We adopted a lab retriever mix at 2 months of age and the shelter MADE us neuter him before allowing us to adopt (as written on adoption conditions). He has all his vaccinations and is being treated for heart worms and itchiness. He now takes two medications. Before it was just one. He has always been a great ball of never ending energy but now? ALWAYS TIRED. Lazy. I take him for walks, dog parks, at least 2 times a day. I started to notice hes been having diarrhea, warm body, dry nose, yawns for no reason even if we are outside and eats a lot of plants/grass. Before you all tell me to go see a vet, which we will, is this NORMAL? Do you think this is most likely due to neutering (darn them) at such a young age? Is it the medicine (one of his meds is named Rilexene in capsules) By the way, his food has always been the same and he is now 4 months of age.
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? Well it's hard to say, but if he has heart worms that could cause lack of energy?? I think?? Definitely worth a vet consult..... Are you saying he was neutered at 2 months?? That is very early....
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? Yes it is very early but the shelter we adopted him from is ridiculous. Its part of the terms/conditions that they have to neuter him first before taking him home. We had to wait a day.
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? Welcome Tigersmom, from me, Hattie 6 years and Charlie 3 years our rescue. I am sorry your puppy is poorly and lacking in energy. Are you in the UK? That is so very young to have a puppy neutered Rescue centres in the UK normally get you to sign a contract to say you will return the dog to their vets for neutering at the appropriate age certainly not at 2 months old, poor boy. Our Charlie was neutered at 6 months by the rescue centre and this is still too early, but I think the rescue centres are very worried about people rescuing dogs and breeding to sell the pups :'( and also accidental mating. Maybe a trip to the vet just to make sure he is OK as this doesn't sound right for a 4 month old puppy. Let us know how you get on. x
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? Hi and welome from me too . Sorry to read that your pup is unwell , I have just read that the medication he has is for thyroid problems ? One of the possible side effects is an upset tummy so yes , Vets as soon as possible for him , good luck and please pop back and let us know how he is doing .
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? Hi and welcome Sorry to hear your pup is poorly what is pups name? Harley (7 months) tends to eat grass a lot when her tummy is poorly. So to me, that bit is normal. If his diarrhoea is for more than 24 hours I would starve for 24 hours then put him onto chicken and rice for a few days to help it settle. How far are your walks to the dog park? It might be a bit too much twice a day if he is already feeling poorly. I would also go with everyone else and see the vet to check him over. Hope he's ok and please let us know x
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? My first thought was a thyroid problem but then when I saw he was only 4 months old I doubted myself. I wonder if you are over exercising him, at 4 months he should only be having baby walks, the rule is usually five minutes per month of age a day. Is he being wormed for round worms as well as heart worm? He also sounds to have an upset tummy which could make him lethargic if he has a tummy bug. I think a trip to the vet, as this is not normal for a 4 month old pup.
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? Welcome to the forum, do hope you get this sorted as it sounds unusual for a pup of his age. Please do let us know what the vet says.
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? Hi there, and welcome to the forum, Hope your vet is able to get your puppy back to full health. Assume you are in the USA if treating for heart worm, sorry to hear he has been neutered so young. The only thing I would add, is that unless you have no garden/yard of your own, a four month puppy really doesn't need walks. Especially if he seems tired. Just let him play when he wants to and sleep when he doesn't. Good luck at the vet.
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? Hi all, Thank you so much for the warm welcome. I did not have to take him (Tiger) to the vet after all. He seems pretty active but a little mellow compared to how he was at 3 months. Thank you for the support. I am a beginner owner and this is a family dog. I have some concerns regarding kids and dog parks. I try to take him to the regular park and he loves to sniff around a lot but is less distracted than when I first took him. I want to teach him to walk in a straight line by my side though. There are kids that try to run TOWARDS him and you can imagine how distracted and jumpy it makes him. I do not want to run the risk of him accidently biting them (obviously not angrily) and I've had a mother ask if he bites (right when she was trying to run after her toddler who ran towards my puppy, to which I replied " Well, he's teething." I would like to know the proper way to socialize him. I generally ask the owners if its OK and if they say yes (they generally do) then I allow Tiger to play with their dog(s) on a leash of course. I have seen some owners whose dogs see him and get excited, they avoid eye contact and tell their dog NO, and try to geta handle on them right away. I've seen Chihuahuas and just smaller dogs tell my dog off because he gets jumpy and too excited. (Oh and this may seem very random but, why do I see so much poop on the ground even at dog parks when they SUPPLY you with disposable bags?) What are some precautions at a dog park and what should I take with me?
