Before I start, I just want to say, don't tell me to "take your dog to the vet". I don't like going to the vet, I can't afford it, and it will be my last resort.

I have an old dog, he's about 13 or 14. He's an American Cocker Spaniel. For the past week or so he's been whining a lot and seems to move around a lot. A few days or so ago, I shaved him (we had a hot spell for a few days so i wanted to get his longer coat off him). Now, usually, after I shave him, he seems to have trouble with his butt, I assume razor burn. But when he walks, he kind of walks sideways, his butt curled in, and he sits down often. But now, he's been whining as well. The thing is, we're moving and he did a *lot* of whining last time we moved as well (his last owners moved and left him at the house). But he settled in quick enough in the new place. But the whining has been more frequent, and I noticed that his breathing is a bit louder, and when I watch his stomach rise and fall when he breathes, he sort of contracts inwards while he's doing it, as if flinching, I think. My dad was saying that he knows someone who said their dog was experiencing the same things, whining constantly, trouble settling down in one spot, and they had to put him down.

So, I don't know if I should wait this out another week or so, until we're settled into the new place. Or... well, nip this in the bud, and take him to the vet to have him put down (even if there was some kind of surgery to help him, if he does in fact need help, not only would I not be able to afford it, but he is getting close to "that" time). He's my first pet, and I'm tearing up right now at just the thought of it, but I need to know, is this common in old dogs, this new found, almost 'anxiety' attitude, and does he need to be put down?

EDIT:
I forgot to mention, but he is eating and drinking still. And for the last few days, since the 8th of August, when we started moving, he hasn't been getting his usual amount of naps, so I think part of all this may be exhaustion. And he's eating later than usual because he wants to go with us to the new house and he doesn't let us out of his sight, or settle down enough to eat, for one second.

EDIT 2:

We took him to the vet, it ended up being his anal glands. They were too full. So now we've got some antibiotics (because they were infected), and the vet said come back in two months, or whenever he starts acting weird again with his butt (not exact words, but you know what I mean). So, I'll have to search online to find a way to do it myself, because I don't want to pay $80 just for them to do something I could easily (even if it is very, very gross) do myself.

I'll tell you right off razor cutting his hair has done him in already! A possible shock because of that!!!

There ain't a Gods' Dog on earth that is born in need of a razor hair cut. This is a human invention! We 'think' we help them this way, but the poor animal suffers a great shock.

My recomendation is Leave Him Alone! Love him and let him be. Let him feel safe in the new den and hope he'll recover soon, which he will!!

Would you rather he suffer from heat? Or let him slip and slide while the hair on his paws gets tangled and covers the traction on his paws.

Shaving has been going on for years and years, it might be a human invention, but it benefits dogs.

Thanks for the advice, even if it didn't help me one little bit.

I regret my sharpness of approach. This might help:

What to do about razor burn on my dog.

and please read this carefully:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Summer-and...Dog&id=1250224

we only groom a dog for good looks (and other human benefits), otherwise nature is wiser and dogs have their own way to manage heat. "Dogs actually sweat through panting", only, their skin has no pores.
With a pair of scisors I take excess hair from its paws only.

Thanks for the link. I don't think he has razor burn though, since he doesn't have any little bumps. And I've found, after watching him closer today, that he seems okay in the mornings, but around early afternoon, he whines a lot more and he can't settle down in one spot. I think I'm going to take him to the vet today, and see what he says, but I can't afford x-rays or blood tests. I know 13 years is a good long life for a dog, and I don't want to be like my grandparents who really held onto their larger dog for 15 years, when she should have been put down at 13, when the arthritis was really bad and she could hardly stand or walk. They only resorted to it finally because she couldn't move at all. And I promised myself a long time ago that I wouldn't be the type of person to hang on for that long. But I guess it's easier said than done.

Why not try taking him for slow walks in the afternoon? It will relax him.
I always thought the lenth of a souls' life should be upto God alone. When you see eye to eye what do you think communicates? Dogs and specially American Cocker Spaniels, are intelligent very very beautiful with their full coat on and extremely tolerant and kind!!!
Yeah, they need brushing in the summer! That ought to be a Loving pleasure, for he's given you his All!!!

You could check his temperature with a thermometer in his rectum for a few seconds. It should be 101-102 F
His poo must not be very dark, a sign of blood, and his pee must not have strange smell or dark color.

Also please read the grooming habbits for your dog here, along with other precious info about this breed specifically:

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americancocker.htm

I beg your pardon, Anubis, but you have just insulted every dog groomer on the planet, and quite a few dog owners, just for good measure.

