Yorkie is behaving VERY strangely

[DaniMarie]

My sweet Poppy will be 3 in two weeks.

She has started two very strange habits in the past several days.

First was the barking. She yips at me constantly. It doesn't sound like a sick or hurt yipping, it sounds more like she wants attention CONSTANTLY. The past three nights when she wakes up, she wants me to wake up and starts yipping until I physically get up and give her attention. This is scaring me into thinking maybe something's wrong, while my family says I am just spoiling her. I can't be on the phone without her crawling on top of me and barking, which isn't new just highly magnified.


The second thing I've noticed is she is licking her nose a lot. I've looked at her nose and it's not scratched or hurt in any way so I read up on the subject and the only thing I could find is that it's a possible doggie OCD symptom.

I can't imagine after nearly 3 years this would all suddenly started without having it mean something.


I really hope it's not something psychological, but I more-so hope it's nothing physical, which it doesn't seem to be.

Does anyone have any ideas on what is causing this?

[MY OSCAR]

I am sorry i have no idea
maybe a good idea to speak to your vet about this..

[maggiefromnj]

What has changed? New people? new schedule? Are you busier that before or playing with her less? I also think that the spring brings more energy to all of us with the warmer, longer days and maybe she is just wanting to play more....

I suppose you should get her checked and once you are comfortable that she is ok you will have to train her to stop this. Does she sleep with you or in a crate. If she has a crate, just move it where you won't hear her yips all night. As long as she is healthy you need to ignore her nighttime antics or they won't stop. Sort of like some people need to do to get their kids to sleep through the night.

My sister has a baby. SHe slept in a playpen for me and her babysitter, but she doesn't sleep there for my sis. The baby knows that mom will let her sleep with her if she whines. dogs and babies! same thing!

[shelimcallister]

Originally Posted by maggiefromnj

What has changed? New people? new schedule? Are you busier that before or playing with her less? I also think that the spring brings more energy to all of us with the warmer, longer days and maybe she is just wanting to play more....

I suppose you should get her checked and once you are comfortable that she is ok you will have to train her to stop this. Does she sleep with you or in a crate. If she has a crate, just move it where you won't hear her yips all night. As long as she is healthy you need to ignore her nighttime antics or they won't stop. Sort of like some people need to do to get their kids to sleep through the night.

My sister has a baby. SHe slept in a playpen for me and her babysitter, but she doesn't sleep there for my sis. The baby knows that mom will let her sleep with her if she whines. dogs and babies! same thing!

[gracielove]

Something is bothering her for sure. Your going to have to be a detective and try to trace the behavior back to some change or event in her little life. Dogs may become obsessive about things but there has to be a reason for it.

[Lovetodream88]

If this is a new I would definitely speak to the the vet and rule out anything health wise.

[lillymae]

Air licking and/or nose licking can be a sign of indigestion. Does her nose run or drip at all & what about her eyes, do they run ? as this can also be a symptom of allergies.

[ralphthepoodle]

I would bring her in to your vet and he can ask you the right questions to help you get to the bottom of it. When Ralph acted like that, like wanting my attention 24/7 my vet said it was because he wanted to bond with me, like play with me like he did when he was with his brothers. So he suggested i take him on walks, go to the dog parks, and spend an hours just playing with him. So i do that and Ralph doesnt act as clingy. I could be wrong, so I would go to the vet just to be safe.

[DaniMarie]

Thank you so much guys.

New developments:

In the middle of the night I noticed her chewing her back legs, so I took a look and I am with this dog 24/7, so I notice EVERYTHING with her...but in a matter of a day she chewed off most of the hair near her bottom to down her back legs.

I called the vet and no one was in the office so I got an on call number to call. That vet tech said it sounded like allergies. Has anyone ever heard of allergies springing up this late? She's 3!

So needless to say, I'm freaking out and so worried she's suffering. The vet tech suggested I get some children's benadryl and told me the measurements to give her with the dropper until she can get in to see the vet which won't be all week!!! (vacation)


I am waiting for my stepdad to come here because he has experience with his father's dog having allergies (yes I've made this an all out family affair beginning at 5am) and we're going to try the benadryl and assess if she needs anything else.

The tech said the benadryl should calm down the itching and if I don't see any pests and she's been treated for fleas within the month (both the case) then it's not an emergency and the vet will assess if it's environmental or something that may be present in her food.



Please please please tell me someone else has experience with this!!!! I cannot afford the emergency vet, she runs me 500+ every single time we go there but waiting a week seems torturous. I may try to see if she can get in tomorrow or Friday with my aunt's vet if it seems that serious, I've just NEVER seen anything wrong with my little baby besides when she was a puppy and going through all the normal puppy things.


Edited to add symptoms: Whining, excessive yipping, licking her nose (it was mentioned she's probably itchy everywhere), licking and gnawing at her back legs and near the base of her tail. I was asked if she's been licking her paws and she has, but she's always done this. Arghhhh!! My poor baby
!!!!!

[maggiefromnj]

I think it could also be some emotional thing, or maybe a response to pain. Allergies is also possible as it's a horrible allergy season. People develop allergies at all age so I think dogs could also. I'd just take her to whatever vet can see her. A new patient visit might be a few bucks more, but it's peace of mind and that is worth it. I probably wouldn't spend the $ for the ER vet either as it doesn't seem life threatening and you never know what bills lie ahead for this or some other emergency. Try to see a dif vet, and keep an eye on her for other symptoms.

[gracielove]

I don't think you should have to pay for an emergency visit but the dog needs to be evaluated by a good vet. Giving Benadryl will relieve some symptoms but the root cause needs to be found. Just treating an allergy without finding the source is not good medicine. Some dogs do chew if they are very bored but since the dog is with you all the time it doesn't seem like that would be the case unless he is not getting enough exercise and mental stimulation. Has he had a recent bath? Did you change shampoos? Change in diet? If he was fine before and now is having these symptoms then something has changed. Hope you and your vet can figure it out.

[OwnedByJezebel]

I would try to save some money by skipping the regular vet and try to go straight to a dermatologist.

[KimInMD]

When my Lucy yips and licks, she's hungry, and wants extra food. Lola chews if a flea or chigger bites her. She's allergic to them. No, she doesn't have fleas, and we use flea repellant every month. The repellant kills them, but that doesn't mean that they don't still bite before they die. If bitten, she will itch for about 3 days. Hope you find your answer soon.