfort. Spend more time with them and find games that you can play with them that will not leave them exhausted.
The prognosis for dogs with kidney disease is correlated to the severity of the disease and the IRIS stage in which they fall under. Dogs in higher IRIS stages have shorter median survival times. According to one study, the overall median survival time from point of diagnosis is 226 days.
PROGNOSIS. Prognosis is associated with severity of disease. Studies have shown shorter median survival times in dogs with higher IRIS stages. Median survival time for IRIS Stage 1 dogs was over 400 days, Stage 2 ranged from 200 to 400 days, Stage 3 ranged from 110 to 200 days, and Stage 4 ranged from 14 to 80 days.
When a dog is dying, they often lose control over their bladder and bowels as their organs begin to shut down. This can lead to your dog peeing or experiencing a bowel movement wherever they are lying. Even if your dog is very well-trained, they may not have the energy to get up to relieve themselves.
Chronic kidney failure can lead to tremors. So can neurological problems that may include inflammatory brain diseases. An Addisonian crisis, a condition related to an underactive adrenal gland, and demyelinating disorders may also lead to shaking in dogs. Dogs may shake when their anal sacs are full.
The aging profile of dogs varies according to their adult size (often determined by their breed): smaller dogs often live over 15–16 years (no longer than 20 years), medium and large size dogs typically 10 to 20 years, and some giant dog breeds such as mastiffs, often only 7 to 8 years.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Q. I have a bichon sitzu. He’s 17 years old and in the last weak he has problems walking. His back hips. He no pain. What can we do
ANSWER : A. Most likely he has arthritis in his back legs (hips, knees). As long as his kidneys are working fine the best medications to use are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which you can get from your vets.
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Q. Have a dachshund who is over weight but this past couple of days she refuses to go up steps and her left back leg is not being used, and she is guntin
ANSWER : A. This particular breed is very susceptible to back problems. Your dog is showing some classic symptoms of back pain- reluctance to climb stairs, weakness or inability to use a rear leg and grunting. Your dog should be examined and have radiographs of her back as soon as possible. Hopefully, she can be treated medically, but sometimes back problems progress quickly to something surgical. The quicker you get an accurate assessment of the extent of her problem, the quicker you dan get her some pain relief.
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Q. My dog has hip problems. Can I give him Aleve or other aspirin to help with the pain?
ANSWER : A. Do NOT give your dog over the counter pain medications such as Aleve, Ibuprofen or Aspirin unless specifically instructed by your vet. These medications can cause serious problems such as ulceration of the stomach, or kidney/liver dysfunction if given in the wrong dosage or too often.
If your dog is experiencing painful hips, your vet can provide you with pain medications that are designed for use in dogs. These medications are much safer to give and have fewer side effects. Additionally, supplements with glucosamine and chondroitin may help to relieve pain and soreness associated with hip problems.
Read Full Q/A … : Can I Give My Dog Aleve? – Can I Give My Dog…?
Q. MY Shih Tzu IS 14 YEARS OLD. SHE WILL NOT LIFT HER HEAD UP EVEN WHEN YOU ASK HER IF SHE WANTS A TREAT. NORMALLY WHEN YOU SAY TREAT SHE COMES RUNNING .
ANSWER : A. From what you’re describing I think 2 things are likely. Either your dog has pain in her neck, which is causing her to not want to move her head, or she’s feeling generalized weakness.
Neck pain in small dogs is usually due to disk problems. They get a form of disk disease known as Hansen’s type II chronic disease, where the disk gradually moves upward and presses slowly on the spinal cord, causing pain and weakness.
Generalized weakness can be due to a number of conditions, starting with just not feeling well due to a GI problem (nausea, for example) to something like anemia (low red blood cell count) or heart disease. It sounds very much like your girl isn’t feeling well, and likely need some diagnostics in order to figure out what’s going on. You vet will start with a physical examination and rule out possible neck pain, and then will likely recommend blood work or other tests. If you want to talk to us further we can probably provide more information on a consult, where we can get more details about exactly what’s going on.
Read Full Q/A … : Shih Tzu Questions and Answers – Q & A's
Q. Shiba Inu. He periodically shakes and trembles, usually unrpovoked and seeming for no reason. Usually cuddling helps but not always. Becomes reclusive
ANSWER : A. I do find that Shiba Inu’s are a really sensitive breed. I think the first thing to rule out is pain. That could be pain from a muscle injury or even gastrointestinal pain. Try to pinpoint whether it occurs after a meal or not. He might be painful due to something going on in his GI tract, and the pain is at its worse after he eats.
I’ve also seen a lot of small breeds like Shibas get back pain, and shaking can definitely accompany that as well. If you haven’t see your vet who can perform a good physical exam and look for any signs of muscular pain along the spine or elsewhere. It’s not a bad idea at this point to consider doing some blood work just to screen for any problems that could be affecting organ function, for example.
If he’s healthy otherwise, I think it’s likely that there’s something that’s scaring him at home. These things can be really difficult to identify, and you have to be really aware and note exactly when the shaking occurs, how long it lasts, etc, and look for patterns. Dogs can hear things we can’t, and he may be hearing things you’re missing, and the noise is disturbing to him. Cuddling is a good idea, also working to distract him and desensitize him with toys and treats might help. But like I said above – definitely rule out pain first.
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Q. What is the disease that affects vertebra on Boxer dogs?
ANSWER : A. There are lots of problems with the back that can go wrong , however one common one is Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVD). This involves a gradual degeneration of the pads between vertebrae that are used to help pad impact and protect the nerves inside the spinal cord. This can cause pain, trouble walking, paralysis and more. Many other back problems can include Wobbler’s Syndrome- a problem where the neck and back meet, or even just plain injury to the back itself. Boxers that have docked tails may also have nerve issues in the cauda equina- a group of nerves that meet at the base of the back and tail and are important in proper function of the lower organs, tail and legs.
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Q. My 13 yr old male indoor cat displays tenderness to touch in his sides/haunches and it is increasing. Recently put him on diet for arthritis.
ANSWER : A. While tenderness in the back and hips can indicate arthritis pain, it can also sometimes indicate pain internally such as stomach or other organ issues. Cats and other pets will often stiffen their backs to protect the abdomen when in pain. If the pain continues or your cat is still in pain with arthritis treatment it is best to schedule a checkup with your vet to make sure there is not another source for the issue.
Read Full Q/A … : Vetinfo
Q. He is 3-4 yr old Lab mix with vomiting bad back hips snippy and just not himself what could be wrong. Been going on for 5-7/days now
ANSWER : A. There could be several reasons for the vomiting including a foreign body, irritation of the stomach or gastrointestinal tract, or an infection within the body. Prolonged vomiting is concerning and can lead to more severe issues such as dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. I would recommend a veterinary visit and possible xrays to rule out some of the potential conditions listed above. The painful hips could be hip dysplasia, back pain or a soft tissue injury. An xray might be useful in helping you figure out the cause for your dog’s pain
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