Something's Wrong with Zoe, just don't know what
 

Hi everyone! Well we're day 1 in our mini vacation and I'm thinking we may have to find a local vet to take Zoe to. She's acting really strange, I'm not sure what the problem is (and I don't know what caused it!). So much happened today....

This morning she went in the pool for the first time ever (we held her as she kind of paddled around a tiny bit). She got out of my eyesight for a second and made it all the way down to the second floor and was exploring the garage (though there's nothing in there but tools and extra wood). I almost panicked, thankfully a really horrible situation didn't happen but I was freaked until I found her (prancing around as if to say "this place is fun!"). Today we went to the movies and left her in her crate for about 3-4 hours. After we got home from the movies she's not been her usual self. She's usually perky and chipper and a ball of energy. Now she's NOT. She's been shaking on and off and panting every once in a while. It's Florida, it's hot, but we've been giving her water, she shows limited interst in food (which is kind of normal for her), but she hasn't peed since this morning! (And we've walked her a bunch too! Nothing outside or inside since about 11 this morning.)

Last night when we first arrived we stopped at my boyfriend's Dad's house (out in the woods), she got walked at one point but away from the dirt and known flea areas. One visit for 3 hours and she got fleas, more fleas than ever before (she's only had them twice before, and only 2-3 each time). I use Frontline monthly and it doesn't seem to work down here. Either she's become immune to it or the fleas here are super powered. Either way, we've been trying our best to pick them out, so far we've got about half a dozen or more. Tomorrow I'm hoping to find a store that sells Capstar locally.....

She's just not herself and it's making me really nervous and worried. She's shaking and panting and she's not chipper and happy. Instead as I walk past her (which by the way since getting back home and noticing the difference she hasn't left our arms) she's got this look in her eyes that just makes me feel really worried for her! I'm not sure if this is enough to warrant finding a vet that'll see her here (forgetting the cost they'll charge us!)... :confused:

This isn't really an emergency but I don't know what this is, so I didn't know where to post this. I hope here is fine, if not please move this wherever it belongs. In the end all I really want is the opinions of you YTs, what do you think is going on and what should I do???

She could just be heat stressed and extremely tired/stressed from the change in surroundings. So long as her temperature is normal, her gums are a healthy pink color, and she's eating and drinking, I would give her plenty of rest tonight and see how she looks tomorrow.

Hopefully a long and cool nights sleep will fix her and she'll be ready to play tomorrow! Keep in mind that these little guys get dehydrated so quickly and can go downhill just as fast. Keep a watchful eye on your little girl!! I may put some karo syrup in her water to keep her drinking and her blood sugar up.

Thanks so much for responding! :hug: We're with family, but they don't have dogs, so I feel so out of sorts without all of our usual stuff we'd have at home just in case...

Well, we've been giving her water as often as wel can, even now when we'd normally ban her for the night. Thankfully her gums are still pink, no dehydration. She didn't eat breakfast and wasn't interested in food this evening, not even when my boyfriend tried to hand feed her. She'll normally eat at least some if you hand feed, but food has never been a big deal for her. Lately she's eating both meals each day but for most of her life she decides to only eaten one meal a day. Maybe two hours ago though she took a few treats from me (yay YY's!).

We live in Florida, so the heat isn't something new for her. We've also visit here twice before (though only once that she'd probably remember). So I don't know if she's stressed from being here. I do think she's sick or stressed or something though, just not sure what's causing it. All I know is between her lack of enthusiasm, sad eyes, shaking, and lack of peeing today I'm worried! I think we'll just keep an eye on her. If tomorrow morning she's still not right I may just go to a vet here....

I agree with Amanda. Just the change in surroundings and all of the extra activity is probably enough to have her a little out of sorts. All you have really listed as symptoms are "She's shaking and panting and she's not chipper and happy" and a "look in her eyes." So, I probably would not rush to the vet just yet.

But I would take it serious enough to monitor her closely. Dogs can pant and shake because they are stressed, afraid, hot, or in pain. It can also be a sign of hypoglycemia. The karo syrup idea or giving a little Nutri-Cal would be a great idea and can't hurt.

You mentioned lots of walking, swimming in the pool, and an unexpected trip down stairs. Possibility of pain from too much activity or taking the stairs badly? Her little legs may just be stressed from more than usual exercise. She may just be stressed and afraid that her home has been changed. Puppies taken to new homes often will pant and shake til they get acclimated, so a change in her environment may be the stressor.

The flea problem could make it worse too as you probably were stressed when you found them and that passes to our pets. I live in NW Florida and use Frontline Plus. I have never had a flea (knock on wood quickly!). But I know some people have real flea problems in their yards and there may be some resistant varieties. If fleas are thick, even Frontline will not keep them off, but hopefully will be enough to not make them want to set up housekeeping and lay eggs.

Thanks for responding FlDebra!

You're probably right, my stress is completely stressing Zoe out. She didn't get any more walking in today than usual, but the adventuring off on her own (and scaring me half to death) and the pool were new things!

