Good morning everyone! Looking for your opinions! Clara Bell is a 4 yr old Newf and we have only had her since February. She is an amazing dog but we are concerned because in the last week we have noticed a lack of appetite and on occasion, she isn't her exuberant self! We live in Virginia on the coast and it has been extremely hot and muggy (80 in the morning and 100 in the afternoon!) She does go outside and does her business and in the evening we will hang outside for a bit but other than that, she is in the air conditioned house. She won't go in the in-ground pool nor the kiddie pool we bought for her. We have tried the hose and sprinkler to no avail. I'm not sure if I should be worried she doesn't eat (usually in the morning) or not. This morning I came down and she didn't even greet me at the bottom of the stairs. I fixed her breakfast, but she didn't touch it. She hasn't even been outside to do her business yet. I want to think it may be heat related, but I waited so long to have a Newfoundland in my life that I worry about her constantly! Please, any advice/thoughts appreciated!
Worried about lack of appetite
- Thread starter Kimkc
- Start date
Bailey Boy
New member
How long has it been since she has seen her vet? It could just be the heat, but if she isn't coming to you for attention or food I would suggest a vet visit just to be on the safe side.
I hope Clara Bell starts feeling better soon. please keep us updated on your little girl.
I hope Clara Bell starts feeling better soon. please keep us updated on your little girl.
shellyk
New member
I would think it's the heat and humidity. We have a rescue too and it did take awhile for him to feel comfortable enough to start acting up/out. He was nervous with us at first and on his best behavior. Also I wonder if he likes sleeping downstairs if you are upstairs? Our 2 Newfs and Lab sleep on the floor in our bedroom or may move out into the next room and sleep on the family couch. The rescue never moves from the foot or the side of the bed until morning and we are up too.
Brandie&Maggie
New member
I would think it's most likely the heat, but I would call your vet just to be on the safe side. The biggest concern for me is that she isn't coming to you for attention inside.
As far as the heat is concerned, try the following:
1. Use clippers to trim the hair on her belly super short (tunneling) so she has more skin against the cool floor.
2. If she doesn't have a fan, get her one. We have a floor fan on 24/7 year round.
3. Try a cool mat like the Green Petshop one. My Maggie would not use the pool but loved her cool mat.
4. Make sure she is really well groomed so that the undercoat is not too thick and keeping her too warm.
I hope that's all it is! It's quite normal for them to be very lazy in the summer heat, but always wanted attention/greeted me normally.
As far as the heat is concerned, try the following:
1. Use clippers to trim the hair on her belly super short (tunneling) so she has more skin against the cool floor.
2. If she doesn't have a fan, get her one. We have a floor fan on 24/7 year round.
3. Try a cool mat like the Green Petshop one. My Maggie would not use the pool but loved her cool mat.
4. Make sure she is really well groomed so that the undercoat is not too thick and keeping her too warm.
I hope that's all it is! It's quite normal for them to be very lazy in the summer heat, but always wanted attention/greeted me normally.
what did the vet say? I would agree with rescues they take a while to get used to their new humans and are usually pretty quiet at first. It has been a horribly hot summer here in Utah too and ours are content t stay in the basement and our girl hasn't been her normal eating self either. I chalk it up to heat and her cycle of going into heat. Is your Clara Bell spayed?
Thanks everyone! We saw the vet yesterday, and other than a slight ear infection, our vet thinks it is the heat. She has gained a bit of weight since our last visit, so she may not be hungry! I'm ok with that! We do keep her well groomed with the k9-III dryer and her belly is still pretty short from her spay. So we have meds for her ears, and comfort that it is just the heat. We do have a floor fan for her as well. I may look into the cooling mat too!
Brandie&Maggie
New member
Great news!
That sounds like a reasonable explanation. If her ear was bothering her, she may have had a slight fever too. Hopefully she's back to herself very soon.
Bailey Boy
New member
I hope the meds start working and your little girl feels better soon.
My two are not thrilled with the heat this summer either. Taver spends most of his time in front of his fan. Lol a/c plus ceiling fan plus "his personal floor fan". That is unless he's just gotten out of the pool than he wants to cuddle on the couch. Gwena on the other hand is off in the kitchen on the cooler floor.
You might want to look at getting a cooling coat. I have a ruff wear one that works great. Gwena is a very active girl so I have to be pretty creative to make sure she gets enough exercise.
You might want to look at getting a cooling coat. I have a ruff wear one that works great. Gwena is a very active girl so I have to be pretty creative to make sure she gets enough exercise.
Bailey Boy
New member
How is Clara Bell feeling these days? I hope the meds worked for her ear and that she is feeling better and eating better too.
Clara Bell
I took Clara Bell to have her ears re-checked yesterday and they are still infected so we will continue with the antibiotic drops. On advice from the vet, we cut the amount of food we give her and don't offer her treats anymore. Thankfully, that has made her hungry again, so she is no longer skipping her meals! Sadly, three hot spots have popped up this week, so the vet shaved the areas and we are using antibiotic ointment on them. We went from April to August without one, so we were doing well! Thanks for the concern! I heard lavender essential oil can be beneficial to treating hot spots. Does anyone have any information on this?
I took Clara Bell to have her ears re-checked yesterday and they are still infected so we will continue with the antibiotic drops. On advice from the vet, we cut the amount of food we give her and don't offer her treats anymore. Thankfully, that has made her hungry again, so she is no longer skipping her meals! Sadly, three hot spots have popped up this week, so the vet shaved the areas and we are using antibiotic ointment on them. We went from April to August without one, so we were doing well! Thanks for the concern! I heard lavender essential oil can be beneficial to treating hot spots. Does anyone have any information on this?
Bailey Boy
New member
Not sure about the lavender oil, but glad she is eating a little better. We give ours pieces of apple, fresh green beans, pieces of bananas and baby carrots for an extra treat that helps with keeping the weight off too.
I hope the meds work for Clara Bell ears. Is it yeast infection? Poor baby fighting hot spots too with this weather being so hot and humid. Hope she feels better soon.
I hope the meds work for Clara Bell ears. Is it yeast infection? Poor baby fighting hot spots too with this weather being so hot and humid. Hope she feels better soon.
Darwinsnewfie@1855
New member
Ella got two hotspots last month and I got the excellent advice to use the gold bond powder and it worked really well. I also put a cone on her for two weeks, all day every day, to keep her from licking them. She gets ear infections from time to time, so we starting using Epi-
Otic advanced cleaner and Mometamax drops. The combination of the two really keep the ear infections at bay, but the down fall is the cost. The 2 products, without pet insurance, cost about 95.00. With the insurance it's less than 10.00.
Otic advanced cleaner and Mometamax drops. The combination of the two really keep the ear infections at bay, but the down fall is the cost. The 2 products, without pet insurance, cost about 95.00. With the insurance it's less than 10.00.
Brandie&Maggie
New member
If she's having ear issues and hot spots, I highly recommend you look into possible food allergies/intolerances.
Also, you should get the ear cultured to make sure she's on the correct antibiotics.
Sound Bay Newfs
Active member
Good advice!
victoria1140
Active member
We are changing our girls to raw and frozen veg due to yeast problems and I use zymox for their ears