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  1. #1
    Puppy patdog's Avatar
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    Health concern need advice

    Hi,

    I have a 5.5 month old female lab that is underweight and small for her age. I believe she had a UTI that went undiagnosed and led to diarrhea and a skin is infection. I went to the Vet several times and was told puppies pee a lot and get upset tummies from eating the wrong thing. One time I took a urine and feacal sample and the pee showed protein and blood. She was put on antibiotics for the skin infection and they said the antibiotic should cover the UTI. It didn't really help.

    For the first month I had her she was an amazing puppy. I had researched and waited for a good breeder. Towards the end of the month the excessive urination and thirst with the diarrhea started. She has been on and off a bland diet and was told to introduce another kibble with no success. She is now on a prescription diet after I went to another Vet Practice. She seems the size of a 3 month puppy.

    Now she is so hypoactive and becomes distracted very easily. Gone is the balanced calm dog I was hopeful of training to become a high functioning companion dog for me as I'm disabled and I don't know what to do.

    I contacted the breeder and none of the other litter members have been unwell. This breeder has bred guide dog puppies and this puppy had all the right signs in her temperament to even be a Service or Guide dog. I also was able to view both her parents and they were big labs.

    Has anybody a had a sick puppy and noticed the behaviour completely changed? Could she still be in pain and that's why is she is acting out? Any advice would be so appreciative.

    thanks

  2. #2
    Senior Dog WhoopsaDaisy's Avatar
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    Hi and welcome. If you think she still has a UTI you need to get her to the vet ASAP!
    However the hyperactivity and easily distracted qualities sound like most 5-6 month old lab puppies. Have you taken her to a puppy kindergarten yet? Don't worry, I'm sure others will chime in, their puppies have also been little terrors.
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  4. #3
    Senior Dog Meeps83's Avatar
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    Welcome! You said HYPOactivity correct? As well as excessive drinking? I'd get her to the vet and have them run a UA and do blood work to test her liver, kidneys, and thyroid. I'd also take in another stool sample. How is her skin doing?

  5. #4
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    How much does she weigh? How much do her siblings weigh? How much do her parents weigh? Do the breeder and Vet think she is undersized? Even if she is undersized is she a good weight for her size?

    I agree with above, puppies become active and easily distracted as they mature and you are heading into the worst months for that. It's not possible to say without observation but she could be a completely normal puppy. Does your disability allow you to give her adequate exercise and take her to training classes?

    Surely you are getting advice and help on training a service dog? It's hard enough to train a puppy on your own, even if you've done it before. A service dog would require specialty training, wouldn't she?

    To answer your change in behaviour question, yes, my puppy got Parvo at six months old and nearly died. She matured to 56 pounds, (within standard by a pound ) , but the Vet and the breeder both said she was just the smaller pup of the litter. The only change in behaviour I noticed was she regained her zest for life after she got better.

  6. #5
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    Oh, I missed that you said "hypoactive". So she is lethargic? My mind read hyper, which is what we are more used to seeing as a description of puppy activity levels. But dogs rarely become hperthyroid, more commonly hypo. Cats get hyperthyroid. Agree with Vet check on the thyroid.

  7. #6
    Real Retriever
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    The increased activity is normal for her age, they are basically babies, can't stay calm forever. She has to have her fun & blow off extra energy levels.

    My pup had constant UTI's at that age, turned out to be she had extra skin around her vulva causing infection. In regards to diarrhea, has this dog been tested for worms/parasites? Very common in puppies & can lead to extreme diarrhea if left untreated; antibiotic won't kill off worms.

    Sounds to me like your vet needs to do more thorough inspection here.....skin issues, no weight gain are the leading signs of worm infestation.

  8. #7
    Puppy patdog's Avatar
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    more information

    Thanks everyone for your answers.

    She has been to puppy school and now at a dog training school. At puppy school she was constantly complemented on her calm behaviour. It was on the last puppy school day she changed. This isn't my first lab so when I describe behaviour it is beyond what is the usual behaviour of a lab.

    The first Vet Practice keep blaming her symptoms on being a puppy even though I said she looks small and isn't gaining weight. I did take the in a feacal and urine sample but they only checked the urine. It showed protein and blood. They admitted her to hospital and did more sterile samples but the urine was so diluted they could find anything. They said bring her back in 2 months; at this stage she weighs 12 kilos/ 22 pounds.

    Three weeks ago, which is also 3 weeks into waiting the 2 months, she weighed 10 kilo/ 22 pounds. I became really concerned and took her to another Vet. The second Vet Practice said she was small and underweight for her age. The never did a urine, feacal or blood test but put her on Eukanbua as she was on a bland diet once again. This kibble caused diarrhea when I was up to 3/4 kibble and 1/4 bland diet. Went back to the Vet and back to 100% bland and introduced the prescription kibble. At 5.5 months she now weighs 12.75 kilos/ 28 lbs. Because her diarrhea has't returned the Vet said she doesn't have pancritis.

    The breeder shows their dogs and she was one of the 2 they kept. At 9 weeks they decided to sell the one I have. Her pedigree is very good and has international bloodlines. She wasn't the runt of the litter and her sister has already won best of breed in puppy section. She is a UK lab.

    She has been wormed and vaccinated at the stages a puppy should be. She gets walked every day and also has a 4 yr old lab as a playmate. My disability affects my balance and a I can't run but can still throw a ball and do inside training. She is crate trained and this is a very recent photo.

    Regards
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  9. #8
    Senior Dog windycanyon's Avatar
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    I'm reading this as distracted and hypERactive too, but that needs to be clarified by Patdog.
    The fact is, there can be smaller pups in every litter, and not all are obvious at 8-9 wks. And some just grow slower... we can all guess at your issue but only your breeder and vets can really help you sort thru this. Labs do tend to be active as they are sporting dogs-- and even if your breeder breeds for service, it's not unusual to have that throw back from some other line (look at grandparents/ greats).
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  10. #9
    Real Retriever
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    Personally, her size from the photo looks about right for a 5mnth old *female* - just because her parents were big doesn't mean she's going to be.

    The diarrhea could also be from feeding TOO much food in a day as well. One thing you do NOT want in a puppy is a dog that grows TOO fast, too soon....I would rather have a very slow, steady grower then a fast one.

  11. #10
    Puppy FourLabsAndATri-Pawd's Avatar
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    It's hard to tell from the photo that she is only 28 lbs; she looks a great deal like our 5 month old Dreama.

    Muscle weighs more than fat so a well muscled puppy will have a higher weight.

    As long as she continues to gain some weight and her poops are good, I wouldn't worry too much.

 



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