How to keep wieght on an old dog with issues?

[un-named]

How do you all keep weight on your aging dogs? The one I'm talking about also has irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux. This is my friend's dog; I had no idea dogs even got that?
Any thoughts? Dog is a golden retriever, age 15.

 

[hennyannie]

I have seen alot of post where people use yogurt to help these kind of issues. I use a product for my aging horse called fasttrack, it is a probiotic. It has really helped him and is availiable for other animals as well. The yogurt did help my JRT when he was off his feed for awhile.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

I would think a 15 year old Golden is a pretty ancient doggie. Like some old folks, some get thinner and thinner and weaker and weaker as they age. It's a malady called old age and there really is not much you can do about it.
The vet once wanted to put our 19 year old cat through blood and medical tests so he could extend her life. She was 19 years old, for heaven's sake, and in those 19 years she did what a good cat does and did it very very well. We chose to give her the dignity of old age as a good cat would, also, without being poked and prodded and fed whatever a doctor thought would *cure* her.
I would continue whatever care brought this old gal/guy to the 15 year mark. Give him/her extra love because he won't last that much longer and I'm sure affection is what s/he still craves the most. If you have been feeding a lower grade of dog food, you might ask a vet about older dog nutrition and possibly gradually change his diet. I don't think it will do much in longevity but it might make you feel better. If s/he was 10 or 12 you could hope for years, but at 15 for a large dog, s/he's getting into the century mark for humans. Just love on her/him

 

[sgtmom52]

It is not a good idea to give dogs (or cats) dairy products as they lack the ability to digest lactose properly. This can actually cause them to have gas and loose stools. There are Probiotic tablets that you could use instead that are very inexpensive.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

Sgtmom, I believe that problem is with noncultured dairy products. Probiotic yogurt and cultured sour cream or cheese seem to be ok and recommended as opposed to milk.
Our Bess is quite the belcher, and since we have started adding natural yogurt to her diet, it seems to improve.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I think trying probiotics and food enzymes might be worthwhile, if they aren't already doing that. If the digestive system isn't working quite right, it can help. It can help them digest their food better and get more out of it.

Sometimes people can have food intolerances because their body doesn't digest particular foods well. Good quality food enzymes can help with that. It's possible that might help your friend's dog, too. It's one of those things that may not help, but could help and shouldn't hurt.