Wtf is wrong with my dog??

[curiousgeorgie]

Worst night ever. He wouldn't just lay down on or under the bed like he usually does, he was panting like crazy and barking and growling.

I went and let him out at 1am in case that was the problem but he carried on after he came in.

About 3 he started growling under the bed and woke up my baby... I got down on the floor to tell him to get out and as I reached to stroke his nose he bit me. Quite badly and it bled for a while.

(He has bitten once before, years ago, when my oldest DC was a baby and a strange man grabbed his face, but we immediately got a police dog handler round the house to help and he's been amazing since.)

I've checked him all over today to see if anything hurts and it doesn't seem to, the only new thing he has (which I'm sure is nothing) is a little wart on his tail.

He's a 7 year old cocker spaniel and we really love him. He's very restless even now and panting like crazy. He occasionally lays down and trembles

He does need a haircut but
not desperately so, and it's not hot.

I can't take him to the vet by myself with a toddler and a baby but have booked an appointment tomorrow evening when DH would be here.

Ideally I want to take him now I'm so worried.

[tabulahrasa]

I think you need to take him to the vet today tbh - panting, random growling, trembling are all signs of pain.

[Rikalaily]

The panting and the growling/bite point to him being in pain, I would take him asap. Can a friend take him or keep an eye on the kids long enough for you to get him up there?

[Catsmamma]

definitely vet and asap...I'd say something was very amiss, sorry.

[curiousgeorgie]

I'm texting a few people now...

Everyone is either at work / have young children though. I literally don't have enough hands to carry baby, wrangle toddler, hold dogs lead and do doors, crossing roads etc from where I can park.

[catsdogsandbabies]

I am a vet - I would want to see him today. If you call and ask for an appt after surgery so you don't have to wait. Explain re baby and toddler and might be easier to leave dog with them. Thinking he needs blood tests and a neurological exam.

[catsdogsandbabies]

Seriously if they are a nice vets they you could call them from the car and a nurse world come out and take dog in for you.

[tabulahrasa]

Ask the vet if someone can come out to your car and help if you can't get a babysitter - mine would do that for me no bother.

[curiousgeorgie]

I'm asking DH to come home from work...

He's trembling so much on the sofa next to me. This is so so odd. He's not lethargic though, he's restless he keeps getting up, getting down, walking around, and then trembling.

With the neurological exam what would you be looking for? What do you think it could be??

[curiousgeorgie]

Sorry! Just saw both posts. I'll call them and ask.

[catsdogsandbabies]

Lots of things, dogs can get things wrong with the brain that cause behavioural changes. Bloods, neuro and ortho exam is where to start.

[tabulahrasa]

Not that I'm going to argue with a vet (because I wouldn't have a clue about neurological problems) - but just pain from anywhere can cause behavioural changes, so I wouldn't worry so much about what it might be just now, so much as just getting him checked out.

[curiousgeorgie]

The vet can see me at 6.45, I can definitely get help then.

He just went crazy at the toilet door jumping up and scratching and yelping when I went in there :s

I don't understand this at all.

[Dontletthemgetyoudown]

poor dog! Hope its nothing serious and he's well soon. have you checked his claws? my lab was crying and it turned out he'd managed to split one of his claws right down the centre.

[curiousgeorgie]

I've felt him all over, and nothing seemed to make him yelp / growl / tremble more...the only thing that is different is a wart on his tail that I hadn't noticed before.

Is that anything??

[catsdogsandbabies]

Agree - pain, neuro, lots of possible causes.

[tabulahrasa]

I'm saying it could be pain because my dog has two health issues that cause pain.

When he's sore, he's restless because nothing's comfy, so he won't rest - he also doesn't understand what's causing the pain, so he's made random associations with people or dogs and blames them for making him sore rather than realizing it's just sore or that he's just moved in a way that makes it sore. He's growled at the bush he's sniffing before because he's got a twinge, lol.

New unexpected pain really does make them act completely out of character and in a weird way.

And of course if he's not in pain and the trembling is neurological, it stands to reason that it will affect behaviour...

Unless he gets loads worse, just keep him nice and quiet and put up with his odd behaviour until it's time to go to the vet.

[1MitchellMum]

I was going to offer the same advice as everyone else. When my boy's in pain he gets snappy. I know what it's like to be on your own and in a panic about getting dog to vet, but I do find that vet staff are all very helpful when a dog is very poorly and the owner is distressed. Good luck and keep us posted.

[curiousgeorgie]

He's acting crazy. He won't lay down. He won't be quiet. I've sat on the floor by his bed so he'll sit in there but he's all over the place. The panting hasn't stopped all night... His literally hasn't kept still for 10 seconds.

I'm seriously worried. I've got to pick dd up from nursery at 12 and I'm worried about leaving him. He won't calm down or leave my side. Literally less than a minute in the toilet and he was trying to break the door down.

He won't eat either. His breakfast is still there 3 hours later. Won't even have his water. Shall I try and make him have something?? His biggest treat is milk, shall I see if he'll have some??

[curiousgeorgie]

He's bitten the same hand I hurt in a fall yesterday so it was already swollen and bruised at the wrist so looks SO much worse than what he did... I don't want the vet to think he did this

[SnakeyMcBadass]

Poor boy, and poor you! I hope your hand isn't too badly hurt? Does it need looking at? Tetanus up to date? I can only agree with everyone else that an animal in pain can show all the signs you're describing. I hope the vet can get to the bottom of it quickly and give him some relief. For now, I'd definitely try and keep him somewhere quiet and calm, and well away from the DC as he's clearly not himself.

[hairypaws]

my dog recently had an allergic reaction and was panting (she's also a cocker). The vet said it could have been a reaction to something in the past 12 hrs. Although she was also rubbing her face all over the floor and you could tell she had puffiness around her face. We narrowed it down to poppy seeds on a little bit of bread.

keep things calm and hopefully tonight's appt will be ok but if things deteriorate get to vets asap.

[kitsmummy]

Can you leave a child at nursery for longer today and get him to the vet now???

[Floralnomad]

I think you need to get him to the vet this morning and if necessary leave him and pick him up tonight .Hope he feels better soon but make sure you warn the vet that he bit you and might do the same to them .

[curiousgeorgie]

I can't, it's a nursery attached to a school, not one I pay for... The only available time is 9-12..

I'm trying to get my DH to come home but so far not getting my message.

[tabulahrasa]

In the nicest possible way - the vet won't care about your hand :) ...you need to say he's been a bit snappy so they know, but it's pretty common for unwell dogs to snap.