Expert: Charlotte Sherrell, DVM - 7/27/2008

Question
hes pit bull and bull mastiff mix---hes about 10 years old.he sleeps most of the day lately ( little to no energy past few weeks)hes eating way less than normal.Hes losing weight.His breathing seems labored.occasional diahrea.He is normally very energetic and active although I think he does have arthritis.When he does run( we do not alow that very often)he aches.
 do you believe that these symptoms point to any propblem in particular?
He was my sig sons dog who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 91 and hes been ours since.I cannot tell you how much we love him.   Thank-you


Answer
Al -

The symptoms you describe could indicate a variety of maladies.  Take the dog to a veterinarian to determine if he has arthritis.   Unfortunately, most large dogs have arthritis by the time they reach ten years of age.

Have bloodwork done to evaluate liver and kidney function. The longer you wait to have your dog seen by a vet, the worst his condition may become and the condition will be harder to treat.  Often, if certain disease are diagnosed early, they are very easy to treat and often do not cost as much as most people think.

Good Luck -

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM