Breaking my heart

[kelley]

Wow! She is beautiful!

Something doesn't add up here. I am glad you are not putting her to sleep-that would have to be an absolute last resort. I am glad that you are seeing a vet-behaviorist!

You are doing SUCH a great job-everything you possibly can.

It does sound like something in the house is scaring her...you don't have any other pets, do you? I would pay attention to what is happening when this happens-is anything ALWAYS around when this happens-is there something always present when she does this?

[txshopper73]

If your vet isn't giving you the answers you desperately need, it's time to find a new one. There are medications out there that you can put her on to calm her disposition. It is a shame that she has taken over your home. I hope that you can come up with the right decision to make for your sake and hers. Keep us updated.

[YorkieSue]

Small update before I leave for upstate for the vet-behaviorist with Dixie. I kept her tethered (15-20 ft so not a real restriction for her) all last nite and this morning and kept her OUT OF ALL HIDING SPACES INCLUDING HER OWN CRATE. She seems almost normal this morning. Perhaps the tether has calmed her or put some controls on her that she needed. Perhaps the one loose fly (laugh if you will or must) in the house has terrified this already hyper, nervous and borderline personality YOrkie??? I simply do not know. But, as sad as it is to have to keep her on a lead (this is more for me than her--so I can get her when I need her, like for this appointment!!) it SEEMS to have helped just a little. She even let me groom her a bit this morning--I got very emotional cause I saw little dribs and drabs of the dog I knew just last week. But I am very nervous around her now; I guess being bitten to the point of needing antibiotics will do that. Now I have the Car struggle where she totally loses it there too. Nothing, but nothing has been easy since I picked her up at three months. What in hell did this breeder do to her?? What has made this gorgeous little girl so darned fearful? Rhetorical folks...I'll come back later and let you what this vet-behaviorist has suggested. OMG do I ever want and need her suggestions. I don't care what it takes, I will do my utmost, for as long as it takes to help Dixie. I am sure there is a point at which I would probably throw in the towel but I don't think we are anywhere near that point right now--I hope, I hope. Thanks for everyone's support--truly I have needed it and will continue to need it. YorkieSue

[Ponyup]

I had some thoughts. They might not be feasible in dogs i don't know, but worth checking out. It might be an allergy. I knew a kid that was allergic to everything and his allergic reaction was that his brain would swell and he would act irratically such as banging his head against a wall. So i would try and think if you've changed anything in last couple days; soap, detergent, perfume, had your carpets cleaned, anything. I would think she might be in pain, but if that was so why would she calm down when you take her outside. Another thing is maybe something is making a noise that you can't hear that's bothering her. Computers & T.V.'s can make very highpitched noises that usually go unnoticed by people because of the high frequency. I can hear some of these my hearing is very sensitive and it can be irratating and might be painful to your dog. Just some thoughts. Good luck. I'm sure you'll figure it out and it's obvious you love her very much.

[feminvstr]

Originally Posted by YorkieSue

I chose Dixie over a relationship if that tells you how much I love her and how much this is breaking my heart and spirit.

did you recently break up from a relationship?? was she close to this man?? was she afraid of him?

Sounds like either she has recently been abused or was abused/abandoned before you got her... could that be possible??

[JUDY's2yorkies]

I had the exact thing happen to my yorkie "Sassy Sissy", it took the vet 3 months to figure out what was wrong, she was having somekind of seasure,after he put her on phenabarbitol she settled down,became the same wonderful dog she had been, nothing really showed up on tests that he did,he just came up with the idea to try and it worked

[vainchick5]

This just breaks my heart. I can't imagine how you feel. But just be strong. You will get there. All of your hard work and perserverance (sp?) will pay off soon hopefully. Just by the way you're talking, I know Dixie has a sweet angel in her somewhere that is irking to come back. I know religion is a controversial subject, but I would pray about it. I have been, as most people know here on YT, in the worst of situations lately and prayers and signs from above is what has kept me afloat. The prayers keep me hoping for a new day, a better day. I will say a prayer for you and Dixie, that you find a solution and have your best friend back.

[Flakes]

I don't know who your vet is but I'd fire him/her instantly if it were me. If you've had this dog for three years and she has been fine throughout that period then the problem is NOT behavioural. It is quite possible that the dog has something going on it it's head, ie tumor. I speak from experience. I had Missy Munch from a pup and at age 10 she woke up one morning a completely different dog. If I walked by her she attacked me and anything else in sight including my other dogs. I immediately took her to the vet. My vet has years of experience with yorkies. We did xrays and discovered a substantial tumor in her brain. Sadly of course we had to put her down as it would not have been fair to allow her to continue in such misery.

