I have a 6 year old Bischon Frise that was always a little over weight--in the last 3 months she has lost a significant amount of weight and is drinking a lot of water--she also is having 2-3 accidents throughout the day and wakes us up at night to be put out side and wanting more water. We have tried limiting her intake of water and have given her all she wants at night to still being woke up 2-3 times at night to messes. She is mostly a house dog but is needing to spend lots of time outdoors these days as we can not trust her inside. She does not seem to be in pain however has been sleeping a lot and not real playful. She has always been a dog that eats her food right down and now it remains in her dish most of the day until night when she eats. I have done research and it sounds like diabetes and or something wrong with kidneys these tests and cures are very expensive. Is there anything we can try over the counter without subjecting her through a bunch of tests to see if the problem clears up.

She is sick - she needs to see a Vet.

This can only get worse and, yes, it sounds like a kidney problem but I haven't see her and that's a guess.

Having a dog is expensive and Vet bills are part of that.

If she has kidney disease, the treatment to stabalize her is going to be expensive.. treatment after she is stabalized is very inexpensive. A regular blood panal is all that is needed to diagnose this. Depending on how bad it is, you may or may not have to go in for monthly blood tests on kidney function.

If she has diabetes.. the only thing needed to diagnose this would be a blood panel test. The treatment for diabetes at first might be expensive depending on how far gone she is. The treatments after are decently priced. If your vet understands that money is an issue, they can work with you. You can get insulin that is scripted through a human pharmacy. You can purchase your own Glucometer and test her blood sugars at home.

Your dog is sick. It could be a life threatening disease. There is no other option for you other than to go see a vet. If you cannot afford the treatments needed, than you need to come with the realization that euthanasia is your only other option.

Diabetes is considered the starvation diet. Research diabetes in humans. The same rules apply.

Kidney failure is a very slow death. Is it painful? I don't know. Research and read up on Kidney disease in humans. If its painful for humans, its painful for animals.

Not doing anything and searching for some crazy voo-doo treatment from the internet is only going to kill your dog faster.

Take your dog into the vet and do the right thing. She is uncomfortable. She is peeing in her home and cannot control it. She is waking up in the middle of the night with a large bladder... Don't for a minute think that just because she is wagging her tail, that she isn't just as uncomfortable as you are with all the disruptions in your life.

An appointment has been made --I guess just hoping for a quick common fix.

Diabetes is considered the starvation diet. Research diabetes in humans. The same rules apply.

Kidney failure is a very slow death. Is it painful? I dont know. Research and read up on Kidney disease in humans. If its painful for humans, its painful for animals.



Great post -

Diabetes is easier to control in dogs (I had a diabetic husband and a diabetic dog at the same time) because dogs can't get up in the middle of the night and get their own food OR stop at McDonald's on their way to dialysis and "forget" to tell you.

And kidney failure - incredibly, incredibly slow, painful death. Half of the pain is realizing that you have two choices (1) transplant; (2) death.

Good that the dog is going in to be checked.