[GeorgieCKCS]

My Cavalier who’s 4 years old recently stopped jumping on the sofa and chair like he normally does. He was at his friend’s house (who also has a 2 year old Cavalier and they spend lots of time together for extended periods of time) and ever since getting home he has been whining to ask to get up on his usual perch places (and slipped a couple times going down the stairs). His energy level and personality are the same otherwise, just weird he’s being different. Should I be worried? I have a vet appointment scheduled for a couple days from now just in case. Will monitor him and try and see if it gets better first. His brother does have a history of dyspepsia issues, but my dog has had perfect hips and joints at our annual checkups, so wondering (and hoping) it’s a mental thing. I asked the sitter he stayed with and they said he stopped jumping up on the last day (of 4 nights together). She said her dog doesn’t jump up on the sofa or bed (she lifts him up) and we think maybe he’s picking up on that behavior (they are very competitive) and mimicking him by asking to get up (vs doing it on his own)…

[Emma Braby]

Hi Georgie,
You’ve done the right thing by scheduling an appointment for your dog, as it’s unusual behavior for him. It’s likely a behavioral issue he’s picked up on; dogs can be fickle like that! I know my dogs get jealous of each other. However, it could also be a symptom of many health issues. As a dog and house sitter, previous clients have also asked me not to pick up their dogs onto the sofa because their pups expect it afterward. Good luck with the vet. I hope it isn’t more than an expectation, and please let us know how you and your Cav get on.

[Danielle DeGroot]

@GeorgieCKCS, I’m sorry to hear your pup is acting abnormally. A vet appointment is a very good idea with any sudden behavior changes. It’s always better to ensure there is no underlying injury or other medical issue. My own dogs tend to behave oddly after staying somewhere other than home. One is a very reactive pup who has separation anxiety. The last time I left him with a sitter was at a home with other dogs he was familiar with. Even though I supplied his regular food, he refused to eat much, which continued even after he was back home. My vet said it was his anxiety, and it took a couple of weeks to set him right. I hope your pup is starting to act himself again; please keep us posted!

[GeorgieCKCS]

Thanks Emma and Danielle, we got a physical exam and didn’t need to do any blood tests, xrays or anything which is good. She felt his spine and muscles and did a lot of stretches. He wasn’t exhibiting any pain or discomfort, and the vet didn’t notice any joint or ligament issues, so she said it’s probably just a minor muscle strain (which would make sense since the sitter he stays with has a big backyard that him and the other Cavalier puppy love to run around in together and chase squirrels and play). I felt silly overreacting. But like you both mentioned. The vet said we did the right thing by bringing him since we know his behaviors better than anyone and when something seems off it’s best to get it checked out. They put him on a anti-inflammatory/pain medication for a week, similar to ibuprofen for humans and said to monitor it. She said it takes about a week to 10 days to recover so hopefully he’ll improve. Such a relief, especially because my friend said the leg muscles not working right might be neurological, which I then started spiraling lol. I’ve already noticed a difference in him not slipping as much. But the vet said no jumping (and try to avoid stairs) during the recovery period, so we’re lifting him up to the sofa and bed for the time being. Thanks again for your advice and support!

[Danielle DeGroot]

Hi, @GeorgieCKCS. Thanks for the update! I am so glad to hear that it is not anything serious and that you caught it early enough to treat it before it became a more painful issue. It’s also a good reassurance that you truly know your dog best and that you should follow your instincts when something seems off, even just a little bit. Our dogs cannot talk to us, so we have to pick up on these clues. It’s very easy to stress ourselves out and worry about our fur babies, and I’ve certainly done that myself a few times. I hope your Cavalier has a speedy recovery and is back to his usual self before you know it!

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