[Coopers Daddy]

I just was able to bring home my new golden. Cooper is an 11 month old, happy loving guy. He loves everything and everyone.

Its been a bit of a rough adoption, just after i signed the paperwork, he got kennel cough and had to be fostered for almost 2 weeks before he could be nutered (the shelter wouldnt let him leave unnutered). After he was nutered he started to swell fairly bad and started to bleed. I ran him back to the vet and they kept him for 5 days to let him drain and just take care of him.

Well hes home now. But something seems off about him. He is just laying around on the couch and seems to have little to no energy. Sometimes hes just fine and the bouncy loving dog i fell in love with, but right now he just seems off. And he has no appitite. Hes eating roughly half what he should.

Im really worried about him. Has anyone had something similar happen? What can i do to help him feel better? I fell in love with Cooper the instant i saw him, he adopted me, not the other way around and i just want to give him the best love and care possible.

 

[BajaOklahoma]

Welcome from another newbie.
Poor Cooper had kennel cough, which can take many weeks to fully get over, had a rough time with the neuter and then he comes to a new home. Poor guy is probably exhausted and overhwlemed with all of the changes. And for all he knows, he'll be somewhere else next week.

That said, do you have a vet lined up for him? I really like my own vet to check out our new guys.

 

[Coopers Daddy]

Yes i have a vet picked out for him. He is going to see her this week. After i took him for a half hour walk today he seemed MUCH happier.

I was rather surprised when he jumped infront of me and started barking and carrying on at a loose dog. I didnt expect him to be that protective of me so soon.

 

[BeauShel]

It is probably from all the new experiences he has gone thru recently. Give him some time to recover and get used to his home. I am sure he will be the excited happy go lucky guy you fell in love with.

 

[Oaklys Dad]

I agree with Carol that it is probably due to all his new experiences and not a health issue. Be sure to point it out to your vet when he goes in just to be sure. Also don't use the pet food bag as a true recommendation of what your pup "should" be eating. They are often on the high side by a factor of up to two.

 

[Coopers Daddy]

In that case hes eating plenty! Hes eating about half what the bag recommends. I am feeding him the same thing he had at the shelter, Science Diet Large Breed Puppy. I figure since its made right here in town its going to be very fresh!

He loves the canned food, I tried to mix canned and dry, but hes too smart for that trick, he eats around the dry food then tries to scam me for a treat! :doh:

 

[MaxwellSmart]

Ya, he probably just needs some time to adjust. On another note, Science Diet isn't a very good food (even though the shelter was feeding it). Check out the Nutrition section on this forum...you'll learn alot (i did! lol)
Post some pictures of your Cooper boy! We'd love to gush over him!

 

[Coopers Daddy]

There is a bunch of pictures on the pics forum and ill check it out!

 

[Abbydabbydo]

At this point, I would feed him what he will eat, then explore your options. Good for you on the adoption, what a lovely dog!

 

[kblinkgirlie182]

All of the changes he has been through are probably what is causing him to act differently. He will get used to everything soon and start eating more and acting more normal.