Further it is possible that she may have had a small stroke which you didn't see and it could have done brain damage.

Get her to competent vet ASAP. In the meantime just let her be. If you can get her into a crate or exercise pen put her in there, make her as comfortable as you can and just leave her alone until you can get her some help.

Good luck.

[JCarlson2004]

This is just the saddest thing. I'm so sorry for you and poor little Dixie. I hope she starts to feel better very soon.

[YorkieSue]

I cannot tell ALL OF YOU how important this site, that I never participated in at all, has been to me in my 'Dixie Cup" crisis. Is this what is known as 'blogging?":-) Anyway, I am still not sure how to respond to everyone who has written as I am a little confused about getting around this site but I will assume that all of you will see this as you did my first plea for support.

I have now seen the vet (bloodwork and a complete physical) and the VET-behaviorist (not many of these around for sure as they are usually one or the other) and we are ruling out. BUT, AND IT'S A HAPPY "BUT', yesterday morning Dixie, for reasons known only to her and God, started to look at me again, come toward me, allow me to harness her and take it off and even allowed me to brush her a bit. Of course, I cried. Then I took her to the vet-behaviorist which wasn't easy either since Dixie in the car is and always has been hysterical, frightened and difficult. This is another whole issue and God, does Dixie has 'issues'. Dixie is my fourth Yorkie and I have NEVER, EVER had one this difficult or beautiful either. I meant to tell all of you that a while back when I found this site, I posted four photos of her and I think it is worth going there and seeing this beauty who is breaking my heart.

Anyway, the Behaviorist is just about POSITIVE that Dixie, last Thursday, when she suddenly went lame, which began this entire Cujo routine, must have been stung by SOMETHING that hurt her (Keep in mind that Dixie is extremely fragile emotionally and will lash out with those teeth at almost anything that personally intimidates her). AND THEN, when I brought Dixie into the house to try and look at that paw she was terrified and DID NOT WANT TO BE TOUCHED and well, she bit me. From that moment on, she flipped out and started hiding under furniture in what the behaviorist said was total fear and mistrust of this house and me. This is why when I got her out the door, she was much better. Of course, this is all guesswork but a lot of it made sense.

Anyway, I walked on eggs all day yesterday with Dixie and never took her off her lead IN THE HOUSE. Dr. Lindell thought this was a totally excellent idea and even before I saw her I noticed that Dixie was calming down a bit if only because the tether was keeping her from getting under things and turning into Cujo. The behaviorist suggested targeting and keeping a pillow in each room where she hides with a treat on them to lure her out but to NEVER, EVER go AFTER HER. Those were her two main suggestions:targeting as a game in each room to get Dixie comfy again IN HER OWN HOME and providing a lure (not me calling her or pushing her) that she could take or leave at her leisure as I LEAVE HER ALONE.

She felt certain that these past four days were episodic (esp since she saw Dixie's sweet personality at the facility--and please understand that DIXIE IS SWEET, FUNNY, ADORABLE, BRILLIANT but kinda shaky in the emotional dept which I have always known) and that Dixie, with the tether (this truly was the key if you ask me), treats, ignorning and calmness would 'come out of it'. And right now, I am afraid to breathe cause my little girl, this morning, is off her tether, has allowed me to brush her and is back at her windows making a general pain of herself by barking.

I never thought I would see the day when her barking would thrill me but OMG, Dixie seems to be back!!!! I could see that she was coming out of it BEFORE I took her for that $250 appt with the vet-behaviorist but still, she gave me some good ideas and will now be a 'free' consult for three months. This is included in her initial fee.

Anyway, whatever happened to this little beauty seems to be waning now and as time passes, Dixie seems to be forgettting what hurt and so frightened her. My God, what an ordeal this has been. And, I am not holding my breath that this will last but from what I am seeing now, I think it will until the next time she is terrified or hurt. She MUST HAVE BEEN STUNG BY SOMETHING OR STEPPED ON A THORN OR SOMETHING!!!! All if know is that I never, ever want to go thru anything like this again..I was soooooooo scared that I had "lost' my Yorkie that I adore; sooooo scared when my thoughts turned to..well, you know.

So far today (more happy tears from me) she has brought me her toys, barked in my face and out the window, accepted grooming and is at this moment bringing me her squeaky ball to play with her. This has to be how a parent feels when an autistic child recognizes her as Mom and even hugs her--the feeling I got today seeing Dixie almost normal is beyond description. Thank you all and again, I will keep you up to speed on this little 'almost' heartbreaker. Whew.....

[jennifermcb]

I am breathing a big sigh of relief for you. I can only imagine the stress and pain you've been experiencing over this. I'll keep my fingers crossed that she will continue on the path to being your sweet Dixie again!

