I have a 7 year old Yorkie; he weighs 8 pounds. For some reason he sleeps all day. I make him his food on a daily basis at the same time everyday. Along with the sleeping issue, he will not eat when I give it to him, like before. At some time of his own choosing, he eats. Anyway, the sleeping is something that I am concerned about.
He just had a bout with fleas. We went to the vet, and she put Advance on him. It seems to me that he is not comfortable. Always itchy on his lower back close to the tail. Does anyone have any suggestions please?
By poopsy from Norfolk county, in Canada
Hello, Please take your fur baby back to your Vet and have them do a complete blood panel on him. There might be something else going on with him. Good luck, Sherri & Tucker
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I have a 7yr. old Yorkie that I adopted. I have only had him for about 2 months. I noticed that all he wants to do is sleep. He is home during the day by himself and when I get home I take him out for a walk. Once he is done eating he just wants to lay on the couch and/or floor and sleep more. I do take him for a walk in the am, after work, and in the evening before bed. He doesn't play. I purchased toys for him and even toys that will dispense treats and he doesn't want to play with that either. Is this normal? How can I get him to be more active or want to play. I am not sure what his home life was before he came to our family. I did take him to doggy day camp once. They say he did good. I can't do that all the time, but I thought about once a week.
Two months is still new so the pup could still be adjusting to his new home.
I would have the vet check to make sure there are no underlying health conditions or depression going on with him. Dogs can take anti depressants, which are not that expensive and can help perk him up if the vet suspects depression.
That said, my mom adopted a beagle about 9 years ago and she had a terrible life before she came to us. The vet did diagnose depression and the pup did long course of antidepressants. That got her to be a little more active--like to take long walks, but to this day she has never learned to play with toys. We have learned to accept her couch potato behavior and it has become part of her charm. She is great to cuddle on cold days!
They all have their personalities and quirks. Hoping your pup gets a clean bill of health and warms up to his new life. Sending up lots of prayers!!!
If the vet says he is healthy, then I wouldn't worry. Some dogs are more active than others.
Your baby sounds like ours who was in Lord knows how many houses and 4 shelters before we got him. Unlike my sister dog, he did learn to play with toys, but it took awhile.
My sister dog leads a happy, couch potato life, which is good for my mom. The Prozac was a blessing to get her over her initial problems from her horrible past.
Prayers for your pup!! Sounds like he has found an amazing FUR ever home!! Take care!!!
Since he sees a vet quite regularly it would seem his health is okay but hopefully he will not have to stay on Prozac for a long time. Be sure to check with the vet often to see if you can try slowly weening him from a need for this medication. There are also other medications instead of Prozac that you might want to think about.
Since your little guy is a small breed, I'd highly recommend taking him in for the vet to check him out just in case there is something related to his age or something breed-specific going on. Outside of that, try leaving a television playing, preferably with some Youtube videos set in a playlist that are geared toward canines with depression and/or separation anxiety. It might help.
I have sort of inherited a toy fox terrier who is almost 10yrs old & has terrible separation anxiety. While we do our best not to leave her alone bc she does go a bit bat-crap nuts when we have no choice. Grocery shopping, clothes shopping for MIL, & about every 3mos when DH & my doc appts fall in the same month if not the same day are usually the times when she just cannot come w/us. I have a tablet & a notebook so usually I set up one or the other in the kitchen, which is where she has to stay behind a barrier when we're gone (it's actually to longer pieces of cardboard that DH cut down & then glued together in a fold in order to make a barrier that sits up on its own, but I do wedge it next to the door frame using a couple of antique decorate cast-iron, irons on each side held in place with a nearly full bottle of detergent just so she won't push against it if someone rings the doorbell or delivers a package while we're gone).
Hope this helps in some way. Best of luck to you & your furry, four-legged kiddie.
I don't know how my husband does it, but that man can somehow manage to get once-feral cats to let him handle them is able to teach young, middle-aged, & even geriatric cats & dogs to chase a toy; hwr, I'm the one that generally manages to get the dogs to actually retrieve the toys they chase after.
We've sort of 'inherited' my mil's almost 10yo toy fox terrier. We've been around her for her entire life but she's been home w/us for little better than 6mos. Each time I take 2 steps, she takes 2 & 1/100th, positioning herself right under my feet. I'm actually legally blind w/some light perception but it's only at very, very close distances (2-3 inches from my face) & that little bit is narrow in the peripheral bc of a retina disease. I'll tell her, "I'm gonna step on you...!" and she'll run around like she's trying to nip at my heels, though never actually nipping. It's hilarious bc we go through this little dance dozens of times a day & night. The little bugger keeps life entertaining.
My 4yr old Pit Chocolate Lab, started to sleep all the time. We got a Dane Boxer mix about a year ago, she is just about a year old and full of spit and vinegar. And she wants to play all the time and she tries to get the Pit to play with her. Sometimes she will, but mostly she will walk away and go lay down. So I don't know if it is jealously or should I have blood tests taken. I am very worried. She was so full of energy when we first got her, she is eating and drinking as usual.
I just don't want her to be sick and I am not helping her ya know? We did take her to the vet, he said she was fine, but to bring her back in a while if things did not change. I don't know if it is she just settled down or there is a problem. I would appreciate it if any one has a Pit and has this issue please let me know. I am always afraid of diabetes. We had another pet that had it, but she was 13years old. Thanks.By Debbie M.
Do you pay more attention to the younger dog than the older one? Maybe if you encourage the play with the older dog by playing ball or ruff & tumble with it .
Congratulations on giving another Dog a good home. But with no disrespect you should have found one around the same age as the long term resident. I have heard this story so many times. And seek another consultation from an independent Veterinarian.
I have a 4 year old pit/boxer mix. All the pibbles I have seen are very laid back dogs. And, I think labs are very easy-going also. So, with that combination, I don't think it's unusual for him to sleep a lot. And, it is summertime. Maybe the heat has something to do with it. Be sure not to let him get overweight. I keep my dogs' weight in check by counting calories. Keep a food diary if necessary, just like a human. Milk thistle capsules are very good for animals, they help cleanse the liver and rid the body of toxins. Try keeping a diary of his symptoms. You see him every day - the vet sees him only for a few minutes. Your dog is lucky to have such a concerned human.
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Silly question here, but is it normal for dogs to sleep a lot? My dog does sleep, but I have noticed she sleeps a lot more lately.
