Concerned about behavior...what should I do?

[Deadbug]

The next time she's laying in her bed out of context (ie: apparent depression - not a well needed nap), grab a childrens book, park your butt on the floor next to her and read to her in a happy, excited voice like she's your child. See how she reacts.

Animals can read you. They can sense your energy and vibes. You've been stressed over the wedding and she had to forgo her usual attention. She probably feels a bit pushed aside and confused as to why YOUR behavior changed suddenly. Now she's sensing your stress again but doesn't understand it's you worrying about her. Show her you're still the same person and still love her just as much.

[Roxiesmama]

Ok, back from the vet. Here's the low-down:

1.) Doctor did a very thorough check of Roxie's knees, hips, and back. He said it didn't appear that it was her LP acting up, but that it may be something else causing her join or muscular pain.

2.) He took a large blood sample. He is going to check for Lyme (even though she was vaccinated) and other tick-born illnesses.

3.) He's also going to check for kidney function if the other tests don't come up with anything. It may require us having to get a urine sample from her at some point...which I have no idea how we would do that.

For now he gave us Metacam (an NSAID) to give her once a day to see if it helps her in any way. If it helps, then it may also help us find some answers.

I have to say, Roxie was so good at the vet. She was poked, prodded, pressed, and plied in all sorts of ways, and she didn't make a peep.

[msyorktown]

Originally Posted by Roxiesmama

Ok, back from the vet. Here's the low-down:

1.) Doctor did a very thorough check of Roxie's knees, hips, and back. He said it didn't appear that it was her LP acting up, but that it may be something else causing her join or muscular pain.

2.) He took a large blood sample. He is going to check for Lyme (even though she was vaccinated) and other tick-born illnesses.

3.) He's also going to check for kidney function if the other tests don't come up with anything. It may require us having to get a urine sample from her at some point...which I have no idea how we would do that.

For now he gave us Metacam (an NSAID) to give her once a day to see if it helps her in any way. If it helps, then it may also help us find some answers.

I have to say, Roxie was so good at the vet. She was poked, prodded, pressed, and plied in all sorts of ways, and she didn't make a peep.

So sorry you are going thru this..I hope and pray all is well and Roxie is back to her normal self soon.

[shelimcallister]

Glad to hear her behavior was good at the vet. She is such a cutie!!

[Yorkiemom1]

Unfortunately, with the type of symptoms /behavior you are seeing in him, there is nothing definitive, so it is going to be an expense to get this pin pointed. It could be anything from him being very angry at you for "abandoning" him, to something physical/neurological. That is a very long range of things, so dont freak out! Someone could have hurt his feelings where you boarded him....perhaps even been mean to him.... If "regular lab work comes back normal, then you may have to go deeper with lab work...hormones, thyroid panels, etc. Batten down the hatches for spending some $$$ to get this diagnosed.

[rubymoon2072]

i hope roxy is doing better. =*(())

[Teegy]

There are always EDS and auricular assessment if nothing shows from mainstream testing

[TeakasMom]

Originally Posted by Roxiesmama

Roxie has been acting very strangely for about the past 8 weeks or so, and we're really unsure what to do.

DH and I just got married in April. The few weeks leading up the wedding were insane, and we actually weren't home much. I thought maybe her behavior would return to normal once the wedding craziness was over, however, it has only continued to get more unusual.

1. Roxie is usually very playful, but she has not been lately. She used to love playing tug and fetch. She doesn't do either anymore. She spends a lot of time sleeping in her bed. Most times if you try to pet her while she's in bed she will attempt to bite you.

2. It has always been very difficult to get her to go out for a walk with me, because she always prefers my DH to take her out. Now she even gives him a hard time. Bribing her with treats doesn't even work.

3. When we do finally get her outside she pulls...A LOT. She never seems to want to go in the direction we want to go, or she stops dead still in the middle of the road and refuses to budge. Sometimes she just lays down on the spot.

