Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.
We have a 10 yr old female mutt. She was about 3 months old when we got her and has always been an indoor dog. Very suddenly over the last week she doesn't want to be in the house. Now she refuses to come in the house. As I am typing this, the 2 of us are sitting in my car, in the driveway. I needed something our of the car and she followed me, jumped in the backseat and refuses to get out. Now that she is in the car she, other than refusing to get out, is acting like her usual happy self. Even when she is in the house her behavior is strange. She follows us around the house now even though her MO is to spend the day under my bed sleeping. She would come out if she needed to pee or wants food/water.
Mostly she follows my youngest (13) daughter around even though she's been a family pet from day one. Her focus has never been on a single family member. Schatzi is an equal opportunity "just love me and pet me" animal. Her disposition has never been anything other than sweet and loveable. We often say she's a person in a dog suit who is very easy to communicate with. She's been staring intently at invisible things as if something/someone is there, wherever "there" happens to be at that particular time. She has also started panting all the time when in the house. Not heavily, just constantly.
Has there been any changes in the normal everyday routines going on in your household or with your family? Many times just small changes can affect normal behavior especially in senior well adjusted dogs. Change can be frightening to them as they cannot understand why it is happening.
I have a Beagle German Pointer (Boingle) who just turned 5 and I've had him since he was 6 weeks old. He's always suffered from anxiety. I have bought everything from calming treats, CBD oil for dogs, and a thunder jacket. But nothing seems to help relieve him or comfort him, not even pets or soothing forms of affection. Although, the thunder jacket and CBD helped for a while, it seems it's recently lost its effect. I really don't want to get him on prescription drugs because of the possible side effects, but I feel this may be the only way to offer him comfort during these episodes.
Recently, his behavior has me extremely worried. Now he's no fan of thunderstorms or rain. On Sunday and Monday, we had bad thunderstorms on both nights. The poor guy was terrified as usual. Shaking, panting, you name it. I gave him some CBD before they started to get bad, a treat, and wrapped him in his thunder jacket and cuddled him. The last two nights (Tuesday and Wednesday) we've had no storms.
His anxiety started again, which is unusual for calm weather. I've kept in mind he may still be traumatized from the storms we had a few days ago, but this is new behavior as he's usually calmed down an hour after the storm has passed.
It's now Thursday and we have rain, but no thunder. I took him outside to go potty before bedtime and he refused to come inside. He paced the yard for an hour in the rain, which he has never been fond of. He was acting very skittish which was a major concern, I'd go to pet him and he'd pull away. I have never yelled at him or physically disciplined him. So this behavior was new as well. I was finally able to get him to come to me, so I sat in the rain with him giving positive praise and pets until he showed me he was ready to come inside with me. He's always willingly slept in the room with me due to separation anxiety. But now, he's not wanting to and I won't pressure him to do so. I want him to feel comfortable and safe.
I am at a loss of what to do. I feel like there's something terribly wrong. Lately his behavior is coming off as he's punishing me, but I'm trying to not take it personally. I am not sure if this info helps, but he's also up to date on all vaccines and shots.
Any advice would be extremely helpful and appreciated!
Wow, this is really hard and I know how concerned you are. You may need to take him to the vet and get some medication for him to help him get through this rough time he is having right now. I am not a fan for medicating an animal but this might be your only option right now. I know the world around us is stressed and when you watch TV and worry about what is happening around you I think your dog is feeling this.
The old medications are not working, he may have some underlying problem that is new. He needs the Vet as soon as you are able. He may need new meds that need time to work in his system. Ask the Vet if there is anything more natural for Boingle with less side effects? He deserves to be secure and comfy. Give a voice to the voiceless!
Have you had the vet check him out? Anxiety is often manifested when the dog is in pain or has an underlying condition. Teeth problems/infection can also be the culprit. Please let me know what the vet says. Prayers for healing.
I don't know ifyou are in quarantine or anything, but I have heard that some dogs' behaviours and personalities have changed after having their owners be home all day. They become more protective and nervous - especially if you have not taken him on many walks because of it. Exercise really helps dogs' psychology.
