Porridge is a bit out of sorts

[higgle]

Porridge is our rescue Staffie and he is 10. He has been fit and healthy in the year we have had him but I'm wondering if I should take him to the vet now or wait and see if he recovers over the next couple of days.

Last Thursday evening he didn't want to sit on the sofa with us and went down the side of our other sofa and then upstairs where he went between the bed and the wall, which is a bit odd for him. I noticed he was licking his lips a lot and thought he might have picked up a bit of chilli from the kitchen floor. Later on he came downstairs and was retching a bit and I put him outside, he wasn't sick but I suspect he was sick and then re-ate his dinner in the night, as there were traces of food on the floor by his bed. Since then he has not been 100% and is not keen on eating his dog food - though he continues to beg for bits of apple and snacks. This morning he was still off his food, so I gave him a tin of tuna which he did eat. He normally loves his morning walk but for the last 3 days he hasn't wanted to go far, and today he stoped and looked as if he might topple over, then walked home perfectly normally. Every day I think he doesn't seem really ill and I'll leave it another day to see if he is better - should I take him to the vets now? He was panting quite a lot last night which is unusual for him.

[Scuttlebutter]

Panting is often a sign of distress and pain - so I would definitely get him to the vet for a check up. Lip licking is also a sign of distress too.

Hope he is soon feeling better.

[higgle]

I will take him tomorrow if there is not a dramatic improvement tonight - I think Staffies try to conceal pain, my old hound used to make it very clear indeed if he was feeling poorly. Thanks for the expert opinion , Scuttle.

[higgle]

Good News! Porridge is completely back to his old self today and ate all his dinner and breakfast, grabbed his lead and gave it a good shaking and was very keen for his walk this morning (less keen last night, but that was because he prefers being cuddled on the sofa to being dragged round the block in the cold dark evening) I'm so relieved. General family consensus after some discussion is that he might have strained his shoulder going downstairs, but anyway if it flares up again he will be straight off to the vets.