4. The most noticeable difference is that the past few days she hasn't even wanted to sit with us on the couch. Usually when one of us sits on the couch, she immediately comes right over and jumps up to sit on, or next to, us. She just loves the big fleece blanket, but even that hasn't enticed her lately.

*She is eating and pottying normally.

If we call the vet they will just tell us to bring her in, but without concrete physical symptoms, I don't know what they could possibly suggest. The last time she had behavior changes, all they did was run a blood test and tell us they didn't see anything externally wrong. It cost quite a bit of $$ to get no answers.

I'm sorry this is so long, but DH and I are both very worried.

Honestly, I think shes mad at you guys. Think about it. She doesn't want to play with you, and she almost bites you when you try to move her. If someone put me in a cage for 4 days I wouldn't want to play with them either.

She doesn't want to go outside for walks, again you brought her to a kennel. Whats to say you aren't going to do it again?

Okay, so finally you got her walking. Great. Now shes going the opposite direction. Running away from the kennel... in the opposite direction. Smart girl!

She doesn't want to sit with you. Shes mad. When I'm mad I don't want to be with the people who are making me mad.

I think its the whole fact that she was in a kennel. I don't think its anything phyiscally wrong with her. Maybe shes depressed. Make things fun for her again. I think you might need to gain her trust back.

Oh and don't worry about a brain tumor. My cat had one and Roxie doesn't have any of the symptoms.

BTW, Roxie looks so much like my Teaka. Adorable!

[Teegy]

Teakas I agree with you, which is why I suggest a holistic approach if she is stressed about it and the stress gets greater then it could affect her health at that point but I think it's important to recognize that she is mad and remedy the situation and I bet she'll go back to normal.
I don't want you to get all worried with mentions of tumours and drastic illnesses

[Roxiesmama]

Vet's office called to say no Lyme or tick-born illnesses in the blood work. He said to keep her on the NSAID for a few days and observe her behavior for any changes (good or bad).

Normally I would agree with you about the kennel, except that it wouldn't really explain why her behavior changed the few weeks before the kennel. It's also been a month since the kennel, and we have been showing her the same love and attention we always have since then. It also wouldn't explain why she has been having difficulty going up and down the stairs...limping or hopping on one rear leg at times.

[maggiefromnj]

Boy, my reading comprehension is way down! I missed that she was showing problems with her leg..was that before of after the kennel?

I also thought all this started during the hectic week or 2 before the wedding and the kennel immediately following.

If I have all that correct then it is likely not the kennel.

[Roxiesmama]

Ha! I went back and read my original post and I did not, in fact, mention the problem with her legs! Sorry!

DH had figured that since she didn't want to go out for walks, or come back in that maybe she was fretting navigating the front stairs. When we watched her we noticed that she was sort of hopping up the stairs with one leg up. He also thought she didn't want to play because it hurt too much to run after the toys.

She is slowly getting back to herself. She was very playful last night, and she did come up on the couch to sit on me for a bit. She does hesitate before jumping up...she sort of rears back 3 or 4 times before actually jumping...like she's preparing herself. She never used to do that, which again might indicate back or leg pain.

[gemy]

Next time get a video of her movement. That might be helpful for the vet to see. If this persists, say after one week of the NSAIDS, ie the limping/hopping, then I'd look at going to an osteopaedic vet.

Does she like the water, because a kiddy's pool is a great way to exercise a pup with sore joints. Even the bathtub can be used.

[crystalsmom]

The thing that struck me most was when you said she tried to bite you, I immediately thought pain, dogs with emotional problems can change a bit and take awhile to get back to normal but never knew one that would bite that had not before.

I hope your vet can get to the bottom of this, it's so hard for these little dears that cannot talk.

[Roxiesmama]

Ugh, now she's thrown up her breakfast two mornings in a row. I assume this may be a side effect of the medicine. We will call the vet's office when it opens, just to make sure.