Hi
My lab didnt really want her breakfast yesterday morning, she just picked at it before leaving it, at tea she did the same, this morning she refused her breakfast totally and seemed a bit "mopey" i decided to take her to the vet at dinner to be on the safe side, the vet said she has a slight raise to her temp, but nothing else that she could see, she gave her a couple of jabs of antiboiotics and some paste for me to give her for the next couple of days.
Thing is tonight she has been "mopey" again and "making her bed" alot and will not even look at her tea, i have coaxed and tried to hand feed her but she is just not interested, i am now starting to get quite worried, the vet said to see if she picks up in a couple of days and if not to take her back, but does anyone have any ideas why she might be like this ?
Should i be concerned ?
Any help to try and put my mind at rest will be appreciated
Thanks
Donna

could it be her season ?

She has had her first season and is about mid way point between last and next ...if you get what i mean.

phantom pregnancy maybe ? im just guessing as I dont have bitches only dogs :)

She is my first entire bitch so i am unsure when it comes to phantoms and seasons etc but i do know that she is out of character and she is worrying me sick.

If its about 9wks or so since her season then it does stand a fair chance its a phantom.. They often go very depressed and withdrawn.  Has she got milk?  It would also explain her making her bed all the time, she is preparing for the invisible puppies she isnt having!  If it is a phantom, they never get better and often get worse, the ONLY way to stop them is having her spayed.  There is alo a condition called "Pyometra"  this can be fatal, and requires immediate attention.  Drinking water and a brown discharge and a temperature of signs of this condition.  Hope she picks up, keep us informed.
Dawn.

Hi Dawn,
I am aware of pyo and at present isnt showing typical signs of it, she isnt drinking in excess and urinating if anything is less than normal.
Her temp according to vet is only very slightly above normal and that hasnt changed today, had another word with the vet today and they are still saying to watch her closley and if she is no better by weekend then they will do bloods and x-ray etc but obviously if she gets any worse call immediatly.
She hasnt been as "mopey" today but is still not normal and she is still not eating,
She nibbled at her tea last night but only after coaxing and hand feeding and then she didnt seem to interested i think it was more to please me.
And she has completly ignored breakfast.

I dont think she has milk !! would i see it ?? if not how do i check ??
I am at a loss at the minute and quite concerned at he rlack of appetite for this amount of time.
Donna

Ahhh I really feel for you. Its such a worry when they are poorly isnt it?

Im no expert but it does sound like a phantom but having said this I would have thought the vet may have suggested this.

Im not telling you not to take it seriously but do remember that dogs have a great way of putting on a sad face and do often go a bit OTT when it comes to being poorly. A bit like my husband really! Im sure that you will get up one morning and she will be fine but you might not be because I bet you will have a sleepless night!! Its so hard because they cant tell you how they feel and their little bodies are so different from ours that its hard to empathise but do keep calm and im sure she will pick up in no time at all.

Well she still hasn't eaten, completly refused her tea again, although she is drinking ok.
One thing i have noticed through watching her so closely is that last night and tonight i have given her her tea same as always next to her bed and she has pushed the bowl round with her nose and grabbed the bowl with her teeth and bit and tugged at her bed ????
any ideas ???
I am so concerned as it has taken the last three months since getting her from rescue to put the weight onto her, i would hate for her to look like she did when we got her !!
Vet didn't mention phantom but maybe it is something she was thinking, she was convinced it was a gastric thing that with the antibiotic shot would resolve itself.
Can anyone tell me more about phantom's what to look for etc ?
Any one any ideas.
Thanks
Donna

Personnally I think it really sounds like a phantom but I cant offer any knowledge on the subject.

However, I would not offer any food for 24 hours at all. Then offer her something that she really likes but in a small amount. Then gradully offer a little more and start to give it with her normal food and see if that helps. If she has a tunny upset food will only exagerate the problem and she will need time for her tum to 'dry out'.

Hope shes better soon x

She has eaten some scrambled egg for her tea !!!!!!
I am so pleased, has perked up enough today to chase GSD round the garden so fingers crossed whatever it is/was she is getting past it.
Looked up phantoms on the net and found she was displaying alot of symptoms so it may well be, definatly can't wait for he rto be spayed, i don't think i want to worry this much again.
thanks for all the replies they have been a comfort.
No doubt i will be back when it comes to spaying her asking another truck load of questions
thanks
Donna

Sounds like it to me, not that I know anything much about it! Glad she's feeling better tonight. :-)

Woo Hooo! So pleased for you. Hopefully you will get a few good nights kip now instead of lying awake worrying! I bet she hasnt been lying awake worrying.......:)

Hi caroline,
your right she didnt worry one little bit, i on the other hand have suitcases under my eyes !!
She perked up so much today - i fear a little too much as she taught herself a new trick. I have a stair gate at the bottom of the stairs and came up earlier today to use bathroom closing the gate behind me,
1 minute later a black nose comes round the bathroom door !!
Well i thought i was going mad - forgetting to shut the gate...but no she has taught herself to go over it !!
I now have to find a way tomorrow of blocking off my stairs so that she cant get up them, cos now im panicking she's gonna break a leg trying to do this.
I can't win !! (but i wouldn't change her)
Donna