Hi All

I went away last weekend and the dog stayed with my mum. He loves it there as he gets lots of walks and she has a huge garden. Whilst there he didnt sleep at all during the day, which is what he normally does here so I expected him to take a few days to get over it.

On the Monday evening when we picked him up, he was duly pleased to see us and mum said that earlier in the day he had turned over in his sleep and had yelped. He then just carried on as normal so I didnt think anymore of it. Other than this he had been his mad self.

He slept all the way home and all of the next day. He was walking rather gingerly on one leg, not limping, but generally seemed stiff almost like we are after too much excercise. So we have rested him up and this is now improving.

However, he has been very lethargic and I am at a bit of a loss as to whether I should worry or not. There are several things that I could put it down to: Hot weather, missing my mum and dad, feeling sorry for himself as he had a poorly leg. He has had a recent change in routine as I am now home from work and he generally seems less ineterested in me and I have also put him on Nature Diet.

I guess my question is, how lethargic would you expect a dog to be in this heat? He is eating and drinking and has slightly perked up today but it comes in fits and starts. I have no problem taking him to be checked out but he hates the vets and on balance I dont want to stress him out by taking him if the general concensus is that its probably the heat and is ok if hes eating and drinking (which is what my ever calm OH thinks). Sorry if this seems like a daft question but I am a born worrier especially when it comes to my boy and I just wanted to see what other dogs are like in this warm weather as I have nothing else to compare him to. By the way he is a 10 month old staffie if this helps.

Many Thanks in advance

Sounds a bit like he overdid it at your Mums and perhaps pulled a muscle.  Most dogs will be lethargic in this heat, but I know mine pick up in the evening as it gets cooler and make up for laying around most of the day.

If he is eating and drinking and seems fine when it is cooler and not appearing in pain, I wouldn't worry too much.

If they are unwell you can usually see it in their eyes, if they are bright, alert and responsive I would give it a couple of days, they say it will be a little cooler at the weekend.

Hope this helps
Sandra

Thanks

I think I will take a little of both advice. Im my gut I feel that he is ok and I am probably over reacting as usual. My OH got dressed to go out earlier and he perked up as he thought he would be going with him and last night he heard my OH unwrapping a lolly from upstairs and came tearing down so I dont think there can be that much wrong. At 11pm he was running up and down the garden with my dustpan and brush too. As for seeing his health in his eyes, it would be useful if he had his eyes open long enough for me to be able to tell :) In seriousness in that sense he seems fine.

I think I will give it until the weather cools down (as long as hes eating and drinking) and if hes no different I will have him checked out. Thanks for the reassurance though.

>At 11pm he was running up and down the garden with my dustpan and brush too.

LOL...that sounds about right for making up for lost time when it is hot during the day :D

Ok, I think he has just confirmed that its the weather. I got dressed, he saw this and decided he wanted to go out. We took a short walk to the Post Box and through the park. I let him off and horror of all horrors Recall not working! I couldnt figure it out until I realised that I would call him and he would only stop if there was a tree to sit under the shade! They are so clever arent they. He was mad as a hatter in the shade just not in the sun.

He has come back, eaten and drank and has gone under my bed where its cool. Panick over!

Thanks again for the reassurance. Its always a huge help.

Its surprising how much difference the heat can make. When mine was a pup I swore he was diabetic as he suddenly started drinking a whole bowl of water 3 times per day - took me ages to work out that it coincided with a rise in temperature! 

I too have been extremely concerned about my 10 month staffie.  It just so happens that the hot weather has coincided with her speying op. she has now had her stitches out but as her mum I am frantic as to the behaviour she displays.  Directly after her op I could not take her for the off lead walks she was used to.  Now that I can, I am concerned she is getting too much exercise too soon..

However, with the increase in temperatures I have noticed that she barks more for play but after throwing her ball a couple of times, she leaves it and wants fuss instead.  Every time I take her for a walk now afterwards she goes outside to our hosepipe and barks untill she is hosed down.  Clever little girl.  But she always seems to want to do more than I will let her. after reading how short coated dogs and staffies in particular are in danger in the heat I try to be more careful and will only walk her in the morning or evening.

I often think that when I am eventually a mum to a human I will be completely neutoritc.  Still, at least we are aware to these things and thought we may be over cautious, at least we know of the potential problems and do our best to make sure nothing serious happens. 

Hi Sezi

I would take it as a good sign that she wants to do more. She is clearly feeling well but you are being as cautious as you should be under the circumstances as we know how headstrong the breed is and often they dont know when to stop. Sox has recovered now from whatever it was (heat/illness) and seems back to his normal self. We walked yesterday morning and evening and again this morning. Just short walks so as not to overdo it, however, he still seems very stiff and it seems to be both back legs now. He isnt limping or anything, its just when he first gets up from sitting or laying. In the park he was running with his friend and there was no sign of any limp or cautiousness. Im going to give him until monday and if hes no better I may have him checked out. Im also thinking of giving cod liver oil as I know staffies suffer from joint problems.

I reckon that when you have kids you will be fine. Dogs are more of a worry as they cant talk and their bodies are so different from ours you cant equate how they are feeling. Whereas with babies they have the same bodies only smaller so you normally have a good idea of whats wrong. Of course the simple solution is just to have lots more doggies instead of babies :) They smell far nicer when they are pups too!

personally if it was me and I was concerned I would take him to the vet for a quick check up.
As I've mentioned in a previous post my girls which are bearded collies dont care about the heat one bit and are running around same as usual and it is me that has to stop them from over exerting themselves, but I suppose like us humans some love the heat and some hate it so it may be being over cautious but to be safe rather than sorry and he is only a baby I would get him checked out.

I'm sure you will get conflicting advice so go with your gut feeling.

take care
Roni