Cocker Spaniel screams when she poos
Discussion
I have a female cocker spaniel who is 4 years old. She is a delight; loving, friendly to all and so happy in herself. Until about a year ago.
She has developed a habit of holding her poo in and when she goes, she screams in pain. It s obviously massively distressing to her.
She has gone from roll on my back and love me to don t touch me below the neck or I will shirk from you . I can stroke her on the sofa and she s kind of ok, but doesn t like anyone else touching her below her neck. She will sometimes roll on her back (like the good old days) and offer her tummy, and the second i touch her, she cries out.
I have taken her to the vet and he has stuck a finger up the bum, done all the blood tests and even took her off for an MRI. She is insured but we are £4k in to testing her and they say there is nothing wrong with her. A second opinion yielded the same.
I even adopted a second dog last year, as I was worried it was a stress issue that I couldnt see, to see if that would calm her. But it persists.
I have tried dry food, wet food, home cooked food. Sometimes it seems to make a difference for a few days but then it reverts to the same.
Her poo is hard for the first inch (she holds it so colon absorbs the water) and then normal. And then she poos on walks and after about the third time, she just squats and squeezes and nothing comes out. She does this about 3 times before she realises she is really done.
I don t know what to think. The vets are telling me there is nothing wrong with her, but she screams like she is being killed the first poo of every day and she is very touchy about being stroked. Something is wrong.
Thoughts?
She has developed a habit of holding her poo in and when she goes, she screams in pain. It s obviously massively distressing to her.
She has gone from roll on my back and love me to don t touch me below the neck or I will shirk from you . I can stroke her on the sofa and she s kind of ok, but doesn t like anyone else touching her below her neck. She will sometimes roll on her back (like the good old days) and offer her tummy, and the second i touch her, she cries out.
I have taken her to the vet and he has stuck a finger up the bum, done all the blood tests and even took her off for an MRI. She is insured but we are £4k in to testing her and they say there is nothing wrong with her. A second opinion yielded the same.
I even adopted a second dog last year, as I was worried it was a stress issue that I couldnt see, to see if that would calm her. But it persists.
I have tried dry food, wet food, home cooked food. Sometimes it seems to make a difference for a few days but then it reverts to the same.
Her poo is hard for the first inch (she holds it so colon absorbs the water) and then normal. And then she poos on walks and after about the third time, she just squats and squeezes and nothing comes out. She does this about 3 times before she realises she is really done.
I don t know what to think. The vets are telling me there is nothing wrong with her, but she screams like she is being killed the first poo of every day and she is very touchy about being stroked. Something is wrong.
Thoughts?
Edited by WTFWT on Monday 30th June 02:07
Cockers can make some weird and wonderful sounds.
Our now elderly female has always been vocal, when she's washing herself (washerholics) she makes all sort of whiny sounds, she's not in discomfort of any sort, when she rolls on her back for pleasure another set of weirdo noises, has done it for years she's deaf as a post now but still making the same noises only slightly louder, its so amusing we've often thought of videoing her and posting it. The racket she kicks up at the groomers, especially having her nails clipped has to be heard to be believed, her son in comparison makes only slight squeaks of groomer complaint.
Maybe yours is vocal at other times, Cockers are all completely crackers in my experience.
The only food you appear not to have tried is BARF diet, ie raw.
As for kibble we've used Wolf of Wilderness for many years and its always been good for decent poos, incidentally Zooplus have some decent discounts on both trial and larger packs at the moment if you fancy trying some.
On walks is she allowed to run free in the undergrowth and spinnies/woodland which is where Cockers are in their element?
Our now elderly female has always been vocal, when she's washing herself (washerholics) she makes all sort of whiny sounds, she's not in discomfort of any sort, when she rolls on her back for pleasure another set of weirdo noises, has done it for years she's deaf as a post now but still making the same noises only slightly louder, its so amusing we've often thought of videoing her and posting it. The racket she kicks up at the groomers, especially having her nails clipped has to be heard to be believed, her son in comparison makes only slight squeaks of groomer complaint.
Maybe yours is vocal at other times, Cockers are all completely crackers in my experience.
The only food you appear not to have tried is BARF diet, ie raw.
As for kibble we've used Wolf of Wilderness for many years and its always been good for decent poos, incidentally Zooplus have some decent discounts on both trial and larger packs at the moment if you fancy trying some.
On walks is she allowed to run free in the undergrowth and spinnies/woodland which is where Cockers are in their element?
We unfortunately had similar with my cat, we went round in circles for months with the vets. She hated being touched below her neck and was in pain but not always.
Like you the vets couldn’t find anything wrong, until in the end we went to a super vet type place who were brilliant.
An ultrasound revealed gallstones which caused a lot of pain when passing.
I wish you all the best in resolving the issue.
Like you the vets couldn’t find anything wrong, until in the end we went to a super vet type place who were brilliant.
An ultrasound revealed gallstones which caused a lot of pain when passing.
I wish you all the best in resolving the issue.
My vet wife says you could try a stool softener (lactulose) available in boots no prescription. 1-3ml per kilo 2-3 times per day. Start on the lower side.
Don’t say it’s for a dog.
You can also try paracetamol 1/4 of a tablet twice a day.
Make sure no caffeine or combination ibuprofen. Just paracetamol
Possibly add more moisture to food
Don’t say it’s for a dog.
You can also try paracetamol 1/4 of a tablet twice a day.
Make sure no caffeine or combination ibuprofen. Just paracetamol
Possibly add more moisture to food
How distressing for both of you.
Our cocker was also quite 'vocal' but nothing like this.
Good to have some veterinary input from Gnevans.
As well as that, and increasing moisture in food, I do wonder whether it might be worth speaking to a veterinary physiotherapist or veterinary massage therapist, in case there is some underlying physical issue causing the aversion to touch? Some insurance policies cover this (our Pet Plan one does).
Our cocker was also quite 'vocal' but nothing like this.
Good to have some veterinary input from Gnevans.
As well as that, and increasing moisture in food, I do wonder whether it might be worth speaking to a veterinary physiotherapist or veterinary massage therapist, in case there is some underlying physical issue causing the aversion to touch? Some insurance policies cover this (our Pet Plan one does).
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