It's just been in the last week or so. He's been having bowel issues, hasn't been springing up from his dog bed with quite the same vigor and ear-flopping glee.
I thought about bringing him in to the vet, to have him checked out. I had a few theories, including one that involved something quite tasty, the description for which I'll limit to two words: anal sacks.
But something else happened this week that might explain his behavior. Ordinarily, I would laugh this idea out to the curb. But the beagle's howl this morning suggested maybe there's an emotional reason for his ailment.
The kids went back to school this week. When Emma went back -- her first year at West, no less -- Henry was starting to show physical signs that something was wrong. Walking around with tail between his legs, pooping a lot, not running to the door when people came home as per his usual greeting tradition.
And then this morning, when I loaded Sam and his backpack and his several boxes of Kleenex and his saxophone into the car for the ridiculously short ride to Garfield, I heard one sad, elongated, guttural beagle how that sounded different from any other time when we leave the house.
That's when it hit me. "I wonder," I thought to myself, "if he knows they're going back to school, and his three months of having constant daily companions is over."
Impossible. Right? I mean ... right? Can a beagle possibly know this kind of stuff? He picks up on the most subtle of clues. Minutes before we're about to leave the house, he begins to get anxious. He'll start to whine and scratch on the door, letting us know he wants to come with. If I grab a plastic bag out of the bottom drawer, he knows he going for a walk. When he's in the car and we head out Highway 60 en route to North Star Kennels, his demeanor changes; he knows he's going to the kennel (which he doesn't mind.) Basic dog stuff, right?
Then it's not so far of a stretch that, when the backpacks come out and the younger members of the pack leave in the morning, that it probably means he's in for nine months of lonely mornings.
I felt bad for Henry this morning, imagining a sad beagle languishing on his chair, waiting for his owners to return from school so they can play with him.
Or ... it's possible that his anal sacks are simply full of liquid fecal matter and he needs to have them "expressed." Sounds like a good after-school chore to me. I'll put that one on their list. They'll be so pleased at a chance for some intimate time with their favorite beagle.
Anal sacks? Really? Classy. Cute beagle, though. But seriously, you're gross.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, yes, Henry is a cute dog! :) I am sure he is stressing out for the fact that he misses his companions. Animals are just like human beings. They have feelings too! Any change (good or bad) can be stressful on animals and they show it through their behavior. Sometimes they may poop or pee on the floor or cry out because they are either sad or in pain. They have feelings too. They are part of the family. I am sure he misses them when they are gone during the day.
ReplyDeleteAlso, poor Henry may be having an anal gland problem. Here are symptoms to watch for and a treatment plan. I took this from the website: http://www.dog-health-guide.org/analglanddog.html
***Signs of an anal gland problems usually include a bad smell. The glands can become impacted or infected, causing them to produce a thicker than normal fluid that has a bad odor. Dogs may attempt to lick or bite at the area if they are experiencing discomfort. Your dog may also “scoot” across the floor on his bottom with his tail up (called scooting). If your pet cries when going to the bathroom or shows signs of pain, then the anal glands may have become infected.
***Treatment for anal gland problems in dogs:
If the glands are impacted (backed up), they can be manually expressed (emptied). Your vet can do this, and he or she can show you how to do it so that you can do it yourself in the future if needed.
If your dog frequently has problems with his anal glands becoming clogged, your vet may recommend changes to his diet. A high fiber diet may be recommended in order to make his stool more bulky. This will cause his stool to help express the anal glands when he defecates. You might also try Pet Alive AnalGlandz to treat infected anal glands in dogs naturally. It is a 100% natural, safe effective herbal remedy for preventing unpleasant odors and promoting anal gland health.
Also, I read you can put grounded flaxseed on your dogs food (check with vet first). :)
If the glands are infected, antibiotics will be prescribed for your dog. Infected glands will probably need to be expressed manually until the infection has cleared up.
I hope Henry feels better! :)