Lily is our 21 week old Springer. She contracted a really serious tummy bug 4 weeks ago and was still suffering the effects when we had to go on a pre planned holiday to Crete two weeks later and so had to leave her with my parents, who promised to look after her and were looking forward to it even given Lily's poorly state. Our problem is, that now we are back Lily appears to be a totally different dog. My parents said all she did all day was run around the garden like a maniac non-stop throughout the fortnight. She also chases shadows now - something she has never done before. Although her health is slightly better she is very lethargic, she does not respond to her name, has begun to soil in the house again and we do not seem to have any control over her. She often awakens from a nap with a start and nips or scratches at some part of her body, but we only recently Frontlined her so I doubt if she is suffering fleas. She cowers and runs away if she thinks she has done wrong (soiling in the kitchen) - something we have never berated her for but have tried to eliminate. She was never scared to come to us before - and I think I know what you are thinking! BUT the parents say they have not mistreated her. She is drinking an enormous amount of water at each go and then pees all over the place. Could she still be suffering from the effects of her illness - which was treated by the vet twice before we went on holiday but he didn't confirm what it might have been but which we think was probably Giardia or Beaver Fever as it is rife here at the moment. Apologies if it's a bit dis-jointed but Please help - we are at our wits end

Personly I'd head back to vets, it's best to rule out medical problems first. Sorry if this is no real help, I'm sure others more informed wil advise. Thinking of you and sending carming thoughts.

Me too, back to vets and if all physical stuff is ruled out then I would ask them for a behavioural referral as even though so young it is better to get a GOOD behaviourist input now than let things go on.

If you post your location then maybe someone can give you some more specific advice for behaviourists?

Sorry no advice here but loads of positive thoughts springin their way to you all. You must be so worried - how long has she been back at home with you?

Sam and Angel

hi,

she has been home 2 days now.
we just don't know if we are over worrying or not but we know she isn't the same.
could it be the trauma of her illness or the fact we left her for two weeks at a young age.

Can we get the same Lily back again or is it irreversable damage.
also she is losing teeth at the moment (3 yesterday).

we live near wolverhampton.

all thoughts and ideas are very welcome.

diane

I think a check up at the vets wouldn't go amiss, as she is weein so much it might be worth trying to get a sample and take it to the vets with you.

or it could be just as simple as she is a little unsure as she has only been back 2 days - Angel has actually turned her back on me when she is sulking

But i think the only thing thats going to put your mind at rest is a trip to the cash house (the vets!) - as she seems to have so many symptoms it maybe worth writing a list of the things you have noticed that way you can ensure nothings missed.

Loads of positive thoughts springing their way to you

Sam and Angel

Agree with vets trip, without a doubt. Did she soil in parents house at all? How did they handle it if she did?
I would just go back to basics with the toilet training, if she knew it before she went away when she also had the illnes, now she is back she still has the illness but has lost toilet training i think it just needs re-training.

Bare in mind she is a little bit older now and could perhaps be feeling slightly better so they calm puppy you had could have just been her age and illness, when they are young they sleep a lot more then all of a sudden dont need the same sleep and have more energy.

Let us know how the vets goes.

hi all,

many thanks for the support.

Lily seems to be nearly like her self today, the same happy go lucky waggy tail thing.(has only chased shadows once today, when i got home from work and she was all excited).

so i don't know if it was the trauma of her been away from home for two weeks, an the fact she had been poorly and loosing her teeth all at once.
But we are going to take one day at a time and see how she goes.

i just hope it is a case of us over worrying and maybe the dog picking up on our tension