Why is my Dachshund panting, squirming, and acting unlike herself?

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like Marley is pretty sick, and I'm worried about him as well. Not eating or drinking can be signs of a systemic illness that is causing him to feel ill. Examples are liver disease, kidney disease, hormonal imbalances, and even cancer. Walking hunched is an indication of back pain and/or abdominal pain. He may be panting despite the normal room temperature because of this pain or discomfort. For all of these reasons, I would recommend having Marley evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. They will likely recommend blood work, a urinalysis and abdominal x-rays to look for evidence of underlying disease that could make him unwilling to eat or drink. These tests may also give some insight into why he is walking hunched over and sensitive to you touching him. They will also allow your veterinarian to develop the most appropriate treatment plan to get him feeling better as quickly as possible. I hope this is helpful, and best of luck to you and Marley.

The behavior you are describing makes me think Daisy is probably painful. Oftentimes when dogs are uncomfortable they seek comfort from their owner, will cry out in pain, will tremble or shiver, or be lethargic. In a dachshund I would be concerned about back/spinal pain since they are predisposed to intervertebral disc disease. I would recommend taking Daisy into your vet so she can be checked out and they can figure out exactly what is going on and get her back to herself. Good luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Pippin. It sounds like he is very sore. He will need to see a veterinarian to determine the source of his pain. It is common for small breed dogs to experience neck or back pain. These dogs will typically pant, shake and be reluctant to move. They can refuse to do stairs or jump on furniture. In severe cases, back pain can lead to weakness or paralysis. He should see his veterinarian soon. I hope this information helps!

It sounds like she should be examined by a vet to determine the source of her pain. She could have neck or back pain, arthritis, abdominal pain, etc. and your vet should be able to localize the pain and decide the best way to treat. She may need an anti-inflammatory and your vet can prescribe. Do not use any human OTC pain relievers as they can be toxic to dogs.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly neck or back pain. It could still be pain associated with a leg even if nothing seems wrong with them. I recommend that you have Sprinkles evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics include radiographs. Treatment would be based on findings. At the very least they can prescribe pain control medications to make Sprinkles feel better. In the meantime, reduce her activity as much as possible as that in itself can make a big difference. Good luck and have a good night!

Yes, please take her in right away. This sounds like she is in a lot of pain. Dogs pant a lot and tremble when they are in pain. Since she’s not spayed she could have a uterine infection that can become life threatening, or many small dogs get intervertebral disc disease which can cause the symptoms you are seeing. They will need to do an exam and possibly lab tests or X-rays to get a diagnosis, then they can give pain medication and the appropriate treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Roxie.

Any abrupt change in behavior without a known cause should be investigated by your vet as soon as possible. Sometimes this is the only sign we get of a medical condition. The behavior could be due to feeling ill, being in pain or may be because of a developing neurological condition. Your vet will do an exam, labwork and possibly some diagnostic imaging, x-rays or ultrasound to determine the cause for your pet's change in behavior and, based on the results, will be better able to advise you on treatment options.