View Full Version : OT -- can you help with ideas for my dog???
Tussiemussies
1-7-13, 4:34pm
Having behavioral issues with my dog. A little background. She is 15, doesn't like to play ay all most likely due to her age, will not play with any toys or socks, tug of war or chew any types of bones. She in the last 2 months has started pacing almost all day long, unless she is asleep. She paces the whole length of the house unless she is sleeping. She does sleep a lot but I think it is because she is older.
She use to like to look out the window but since we have moved she has given up that too. She is either pacing or sleeping. Also before we moved she would cuddle up in the nook of my DH 's leg for the evening and now just lays in the bed when she lays down. She lost all interest in going for a walk but in our new place she showed some interest but she is aggressive with other dogs and there are many here off the leash. We have always been ultra careful about her not meeting up with other dogs. She absolutely hates going in the car and she becomes a real nervous wreak. So going to a park is out of the question. Due to her age I don't her to be stressed out at all.
We did take her to the vet. And she said it is age. She shows no sign of dementia or senility in any other way and is smart.
The only thing she still likes is when I put a treat in an empty box and she has to rip it apart to get to it.
Does anyone have some constructive ideas? If not please don't post them.
It really bothers me to see her like this.
One other thing, DH and I have to sleep apart since he is on a noisy CPap machine. She has very, very mild arthritis so he put his bed on the floor and I used to have my bed on the floor. I put it up on the frame since it was really hard to sleep with her believe it or not, she used to hog the whole bed.
I hope some of you very creative thinkers can see some solutions I have missed.
PS. Because of her age she is completely deaf, otherwise she is in fantastic shape...
Thank you! Christine
I would ask the vet if you could try a pain killer for her to see what her reaction is. We had to give one to one of our cats due to bone cancer and it was amazing what it did. We did not know how much pain he was in from arthritis and it gave him some wonderful extra time. It was easy to give since it was absorbed by the gums.
Would she work on a Kong treat hiding toy? You put treats in them and she has to "play" with it to get the treats to come out.
Do you think the move caused her stress? Even if she's not senile, I know older adults can get confused with there's a change in the environment, and maybe the same is true for dogs--they are usually very sensitive to their surroundings.
Sometimes I wish dogs could talk. Our dog has been acting wacky lately--only at night, scratching and scratching and whining to go out but she never has to go to the bathroom. If we let her out, off-leash which we typically can do with her, she'll just take off or just sit in the dark by herself and won't come in for anything. I've told DH that I think she's either a witch or a werewolf.
How long as your dog lived in the house? 1-2 months?
Gardenarian
1-7-13, 6:02pm
It sounds like lack of exercise. My dog is not good with other dogs (think Cujo) and I walk a lot in the evening with him when no one else is around. I've also found a couple trails that are lightly used (as long as I don't go early morning or lunch time or right after work - those are the dog-walking rush hours.) 9-11am, 2-4pm, and after 7pm are the best times for us.
Good luck with your little sweetie!
I know that you took her to the vet, but I am wondering if she might have a minor urinary infection or inflammation. Our dog was 18, had some hearing loss and was restless almost all the time that he was not sleeping. Walks were impossible because he could not hear well and by the time he saw another dog it startled him. My vet did do a urinalysis, which came back fine, but I insisted on another one and the result indicated an infection. Just a thought.
For Sam, after the infection was treated, he was a bit calmer, but I think that the reduction in his senses, along with some arthritic pain, caused him to be somewhat unsettled.
To have a pet be in such distress is terrible and I hope you find something to help her.
Does she walk in circles at all?
I think she is probably stressed from the move, and at her age it will take a little more time for her to settle in.
Just give her lots of reassuring pets, and make her life as comfortable and happy as possible.... I think she's probably stressed trying to find a new normal in her new home.
If it gets too worrisome, if I were you I would get a second opinion from another vet.
Please keep us updated, Christine.
I'd start with pain killers as it's unlikely at that age that she doesn't have some degree of arthritis. I'm surprised the vet didn't suggest that. And I know you say she doesn't have signs of dementia, but pacing is a pretty classic sign. We usually call it Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) in pets. And there are a few medications (non-pain killers) that can definitely help. I don't want to give any more specifics, as that gets too close to the diagnosing/prescribing that only vets are allowed to do, and nobody in the profession is supposed to be doing over the internet. So definitely another vet visit is in order.
