Our old dog just started sleeping all the time. Normal?

[It'sJustMe]

We took in a 10 yo English Cocker Spaniel last year. I was going to foster him until he found his forever home. Kelly did a great job of finding it . Good dog! He is over-weight, even for an English Cocker, which run larger than American's. He weighs in at nearly 50 lbs. In spite of feeding him a good brand of reduced calorie dog food for the past year. In the warmer months he gets good exercise, with me, out on our trails here on the property. Winters we hibernate, however. It's either freezing cold, wet, windy under tall fir trees, or some other viable excuse. I get S.A.D.D. in the winter, and suffer from fibromyalgia as well as other spinal probs. So I am not a good dog exerciser in the winter.

Is it possible Kelly could have SADD, too? Lately, like in just the past week, he has become especially lethargic, for no real reason that I can think of. He wants to sleep the entire day, and when he dozes off he is zonked out! He hasn't gotten into anything bad for him, that I am aware of. Being an indoor dog, I would know, I would think, if he found anything he shouldn't have had. If I try to wake him, he doesn't respond for a long time. I can lift his legs up and they're limp, he is just in a deep, deep sleep. I know old dogs do get really tired, but I'm wondering if they do so suddenly like this? Or if something else could be going on? Like depression? What do you all think? Thanks for any ideas or things I might be able to try to do for him, to keep him awake? We work at home all day, so we're here with him, but busy doing computer things. When I try to take him for walks, he's not interested right now, and refuses to go. It's Just Me

 

[Kathy in WV]

We are seeing the same thing with our 14 yr old boxer, Sissy. I know we are nearing that final stretch with her and it has really been bittersweet. I delivered this dog as a puppy and shes been my friend her entire life. 2 weeks ago she had a seizure and we thought it was the end. We reconciled ourselves to having her put to sleep the next day. The next morning she woke us up and wanted to play! As long as she WANTS to be here I want that too. At only 10 yrs old you probably aren't facing that yet (I hope not). But since her seizure Sissy has really slowed down a lot and sleeps so deeply I sometimes watch her to see if she is breathing. My prayer is that she just drifts off to sleep one day so she doesn't have to be put to sleep at the vets office. Sorry for rambling so much!!

 

[nvmom]

Could your overweight cocker have a hypothyroid. I just discovered by way of a blood test that my 7 year old retreiver who is overweight and not very active has this condition. she's on some pills now and hopefully this helps her energy levels.

 

[Gateway]

We have 3 cockers. The oldest is almost 12 years and sleeps alot. She is also VERY hard of hearing. Nothing bothers her sleep. The 2 younger dogs wake up from their naps at any little sound.

Could it be his hearing causing the excess sleeping?

 

[It'sJustMe]

Aw, Kathy. I'm so sorry your long time friend is getting on in age. They do have a way of bouncing back from things we humans think are big deals. I hope your girl Sissy has much longer to love you, and vice-versa. Boxers are such joys!

Thanks nvmom...I wonder about the thyroid thing also. He does have excessive thirst some days, and also pants a lot, whenever he does any exercising. But he is very heavy and he grows very thick fur, more like sheep's wool, thick and curly. He's due for another sheering.. I mean haircut. We hope to get to that on Sunday, our only day off from doing other things.

Gateway...Did your cockers get really sleepy after they lost their hearing? That is a distinct possibility with this old guy. He's 11 now, sorry I mis-typed before. When he came to us he had ear infections galore. In fact, we had surgery done on his ears, twice. Once for cleaning and another time for a large mass that grew inside his ear, but not down the canal. He has required constant drops and medications and treatments, in the past 15 months we've had him. We thought he had a stroke once, after an episode. But it was an ear problem that he recovered from. So, yes, loss of hearing is definitely something I've been worried about. Maybe that one bad ear has finally quit on him now? The other ear has not been as much of a problem. I guess it's time to get back the vet and see about what's going on with him.

We don't have a lot of money, so we try to be real frugal about vet bills. But I do secret shopping for several different companies. One of them sent me an offer for a job in the town next to us, for basically some free vet care, up to $100. Plus I get paid a small fee for doing the paperwork. So, we'll hold out and take him in the first week of February. And pray nothing serious is wrong. Thanks for encouraging me on the hearing being the reason. If it's the thyroid, we should find that out with this visit, also. Thanks you guys. It's just great to be able to share here and find so much knowledge. Blessings! It's Just Me

 

[Gateway]

It'sJustMe,

Only our 11 year old cocker sleeps so soundly. She had a few subtle and not so subtle changes in her behavior in the year before I figured it out. When I realized it might be her hearing, I tested it by walking up behind her and then calling her name. Her ears never twitched and she didn't turn around to look at me. Also, at her dinner time she didn't respond to 'dinner' because she was asleep and didn't hear us calling her.

