About two years ago Winston was "leaking" after urinating. His urine sample came back a little off, indicating an infection and he was treated successfully with antibiotics. This morning we had an interesting set of events.
Our morning routine has gotten really great, Winston knows to sit on his bed until he hears my seat belt click! That is his release to get excited about eating breakfast. He's allowed to prance and do his little happy dance then until his bowl is down. He has never missed this routine - in five years. If he is anywhere else in the house when he hears the click of my belt he RUNS to me. Like any other lab would anticipating breakfast. This AM he did neither. When I called him, he didn't come. I went looking for him to find him doing a "potty dance" by the door. Obviously let him out and waiting for him to come back. When he did so he was lethargic and not excited about breakfast whatsoever. He seemed to be breathing heavy but not panting. I called him to walk along with me into my room where I feed him and even after getting his bowl he hardly perked his ears. I decided to hold off and see what he would do if I left the room. He has never allowed me to forget to feed him. He'll drool and cry and dance when I walk near his bowl if he hasn't eaten. This morning he slept. I gave him about 40 minutes before I called my vet - who asked to see him asap. It was 1hr between the phone call and getting there - Winston alerted to go out 5 times and urinating 6. I got a sample simply because they "might" need it. He was remotely playful when he saw the cows in the field behind our house and ate one piece of dogfood as a reward for helping me. 15 minutes before we had to leave (about 5 after that treat) Winston started vomiting, so we got in the car and headed out. After his examination (temp fine, color fine, no abnormal masses, no abdominal pain) the vet checked his urine sample and found that again the levels were off. He gave me something in case Winston vomits again but sent us home for 24hrs. If he is still lethargic or urinating excessively tomorrow am they will run blood work for kidney and live problems. He said they are all very rare but something is causing his levels to be off. If Winston IS better in the am, the vet wants me to wait a few weeks until Winston is back to himself and bring in a healthy urine sample to compare to.
Sigh. He's resting now beside me...