My dog paced a lot in her last year or two; I thought it was CDS but she actually had a brain lesion, which explained the neurological symptom of circling later on. Is your dog getting stuck behind furniture? Or forgets to relieve herself when she goes out?
Bach's Rescue Remedy is an easy thing to add to her water--it helps with stress and anxiety. Since you live near me, if you're open minded I can give you the name of an animal communicator so you can find out exactly what your dog is feeling. I've used one (not her) for many years and she's helped me with all of my animals.
rodeosweetheart
1-8-13, 6:06am
[QUOTE=pony mom;123012]My dog paced a lot in her last year or two; I thought it was CDS but she actually had a brain lesion, which explained the neurological symptom of circling later on. Is your dog getting stuck behind furniture? Or forgets to relieve herself when she goes out?
Ditto to this--our dog was circling and it was a sign of Demylenating (?) disease, which vet said is like doggie MS--a neurological sign of the brain lesions. He was 14 and also had CDS, according to vet. He actually could not really circle at the end and would stumble veer--balance issues very off. His personality changed where he did not play, could not find his way around, did not recognize my son when he came home to visit--it was a horrible and sad end.
Sorry, did not mean to be a bummer, but the circling reminded me. 15 is old age for a doggie; so sorry about your baby, and the kong with something in it sounds like a good idea, as well as all the boxes she wants.
I might go to another vet because there are all quality of vet out there. Be very clear about what your expectations are regarding treatment. Casual comments about "it is just old age" are pretty lazy whether a vet or a human doctor. Yes, we all get old but the symptoms should be discussed along with the potential causes and solutions and letting you know what to look for and a plan. Now the plan may be simple at first with graduated steps but at least you leave with a plan.
At least that is what my vet does. One time I got the whole lecture about the life cycle of the flea and when one cat got bone cancer, we discussed the treatment of symptoms and what could happen all along.
Tussiemussies
1-8-13, 11:37am
thank you to everyone who posted here, I really appreciate the support and ideas the you all have come up with. She doesn't pace in circles just from one end of the house to the other, her other behavior is somewhat the same except she used to bark at visitors for about a few minutes, the last visitors we had her hair stood up on the back of her neck, so she had to go to the bedroom while they were here. I think another visit to the Dr. is in order to see about this disease some of you have mentioned, which I had no clue about. Her breed can live into her early twenties so I don't think it is the age. Pony Mom I am going to give her the rescue remedy, she will take it in her mouth I will try for under the tongue. When I have the funds I would like to try the animal communicator, which I believe in.
We already have her on homeopathic therapy for arthritis and vitamin therapy for it too, it has worked wonders, she can still jump up on the couch, stand up on her back legs with her front legs supported. All signs she had of the arthritis are gone except she cannot jump as high as a bed that is on a frame.
The homeopathic includes remedy for pain, I don't think she is in pain, or she would't be able to pace like she does. It is all day long so if her hips were bothering her I don't think she could pace all day long as she does. I will also have her checked again for a urinary tract infection although when she gets them she is red in the area and bleeds, so that is not happening, but just to be sure I will do it.
I really hope it is not the disease rodeosweetheart that is SO sad that you had to see your dog like that, it must have been heartbreaking. So very sorry.
She is not forgetting to relieve herself or getting stuck behind furniture, she doesn't go behind furniture, it is just the pacing from one end of the house to the other.
She is stressed from the move, but the pacing started before we started packing or move.
Thank you all ever so much for your help. I will implement a lot of your ideas!
When using the Rescue Remedy, it may be more effective to just put a few drops of the remedy in her water a few times a day. If doing it directly in her mouth, you must make a treatment bottle, which is I think 4 drops in spring water in a dropper bottle. it contains a small amount of alcohol and may be too much for a dog to eat straight.
Crazy question, but is there any chance of some low voltage electricity leaking in your new house? Only asking because on a horse forum I belong to, a horse suddenly started circling and pacing in her stall; one of the suggestions was to check for this. Even though this started before you moved, maybe anxiety started it but something else is causing it to continue.
