My dogs behavior has completely changed...help!
 

We've always had trouble with her every now and then - she won't eat or she isn't using the bathroom regularly. But she always bounced back and was her normal, happy energetic self. She is not spayed (recently finished menstruating last week) and is about 4 years old. We got her from a respectable breeder and her parents had no health problems, although her sister was born with a tumor.

Lately she just walks around the house and is very lethargic. She usually needs to sleep next to someone, but she sleeps by herself now. She is also quieter than usual. Her head hangs lower and all of her movements are very slow. I know she can't talk and I can't tell her emotions but I do feel that she is not happy anymore. She will not eat, and she begs for treats - if she gets one, she will not eat it but rather carries it around.

At first we thought she was lonely. But we've always had trouble with her and other dogs. At our home in Upstate NY, she likes to play with the stray cats. But she has never been able to become friends (or even act friendly) with another dog (which is why we decided against getting a companion for her). That being said, she isn't friendly with the cats either - they just entertain each other.

So we thought the problem was that she was cooped up in the house. We try to take her on walks - she loved them when she was a puppy. As she got older, she would only walk with my mother. Now she refuses to walk with anyone. She gets really excited when she sees the leash, but within five minutes is tugging to go home.

I just don't know what the problem is...or if there even is a problem. Am I overreacting or is something wrong with my baby?

Has your dog been evaluated by a vet? If behavior is changing in a relatively young dog (4 yrs old), it warrants a trip to the vet for an eval.

I agree.

Symptoms like these are not normal. She needs to be assessed by a vet. When was bloodwork done last?

If these symptoms got worse after her heat, then pyometra comes to mind which is extremely dangerous. Why isn't she spayed?