Who is the problem?

[poiuytrewq]

We have an issue with two of our dogs.
We have 4 one is totally not involved, one slightly the other two are a nightmare.
Our old dog has become obsessed with my terrier. Licking and sniffing constantly to the point that my little dog is going for him. This is a recent thing.
The older dog has the last day or so also started trying to hump him and when mine gets up will lick and sniff where he was lying.
Bertie my other lab will also lick and sniff more than usual but isn’t overly bothered.

Obviously something has changed, something isn’t right. They have been together all of the youngest life (4 years)

I’ve got a vet appointment next week but what could this be?
I’m thinking anal glands or a urinary infection maybe? There is absolutely nothing wrong with the smaller dog otherwise, if we only had him I’d not know anything was up.
Older dog had a check up last week and the vets were happy with him, although at that point things weren’t so obvious so I didn’t mention a problem. This weekend it’s become pretty definitely a thing.
Any idea? Would it be worth trying to get a wee sample to take with me?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Please don't let it get to the stage where the small dog is having to defend himself, it's really unfair.

Hope you can get some answers at the vets.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

The little one hasn't got a tooth problem brewing by any chance? I only ask as when our little terrier came back from the vet with clean teeth the collie kept going for him for a couple of days. We can only assume his familiar stinky breath had gone and the collie didn't recognize him as familiar.

Maybe the opposite going on, smell has some how changed from familiar to not recognized?

 

[HopOnTrot]

How old is the older one?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would be concerned that the younger dog has a health problem that makes him smell different but I agree that the 2 shouldn't be left together until you've got to the bottom of it.

 

[poiuytrewq]

No we have been very lucky as these things go that it’s been Easter so someone has been home, I have to work in the morning but mr p is here and I’m working from home the rest of the week.
The older dog is 11. Luckily also he is fine to leave over night or if we do go out alone, he will sleep on the sofa and the other 3 are ok together.
Little dog (Cecil) has got smelly breath more recently so maybe but it’s not that end they are interested in I was planning on running that past the vet on his jab time this summer but as he’s booked in this week will mention it.

 

[poiuytrewq]

These two are usually best of friends

 

[Pearlsasinger]

No we have been very lucky as these things go that it’s been Easter so someone has been home, I have to work in the morning but mr p is here and I’m working from home the rest of the week.
The older dog is 11. Luckily also he is fine to leave over night or if we do go out alone, he will sleep on the sofa and the other 3 are ok together.
Little dog (Cecil) has got smelly breath more recently so maybe but it’s not that end they are interested in I was planning on running that past the vet on his jab time this summer but as he’s booked in this week will mention it.

I would want to get him to the vet on Tuesday. I have heard before of dogs picking up on health issues long before the owner knows anything about it. When 2 of them are involved, I would take them seriously. Bad breath can stem from bowel problems. I would take a urine sample and ask for bloods to be run.

 

[Birker2020]

Dogs can smell changes with humans, they can pick up on changes on skin I e galvanic skin changes with certain illnesses like diabetes and cancers so can do the same with other animals. I'm sure its nothing as dramatic as cancer so try not to worry, it might be something simple amiss.

Cancer and Bio Detection Dogs - Medical Detection Dogs

www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk

 

[Thistle]

My young springer kept bothering my older lab bitch, sniffing, humping and licking and chewing her ear. Took her to vets, a tumour was found deep in her head behind her ear. inoperable and eventually spread and we said goodbye. Initially we (and the vet ) thought that it was just young dog hormones.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Some years ago I had noticed that my two younger dogs had started constantly sniffing my older bitch's left ear. Didn't really think much of it but a while later we lost her when she suddenly started fitting. Didn't come out of it and vet said it was probably something neurological, perhaps brain tumour. Perhaps they could sense it.

 

[skinnydipper]

Our old dog has become obsessed with my terrier. Licking and sniffing constantly to the point that my little dog is going for him. This is a recent thing.
The older dog has the last day or so also started trying to hump him and when mine gets up will lick and sniff where he was lying.
Bertie my other lab will also lick and sniff more than usual but isn’t overly bothered.

Obviously something has changed, something isn’t right. They have been together all of the youngest life (4 years)

I’ve got a vet appointment next week but what could this be?

How did you get on at the vets? Did you find out why Spud was licking and sniffing and trying to hump Cecil? Has the behaviour continued?

 

[poiuytrewq]

I am currently spending my life trying to get a wee sample. It seems virtually impossible.
That will be tested in house as soon as I have more than a drip. (Any suggestions?) he will be catheterised otherwise but I’d like to avoid that.
We did basic bloods which were all good. Temp/heart rate/resp rate etc all perfect. She said he is a vision of health and would be very surprised if he was the issue.
We can also do a smegma test for bacteria in his sheath but she said she would feel like she was wasting money at this point, certainly need to get the urine first.