At the start of my dog's problems, she would get out of her crate, walk out of my bedroom, into the living room, turn around, go back into her crate, and repeat it, over and over again. Has your dog ever had an episode of Vestibular Disease?
Maybe your home needs an exorcism!
Tussiemussies
1-10-13, 1:06pm
Kestral, thank you ever so much for mentioning CDS, she has mostly all of the symptoms about 85 percent of them. We just didn't realized that all these behaviors all together combined into one disease. She is going to the vet this Sat. Morning where we have decided we will be willing to put her on medication. We discussed it all.
Hi pony mom, we gave her the rescue remedy. She still paced for most of the day but not as intensely, thank you for suggesting that.
I can't that you all enough you really helped me out and I think on meds my dog can live somewhat of a normal life again....
Christine
A holistic pet forum I lurk just had a question about this. Several people recommended Melatonin for the pacing, especially at night.
Tussiemussies
1-11-13, 12:43pm
Hi pony mom, that is a great suggestion. She doesn't pace at night, just during the day though. Her pacing isn't as fast since we have been giving her the rescue remedy. We'll see what the conventional vet says tomorrow.
Thanks pony Mom for your help! :)
Tussiemussies
1-12-13, 1:28pm
Thank you again, our dog just got back from her vet visit and they did diagnose her with CDS. I had never heard of this before so I am so glad you all helped me. There were more symptoms that she has that I didn't realize were related to the disease after reading up on the Internet that I found out about.
When she waited in the waiting room she didn't even growl at not one dog and they waited for an hour. This is most definitely not her.
Since they waited so long and it was more talking than an exam it was only $31.00 for the visit which is unheard of with her vet. I feel though that both vets there are exceptional so I pay the price.
They did say after looking over the chart the she is in fantastic physical health!!! This will not effect her longevity!
Thank you again. So grateful! Christine
I'm glad you know what is causing this. There is a Yahoo! group for dogs with this, which I belonged to when I suspected my Gemma having it.
As the disease progresses, it gets very depressing (not to upset you or anything, but just be forwarned). There are times when they lose their spark, and other times when they're fine. Eventually the bad days will outnumber the good. Sometimes they forget to eat, or even how to eat. Being alone can be dangerous because they can get stuck under or behind furniture. They can become fearful of unusual things, or at times aggressive for no reason. It can be heartbreaking to watch.
I hope you can delay this with early diagnosis and treatment.
Tussiemussies
1-12-13, 10:28pm
I'm glad you know what is causing this. There is a Yahoo! group for dogs with this, which I belonged to when I suspected my Gemma having it.
As the disease progresses, it gets very depressing (not to upset you or anything, but just be forwarned). There are times when they lose their spark, and other times when they're fine. Eventually the bad days will outnumber the good. Sometimes they forget to eat, or even how to eat. Being alone can be dangerous because they can get stuck under or behind furniture. They can become fearful of unusual things, or at times aggressive for no reason. It can be heartbreaking to watch.
I hope you can delay this with early diagnosis and treatment.
Thank you pony mom for letting me know what to expect., I am also going to put her on vitamin therapy to support her brain. I hope she never gets to those last stages, it must be horrible....she will be going on one med too....so hopefully it will delay those last stages...
Thanks for letting me know about the yahoo group....
Christine
Tussiemussies
1-12-13, 11:12pm
Sorry pony mom if your Genna did have this. It must have been heartbreaking.....
I thought Gemma had this but it was a neurological issue that was causing her pacing/circling. I read about CCDS when I thought she had it.
There's a supplement called Phosphatidylserine/Choline that is supposed to help. I tried it but of course, it didn't help because she didn't have CCDS but it has helped others.
Tussiemussies
1-13-13, 8:37pm
I thought Gemma had this but it was a neurological issue that was causing her pacing/circling. I read about CCDS when I thought she had it.
There's a supplement called Phosphatidylserine/Choline that is supposed to help. I tried it but of course, it didn't help because she didn't have CCDS but it has helped others.
Sorry to hear that Gemma had a neuro problem, it's so hard to see our " babies" get sick.
Thank you for telling me about this, I am going to look this up on the Internet.
We are going to do vitamin therapy to support all aspects of the brain and put her on the drug they recommended. I still have to a little more research on the drug though.
Thanks pony mom for all your help. You have been so sweet!
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