Is Daily Under-the-Skin Treatment Worth It for an 11-Year-Old Dog?
by Susie
Polyuria means making more urine than normal. It's a sign rather than a diagnosis, so it's worth asking your vet which condition is causing it. The most common causes are kidney disease, Cushing's disease and diabetes. A daily treatment given under the skin is most often fluids for kidney disease, which help prevent dehydration.
Fluids under the skin are usually easy to give at home, and most dogs accept them within a few sessions. Many dogs with kidney disease keep a good quality of life for months or years with treatment, so your vet's estimate is encouraging. Quality of life scales used by vets actually count help with hydration, such as these fluids, as one way to keep a dog comfortable. Please never limit her water.
Being deaf and partly blind is common at her age, and dogs adapt well with hand signals and a home that stays the same. Do tell your vet about her weight loss and picky appetite, as these can be part of the same illness and may be treatable. If she tolerates the fluids and stays content, the treatment may well give her good time. If she resists or her quality of life drops, talk it through with your vet. The decision is yours to make together.
See dog drinking and urinating a lot and giving fluids at home.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
