My Dog's Sick!

[Dez]

My dog is a 9 year old female spayed black lab/beagle mix. She's overweight and more than likely has arthritis in her back legs.
For the past few days she's been going through periods where she shakes a lot, won't eat, and has a really hard time moving, getting up, and going up and down the stairs. She even has a hard time laying down. She acts slow and when we try to pet her she'll even stick her tail between her legs. She has a runny nose, too. But then a while later after a nice nap she'll act like her old self, wiggling her tail, eating her biscuits, etc, and she won't be shaking. Then she'll go back to acting sick. We're all really scared for her, she's my first and only dog and we pretty much grew up together. Could this be something serious? Is it just a part of her being old? My brother in law thinks that she could have a cold or something from going from my air conditioned room to the rest of the hot house. Could this be it? I'm so scared, I don't want to lose her. Dx

[Maloo]

I would just have someone take her to the vet. They'd probably be able to tell you what's wrong with her.

[TheBabyEater]

If your dog has a runny nose or.. really acts differently at all then she should be taken to the vet. She should be getting regular check ups anyway since she's so old and overweight. The vet might be able to prescribe some medicine for whatever is wrong now, along with something to help with the Arthritis. With any luck, she'll start to feel better enough to get up and go for some walks! It's really had to keep a beagle or a lab (much less a mix!) in shape as they get older, but trying doesn't hurt and it will allow them to live longer and in less pain.

Like I said, I suggest a vet. It could be just that she's old and tired, and doesn't want to be bothered until she has a nice long nap. But you never know, and should make sure just to be safe. My dogs are lazy, they sleep all day and sleep all night, but wear themselves out in the morning and evening when we're all home to take them for runs, play with them, ext.

Good luck! Hope she feels better soon.