Slightly concerned about Poppy

[MellowYellow]

We went to an all-day training seminar yesterday. OH was working Poppy, and I was just hanging out with Merls, doing a little bit of retrieving with him as well as helping the trainer by throwing dummies etc.

Poppy was not her normal self. She ran out on marked retrieves, but was unwilling to go out for long blinds. It was most unlike her.

There are a number of things it could be:

She had a rabies vaccination last week, could be she was still feeling a bit under the weather
It was warm; she still has her thick winter coat
She doesn't do terribly well at this time of year anyway
She was upset that I wasn't working her, as she doesn't normally work with OH

We're keeping an eye on her; there is nothing you could put your finger on exactly but I do feel something is not quite right. This time last year was the last time she had a fit... I hope she's ok.

 

[snowbunny]

Oh, I do hope it's nothing - just those things you pointed out it could be. It speaks volumes for your relationship that you're able to spot when something is just a little bit off with her.

 

[Loraseal]

It could be a combination of all those things? You know yourself when something is not quite right with your dog don't you?
It was 23 degC here yesterday and Hunter really struggled with the quick heat change.
Fingers crossed Poppy is quickly back to her normal self. X

 

[Emily]

Oh what a worry. I do hope it's nothing other than what you mentioned above.

 

[Joy]

I hope she's ok and it was just a combination of all the things you noticed.

 

[Boogie]

Hope all is well xx

 

[Lab_adore]

I hope Poppy is ok

 

[Cath]

It might just be one of those days. Hope she will be alright

 

[Jacqui-S]

Do hope she picks up Karen xx

 

[Selina27]

Worrying when they act out of sorts, here's hoping it was a one off.

 

[kateincornwall]

It is awful when we know that they are off colour but cant put our finger on why , hoping this is just a case of " one of those off days " , hugs xxx

 

[SwampDonkey]

Hope she's okxxx

 

[FayRose]

Fingers crossed it will pass. I don't know what they are like but a rabies vaccination sounds like it could be a bit uncomfortable to say the least.

 

[MellowYellow]

Fingers crossed it will pass. I don't know what they are like but a rabies vaccination sounds like it could be a bit uncomfortable to say the least.

Yes, the rabies vaccine is a big one, and it can make them feel rather under the weather for a day or two. But she had the injection on Wednesday, any side effects should have been long over.

There was definitely something off though. She's normally such a retrieving machine, I've never seen her like that before. She perked up immediately when I played a bit with a tennis ball with her, and she begged for bits of sandwich the same as normal during breaks. I would just put it down to 'one of those things' were it not that last time this year she was really weird for about a week, and had a seizure at the end of the week. So as I say, we are just monitoring her closely.

Look at this photo, you can see her body language is a bit off. Normally she's be much more switched on during a training seminar, focused on what is going on in the background, or interacting with me, but here she just looks a bit tired and fed up.

 

[HAH]

As Fiona says, it speaks volumes about your relationship that you can feel this so clearly, and of course her history from last year. Was there any preventative action the vet advised from last year’s seizure? Or was it a case of managing the episode and monitoring her? I can imagine you feel a bit impotent at the moment but you know her better than anyone so hopefully she’ll brighten, but if not you've got her back. Sending much love x

 

[Selina27]

Hmm, yes I see what you mean. I guess there's no hard and fast rule for reaction to a vaccination, maybe she was feeling the heat.

 

[Candy]

Hope it turns out to be nothing serious. It's always such a worry when we know they're not quite right.

 

[Granca]

She does look a bit tired and disengaged, but maybe it’s a combination of reasons. I hope she’s back to normal soon.

 

[MellowYellow]

Was there any preventative action the vet advised from last year’s seizure? Or was it a case of managing the episode and monitoring her?

The only preventative action is always to carry the diazepam with us, and to try and work out the triggers that can lead to a seizure. We know that change of seasons (in particular winter to spring) is difficult for her. Otherwise, the main triggers are stress, and flea / tick medication (which we are completely avoiding using with her for now).

 

[FayRose]

Yes, I see what you mean. I do hope its not the prelude to a seizure. From what you say about her attitude between retrieves though, could it be she was just trying to say to you "Hey, you usually do this with me, not him"?