My dog is literally losing her head

Hi Trigal,

As dogs get older and lose muscle mass, this is often the first place they will lose it.  However, from this picture, it is just one side?  You may want to have her checked out if so, especially in light of the louder snoring.  Any problems with her chewing or teeth problems?  Eating normally?  Has she slowed down recently?

Yes just on one side. She has slowed down a lot over the last year. She used to go for runs with me but she has not been able to or does not desire to run anymore at all, but that has been over a year I'd say.

I think I'm gonna cry. She's such a good girl.

She was attacked by two dogs across the street in the winter so we took her to the vet to be checked out after that. The vet said her heart still sounded good and thought she had a couple good years left in her. Maybe not......

x2 (not a vet tech, though)

{MELON PRESS}

Thanks for the replies! She has an appointment for Friday morning.

I just reached down to pet her and now noticed a lump in her belly too.

Ugh

Oh no... Definitely get to the vet.

I hope it's nothing serious.  

Dogs often get lumps of fat that collect on their bellies.  They are harmless.  No need to panic yet.

x2, my lab (he's almost 11 now as well) has had a fatty deposit on his belly since he was about 1. 

Hope your pup is ok.

Yes, my little Benny had this too. he had a lump on his chest. I had a panic attack and took him to the vet. Turned out it was a fatty deposit. he has two of them now. he is only 9.

x3  I've got two labs 10 and 11 years old.  Both get the fatty lumps often.  We have them removed if they bother them, but there are lots of them that pop up as the age.  They head thing I'd get checked out but don't panic!  If she's not showing any other symptoms of anything it's probably nothing.  My wife is a vet tech and owns a pet sitting business.  She sees this stuff all the time.  It never gets easier though.  Nothing worse than watching your best friend get old.

Ok - back from the vet. She is going to be fine. The lumps (turns out the vet found more than what I could see) are just fatty tumors like you all said.

He thinks the head issue is likely the result of trauma to the head or neck. The only trauma I know of is that she was attacked by the dogs across the street this winter. He thought that was a likely culprit and it can take that long for these signs to show up. She has lost all muscle mass on only that side of her head all the way down into her cheek. He talked a little over my head but something about nerves and muscles etc etc.....

The damage is done, nothing we can do about it but keep an eye on it in case things deteriorate further. If things get worse it could be a tumor but we'd have to get an MRI to know for sure. He does not think that is necessary at this point. She can still blink with her eye and he thought she might only be eating out the good side of her head but she is using her entire mouth so I think that is good.

And it turns out our previous vet retired and this new guy is a triathlete. I remembered him  passing me at my last race .

Good news! My flat coat retriever is almost 13 and has fatty lipomas all over her and several other aging dog issues - it is sooo hard watching her get older but at least I know she is still super happy

wishing you many more happy years with your pup