I may be worried about nothing, at least I hope that's what it turns out to be! I just know my dog and she's never acted this way! It's just hard to define or describe in concrete terms. She's been panting and shaking, the panting I could understand as stress or heat but it's the constant shaking that really worries me! I keep trying to reassure her that she's fine but she won't even look me in the eyes! :( She also hasn't made the entire day (even though she has drank) so that worries me! Something else I forgot to mention is that she yelped twice when we've gone to pick her up this afternoon. We felt all around and she didn't react to anything and she's walked normally. We thought it was something about her back legs but can't figure out what caused it.

Too much unexplained odd things have me stressed! :rolleyes:

Thanks though ladies! I really appreciate the feedback! I'm just freaked to begin with AND we're in a small unfamiliar town and I'm concerned about getting her help if she needs it!

The fact that she yelped for no apparent reason changes everything. These are the symptoms Ryder showed when he hurt his back. It may be that her knees are luxating and it's scaring/hurting her, but I would be very, very concerned about her spinal colum. Can you call around tomorrow and see if you could get her in somewhere? If it is a back/neck injury specific protocol needs to be taken, and if it's her knees a simple palpation can usually determine if they are luxating or not.

Please keep her confined until she is able to be examined. Now I'm worried about her :(

Thanks for the heads up! But now I'm even more worried! :( I felt EVERY part of her and she doesn't react to me feeling around. The only times she's yelped was when picking her up (so I was thinking it was a leg or armpit area) but she doesn't yelp every time we pick her up. I can't tell what's making her yelp in pain! I did feel down her back and she didn't respond to that, if she hurt her back would she be responding in pain when I touch it???

At her last vet visit less than a month ago the vet said her knees were still fine. Could a knee issue come up that quickly?

Well she's very mellow right now (as she's been all day) so confining her and limiting her isn't an issue right now. I guess we will find a vet tomorrow!

Ryder didn't respond to any palpations, either. It wasn't until we took xrays of the spine that we found narrowing of two vertebra, which was pinching the nerves in his spine. He yelped randomly but exhibited the same symptoms- shaking, panting, looking scared and acting generally "WRONG."

I wouldn't think a knee problem would pop up that quickly, but you never know. Ranger's right knee wasn't bad until we took an xray before his surgery to see! His left had been the problem...

Please, please, please keep me updated. I am hoping for the best!

I'm just trying to find a good vet around here so we can take her there tomorrow. We're in a really small area so I'm a bit nervous to just pick a place out of the phone book, they may not be the best. But the 2 members that are from there haven't responded yet so we may just have to randomly pick one. The plan is to sleep tonight and see how she is in the AM. If she's completely fine we may not rush to a vet, but if she's still acting strange we'll take her somewhere. All the same I will keep you updated!

I just saw this after I sent you the PM. I am sorry Zoe is not feeling well. It sounds like she is in some type of pain. I remember a long time ago someone on here had a dog that went swimming and then had leg pain and maybe that is what happened to Zoe. Since she ate a treat and her gums are pink and she isn't throwing up she should be ok to do a wait and see on the vets, but if you think it is more than stress or fatigue from her day then I would have the vet examine her. Do you think she could have peed and you didn't see her maybe even in the pool, because the other thing to watch for if she isn't peeing is a urinary problem. Sending hugs and good thoughts that she wakes up her playful self tomorrow.

Thanks everyone! I was just sitting in bed with her. She's still about the same, calm (not shaking or panting though) and won't look me in the eye. I was using a flea comb trying to find fleas. I see so much flea dirt I'm so mad! One trip and this is what happens, even with a Frontline application 2 weeks ago! :mad: I was practically crying, seeing so much fleas/flea evidence and her being so calm and pathetic about it all! And now as I had to go in to the other room (being there with her and trying to get the fleas was just too much for me to handle) my boyfriend said she's sensitive around one of her ears (where there's tons of flea dirt, all along her head, face, and ears). :(

So I've decided I'm taking her to the vet. If nothing else I'm getting one or more capstar pills and another round of topical flea stuff, since the Frontline didn't do anything! Hopefully she'll be fine in the morning but if not I'm also getting a vet visit and seeing if they can't find out what's going on. I'm just besides myself, thinking that she must be in pain and has fleas (which she's only had one or two in the past never FLEAS in apparently large numbers like this) and it's just killing me. I'm not sure I'll sleep or sleep well tonight, but now I've got a vet in mind (thanks to Sharong for the recommendation) and I am for sure taking her there in the morning.

Oh girl I'm so sorry your vacation has started off badly! I am so glad you are taking your girl in tomorrow. I hope the vet is good and can ease your mind so you can have some fun!!!

PLEASE keep me updated!

Glad you got a vet referral. The yelping does change the picture a lot! But it could still just be sore muscles from swimming -- that is an entirely different movement than walking and she might be a little sore just as we are the first time we swim any length after a long hiatus. My muscles got sore just reading about all the walks, swimming and stairs. ;)

Still, you want to be sure it was nothing relating to the joints, especially since she had the little side adventure down the stairs. If nothing else though, you will feel better after a vet examines and hopefuly finds nothing serious. Then you can enjoy your visit and help Zoe relax.

I am surprised she could have gotten so much flea "dirt" (not sure what that is) and fleas in one day by just being exposed to them during one walk. I have never heard of anything like that.

Give Zoe electrolyte drinks
 

You can give her a little Gatorade or another beverage like that. Remember that it is super important to keep her well hydrated.