Floppy earred dogs can have ear problems. The long ears trap moisture and heat inside the ear and create a good 'growing' environment. All 3 of our have had yeast infections on and off forever. The vet would prescribe a little tube of cream at 10.00. It fixed the problem but was expensive. One visit I asked the vet if I could use an over the counter anti fungal-yeast cream. She said yes and that's what we use now.

My brother-in-laws vet advised him to use Swimmers Ear on his long earred poodle that has a similar problem. It is mostly alcohol and helps dry out the moisture from the ear.

I also keep the fur on the inside surface of their ears very short, to increase air circulation and reduce yeast infections in their ears.

If you want more details let me know.

 

[mzkitty]

I'd take Kelly in for a vet check. We had an English/Springer Spaniel for many years, and he loved to sleep, but at age 10, nothing like you're describing.

Good luck.

 

[MaureenO]

Get him tested for diabetes. Dogs can get it, too, and deep sleep leading to coma is a symptom.

Maureen

 

[MaureenO]

http://www.pgaa.com/canine/health/diabetes.html

CANINE DIABETES

Diabetes mellitus is a disease of the endocrine system. It is caused by a deficiency of insulin -- the hormone that regulates how sugar is absorbed and utilized by the cells and tissues of the body. Highest occurences are found in dogs between the ages of 5 to 7, and female dogs appear to be more susceptible. Most affected dogs are obese. It is the most common hormonal disorder in dogs.

Dogs with diabetes usually drink more water, go to the bathroom more frequently (may start to urinate in the house), and can begin to loose weight.

 

[Kathy in WV]

ItsJustMe,

I just wanted to ask about your furry friend and see if he's doing any better or worse? We don't have a lot of money for vet bills either so I know about your dilemma of whether he needs a vet visit or not. My old Sissy girl is still going along from day to day. Shes still enjoying herself!! Sissy is also deaf and that is about the same time she started sleeping more. The other dog we have (Fang) has taken over responsibility for keeping Sissy alerted to things. She cleans her and checks on her like a momma hen! She even wakes her up to go outside to "piddle". Let us know how things are going with your buddy- I think theres a lot of us dog lovers on here! Kathy

 

[It'sJustMe]

Kelly dog got a hair trim, sort of, today. He really didn't want to be bothered. But his dense fur was making him hot, said DH. So, I trimmed him, uneven as it is. He has ridges on the back, and I jokingly called him a ridge-backed hedgehog earlier

Much to the dismay of DH who is his master, really. He does seem more comfortable. And yesterday he was awake more during the day, as well as today.

However, earlier when I went to pet him, I bumped against his bad ear. He whimpered. So, maybe the whole trouble is the ear again? You think? I have been using medicated ear drops the vet prescribed for him, but maybe it's not the right stuff this time? I had some of the anti-inflamatory pain meds he got after his last ear surgery, so gave him some of that. Result? He's sleeping restfully now.

I haven't made that appointment for him in February yet. And I'm thinking now that maybe we should take him in locally instead, to his regular vet, earlier than that. If it is his ear it might need to be cultured and treated now. Sigh. It's Just Me

 

[Beetree]

In the Olden Days

In the olden days when dogs had a noble way to die, they would walk away into the woods and just disappear. Today dogs do not have a noble way to die unless they live in complete freedom. When I was young our dogs would just disappear when they were ready to die because they did not want to cause their master (me) any grief. They are for ever mans best friend. Today they are trapped in houses and yards and they cannot die. It is sad, for them and the master.

 

[Pogonip]

In the olden days when dogs had a noble way to die, they would walk away into the woods and just disappear. Today dogs do not have a noble way to die unless they live in complete freedom. When I was young our dogs would just disappear when they were ready to die because they did not want to cause their master (me) any grief. They are for ever mans best friend. Today they are trapped in houses and yards and they cannot die. It is sad, for them and the master.

What a very moving...and true...statement....

 

[It'sJustMe]

I just want to let you all know that Kelly has responded to ear treatment, and is now back to his old frisky self. That was a very moving message Beetree. Thank you for sharing that. It reminded me of the stories about the Native Americans who went into the forest when their time was near. I think many of us can relate to how poignant that is, and how wishful some of us might be that we mght could revert back to those days. Not, though. We're too "civilized" these days. Even in regards to our trusted 4 legged friends. I'm so thrilled that Kelly is still a happy camper, though! Thanks all! It's Just Me

 

[Beetree]

I just want to let you all know that Kelly has responded to ear treatment, and is now back to his old frisky self. That was a very moving message Beetree. Thank you for sharing that. It reminded me of the stories about the Native Americans who went into the forest when their time was near. I think many of us can relate to how poignant that is, and how wishful some of us might be that we mght could revert back to those days. Not, though. We're too "civilized" these days. Even in regards to our trusted 4 legged friends. I'm so thrilled that Kelly is still a happy camper, though! Thanks all! It's Just Me

So GLAD Kelly is back to norm! And yes here we are with older dogs we love so much and don't want to see get old, blind, etc. But here we are and we all have to deal with it. They are our good friends!