It’s still happening yes, if I can’t take Cecil with me when I go out I just leave them in separate rooms.
Actually right now all is peaceful so it’s not constant but things are not right in general

 

[CorvusCorax]

What's stopping you getting one? I use old plastic Chinese takeaway containers and have never had a problem collecting samples from male or female dogs.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Vet did suggest and I have no idea what people think of this, I thought it sounded maybe worth a try to try chemical castration (older dog) to see if that helped

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve never had a problem either but as soon as I shove something under he stops. I can get tiny amounts but not enough apparently to test. Hes not a constant leg cocker like some boys. Getting one of spud a while ago was really easy

 

[CorvusCorax]

I’ve never had a problem either but as soon as I shove something under he stops. I can get tiny amounts but not enough apparently to test. Hes not a constant leg cocker like some boys. Getting one of spud a while ago was really easy

Take him out on a lead only for the toilet until you get enough and be ready, dogs tend to give lots of signals they're about to go. He can't hold it in forever. My dogs weren't constant leg cockers either. But from the moment they went outside I could generally predict when there was a pee coming.

 

[skinnydipper]

I am currently spending my life trying to get a wee sample. It seems virtually impossible.
That will be tested in house as soon as I have more than a drip. (Any suggestions?) he will be catheterised otherwise but I’d like to avoid that

When he goes out for his first wee of the day, keep him on lead and use a ladle to collect the urine.

Failing that ask the vets if they can express his bladder.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Yeah I guess I’ve been trying out at random times , not walking but now and then we will go outside on a lead. The second he starts he stops ag. I can try first wee tomorrow morning. It’s also been a case of if I got it over the weekend there was no one to test and the end of last week I was working so didn’t have time to drive it over there. So I've been trying to coordinate getting it and getting it to the vets fresh.
A ladle is a great idea as I can maybe be a bit more subtle about it.
I’m a bit worried he’s trying not to wee when I’m around now. I found a wee in the tack room today so wonder if he disappeared to have a pee alone which obviously I really don’t want to start

 

[skinnydipper]

If you manage to collect a urine sample in the morning and can't take it in to vets until the afternoon, keep it in the fridge.

 

[Goldenstar]

Every time I have seen this the dog getting the unwanted attention had a health issue .
You are doing the right thing going to vet .
The dog doctor thing is often seen in Labradors .
One of ours spotted my Dads skin cancer .

 

[poiuytrewq]

I truly can’t bear the thought of something being really wrong with this little dog. He seems so well and happy, totally normal when he’s not around the lab.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Yeah I guess I’ve been trying out at random times , not walking but now and then we will go outside on a lead. The second he starts he stops ag. I can try first wee tomorrow morning. It’s also been a case of if I got it over the weekend there was no one to test and the end of last week I was working so didn’t have time to drive it over there. So I've been trying to coordinate getting it and getting it to the vets fresh.
A ladle is a great idea as I can maybe be a bit more subtle about it.
I’m a bit worried he’s trying not to wee when I’m around now. I found a wee in the tack room today so wonder if he disappeared to have a pee alone which obviously I really don’t want to start

Again, don't let him outside alone if you're struggling to collect a urine sample, until you've got something and keep it somewhere cold until you can take it to the vet.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Again, don't let him outside alone if you're struggling to collect a urine sample, until you've got something and keep it somewhere cold until you can take it to the vet.

Just realised reading back through you thought the tack room was outside?
It’s not! It’s in the house. He hadn’t been out alone.

Any idea how long results should take?
I have rung but the receptionist said they will call me when they have any news. The vet was in a consult.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Just realised reading back through you thought the tack room was outside?
It’s not! It’s in the house. He hadn’t been out alone.

Any idea how long results should take?
I have rung but the receptionist said they will call me when they have any news. The vet was in a consult.

I would have thought a basic in-house test gir infection would only take a few minutes but would obviously have to wait until there is a suitable time set aside in the day.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Took it yesterday morning from the day before refrigerated much to everyone’s disgust! I thought I’d hear yesterday

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Took it yesterday morning from the day before refrigerated much to everyone’s disgust! I thought I’d hear yesterday

Are they sending the sample off to a lab? If not I would be on the phone until.you get an answer.

 

[poiuytrewq]

No it was in house.

Just had a long conversation with the main vet at the practice who I’ve not met. She was really lovely. Has read all Cecil’s notes etc
She said his sample was absolutely fine. We spoke about the possibility of local bitches in heat but I explained that if he’s off the farm he’s on a lead and doesn’t come into contact with other dogs.
She suggested the very most obvious thing and I am to give him a really good shampoo all over tomorrow and see if that makes any difference. If it doesn’t we are back to square one I guess but she said they are happy Cec is in good health and would like to examine Spud.