I need help. =[

• 07-18-2008 1:40 AM

  noily Joined on 07-18-2008 Posts 7 Points 25

  I need help. =[ Reply Contact I've had my dog for a long time now. Recently, I've noticed some very strange changes in his behavior. He seems to be distant, and it seems impossible to get him excited anymore. He has been very antisocial, and has been just crawling into small, dark spaces and staying there for hours, and rarely leaves except to eat/drink or go outside to relieve himself. He's older, and I'm starting to get very scared. I was wondering if these are things that dogs do before they die? And if not, then could there be any other explanations? Please help. I'm feeling hopeless.

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• 07-18-2008 1:54 AM

  In reply to noily

  grab01 Joined on 09-10-2007 middle of the desert Posts 855 Points 0	Re: I need help. =[ Reply Contact The first step would be to take him to the vet and have a full checkup done.  Dogs can hide for many reasons..feeling ill, being in pain, etc.
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• 07-18-2008 5:47 AM

  In reply to noily

  janet_rose Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW area, Texas Posts 3,616 Points 330	Re: I need help. =[ Reply Contact Vet now!!  Your dog needs a full senior check up including a full thyroid panel.  He could have something as simple as a toothache, but only a vet can tell you for sure.
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• 07-18-2008 6:27 AM

  In reply to noily

  Bonita of Bwana Joined on 09-13-2007 Posts 1,559 Points 4,410

  Re: I need help. =[ Reply Contact Vet absolutely ..... But in the mean time how about some more details What kind of dog is he???  How big ?? general weight idea .... and is he in shape , fat , lean sudden weight gain or loss??? You have had him a long time, how long? did you get him as a pup? from where? Flea tick heartworm meds ??? Nuetered, altered ?? Have you moved, started a new job, school dumped a boyfriend, wife??? Have you added any new pets or kids to the family?? Are his eyes clear?  Does he have a film on them? Coat....long , short, allergies,  patchy , dry , oily??? Any change in diet? What are you feeding?? Some of these seem kind of simple other seem rather silly but all of them have a real realson behind them that could be affecting your dog's feelings.... If he has developed vision issues the world can become a scary place.  Sudden weight gain or loss is always significant. Diet, think about it  who knew before the Chinese dog food killed so many dogs that entire  lines of normally decent food can be problem ?? If you have changed the environment, moves, away from what he depended on or some one has moved out and you are sad and low all of these things can impact your dog. If you got him as a pup you may have a total picture of what affects him, if not then there may be some history you did not now about that is now surfacing. Give some details and we can kick it around a bit as you are waiting for your vet appointment... Bonita of Bwana Bonita of Bwana AKC Rhodesian Ridgebacks Champions, Therapy Dogs and Awesome Companions

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• 07-18-2008 10:22 AM

  In reply to Bonita of Bwana

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 6,990 Points 1,955

  Re: I need help. =[ Reply Contact I'm going to add "vet NOW" to this -- but I've got a couple more questions:  1.  Did anyone ask what breed(s) he is? 2.  Do you use heartworm prevention -- and what have you given him recently (particularly if you have used a farm-strength type product like Ivomec)? 3.  How long have these symptoms been going on? Please don't just let him keep on like this.  So very often it is completely unnecessary for a dog to just fade away -- all it really takes is some care and input from a vet.

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• 07-19-2008 3:29 AM

  In reply to Bonita of Bwana

  noily Joined on 07-18-2008 Posts 7 Points 25

  Re: I need help. =[ Reply Contact He's a small dog, and he's normal weight. I've had him for a few years now--he wasn't young when I got him, either. He's nuetered, and yes, there were some pretty big changes. We moved in with some family, and they do have cats. The cats do not get along with him, so they're seperated. His vision is starting to go. His eating habits haven't changed at all. He seems to be starting to act normally now. He's cheering up a bit. But I still made an appointment with the vet, just in case there is something seriously wrong. Thanks :)

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• 07-19-2008 4:29 PM

  In reply to noily

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 6,990 Points 1,955

  Re: I need help. =[ Reply Contact As a dog ages, don't just let them crawl in a corner.  If the vision is decreasing and there is a lot of 'traffic' in the house the dog may be hiding literally to stay out of trouble, to stay out of the line of fire, to be "not bothered". That's a lack of stimulation -- not good.  Dogs can get a bit depressed and feel not needed. So in addition to the vet stuff (and that's just the best place to *start*), you might also want to adjust things a bit. Rather than just let him become blind and cut off, teach him tracking.  You can get a book from the library and do a ton on your own.  As the blindness progresses you can use essential oils and common flavorings and mark areas of the house so the dog knows where dangerous things like doorways where there are stairs or an abrupt drop off a deck are (use a shart scent like cinnamon or such -- just make it consistent that THAT flavor/scent always means 'danger' and teach that).  Mark stairs going 'up' with lemon and stairs going 'down' with organge or mint. have one flavor be "play" -- a ball with a drop of peppermint or such  -- you toss it and that dog will FIND that ball by scent if you teach them.  But by putting that little extra time aside to work with your dog -- you may find the dog coming out of its shell again and becoming more confident.  In particular, ask the vet about teeth.  Just such a thing as having a dental done can add years to a dog's life.  Then giving a raw marrow bone a week (a package of 4-6 is usually $2-3 - put them in the freezer and dole them out once a week -- IN THE CRATE or a place where the dog will be perfectly alone with no threats).  They will keep the teeth nice and clean.  Not cooked bone, but a raw bone (cooked bones get brittle).  Freezing kills bacteria. I thought my first dog was getting "old" at like 8- 10 -- and she wound up living to be nearly 21.  She lived nearly all of that time blind!  But she had FUN!!!

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• 08-12-2008 9:00 PM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  jessies_mom Joined on 09-10-2007 Indiana Posts 4,192 Points 40	Re: I need help. =[ Reply Contact  noily; what did the vet say; how's your dog doing? Life isn't about waiting through the storm; it's about learning to dance in the rain. Janice
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