[Nickydoglover]

My 6 year old Rottie/Collie mix has been urinating and drinking a lot lately. I took him to the vet and she ran a list of test on him to determine the cause. The blood test came back that he has high calcium levels. Therefore my vet ran some more test. She found that all his organs looked healthy, the only thing she found was 3 inflamed lymph nodes. She took a sample and I am now awaiting for the results. This was my dogs first time at the vet in 5 years, last time being when I had his fixed. It is now the day after and he seems depressed, he is usually a very happy dog, always playing and running around, now he just looks so sad. I tried taking him out for a walk(which he loved since I live on a farm and there's so many gofers and other things to chase)but it doesn't sem to make him happy anymore. Has anyone else had any experience like this, please let me know will it go away.Thanks

[labman]

It could be confusion about letting the vet abuse him. He doesn't understand sticking needles in him is good for him. It could be what ever the underlying problem is getting worse. The vet shouldn't charge for a follow up call. Don't end up with a crises over the weekend.

[Nickydoglover]

Thanks for your info... I took him for another walk today and he seemed better, he chased after a cat, but when it came to playing with me he didn't want to. I guess maybe he's a little mad at me for leaving him there at the vets all alone. I'm still waiting for the vet to call me with the test results and I will ask her then about his behavior. Also I did get him to eat something today but I had to hand feed him cause its seems like he's having problems opening his mouth. If I don't put the food into his mouth far then he drops it. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Nickydoglover]

I just got off the phone with my vet and it turns out that she found a large abscess on my dogs throat about the size of a golf ball. She had it tested and the test came back without any results.Which my vet couldn't understand, cause usually the test will come back with something. So anyway she doesn't think it Lymphonma which is good but she said she wants to biopsy the abscess and maybe put him on some strong antibiotics. How much is a biopsy and should I just get the antibiotics first and see if that works. Cause if I do the biopsy I won't get the results until after the weekend, whereas if I go ahead with the antibiotics first he might feel better by Monday. Oh and this is probley the reason why my dog can't open his mouth very wide, because the abscess is directly under his chin. Thanks again for any information.

[MOWERMAN2468]

Well being nickydoglover, you must understand that animal care is costly at times. And you loving your dog just is part of the responsibilities of caring the dog to the vet. And I am not being harsh here, but, I would recommend doing a visit to the vet at the very least once per year. Things like the growth may have been detected earlier if your dog had been going to the vet for regular check ups. And you said it had been 5 years since the last vet visit.
Your dog could also have been given a medication that may result in the change in behaviour.
And do not give antibiotics without the vets advice. You could give the wrong antibiotic and do more harm than good. You say you are on a farm, so surely you have a range of medications that you could inject either intramuscular, or subcatancerous. But the correct dosage and frequency of dosage will not be listed for canines probably. So call that vet back.

[labman]

I am sorry I somehow missed your post last night. I was gone all evening, but it should have been there when I got back. If you will be using what the vet prescribed in antibiotics, I see letting the biopsy go until you see if antibiotics work as acceptable. Sometimes it is OK to go with the likely rather than waiting for tests.

I am glad the vet seems to have found the underlying cause of the problems

[Nickydoglover]

Thanks everyone, my dogs is much happier theses days. I did call the vet after posting my second message and she said he was acting like this due to the sedation, she gave him enough to make him to maybe last 48 hours. He is playing now, but I still have trouble getting him to eat. But the vet gave me antibiotics and some deworming pill, but I am still awaiting more test resuts. And to your message mowerman I didn't take him to the vet for 5 years because there was nothing wrong with him I check him over amost every week for lumps etc. and I have a horse vet out once a year that gives him a quick check over and some deworming pills. But this vet he knows quit well, but thank you for your concern.

[labman]

There is no doubt the best thing for the average dog owner is to take the dog to the vet at least once a year. Except for rabies, which you didn't mention, I don't have too much of a problem with what you are doing. Rabies shots last at most 3 years and often the state law requires annual ones by a licensed vet. On the farm, your dog may be exposed to rabies infected wild life. You may be giving those shots too, and not have too much hassle from the authorities. There was a report yesterday that canine rabies has been wiped out. Unfortunately we still have the big problem of wildlife sharing their strains with our dogs.