I need a break. XD
Now I'm worried about Kermit. The last three days he's been hand-shy. I was doing some tricks (which he loves) and during the twirl he squeaked like I'd hit him and ran away. When I called him, he slunk over and hid behind me, giving lots of submissive behaviors. Another time we were doing some food tosses and when my hand went near his face he cringed and ran again. As of the third day of this, if I get food and act like we're going to train, he starts offering submissive behaviors and wants to both hide from me and be comforted by me.
So! Very out of character and concerning! This dog is not hand shy. He loves training.
I checked his eyes and his pupils seem normal. He's acting like he can see normally, no squinting. No sensitivity to light that I've noticed. He has a little growth on his eyelid, but that shouldn't cause this behavior, I don't think. He has an uncle who had Sudden Retinal Degeneration, but he didn't act like Kermit did when he went blind.
Ears seem normal. Neither stinks or is particularly waxy, so I don't think he has an infection.
I palpated his spine and had a real hard time of it because he keeps trying to roll submissively onto his back. I didn't see any flinching or squinting or trembling. He passes the knuckle test and can run and jump and navigate my stairs like normal. No gait or stance changes.
The only other clue I have is a couple times in the past week or so I've been petting or skooshing him the way he likes and he yelps like I hurt him. First time was around his left ear, which is why I thought ear infection. Second time was around his left shoulder.
My vet is closed now but I think I'll call on Monday and maybe request x-rays.