[rrosenberry]

WOW. I'm so glad you finally have some answers. And that she is turning back into her oldself, I can only imagine how hard her sudden personality change would be.
When Bailey was a puppy, he stepped on a bee... HE SCREAMED at the top of his lungs for about 15 mins,, I had him at work with me,,and we were in the office, it was UGLY... he wouldnt let me look to see if there was a stinger in it or what, I had to have 2 men help hold him,while he screamed and bit everyone... then he limped for about 1 hr,, then we went home for the day,,and it was like he forgot. THANK GOD... so I know this is very tramatic for them...
If this is what happened, it makes sense,, maybe she somehow thought YOU hurt her,,and thats why she acted that way to you?? WHo knows what they think..I hope things continue to only get better. Keep us posted.

[YorkieSue]

Hi Again everyone!!
I SPOKE TOO SOON. After a brief time of being my little love this morning, she suddenly discovered a place I forgot to block and got under the table. ALL OF THE GROWLING, SNAPPING, SNARLING AND ATTACKING came back. I had bile in my throat. The trainer had told me to absolutely LEAVE HER ALONE when she is in this frame of mind but that I could try ringing the doorbell to get her out. I did that and she came flying out--right to the front door--snapping, snarling and attacking ME--THE whole nine yards--AGAIN. When she reached the front door, I somehow managed, without getting hurt again to get her leash on her--thank God I left the harness on her--thank God. I said NOTHING. I took her for a walk brought her home and even on her leash she put her tail between her legs and hightailed it for her crate where she began the snarling etc. again. This is awful.

I took the long tether off her too soon, obviously. This is THE ONLY CONTROL I HAVE OVER HER and I guess the leash, inside will stay on her for a good, long while. At least I can get her out, feed her and get her to bed without worrying if there will be blood.

The VET-behaviorist DID mention prozac but also warned me that it can have the complete opposite other than the desired effect. I know this is true since I taught autistics for over 25 years and when we used Ritalin it backfired more than it worked. She wants me to work with Dixie for a week and then email her or call her to let her know what is going on.

Having seen what I saw this morning, I am more convinced than ever that the tether CALMS her. I KNOW that it keeps her from finding hiding places (while loose) and giving me a complete ulcer. I now know that once Dixie finds a hiding spot that this sets off a complete anxiety attack and that, from then on, the day is ruined. This poor little dog--I am having great difficulty believing what I am seeing since last Thursday. But I no loner believe that this hiding behavior has anything to do with whatever stung her. Like spec. ed kids, who suddenly develop an irrational fear of a place or person, dixie is now 'set off', triggered if you will by finding a place to GET UNDER. This cycle needs to be broken and tethering her seems to be the way. If I have to do this for the duration of her life, I really don't know what I will do--it's horrid.

But, right NOW, TETHERED, she is a happy little dog, playing alone and with me and well, I'm sad but happier than being attacked. In one week, I will call the trainer and let her know that now I have PINPOINTED the trigger for Dixie's horrendous aggressiveness and that I BELIEVE, even though not an expert, that ALL OF THIS AGGRESSIVENESS is being set off by her TOTAL ANXIETY--over WHATEVER--whenever she is under something. Hell, poor Dixie probably feels the anxiety coming on and THEN HIDES..this is probably truer than saying the opposite--that she is set off by being UNDER SOMETHING. NOPE, I have a truly high strung dog and maybe that prozac will be necessary. But at what cost? Will prozac compromise her liver? How often will Dixie need bloodwork to make sure that medication is doing no physical harm? And will it even help this particular situation which happens ONLY when she gets under or in something? Damn. Something is definitely aschew with her and I have no idea of the outcome. I do know that I cannot believe, for one second, that the moment she is like her old self, that she is 'cured'.

I'll call the behaviorist in a week and we'll discuss this awful situation again--but in a different light now that I have seen this nutsiness again today from Dixie--AFTER SHEWAS SO LOVING AND PLAYFUL all morning. Good thing I have a strong heart. Y.S.

[YorkieSue]

Thanks Jennifer but as you may have read, the good and trusted behavior was VERY SHORT LIVED. Sigh, whatever am I going to do? I now see that this is going to take extreme patience and perhaps a complete change in lifestyle for Dixie. She may NEVER be able to be allowed to go under or in things again. This is really too sad for words--and yeah, my heart hurts for this dog AND ME. What a revoltin' develpment this is. But thanks for caring, Y.S.

[Cudda84]

Did you say "fly"? My mom's dog acts wierd whenever there is a fly in the house. I don't know if the buzzing gets to them or what. But it might be worth checking into. Just a thought.