Charlie is acting strange...UPDATE

[Diana Erhart]

UPDATE:

After writing this last week I tried to think back to what had changed with Charlie over the past few weeks.  I remembered that I had bought a new bag of Pupperoni that we had started just before all the tummy troubles.  I know Pupperoni is junk food but we had this tradition of Charlie having just 4 little pieces every night before bed.  Anyway, I decided to stop giving him those 4 little pieces each day.  Ever since then he has been getting progressively better.  No more staring into space or acting like he can't move.  All weekend I could see him getting better and today he is back to being more playful than he has been in a long, long time.  I just got off the phone with our vet and she thinks that the pupperoni's were upsetting his stomach so bad that his strange behavior was coming from pain.  She thinks that if it were from some sort of tick-borne illness that he wouldn't be acting as playful now as he has (it is like he is one or two instead of six years old).  So for now we are going on the assumption that the Pupperoni was causing the problem and we are just doing the healthy treats from here on out.  No junk food, not even a little bit.  Thanks to all of you for your concern, advice and words of encouragement.  Hopefully this is all behind us now!

******

First, a little background.  Mid-June Charlie got his 6 year check up and was deemed very healthy.  Two weeks later he had an upset tummy with diarrhea and wanted to constantly eat grass.  This is not unusual for him as he has a sensitive tummy and many times will eat grass, throw up and be fine the next day.  So he eats grass and he throws up.  But the vomit is pink and has little red bits in it.  So we rush to the vet.  She thinks the pink and red are from a piece of pupperoni he ate the night before (the only thing he ate all day) and thinks he has gastritis.  She gives him a shot for nausea and some meds to coat his stomach for the next 5 days.  The vomiting stops and his poos are getting better but he still is not really eating much but at least some things.

Now, not sure if this is next is related or not, since all this has happened he will sometimes during the day (and night) act like he is either weak or his legs hurt.  He will refuse to come down the stairs and bark until I pick him up and carry him down.  He also acts very lethargic at times.  And sometimes he will just stand and stare for a long time and not move, then eventually bark for me to come and pick him up.  Then an hour later he will be running around like everything is fine, chasing balls, bunnies, birds.  He still isn't eating much but he is eating some.  His tummy seems to be all settled other than that.  But every time I think I need to take him to the vet, then he acts fine again for half the day.  Last night at 2 am he woke me up with barking.  I found him on the landing of the steps just sitting there.  When I came down he slowly went down the last couple of steps and got a big drink of water, went outside to pee and then went back up the stairs by himself and went back to bed.  Now this morning he is acting fine again.  

I am not sure if he is just spoiled at this point or if there is something wrong.  Every time I think I am going to call the vet and take him in, he starts acting fine again.  But when he is not acting fine he looks so pathetic and sad.  I figure that if he is still doing this tomorrow I will take him in to the vet over the weekend (yes, my wonderful vet has weekend hours!) but was wondering if anyone else has every encountered this or has any suggestions of other behaviors to watch for.  

Sorry for the long length.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm so sorry to hear that Charlie isn't feeling well.

Jack's IBD came on very suddenly last fall, so I have learned that a dog can seem to be perfectly fine one day and be very ill the next.

The inappetance coupled with the behavioral changes would concern me, too, especially in a 6 year old dog. Dogs are very skilled at hiding it when they aren't feeling well, it's instinctive. (I learned that the hard way, too.) I think I would have the vet run a full blood panel, the kind that has to be sent out...full thyroid, full chemistry, the works. If everything comes back normal, you will have bought yourself some valuable peace of mind, and if it doesn't, you'll be able to help him feel better that much sooner.

 

[Diana Erhart]

Thanks for the advice on the testing.  I think I will be calling today to see about having him checked out.  The past two mornings now after his walk and drinking some water when we came in the house he has immediately thrown up.  I am definitely thinking something is not right.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good plan.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Oh dear - sorry about this for you and Charlie.  I also just posted about a medical problem with my Stuart - I'm a big believer in knowing when your dog acts "off".  I'd take him in for a consult and hear what the vet thinks.  This could result in a big vet bill for tests that show nothing or he might be having a real problem, hip pain can come and go.  I vote for taking him.  Good luck and let us know the outcome!!!  Hugs to you Charlie.

[Diana Erhart]

Thanks Jane, and I hope Stuart is feeling better soon too.  

[Bonnie and Kona]

No one knows your dog like you do. If you are seeing some really aberrant behaviors, trust your instincts and have him checked out. Do you have pet insurance? 

Yesterday, in efforts to think of ways to economize, I was thinking that maybe I should drop my very healthy doodles' insurance. This note has me so grateful that I have it... just in case (as Jane says) or in the reality that something can come up at any age. 

Please keep us posted with updates on Charlie. 

[Diana Erhart]

Yes, I do have Pet Plan.  I have never had to use it yet but you never know when that day will come.  I wonder if they pay for all the testing even if nothing definitive shows up as being a problem.  I think I may find out the answer to that question soon enough.

[BG and Gavin]

Don't forget to get them to check for a tick bourne illness.  Just in case.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I was thinking this too.

[Diana Erhart]

Thanks, I will.  He was checked for Lyme disease during his check-up in June.  But I think he had a tick the beginning of June (long story, not sure if he did or not).  But I am not sure how long it would take for it to show up in a test if he did get it the first of June.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

When Murphy had a tick borne disease he had some of these same symptoms (although he was totally lethargic and ran a high fever).  I believe she said that it takes a week or two from the time of the bite to when they become symptomatic.  They did a full blood panel to diagnose.  The initial test showed elevated white counts, and that's when she went on and did the full test.  Here's hoping it's nothing serious....and please keep us posted.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am so sorry Charlie isn't well.  I think another full check up with blood work is in order, even if you have just done it. Trust your instincts about something being 'not right.'  I hope it turns out to be something small and easily cured.