Update on Fausto...
We talked and talked and talked with the vet yesterday. He said it very likely could be diabetes insipidus. Fausto has all of the symptoms...excessive thirst, excessive weight loss, excessive urination, huge appetite, not much energy, etc. He said the DI is so rare, and in all the years he's been doing this, he's never seen it. He brought out his vet book, and we read through what the testing for diabetes insipidus entails...basically you dehydrate the dog...which said in bold letters is extremely risky for the dog, as it could go into kidney failure. It also said the medication very is expensive (antidiurrhetic). Craig and I both researched it online before going yesterday so we could be prepared...even with medication, he can add weight but will still need to urinate every hour. It was suggested to install a doggie door, so he can go out on his own. Where we live, that is just not an option.
We were basically grasping at straws. Because Bob and his wife Kathy had him for a month, they said he ate like a horse and didn't gain any weight, their son Thomas said Fausto peed in their house. I thought even that wasn't a big deal as I am home all day and can let him out when he needs. I couldn't foresee that he would need to go every 10 minutes. I think I got him on the tail end of this, as his symptoms were getting worse. He was obviously showing signs of problems before I got him, but I ignored them, and brought him home thinking I would be able to fatten him up and everything would be fine.
Also, as far as the betamethasone in the ear drops...the vet said they use that like candy with the patients they see, and have never had that problem...with the limited use of it on Fausto, he said it isn't likely that is the cause of the polyuria (excessive urination). Again, I trust this man implicitly.
We made the unanimous decision to have him PTS. It was by far the hardest thing we've done. I sat on the floor and held him, and hugged him, on my lap the entire visit until they gave him the injection and he took his last breath...I cried, and cried, and cried, and cried. I have only seen my husband cry two other times before in the 12 years of being together...when our kids were born...and yesterday, he was blubbering just as much as me.
I felt everyone that went to chickenstock has a right to know what we needed to do, as you all had a chance to meet and love on Fausto. I'm so sorry.