Hello all,

Looking for some advice as I can't see my vet of choice until Saturday!  I'd see another one if it was an emergency, but this is so vague, I'd prefer to see one I trust.

Melvin is now 10 months old.  He's a giant!  He's just started cocking his leg, but is still generally very puppy-ish. 

Recently he's started shaking his head a lot (like they do when they have bad ears), and he'll do it immediately after he barks as if the noise has hurt him.  There's no gunk at all in his ears though, I've been cleaning them with ear cleaning solution for the past 10 days or so, just to see if there was anything deeper in, and if there is it hasn't been dislodged at all.  There isn't that characteristic gunky ear smell either. 

He's always been one for the eye snot, I've seen a vet a few times about this, and it's not an infection but maybe a slight allergy.  Whatever it is, it has never bothered him.  Anyway, his eye gunk has been a bit worse recently (not sure if this is related, but thought it was worth mentioning).  It's still clear, doesn't smell, but is just quite viscous.

Over the past 5 days his drinking has increased dramatically... this is what has really made me think there maybe something going on.  He's been polishing off 1.5ltrs two or three times a day, and has obviously been peeing more as a result.  It's not spread out through the day, he'll just start drinking and won't stop until the bowl is empty.  Also, he doesn't do it when I'm not in, but I guess that could be because they just sleep when we are out.  He's not anymore active than he has been, the heating isn't any hotter, he's on the same food/treats. 

He's also quite whingey at the moment, but he's always been a very very vocal dog... he definitely likes the sound of his own voice, so I wouldn't really say this was out of character.

I don't know if the drinking and the head shaking could be an obsessive kind of thing?  Like the whinging? He's a bit of an obsessive-compulsive kind of dog (sorry Kay, you did your best :-D)  He has his little rituals that he goes through every day, eg he insists on a chase before we go for a walk, he must be carrying something when he's walking, he has to check daily that there's no treasure down the sofa, nothing out of the ordinary - just his little quirks.

So any ideas?  Do you think there could be something wrong?  Like I said, I'm booked to see a vet on Saturday, but just wanted some opinions in the meantime.

Thanks,

Clare

One possibility is a middle ear infection - you would not be able to see or smell it, there is a tube called the eustachian tube that leads from the ear to the back of the throat and if there was an infection there when he barks it could cause an unpleasant feeling in the affected ear, hence the head shaking.   Just a thought.

That seems a lot of drinking, possibly take with you on Saturday a urine sample to have tested at the vets, they should be able to do the basic tests inhouse.

> He's a bit of an obsessive-compulsive kind of dog (sorry Kay, you did your best :-D)

I swear blind he is no relation to Ollie :-)

I would be thinking along the lines of inner ear infection, causing the head shaking, and possibly the gunky eyes.. and more probably the cause of whinging...

How is his balance?

The water drinking is a bit more puzzling, 1st thoughts would be cystitis, but doesnt sound like it with normal widdling... I would take a sample with you on Saturday

ps.. sorry not been in touch much, things have been manic here (understatement :-O )

He did meet Ollie though, maybe a bit of him rubbed off :-D

I thought ear problem, but really thought there would be a smell at least, never experienced inner/middle ear infections.  I think his balance is ok, he's a clumsy little chap though so it's difficult to tell.  He's holding his head normally though, no wobbling...

I don't think it's cystitis either, definitely normal peeing, no blood.  It may be just another little game he's playing with me, if he drinks lots and lots, we have more fun and games in the night when he wakes me up to pee!!