Since yesterday morning my Bonnie has been laying on the floor & won`t go in any of the beds to sleep. She`s eating well, no temp, no upset tummy, wags her tail when you speak to her & there is no sign anything wrong except this change in behaviour. What little sight she had left I would say has gone now & I am wondering if she could be depressed? When she lays on the floor she has her 2 back legs tucked under & her 2 front ones stretched out, but her head slightly raised & she doesn`t put it down. When she nods off & her head starts to drop she wakes & puts it up again. I`ve checked all her neck & body & mouth & she doesn`t appear to be in any pain. As I`m writing this she has just gone into one of the beds, but her head isn`t down. It`s very unusual for her. Any ideas anybody please?
Christine, Spain.

How old is she Christine? Have you got any arnica you can give her just incase something hurts and is she holding her head slighty tilted to one side?

Hi Admin, she`ll be 9 in October. Haven`t any Arnica but can get some at lunch time. She`s holding her head normal, you know like they do when they are just watching you, except she isn`t focused on anything & she only stayed in the bed for a couple of mins before she got out & went back on the floor. She has just got on the chair now & has her eyes half closed. What dose for the Arnica should I give her? Thanks.
Christine, Spain.

Sounds like something is bothering her Christine, even if it is only a stiff neck. I personally would give my own dog one dose of 30C every four hours and see if you get any improvement? If you see an improvement after the first dose, I would hold fire on a second dose and she what happens. If it is depression, it should help too.

Yep I think something is bothering her Admin, it seems only a small change but it`s just not her! Our routine has changed a bit the last few days cos of torrential rain, but it`s never bothered her before & it`s very damp so maybe a touch of rheumatic pain??? Will have the Arnica in a couple of hours so will give it her & let you know how she goes on. Thanks :)
Christine, Spain.

Hi Admin, been everywhere but could only get it in strength 6c, so have given her 2. Got one more place to try but it doesn`t open till 5. She`s been asleep on the chair but we are going out now so I`ll see how she goes on.
Christine, Spain.

How is she now Christine?

I'm not sure that giving 2 x 6c tablets is the same as 1 x 30c - homeopathic strengths differ from those of traditional medicine. The commonly available homeopathic strengths are 6X, 6C, 12X, 12C, 30X, and 30C, and these numbers refer to how many times the preparation has been diluted. The principle of homeopathic dosage is that the more diluted a substance is, the more potent it becomes. Therefore, while 6X actually contains a few hundred times more active substance than 30C, it is a less potent treatment. Typically, 30X or 30C potencies are used when the symptoms are very specific and acute; lower potencies such as 6X or 6C are used in the case of less severe symptoms and/or a vague diagnosis. ........

Hi Admin, no change I`m afraid. Bit clingy when we went for our walk, wanted to go but wanted to stay by more more than normally.She did go in her bed when we came back for about 1/2hr but then back on the floor. Ate dinner as normal & went to slepp for 2hrs in bed but is now back on floor. I`ve worked out she doesn`t want to put her head down, she`ll stretch out for a tummy tickle but gets up when I stop, I can`t work it out. Can`t get any 30c in Gib or Spain tho have found a pharmacist willing to look for me. He said it`s a really ancient remedy! :)

Hi Digger, thanks for the info :) I`ve got all my books out reading thru them but the stmptoms are vague.
Her temp is still normal as well, eating, drinking going out, breathing & tail wagging all as normal, only want go in her bed or any of the beds & won`t put her head down to sleep. So looks like the 6c is OK then, just as well really :)
Something not right tho, so will take her to vet tomorrow afternoon if she`s still the same
Thanks both of you. Will let you know what she`s like tomorrow :)
I`ll try anyways, we are in the middle of a massive thunder storm for a few hrs now & no sign of letting up, took me a while to post this!!
Christine, in very wet Spain!

Hi Admin, Bonnie lay down just after 1am & went to sleep :) :) :) She sleeps by the side of our bed at night & after some encouragement I got her lay full out & after awhile she got up, moved position & turned around to a more comfy position, stretched out & fell asleep! Mind you, she wouldn`t go out to do her business last thing & went straight to the bedroom door even before we went to bed, that was very unusual! What a relief tho, she must have been tired you know. She` s had a walk this morning & is now sitting outside the front door taking some fresh air :). I`ve given her the Arnica not long ago & I`m wondering should I continue with it for the rest of today? Forgot to say, on the back it said administer every 2hrs so thats how often I gave it her yesterday.
Christine, Spain.

I am really pleased that Bonnie seems better. Holding your head up for hours on end must have been agony for her, so I would think a decent sleep would have done her the world of good :-) Arnica will stay in her system for a while after taking it, so even if you stop giving it to her it will carry on working for quite some time afterwards. If you feel that she still needs the arnica, then I personally would cut the dose in half and spread out the time to 4 or 6 hours. But if I see a marked improvement in my animals, I stop giving them the arnica and see how they go. It is possible that one dose can sort the problem, so keep this in mind. Let me know how she gets on.

