[kunas]

i think my 2 yr old male has depression.
he walks around whining and howling mostly all day.
and he isn't eating very often. since thur, he's only eaten twice.
also, he is pooping, but not much and it looks runny.

I think he's just lonely because last fri (nov 9) he stayed at my parents and they have a dog as well. he went through this a few weeks back when he stayed with them for a week. but it didn't last this long and he wasn't as vocal about it.

I'm worried he might be sick or something.

any suggestions other than taking him to the vet?

 

[Elmer-n-Button]

Loneliness wouldn't cause the runny stools. Could it be something that he is eating at your parents' that is upsetting his stomach? He may have a bad stomache ache, thus the whining, etc.

I would have it checked out, since it seems to be related to the visits. Ask your parents if they gave him some different treat, food, or table scraps. ??

 

[Elvismom]

The runny stool would be my first concern. When mine get stool like that I feed them rice and chicken for about 24 hours. If it doesn't clear up then it's off to the vetman.

I suspect he isn't feeling good - hopefully just an upset tummy that will go away by itself. If he isn't better in a day or 2 I'd call the vet.

Lots of get well drool being sent your way.

 

[Houndsong]

That could well be an some kind of gastric thing as opposed to an emotional thing. If my dogs were throwing up or groaning or having bad stools the problem was usually self limiting because they wouldn't take food for 2-3 meals say 24+ hours until they felt better and their stomachs could handle it. Gurgling in the belly usually a telltale sign.

 

[kunas]

his stool is normal again as of yesterday, possiblly sooner. he seems normal whenhe's active, playing, going on walks, etc. he's just not eating and he howls alot and begs for so much attention. he eats about half of his food every other day. even if I put crushed treats in it, he still just sniffs it and walks away. maybe try a different food.

also, I know they are pack dogs and it's possible he's lonely but the wife really doesn't want anouther dog. and if I do get him a companion, he'll have to be a strictly outside dog and don't want to do that to him. i wish there was a doggy daycare I could bring him to during the day.

 

[Elvismom]

It sounds like he is alone all day? Maybe you could get a neighbor or a dog walker to come in and give him some exercise during the day.

I would ideally suggest another dog, but if they'd be outside dogs then I personally don't like that solution. I know that my dogs really want to be where their 2-leggers are.

 

[Rubydoo]

Sounds like someone is sick.

Please take your basset to the vet to get tested.

Janice and little Ruby

 

[charvie]

I don't want to cause a panic or anything but you may also want to have the vet test for Addison's ...

I remember Mocha was quite whiney and wouldn't eat and seemed lethargic and "depressed" for a small period of time prior to her collapse.

Because the vet at the time did not specifically check for Addisons when I first noticed her "odd" behaviour they missed it entirely and said that maybe she was just stressed and would get over it. She didn't.