Help with signs of illness

I'm a little bit worried about Chamuco, my 3 1/2-year-old healthy, normal pug. He's been VERY quiet tonight. Not as active as normal and there doesn't seem to be a reason why. What do I need to check? What could I check? His nose is warm but I've heard that's an old wives' tale. His gums and eyes seem find too. He's not limping.

The only weird thing besides his being very still and quiet is he started to go around in a tight circle in the house, like he was doing the do-do dance. I got him outside ASAP and he peed. Again, seemed normal. I know it's not much but any advice y'all could give would be helpful. I'm right now thinking of taking him to the vet tomorrow or Saturday. I'm such a worry-wort.

Not Chamuco!!! I love him!!

Hmm, maybe he just has an upset belly? Any possibility of a UTI?

Pug Hugs to one of my favorite puggies!! Sorry I don't have better advice.

You know him best. First and foremost, trust yourself.
Nothing springs to my mind with those symptoms (except maybe an upset tummy), I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in. If you are worried take him in, the $$ is worth your piece of mind.
I hope its just a weird night for the boy.

Chester has come up with those symptoms once or twice in his life. Nothing you could pinpoint exactly, but he was quiet, stiff quiet, not lethargic quiet. And when he did move, it seemed liked a restless or manic type of movement.

We ended up at the after hours vet both times, but I can't say that they ever found anything. One time we took him in, they were able to tell me that he was in some pain because his abdomen was rigid but they took blood tests and an x-ray and everything was normal. They gave us pain pills and said to keep an eye on him. He was fine within a day or two. It's so hard to tell with dogs. They are very stoic about their pain.

I know that's not much help but I hope that Chamuco feels better soon.

Just watch him and give him 24 hours. Both Thurston and Kimchi have done the same thing but were normal after a short time. I usually suspect some sort of tummy upset.

My unprofessional experience with this (limited) is that it "passes"... um... like gas... Unless you think he ingested something in the last 24 hours that could be blocking him, but the "treatment" is the same: wait and watch.. and of course love him up... nothing is better than giving and getting a little chamuco love...

remember: I am completely unqualified.

If he's eating, drinking and pottying normally then on the symptoms you describe I would probably just watch and wait for now. I hope it's nothing.

I hope he's ok.

Rocky has done this in the past. The first time I freaked. He'd sit, then move quickly to another spot, looking uncomfortable. He'd come to me looking for help but then scurry away. I picked him up, ready to run to the emergency vet when he tooted. He had gas! So I held him & burped him like a baby! I could feel him relax a little. When I put him down, he tooted some more & then was fine. I hope your baby has nothing more serious than this.

Amazing how they can worry us!

Not Afraid wrote:Just watch him and give him 24 hours. Both Thurston and Kimchi have done the same thing but were normal after a short time. I usually suspect some sort of tummy upset.

Yup, both boys circle with an upset tummy, usually when they have to throw up. I hope he feels better.

Thanks for all your replies. I must say I probably worry way too much about my boys. I've been this way forever. Last night, he did something he NEVER does, which was sleep next to me. He usually crawls under the covers and sleeps between my husband's legs. But last night, he curled up next to my head and fell asleep on my arm (until my arm fell asleep). We were like that for a few hours until I had to get up to pee and then he moved under the covers. He seemed to be breathing normally but he was doing that shaking thing that dogs do when they're in pain.

Today he seemed okay. We had a grooming appointment and he seemed all amped to get in the car and go. He's over there now. I have a really great groomer and I asked her to keep a watch on him. I even stayed myself for a bit to see if I could see/feel anything unusual. Hoping it's just an upset stomach. I pick him up in about an hour or so and I'll report back later.

Having this place to post my worrywart questions is really helpful. You at least put my mind at ease -- you probably can imagine what was going through my head.

Anyway, I'll report back later on the little Devil.

So, Chamuco hasn't gotten worse but he's still very lethargic. It's hard to explain -- he's just not himself. My husband had to go to the airport to pick up my mother-in-law tonight so I decided to not ask -- just take him to the vet for a checkup. Everything checked out fine although the vet says one of his tonsils "may" be a little swollen. She checked him head-to-toe - I watched her do it. He didn't have any reaction really. Afterward, he was his sweet self. So, I brought him home -- with instructions to watch him carefully and try giving him Rimadyl twice a day to see if that helps. He was a little more playful but again, spent much of the evening in the dog bed. He hardly even begged at the table -- very unlike him.

Then he did something that scared the shit out of me. He walked in a circle like he was going to go to the bathroom and sort of listed to one side. It was so fast -- nobody saw it but me. He's standing straight up now. He jumped up on the bed no problem. He seems right as rain. But now I wonder: should I REALLY be concerned now. Is that a sign of something potentially bad? I'm trying to be calm but it's hard. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Obviously, I'm going to call the vet too.

The walking in a circle and listing could indicate some sort of inner ear problem - that may not show up on examination, but may connect with the swollen tonsil if there is an inner ear infection? His temp would probably be up if it was an infection though, so the vet would have picked that up. And if it is early warning of vestibular disease then the Rimadyl should actually be helping. He would probably be developing a head tilt if it was vestibular though. Have something rattling at the back of my head, will try to dredge it up for you.

Damn it it is so hard when they cannot tell us where it hurts! Healing vibes being shovelled into express overseas transport for Chamuco.

ETA none of the things I have listed are immediately life threatening, so don't panic. I know how fretful it is not top have a diagnosis though.

I am so sorry to hear this. It is really tough when something is wrong, and we can't pinpoint what it is.

Do you think he had a small seizure? Not to scare you! Just trying to think what it may be.

oh no! poor baby. and poor you!

I know what you're thinking, and probably even afraid to say those 3 little letters, but I wouldn't rush to judgement. It could be a number of things.

Couple of questions:
would you describe his lethargic walk as if he was drunk?
is jumping up and down from furniture?
does he rub his head against the wall?

those are things to watch out for. again, please do not think the worst. I know it's hard, but as the others said, it could just be a tummy ache.

you're a great pug mommy, Elizabeth. I'm sure he'll be better in no time.

Thanks for your thoughts and ideas and also your kind words. Still not sure exactly what's bugging Chamuco but we might have gotten a clue last night -- when Louie vomited (before dinner not after) and seemed very wobbly. I had to take him to the vet ER (my husband is still complaining about the cost even though it was less than $100 total) and get him checked out. He has a low-grade fever but they gave him some fluids and he was well enough to eat last night (and not vomit). My vet (and me) wonders if maybe they have a bug and so we're watching them closely and making sure they drink a lot. I'll give you an update if anything changes.

No advise, just support. I hope they are both feeling better soon and that it is nothing serious.

Louie is sick too?
That finally triggered what was rattling about in the back of my skull re Chamuco's symptoms.

Could it be some type of neurotoxin? E.G. bitten by tick or spider or drank ditch water or something? Even botulism from buried food or something they scoffed on a walk in the woods or something? Not sure what is possible in your part of the world.

More healing vibes en route for both of them.

Puggered wrote:Louie is sick too?
That finally triggered what was rattling about in the back of my skull re Chamuco's symptoms.

Could it be some type of neurotoxin? E.G. bitten by tick or spider or drank ditch water or something? Even botulism from buried food or something they scoffed on a walk in the woods or something? Not sure what is possible in your part of the world.

More healing vibes en route for both of them.

Not sure. I wonder if I blood test would show this? If so, maybe I'll drag them both in and get it done. There's not much they can get into as we're all fenced in here but we do get ticks and fleas and such. However, they are up on their anti-tick/flea and heartworm meds too.