Are you aware of the problems that can develop if certain breeds of dogs are not clipped on a regular basis? Dogs are not natural creatures. They are man-made creatures. God created wolves. Man created dogs from wolves. Wolves may not require grooming and clipping, but a lot of dogs do.

Clipping has never "done a dog in" from shock. But the resulting skin infections, maggot infestations, and skin tight mats that cut circulation off in the lower limbs have done more than a few dogs in.

Clipping may not keep them cooler (honestly folks, it doesn't) but it does keep them cleaner. It allows better air circulation, which in turn keeps the skin dryer, preventing hot spots and "rain rot". It keeps the maggots from taking up residence. Clipping the hair away from the anus prevents fecal mats from forming...which not only smell horrible, but can prevent the dog from having a bowel movement. That, in turn, can kill if it's not relieved straight away.

Groomers don't clip dogs just to make them pretty. We do it to keep them clean and healthy. We see the consequences of not clipping and grooming way too often, and it's heart breaking.

Originally Posted by vetgroomer

Clipping may not keep them cooler (honestly folks, it doesn't)

This is the only Point I considered worth stressing.
My apologies for any "insults" taken, they're not intented.

Man made, however, is also the entire human race to date, if man made you call genetic preferences. It seems to me us humans of this day are the result of breeding similar to the principles used for the APBT gender of dogs. Indeed Man made can be called everything not found in nature without Man's intervention, Like Plastic and Industrial Polution. Nothing else.

i smell some war around here..I don't think it will be good if I post my opinions..

Originally Posted by jv17

i smell some war around here..I don't think it will be good if I post my opinions..

jv17 I think I'll follow your advice, too

ok, I have a bigger issue with this post than the 'to groom or not to groom' war, and that is that this owner was considering euthanasia without knowing what the dogs problem was to avoid a huge vet bill. sorry animula, not to single you out, because i know a million peop;e who have the same attitude about vets, but most clinics are willing to work with you if you let them know that money is an issue. i don't know about everywhere, but at my clinic an exam is 65$......if my pets life was hanging in the balance, i would get the 65$ to at least get the vets opinion, if they do recommend bloodwork, x-rays, etc. then maybe euthanasia would be considered, but for something so simple (as say an anal gland infection) that may end up costing 100$ total, and would result in a happy, healthy pet it is worth it to me. i get a little ticked off when people assume that vets are out to scam every dollar they can out of you, (again, i dont know about everywhere) but my clinic has a needy pet fund, and there is also other funding available (such as the Farley fund) for people who can't afford care for sick animals. i'm sorry if i am ranting, this subject touches a nerve with me for a personal reason. years ago my mother had the family dog 'put down' (shot in the field by a neighbour) because the dog had a lump in its ear and she was certain it was cancerous and the dog going to suffer and die. i found out afterwards that it was actually just a hemotoma, a broken blood vessel in the ear, and dosn't require any treatment (there is treatment, but it is not a life threatening problem, if you let it go it will eventually go away, the dogs ear may be deformed after but small price to pay to save a life).

soooo, I guess my point is spend the money for an exam and a PROFESSIONAL opinion before you decide on your own that your pet needs to be put down. I think the years of loyalty and companionship and love your pet has given deserves at least that.

I am honestly at a loss right now how someone could say just because I dont have the money or it is getting close to that time. I would go and take a second mortgage on my house if it meant getting my pet a surgery. Even if the dog only had 2 years left in it. That is just not being a responsible pet owner, Vets will work with you if you need to set-up a payment plan. Pets are not just something you get and feed. You have to take them for yearly checkups just like kids. If you cannot afford something then you should have never kept the animal but given to someone who would be responsible and willing to pay (if needed) for anything that would be life saving or just a simple surgery. I suggest that untill you can afford a pet that you do not get another one any time soon.

Originally Posted by Animula

So, I don't know if I should wait this out another week or so, until we're settled into the new place. Or... well, nip this in the bud, and take him to the vet to have him put down (even if there was some kind of surgery to help him, if he does in fact need help, not only would I not be able to afford it, but he is getting close to "that" time). He's my first pet, and I'm tearing up right now at just the thought of it, but I need to know, is this common in old dogs, this new found, almost 'anxiety' attitude, and does he need to be put down?

We took him to the vet, it ended up being his anal glands. They were too full. So now we've got some antibiotics (because they were infected), and the vet said come back in two months, or whenever he starts acting weird again with his butt (not exact words, but you know what I mean). So, I'll have to search online to find a way to do it myself, because I don't want to pay $80 just for them to do something I could easily (even if it is very, very gross) do myself.