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10-27-2007, 04:06 PM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia
Posts: 4
| Underweight dog & losing teeth Hi All, I am new here but not new to the Yorkie life. I hve an 8.5yr old yorkshire terrier named Robby and live in Australia. For the past 3 or 4 years, Robby has been losing teeth. They were just falling out for no reason, he wasn't sick or anything. All along he has been a tiny fella. He usually sits just over the 4lb mark but is roughly 4.5-5lbs at the moment. Always skinny, but had a tiny bit of meat on his bones. When taken to the vet for his yearly shots about 3 months back, he weighed 6lbs. Vet tried to scrape the yuk stuff off his teeth but the tooth just fell out. He has around 3- teeth left. Yesterday, when I gave him a bath I noticed how skinny he has become. I could feel ALL of his bones no problem. His ribs, the bones leading down to his bottomhip bones etc and his stomach is fading away. Now, my question is. How do I fatten up a dog with almost no teeth? I also have 2 other dogs, an 8yr old Aussie Silky Terrier, and a 5yr old Maltese X. They all get fed around 6-7pm every night. Robby gets some wet dog food, and also some biscuts with his dinner (which he sruggles to get through with his teeth). I used to offer biscuts all day long but my Silky was severly overweight, still is but getting better since cuttng back dry food. Robby gets fed inside the house, while he other two are outside so they cant eat his food. Is there any particular food anyone can suggest for Robby? I'm willing to buy/make anything to stop my little guy fading away. |
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10-27-2007, 04:13 PM | #2 |
Proud Alaskan Grandma! Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 1,174
| Have you tried putting baby food in his water soaked dog food. It might make him more interested in it. And you might try feeding him more often. Usually we have the opposite problem. Good luck and I hope that this helps. BTY- Welcome to YT
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10-27-2007, 04:15 PM | #3 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dresher, PA
Posts: 2,779
| Did the Vet diagnose him with dental disease or a calcium deficiency? Has been checked for parasites and worms? When was his last blood work up been done? Sorry for all the questions, but if you don't have any of the answers you should find out. The only suggestion I can give on foods is stuff he can literally lick up, either purees or home cooked doggy porridge. |
10-27-2007, 04:28 PM | #4 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia
Posts: 4
| I wasn't the one who took him to the vet, but I was told that the vet has just said that he has too much tartre build up on his teeth andto give him things like chicken necks and things occasionally. I will be finding a new vet as soon as I get paid though and will ask for blood work up etc. Probably next week. I'm off to find out how to make doggy porridge. Just another question, is puppy food good/bad for adult dogs? I knowthey make puppy porridge and different puppy foods with more nutrients ad would be easier to digest? We've had dogs all my life, but as I'm only 19 I've never been the primary one rsponsible for them until they were given to me a few months back. Thanks guys. |
10-27-2007, 04:44 PM | #5 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| Welcome to YorkieTalk. Losing teeth like that is a very serious issue. With only three teeth left not much can be done now, however, if the dog is well enough to go under anesthesia it might have to have something done with its gums. I am guessing that it is periodontal disease. My Yorkie has stage 3-4 periodontal disease (4 is worst). A couple of her teeth fell out almost a year ago and she had to have surgery to get about 9 pulled. The rest of her teeth seem to be fine now. There was no choice in pulling them since leaving an infection in the mouth can lead to disease of the organs. I would definately get another opinion on the teeth. I think you will have to go with all soft food now. In that case find his favorite (or make it yourself). Getting that skinny that fast isn't right and I would take him to a vet. In the meantime have you tried things like pasta to try and fatten him up?
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10-27-2007, 05:30 PM | #6 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dresher, PA
Posts: 2,779
| Try making a porridge with brown rice, chicken, or turkey, etc., and some veggies (no onions). You will need to used alot of water in the pot, especially for brown rice and you want it cooked to a mushy state. I would start the brown rice first then drop in the meat and veggies later on. You can allways add more water in the cooking process. |
10-27-2007, 05:45 PM | #7 |
Donating YT 30K Club Member | Is Robby drinking or peeing more? Those along with weight loss can be due to thyroid problems, diabetes, Cushing disease. Bloodwork will help diagnose him and get him back to health. Hope he gets better soon
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