Question by dbskpaen: Why doesn’t my dog want to go on walks anymore?
Lately my dog has been acting strangely. She’s a 5 year old golden retriever, and she’s always loved walks. But a few weeks ago we went on a walk together, and by the end she was practically dragging me home. Ever since then when we go on walks she keeps looking up at me, and sometimes drags me home. Today she refused to even go past our neighbors house. I tried several times, and she would walk a ways and then pull me back, and the last time she just lay down. I took her back to the house and she raced into the back yard. She had her yearly vet check-up a week ago and the vet said she might have arthritis, and also her nails are really long (she won’t let us clip them anymore) but the thing is she runs around willingly in the backyard and house. So I’m really confused and worried! Nothing traumatic has happened to her on a walk, except when she got attacked by a dog, but that was last winter, and she was fine with walks after it. Has anyone else experienced this? Should I schedule another vet appointment?
Thanks to everyone who responded so fast! I’ll definitely consider that she’s in some sort of pain, and have her see the vet. However I tried to walk her again, and this time she actually pulled me away from the house, like she was following some scent? She smelled this bush intently, and i tried to see if i could get her to walk on our normal route. She didn’t want to go past that house again, but I coaxed her past. She walked ok, until we turned the corner, and then she dragged me home again. She raced into the backyard.

Best answer:

Answer by Susan B
Have her hips x-rayed. It is more than likely medical. If hips check out okay, try her on some pain meds and see if then she enjoys the walks more. Then you will know it’s the pain that makes her want to come home. Playing in the backyard is different as she can take breaks at will.

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Question by Zach H: What does my dog want from me?
I have an eight year old border collie and he does this really strange gesture , I don’t know if it has to do with his breed or his gender or age or anything. He sits down and puts his paw in the air as if he wants to give you a hand shake. I’ve tried shaking his hand when he does this but he doesn’t like having his paws held and always pulls it away. We think it means he wants his belly rubbed, when I start scratching his belly he puts his paw up Again and pushes my arm down the he holds it still and starts licking it. He does have arthritis so maybe hes trying to tell me his paw hurts. So my main question is, what is my dog telling me?

Best answer:

Answer by Alice in Wonderland
Perhaps he has made the connection that when he waves his paw about, you become focused on him (trying to figure out what he needs). He might simply be doing it to get your attention. It sounds like sort of a game! Maybe try to get him to ‘wave’ on command and give him a treat, so you are in control of the activity. But if you’re worried about the arthritis chat to your vet next time you’re there.

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Question by DeBoRaH V: dog spleen cancer? Please HELp me understand this,, I also want to hear your experience..?
Ok this whole thing is bothering more. My dog is a lab and he was 12 years old, he traveled with me when I lived in Mexico, left to Canada and now here in the states. I KNEW MY DOG. so my mom takes him for the weekend to a city that is 3 hours away. She said that that dog started to act weird,(he wouldnt sit or lay right in the car..) he stained the car with blood … the next day he had diahrrea with blood, she said that she gave him the night before another brand of food, aleve because he had arthritis pain, and motrin…. but either way she took him to the vet, the vet said that his SPLEEN exploted.. but he needed to make some x-rays on monday (this was saturday) and he also refused to eat anything (my dog ate anything he could get a hold off, he had a great appettite)
but sunday morning around eleven oclock my mother found my dog dead,

I used to take him to go potty 2 to 3 times a day and i had to clean after him… I never saw any blood in any of his feces, he never seem to complain about anything besides of the fact that i knew he had arthritis and the vet recomend me to give him vitamins and glucosymine,,

What happened?? how can any animal die just like that? I talked to a vet here and she explained me that of course unless she sees the body she can really tell me what happened, but my mother and my aunt gave it to the county so they could dispose it..but it sounded like he had a spleen cancer … which is common on labradors and golden retrievers…

I do not understant any of this.. can somebody explain how he died and why did it happend when i was not there!!! its really bothering mee…
My family is telling me to let it go, I really cant.. help!! .. It was so sudden..I dont really think my mother is hidding anything from me,, she also loved the dog … But I still go to my room thinking that my dog is still there, and he was alwaaays so happy to see me everytme i came home from work, I just want to know why . and honestly was the fact that i was not around or if I was around would it made a difference?..

Best answer:

Answer by PurebredDog
It was very likely the Aleve / Motrin that did him in.

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Question by animalover: Has anyone out there ever owned a dog called a Xolo? I have been researching this breed & want to know more!?
I have read that they are hairless & even used therapeutically for arthritis patients. I love dogs & have owned mixed breeds, chihuahuas, and a golden retriever.

Best answer:

Answer by joanplus4dogs
Definitely do your research. They are more of a primitive dog & not like most dogs – goldens. They actually are only mostly hairless & has hair on their head, feet & tail. Their skin is very thick & had a higher body temperature than most dogs due to being hairless. Vets kinda had to get a running start to give them them yearly vaccinations for the needle to go thru the skin. A breed that requires a knowledgeable owner.

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Question by Eric: What should I do with my dog? I really don’t want to put her down?
I have a Rott-Lab mix, she is around 12 years old. She had Arthritis in her back leg, she has some bad days, but not too often. Also she has pretty much no bladder control. I really don’t want to put her down, just the thought makes me teer-up…What do I do? Please help before I put her asleep.