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? Oh gosh, I would let him off the lead to play with other dogs, if the owners have said it's ok. Especially down at the dog park, he can't run off, and can learn how to socialize with the other dogs. It's ok for other dogs to tell him off if he gets too rambunctious; that's how they sort their doggy rules out and how he will learn not to be too bouncy with older dogs! If other owners don't want their dogs to interact - well fine, that's their prerogative, but it will do young Tiger all the good in the world to be let off the lead to play and run with others.
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? I agree he will benefit from some play off lead if he is in a safe place. Maybe not too much as he IS still young and you want to protect his growing bones and joints. If he is getting too excitable and leaping about, then good opportunity to practice recall and pop him back on this lead. Letting him off his lead in a safe place and working on recalling him is really important and something I wish I had dome more of when Lilly way a pup. On the subject of dog poop......well....not picking up in a public place will risk a fine in the UK. I shalln't say what I am thinking about the people who don't pick up - they give all dog owners a bad name to put it politely. Do you find the dog parks a problem? Is it because you need to take your children too?
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? No no no no. I meant at regular parks I cannot take him off the leash. Dog parks I go occasionally, but I've started to go more. The last last time I let him off the leash at a dog park, his mouth was bleeding. What do I do if he "accidently" hurts another dog at the dog park? I know its how they play, but you hear about angry dog owners suing, etc.
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? [quote author=TigersMom link=topic=4913.msg61821#msg61821 date=1395183057] What do I do if he "accidently" hurts another dog at the dog park? I know its how they play, but you hear about angry dog owners suing, etc. [/quote] Hello there - most people on this forum are from the UK, and here it is normal to let dogs off lead in regular parks. We train our dogs to come back to us, and there are no laws to prevent us from letting our dogs off lead. Are you in the USA? Your puppy is 4 months old - he is a baby. He won't hurt another dog. If you let him off lead now, and he gets used to interacting with other dogs, he will learn how to do this and then be very well mannered around other dogs for the rest of his life. If he doesn't learn this now, he won't when he is older, and then may have problems with other dogs. [quote author=TigersMom link=topic=4913.msg61821#msg61821 date=1395183057] The last last time I let him off the leash at a dog park, his mouth was bleeding. [/quote] Was it a very busy park and he hurt himself? Could you take him at a time when it is very much quieter? You do not want your very young pup playing with a big pack of dogs. Just one or two dogs at a time would be great though.
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? Yes, I'll try when its quieter. I'll also post some pictures. We got him from a shelter and one lady at the pet store looked at him - his mouth, paws, fur, and told us that he's a pure breed. Guess the shelter didn't realize it or they'd have charged us an arm and a leg!
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? That would be great - would really love to see some pics. I don't know much about dog parks - we don't really have them in the UK (because we use regular parks to exercise our dogs). But I should think it is a wonderful place for a pup to meet other dogs if, as you say, you go when it's quiet and things not too boisterous for your puppy.
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? Dog parks are sadly lacking in the UK. It seems to me an obvious idea to create a space where dogs can safely run free. Not forgetting the advantage to the members of the Public who either don't like dogs or are nervous of them. Couldn't agree more about people who don't pick up after their dogs. I live in the country and there is a saying among old country folk "it"s in the green" so you don't need to pick it up. It is hidden in the grass, you do need to pick it up more than ever. You got the dog, you got the poo is my mantra
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? [quote author=Mollly link=topic=4913.msg62123#msg62123 date=1395302869] Couldn't agree more about people who don't pick up after their dogs. I live in the country and there is a saying among old country folk "it"s in the green" so you don't need to pick it up. It is hidden in the grass, you do need to pick it up more than ever. You got the dog, you got the poo is my mantra [/quote] Couldn't agree more, we live in the country and I have lost count of the times my children have stepped in dog poo on country walks. PICK IT UP. My walking friends cannot believe that I pick up after my dogs. Someone even let their dog poo right outside my gate, I put a sign up telling the culprit in no uncertain terms what I would do if I caught them needless to say it never happened again. Oh how I wish we had dog parks in the UK, they would benefit dogs and owners.
Re: Why is my labrador retriever always tired now? Thank you all so much for the replies. I like to look back at my posts every now and then and boy did I worry for no reason! The more knowledgeable and observant I get at 'knowing' my dog, the better clue I have of when I should be worried or more so, when I should take action because we all know worrying solves nothing and your dog ends up feeding on it.
