Taking him to the vets? Am I over reacting?

[Crazyladee]

I've got a gorgeous 8 year old cocker spaniel boy.

He's playful, very loving and affectionate, energetic and full of life. Loves cuddles, and follows me around the house wanting to play. Ever since he was a pup he has been obsessed with his ball. He absolutely loves it. We get through hundreds of tennis balls as he spends hours playing fetch with his ball thrower and can't ever get enough of it. He even sleeps in his bed with a couple of tennis balls curled up in his paws.

However this past week, I've noticed a sudden drastic change in him. He is quiet, not as energetic and doesn't jump around when something happens that would normally make him go mad like getting his lead out or his treat box. He is also totally ignoring his ball which has given me a lot of concern and this in itself tells me there is something wrong. He isn't affectionate anymore and doesn't seem to want cuddles or spend time playing. He will happily go for a walk and doesn't seem to be limping, he is running about when outside but when he comes home he seems really sad.

We've checked him all over by running our hands over his legs and pads etc and he isn't flinching when we touch him. He is eating and drinking normally and wees and poos are fine too.

He just seems to have had a personality change in the past week which is really worrying me. We said at the beginning of the week we will keep our eye on him and give it to the weekend but now we are there I don't know what to do. I have said I think I will call the vet tomorrow but DH thinks I may be overreacting as what do we say to the vets? He doesn't want to play anymore? I know he isn't exactly a pup anymore and at 8 years old will slow down but I expected a gradual change and not something that would happen overnight.

Any thoughts?

[missbattenburg]

No ideas but I would take a dog to the vet in he same circumstances. Behaviour changes are often the first signs something is not right...

Hope it is something minor and all turns out well xx

[ScreamingValenta]

No, I think you're doing exactly the right thing. An unexplained change in personality is often the first sign of something being wrong. I hope it's nothing serious , but the vet can check him over and check bloods if there's no outward sign of illness/injury.

[fourpawswhite]

Has he been done? I have seen this in dogs when a bitch is in heat close by.

Any change in routine or family life? I swear my female dog became depressed when I was very low. She picks up on my mood entirely.

Otherwise I would take him for a check up.

[eggncress]

I would take him to the vet. Something is wrong but he can’t tell you. My dog became withdrawn, didn’t want cuddles etc but it happened over a longer time frame. Turned out to be under active thyroid and he’s etter now.

[eggncress]

Better !

[BiteyShark]

Absolutely the right thing to take him to the vets. They can't tell you what's wrong so often it's changes in normal behaviour that indicate something is amiss. Don't worry about what you say to the vets, even when my spaniel is trying to kiss the vet and is wagging his tail they still listen to me when I say he isn't his usual self.

[JaneEyre70]

I've got a cocker spaniel. Usually withdrawal like you've described is an ear infection in mine, or a ripped dew claw/damaged pad. I'd have a good look all round, and see if you can see anything that's bothering him. He could be starting to show early signs of arthritis, and if nothing else, the vet would probably give a pain killer and that's a good indicator of pain somewhere if they pick up after. My BIL also has a cocker that was a bugger from shredding tennis balls, and he'd got a blockage from some he'd eaten, he was very subdued and miserable too but some poo was still coming out so they didn't suspect it.
Hope you get some answers from the vet and he's better soon. I take mine any time I'm concerned, and the vets are great. They'd always rather see a dog earlier than later.

[WeAllHaveWings]

Running your hands over him to check is a good idea, but dogs in pain can hide it very well. Our vet could tell our Labrador was in pain in his left leg by comparing his right and feeling a very slight subtle resistance. Pain can be shown simply by licking lips.

I would take to vets too in the circumstances you describe.

[Crazyladee]

Thanks for the replies.

It's confirmed my thoughts that the vets is definately the way to go.


Hopefully whatever it is isn't serious. Fingers crossed.

[Chapterandverse]

Hope it all goes ok. I would do the exact same thing.

[Crazyladee]

Well I have an update.

I took him to the vets first thing yesterday morning and after checking him over, plus a urine test, the vet said he couldn't see anything visibly wrong with him. It was agreed that we would give it to the end of the week and if no improvement then we would be going down the route of blood tests.

We left the vets which happened to be facing one of his favourite parks.

I let him off the lead and he raced off and found a ball and returned it to me with a big waggy tail and cheeky look on his face!

He is now more or less back to normal!!

[JaneEyre70]

Ah that's good news. Perhaps he'd got a virus or just felt off colour.

[eggncress]

That’s good news ! Hopefully a one-off and you won’t need to go back to the vets.

[deste]

Friend took her puppy to the vet because it was shaking only to be told £250 later he was fine.

[Niel90]

I think your doggie must have mental or behavioural issues as I can't see it as any health issue and I am sure your dog might have been through some stressful in your house that's it's giving symptoms which makes him live a life which different from normal and I think he is under fear or some depression . I can feel u how u must be feeling as my pug puppy had same issues like your dog and I met a behavioural trainer and he told me some activities and some tips and I followed it and my dog is look confident and loving....If u want I can share u those things what my trainer want that might help him relieving from stress

[missbattenburg]

niel90 I respectfully disagree that mental or behavioural issues can be determined after such a short period of time and with one basic vet check over.

At the moment this is an isolated, short period from which the dog has spontaneously recovered. The chances seem far greater that this was a short term illness, such as a viral infection.

[Crazyladee]

*Niel90
*
Thanks for your reply but he has actually completely bounced back and is back to his normal happy self!

The vet said that he thinks the problem could have been that he had a sore back as that is the common reason why a dog withdraws in the way he did.

[Niel90]

It's nice to hear that he is fine

My advise is give him healthy food that's mainly home made and avoid junk food

Daily walks

Introduce him to various fun and play activities

Keep him away from aggressive dogs that might injure him

Take him out to different places with you so he feels happy like a family member

Love your dog lots and lots

Happy dog is healthy dog

[Crazyladee]

All of which we do already

[TattyTShirt]

Is your dog back to his usual, playful self now OP? I had 2 Collies who were completely ball obsessed. I would have been worried if either of them appeared lethargic and lost interest in a ball too.

Hope your dog has made a complete recovery now

[Isitwinteryet]

I'm pleased your dog is fine! Just wanted to say I don't think it was an overreaction to take him at all. We had a similar experience with our doberman, looked and felt fine, was eating and drinking. However wasn't herself and we went to the vets based on that. We found out she was in the early stages of heart failure.

I'm pleased this was not the case for you and your dog is ok! :)

[pigsDOfly]

Niel90. Can't imagine how you managed to arrive at the idea from Crazyladee's OP that her dog's home environment would be causing him stress or mental health problems. Or that she needs such patronising advice.

Dogs get under the weather from time to time like humans.

Glad to hear he's better OP.

[Niel90]

I just want the dog to do good so what I felt I told so if by mistake if gave hurt anyone than I would like to apologise

[BiteyShark]

Niel90 your puppy was in a different situation, not socialised and had multiple homes during its short life through no fault of yours or his. Yours needed time to feel settled and to build up his confidence.

OPs is different as the dog is a much older settled pet who had a sudden change in behaviour which often warrants a vet check to rule out a health issue causing pain etc.

[Niel90]

Dog is healthy now that's enough for me and I pray he stay in good health always and again sorry for my comments