Best answer:

Answer by Erika ♥♥ Luv My Labs ♥♥
Well, you really need for the vet to look at her. My older lab has arthritis also and he’s on Dermaxx and glucosimine. That helps him a little.

But the vet should really look at the bladder control.

Make sure you have a good orthopedic bed for her and if she has to go up and down stairs, fix her up a ramp. Just a strong piece of plywood with astro turf stapled to it.

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Question by bman: My 11-y.o. dog is bumping into things, stumbling and doesn’t want to get up. He will get up but tires easily.?
69 lb male Australian Shepherd. Blood work was clear for internal organ function/electrolytes, etc. X-rays were clear of obstructions/foreign objects/abnormatlities. He does have significant arthritis in hips and spine. I’ve notice some launch failures in his rear legs over the past year when he is first getting up from a long snooze but, the past two days, he has been mostly laying down. The first night, he groaned and whined a little while resting and trembled a bit from time to time and sneezed alot. Since then, he appears to be comfortably vegging.

He will eat normal portion and drink if supported upright. If he is carried down front stairs he will pee and poop normally but, begins to bumble around and into things. When carried back in, he lays on his bed and will only lift his head to see what’s going on around him.

Vet thinks in the absence of X-ray/blood anomalies, his current symptoms are pain response to arthritis. We are trying arthritis meds starting this afternoon. Any other theories?

Best answer:

Answer by allie_love_him_09
I think it is just old age.

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Question by hellokittylove: My parents want to put down our dog. Are their reasons behind this decision ethical?
Our dog is 14 years old, and the average lifespan of a Black Labrador is 10-12 years. Within the past year, she has lost most of her sight and hearing. She has arthritis in her legs and although we have pills, sometimes they aren’t strong enough and she can not stand up or walk up the stairs (since it started snowing, my parents have had to carry our dog up and down the porch stairs when she goes to the bathroom). The vet said the pills diminish any pain she feels in her legs which may sometimes make them numb. I love our dog, we’ve had her since I was 6 years old. We don’t play with her much anymore, considering my sister and I are older and the dog can’t really run or see well. My parents have been discussing putting her down, but I was wondering is that humane because she isn’t really in any pain? Are her other symptoms reason enough? I love her, and as much as I would like her to stay with us for as long as she can, is it more reasonable to put her to sleep or have her live out the rest of her life blind, deaf, and barely being able to walk? Please help!
*She has been on meds for about two years now, we keep refilling the prescriptions.

*Thanks for all of your sympathy and help

Best answer:

Answer by pinkwafer
Choosing to put an animal to sleep is always a hard decision. If your dog is really struggling to walk, then combined with her being deaf and blind, I would say she does not have a very good quality of life. I think it would be reasonable to euthanase under these circumstances, rather than waiting until her pain is uncontrollable.

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Question by CLYDE D: What do you want to ask about dogs? how can i get my older dog to sleep on a dogie bed instead of the floor?
my dog is 11, and has problems getting up (arthritis in hips) i want to cushion his sleeping, how do i go about this, he is stubborn. he is a beagle.
if i put the dog bed wherehe sleeps, he lays beside/behind it.

Best answer:

Answer by Lizzie
Try putting the dog bed on the floor where the dog usually sleeps.

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Question by ..::*Animal Lover*::..: I want to help a friend with her dog, but I don’t want to be rude, how can I help??( they don’t have Internet)
A friend of mine, has a 3 year old, and lives in not tiny, but a small enough house. Well anyways, she came by the other day to show me her new puppy (her Fiance brought it home) I think he paid somewhere between 500$ and 1000$ He bought her a Great Dane. They know NOTHING about the breed, other than the fact that they are big and it’s the same breed as scooby-doo. She doesn’t know how fast their little bones grow and how you have to watch them from jumping and etc, because of hip dysplasia, and that Great Danes can get bloat and how much their going to be spending a month on dog food, + the size of their house may not go so well with the size of the dog, and that Danes get hyper (like any other puppy) and will probably (not intentionallly)but will plow over their kid, I tried to tell her some of these things and (trying not to be rude and thinking I know it all)and she told me that they’ve had a dog before, and a dog is a dog. I want to help for the pup’s sake, but without being rude.
(he brings dogs home alot) This will be their 4th dog in the past 4 years. One ran away, 2 of them he got rid of (without my friends knowledge) (and I don’t mean selling them or bringing them to a shelter) and the 4th got hit by a car… I just don’t want this dog, (to magically disapear) when he realizes he can’t afford to take care of it, or it get hurt or neglected.

Best answer:

Answer by Elizabeth H
You could always drop off a book about great danes to her as a welcome home puppy gift.

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Question by bballchick915: I want a second dog!! read the whole thing please!!?
I already have one dog but she has hip dysplasia. I cant play rough with her or take her for walks. She is a golden retriever and gets along with all types of animals(ecsepically my hamster) I was to get a newfoundland because my dad likes to hike! I just read about Seaman (Lewis and Clark’s dog) in history class and i know that they are good dogs!

Can you help me find some ways to persuade my parents? i will also take suggestions on what kind of dog i should consider too.

My parents are against this in a way, but i bet if i have some good reasons then they will reconsider!!

PLEASE HELP!!!

Best answer:

Answer by puppydawg93
get a shelter dog tell them about dogs that really need a home

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