[mhusband]

I have a Siberian Husky that the wife and I love but the dog is a freaking mess!

A little back ground... we rescued Sierra three years ago and was told she was six years old back then. She is a very mellow dog that never barks or very energetic but is great around people.

The problem: Not only is she extremely sensitive to food (diarrhea), has the worst gas ever, numerous skin tumors (and an anal one that was removed) but now she is leaking pee all over the house.

Question: Is there a full blown test that the vet should be doing or am I wrong in thinking that these are somehow related?

 

[Trainer]

OK, so the dog is now 9 years old. How long has she had the food sensitivity? What foods have you tried? I suggest trying a prey model raw diet for a sensitive stomach. It works almost every time. That should also take care of gas.

Skin problems are probably not related to diet. I don't know what to say about those. They could be any one or more of a hundred different things.

The pee leaking could be the onset of old age incontinence(sp). If so, the vet can give you meds that might help in that area. There could be other causes of the leaking.

 

[Kathyy]

A full general senior blood panel is a good start. My vet recommends it starting about 8 years. Liver, heart, kidney and pancreatic issues could be picked up and tested further if necessary. Maybe more stuff could be picked up, I don't know. Anyway it is not very invasive or too expensive. Get a hard copy for your own records. A urinalysis and culture can pick up on crystals, pH and infection.

Peeing in the house could mean she is uncomfortable with a UTI or worse kidney innsufficiency and trying to clear the system by peeing a lot. Diarrhea could mean pancreatitis.

My Sassy had a routine blood test at age 13.5 years old that picked up on kidney disease. She had been all droopy and laying around which I attributed to age. Some peeing in her bed. I am really glad she got that $100 test! It has been 2 years and she is feeling better now.