Roxy's Health Issues

At the beginning of January, Roxy went to the vet for her annual checkup. When I mentioned that we were planning on thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail together, the vet voiced concerns about Roxy's health during the trip. Roxy weighed in at 65 pounds at the time, and her vet recommend she gain about 10 pounds before we start the trail in June. He said at 65 she absolutely should not get any smaller, and that I should let her eat as much as she wants.

Well, Roxy has been taking the move to our temporary housing in Bloomington really hard. We went to the vet again last Wednesday and she weighed only 58 pounds. Her weight loss was quite a shock because since January I have been trying really hard to make sure Roxy got plenty to eat.

I've always tried to feed Roxy as well as I can, but with a limited budget and many expenses as we prepare for the trail life, I can't afford top of the line dog food. For the past few years I have been feeding her Diamond Naturals Lamb and Rice twice a day supplemented with cooked chicken, carrots, and rice or other combinations of meat, veggies, and grains. I usually pour olive oil on top of her food too. If I can't afford fresh meats and veggies for her, I will add anything I happen to have on hand to supplement the dry kibble: eggs, peanut butter, yogurt, or whatever I happen to be eating. After our January vet visit, I have continued the twice a day supplemented meals plus I have been leaving a full bowl of dry kibble out at all times for Roxy.

Despite being given the option to eat as much as she would like, poor Roxy has lost weight instead of gaining it. We usually run at least 3 miles a day, and walk an additional 2-4 miles per day. On the weekends we try to fit in longer runs or backpacking trips. Decreasing her exercise doesn't seem like a realistic option, especially since we need to be in shape for the trail. Roxy has always been an active dog, and never seems to get tired. I am not sure if the quality of her food is the issue, or the stress she is experiencing in our new living arrangements is to blame, but I am worried about her losing weight. This week I switched her food to Earthborn Holistic Adult Vantage, but she is only slightly more interested in eating this compared to her old dog food.

Roxy after a 10 mile run.

Since moving to the apartment, Roxy  has been so stressed that she will bark all day when alone, destroy her bedding, and relieve herself in the house. The only time I can't have her with me is when I am at work. I hate seeing her like this so I have started taking her to a doggy day care facility while I am at work, but that hasn't helped either. Even when I am home with her in the apartment she just sits and pants uncontrollably and can't settle down. We do our best to spend as much time as possible outdoors, but on weekdays we have to sleep indoors so that I can get to work on time.

The vet we saw last week prescribed Buspirone, an anti-anxiety medicine, to try to help her cope with our new living arrangement. I hate the idea of medicating Roxy, but at this point I think it is what's best for her. All her stress and anxiety disappears when we are out in the woods, but for the next 3 months we need to survive here. Any suggestions about helping Roxy cope with indoor life would be greatly appreciated. She is my pride an joy, and seeing her in such a dreadful state is killing me too.