Hi admin, just back from the second walk with all of them & she was still a bit clingy, just managed to get her laying down with her head down but she`s now back to holding it up, she`s not gone in a bed which is what she normally does, but is on her mattress from the bedroom & I`ve just now put a cushion under head which seems to have made a difference & she`s closed her eyes & is going to sleep. So a definite improvement on the past couple of days. What a worry & she`s not wimpy you know, very stoical & takes evrything in her stride & tries to keep her independence :) Will let you know how she goes on later today, thanks.
Christine, Spain.

Glad to hear she is a little better Christine ...hope she carries on improving

Mel :)

Thanks Melody :)
Christine, Spain.

These vague and inconclusive symptoms make it such a worry, don't they? It's one time you so wish they could tell you what was wrong. It shows you're a good, caring owner to notice this change in behaviour, Christine. Hope she gets better soon.

Glad she is looking a bit better. Hope the improvement continues.

Lucy

Thanks you two :)
Christine, Spain.

Hi all, just a little update on Bonnie. Went out in the sun with her this afternoon but she was a bit miserable & just wanted to sit next to me. After her dinner she went in her bed tho & I`ve propped her up with some cushions & she`s stayed sleeping which is bit more like normal :) Gave her a dose of Arnica just before 3 & will give her another one before we go to bed. So little improvements each day & with a bit a luck it won`t be long before she`s back to normal :)
Christine, Spain.

I do hope she continues to improve Christine.

I wonder if she has pulled her neck muscles or something - my hubby is like that right now - can't get comfy :(

hugs for her

SaraW xx

Or hurt her spine causing trapped nerves???

hope all is well chris xxx

Aww, thanks folks :) Well, she got a little better last night, she had a nice spring in her step when we went out last thing which made me :) so that was nice to see. I gave her my orthpopiedic pillow last night as well. I`ve been massaging her neck as well & I think it`s the right side that`s painful as she moves it away from me. I think we seeing improvements so I`ll cut back on the Arnica today, say just in the morning & tonight, what you think admin?
Christine, Spain.

That sounds like what I would do :-) The arnica will stay in her system for a while anyway. Christine, have you checked her ears? Really pleased that she is better. These oldies are a worry aren't they.

Had you considered a chiropractor. Itr could be that she has something misaaligned from playing????

I know quite a few Agility people regularly use one to give their dogs backs, necks and pelvises a tune up.

Hi Admin, yep checked her ears first day, they`re nice & clean. She is a worry, no doubt about it! :) Thing is you never know if it`s going to be the start of something nasty or what. But she`s been in the garden most of the morning & is not clingy any more, sat a little distance away from me & the front door :)

Hi B/less I`d love to find a chiropractor, I tried a while back & asked a few, but they weren`t interested in treating my dogs, only do humans. My nearest homeopthic vet is in Madrid & as far as I know, the only one in Spain can you believe! Sadly Bonnie no longer plays because she is blind now. The only thing she does is go for walks & spend hours getting the marrow out from bones! :) i managed to keep her swimming till the end of last summer, but I don`t know whether she will be able/want to do it this yr, we`ll see when the weather gets warmer. Apart from that she sleeps a lot, very deeply. She is clumsy tho & she could have bumped into something when I wasn`t watching her.
Thanks for the thoughts Admin & B/less.
Christine, Spain.

Hi all, just to let you know Bonnies loads better! :):) Last night at the side of our bed, she flipped the pillow I`d given her over her head, nudged it around & then ended up under it! Layed flat out on her side & went fast asleep. :) I`d been seeing improvements & I think her antics last night show`s she is now back to normal!! Thanks evryone for all your help :)
Christine, Spain.

Excellent news Christine :) :)

That's great, Christine! :) :)

Christine, I am so pleased for you and Bonnie, Just catching up with everything here after being away and I cant tell you how happy I am for you :) :)

Gina x

Good news Christine. I hope things go well for her. Sometimes we never do get to the bottom of what's wrong.

Best wishes, John

Brilliant news Christine:) Are you not using the arnica anymore then?

Stacey x x x

Hi John thanks, no sometimes we don`t, I was thinking earlier I`ll probably never know. :) Mind admin picked it up real quick, suggesting her neck. They leave you racking your brains about what it could be & of course the imagination goes into overdrive with what you read it can be!!!!! If only they could talk eh? :)
Christine, Spain.

Hi Stacy, thanks :) No I`m not using it anymore. After I saw her improving I reduced the dose, then today she is back to normal(really like it never happened) so I didn`t think she needed it & haven`t given her any. Not sure whether that`s right or not, but feel if all is well then it`s best to stop. I must say it did a good job! :)
Christine, Spain.

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