Winter is here, so it stands to reason my dog has an interest in staying warm - but he's tripping, friends. He lays right up to the fireplace screen on the hearth, and his body gets so hot, its too hot on my hands to touch his fur, yet he wants to stay there/won't budge. He always gravitates toward heat. When the fireplace isn't lit, he lies over the heat ducts, or in sunshine streaming in the windows. In the summer, he always wants to be in the direct sunshine, even on the scorching pavement or sand, no idea how he stands it. He is a 7 yr old Lab/Husky mix. He's suffered seizures in the last year (not heat stroke or heat-related, though the vet couldn't tell us why he's suddenly epileptic). I know dogs' natural body temps run higher than humans, and that [since] they don't sweat, they can't regulate their temp, but that still doesn't explain this behavior to me - I'm concerned about this as a health issue beyond a quirky behavioral issue wherein he thinks he's a reptile or something.
2007-02-15 06:30:10 · 6 answers · asked by VoodooLady 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Not sure if the two are related, but maybe you could get him checked for thyroid disorder. Low thyroid hormone in dogs (especially labradors are more likely to get hypothyroidism) usually exhibits as heat-seeking, weight gain, chronic skin problems, and other symptoms. My dog is a 10 year old lab, just diagnosed with hypothyroidism two months ago, and has always been looking for ways to stay warm. Maybe you could get his bloodwork checked out. Again, I'm not sure if seizures would be a part of it, most dgos who get seizures have what's called idiopathic epilepsy-- all that means is that there is no known cause.
2007-02-15 06:59:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My wife suffers from migraines that have the same trigger effect as seizures in the brain and after doing research, she learned that just before a migraine her extremities (arms, legs, fingers, toes) and body feels cold and cold to the touch even in 'normal' room temperatures. She takes migraine preventative medications that also work as anti-seizure medications so I believe there is a link between the two.
Your dog may be definitely trying to prevent a seizure or fearing a seizure every time he feels cold. It may be no coincidence.
You can invest in sweaters and shirts (old navy has neat styles) that will make him feel better.
Good Luck.
2007-02-15 06:39:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wish I culd explain this to you,but I'm no vet. My 5 month old puppy, Asher, gravitates towards the heat. He's a white boxer(=D). He's never had siezures, or anything other than kennel cough and a light ear infection (that we've known of), so it's probably just the cold. He enjoys anything warm, and even if he has to walk across burning coals to feel warm, he'll do it. I would think it's not related to his epilepsy. I hope you find what your looking for, though!
2007-02-15 06:38:26 · answer #3 · answered by Lexi R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of my dogs had seizures and we took him off corn and wheat. You need to get him to a vet to see if he needs phenobarbatol..NOT DILATIN, it causes liver damage. DO not let this go very long seizures are like mini-strokes in the brain. Sounds like u need a better vet, if he is cold all the time something is not right at all.
2007-02-15 06:38:39 · answer #4 · answered by rubystandingdeer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your dog may be definitely trying to prevent a seizure or fearing a seizure every time he feels cold
2007-02-20 10:46:54 · answer #5 · answered by jerry 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get to the vet know
2007-02-20 10:41:17 · answer #6 · answered by chris b 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