The American Beagler Forum

A friend of mine has a 4 year old female that is typically in excellent health and she is in shape as well, she has not been eating well lately and her fur is dull. She does not have as much energy as she normally does.
He has given her antibiotics, fed her real meat to try and get her appeitite going but still no change. She has been wormed for everything. Her stool is normal, given yougart for good bacteria for her bowels. She is due in heat this month but has never acted like this before.
I might add that after her last set of pups (Sept 06) she has lost a step or two but is in excellent condition. She is one win away from Field Champion.
Any suggestions ?

could be heart worms????

I had a really nice female do the same thing.After a trip to the vet and several tests they found no problems.I decided to try a different vet and to save some money I brought all the test results from before.I was told it was simple but could not be treated.Just as a Woman goes through changes in her middle ages a dog will also and it will affect every dog/human different.He said give it time and it will run it's course.

I am not saying this is your problem,but it was mine.

We don't have heartworms up this way in the North so that's ruled out.
Thanks Chris, that was my thought since she is due soon but I didn't know that, thanks for the info.

HWs are everywhere. There even in the U.P. in MI. Not common but it's here.

Also reading that HW was the first thing that came to mind.

She went to the vet today, ran a bunch of blood tests etc.
I am thinking it a parasite/bacteria found in water from outside provinces from ours. I'm on an Island. I think there are shots that are given along with the rabies at vets over across, it's not a standard here.

Found out it was kidneys.
She was given a flush today, hoping it helps her out.
We are crossing our fingers. She still is eating and drinking some which is a good sign. You just never know where a hound will pick up a toxin ?