4th night in a row that I have been up all night with Pixie
 

A few months ago Pixie suddenly at age 5 1/2 became exremely afraid of thunder. I bought her the thunder shirt which helped a little. In these past few months she has had some personality changes as well. She is not her usual quick to jump up whenever I get up and bark like crazy, she won't eat treats, she eats most of her meals but not always. She walks around with her tail down a lot and not interacting with the other dogs, wants to sleep in the closet. I have had her at the vet 3 times and nothing could be determined to be causing this. The last 3 nights we have had thunder storms all night and Pixie has been glued to my side and panting and shaking. She has been quiet all day and ate her meals but not her treats. No storms tonight but at 2:30 she started in with the shaking and panting and wanting to be on top of me. A plane flew over about that time soI don't know if that set her off. I don't think she is in any pain as I have given her Tramadol to see if it settles her down and it doesn't. Her blood owrk was fine, exam fine. I am going crazy trying to figure out what is going on. Not to mention 3 hours sleep in the past 72 hours and now tonight looks like an all nighter. I am going to take her in again if she doesn't settle down in a day or two. It's just such odd symptoms and I know they are going to have a hard time diagnosing her. Has any one had any similar experiences. Is it normal for them to be upset days after a thunder storm? Thanks

I don't have any advice, just wanted to say I hope Pixie feels better soon. Praying you can somehow diagnose it & treat it. Poor girl, it sounds like something's scaring her. Hope you can both get some sleep soon.

Has she been having regular, normal BMs and her anal glands okay?

Just watched the weather channel, looks like more possible storms coming your way?

Just curious... has she had a Bile Acid Test?

It does make you wonder what is going on with all those symptoms and changes in behavior.

I did experience changes in Piccolo's behavior about 3 years ago. She started being lathargic and shaking, etc. I knew there was something wrong. I went to the vet every week for 2 months, trying to get it figured out. What she had was hard to diagnosis, but it was finally figured out after symptoms appeared. (Not saying your Pixie has the same thing, just relating to your experience.)

Will be checking in and also keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers, during this tough time.

Any small or tiny swellings or sensitive areas anywhere along her spine, from the top of her neck all the way to the tail?

Does she have a tendency to reverse sneeze frequently?

I don't have any advise or clues as to what it could be, but I want to offer up prayers for Pixie. I hope that you can get to the bottom of this. I know it has to be so worrisome to know something is wrong and to have no clue what it is.:(

have you had her eyes checked? if her eyes are going then maybe sounds freak her out a little more and she doesn't eat the treats because she can't see you offering them?

Patti, this must be so frustrating for you. It's so bad when you know something is not quite right but you can't figure it out or find out anything that's wrong.


Poor Pixie. I pray that you get a good nights sleep soon. I know how hard it is to only sleep a few hours in a few days -- it REALLY wears you down!

Prayers and good vibes being sent your way.

Poor baby. I feel so sorry for her. I hope you can find out what is bothering her. Hugs to Miss Pixie.

Patti, this must be very frustrating and worrisome for you. I am praying that whatever is at the root of Pixie's behavior will be discovered soon so that the problem can be resolved.

I'm sorry I don't have anything to offer to help.

I was recently talking to my vet about my dog Teddy and storms. He had a seizure a day or two before a storm hit and I was wondering about the link. She did not know, but she did tell me that it is known that the intercranial pressure in dogs is greater than in people suggesting that dogs are more sensitive to weather patterns. I wonder if this is what is going on with her. But, it is concerning that her personality has changed and I wonder if something is going on with her brain that is exacerbated by storms. Do you see any neuro signs like head pressing, ataxic gait, anything like that? Maybe you can video what she is doing and send it to your vet. I am worried that she is keeping her tail down and acting depressed. It does seem like something more is wrong than just storms if she is having a personality change for a few months.

I'm sorry she and you are sleep deprived and that she is not feeling well:(

I don't have any experience with this, just sending good thoughts your way that you are able to find a diagnosis soon and that she is feeling better.

I hope Pixie is feeling better and that you both can get some rest.

Thanks everyone. She either settled down around 4:30 or I fell alseep. This morning I fed them at 7 and she ate her food. I gave her soft food in case her teeth are hurting her (since the treats are hard and she won't eat them.) We swent back to sleep until 9 and she woke up shaking and panting and clinging to me. I called her vet and her first appointment is tomorrow at 4. I have writted down all her symptoms and hope we can get to the bottom of it. I gave her Metacam and Tramadol about 30 minutes ago and she is now resting a little better but still panting.
Lisa- What did they diagnose to Piccolo with?
Please pray that we can find out what is bothering her and get her back to normal. I want my old Pixie back. I am in tears seeing her this way. Thanks

It is so hard on us mommas when our babies don't feel good. Sending prayer and hugs to both of you!!! :hug:

Patti I'm so sorry you and Pixie are dealing with this. I remember a few months ago your posts about her new personality changes and you were trying desperately to figure out what's going on. Have you been to more than 1 vet? Maybe another opinion is needed? Maybe a neurologist? I'm just grasping at anything :confused:

I am so sorry that Pixie (and you) are going through this! :( The constant panting, even in her sleep, would concern me because this could be an indication of pain. Did the vet check her teeth? Someone else mentioned anal glands....I was wondering about this, too. I have one furkid that acts completely unlike herself....like night and day.....when she's not on a higher protein diet.

I am sending positive thoughts your way. I'm glad that your vet is able to see her tomorrow. Please keep us posted.

Hugs~

Thanks. I have had her seen by 2 vets that know her, one real well and that's the one we are seeing again tomorrow. She was also seen by the ER vet who couldn't figure out what was going on. He did Xrays and everything looked ok as far as her LP, her spine and no apparent bladder stones. He was stumped too. Pixie does have bead teeth and gums and I want the vet to really check her mouth out since she is not eating hard treats, will eat her soft food and some hard kibble. Pixie is extremely easy to exam. She lets you do anything do her mouth and anywhere else. I am going to buy some soft treats and see if she eats them. If she does I am leaning to a possible mouth issue.
I really wanted her regular vet to see her again so that'w why we can't get in until tomorrow. She knows Pixie is a little quirky and that I am in tune my dogs and would not think I am crazy. She is resting comfortably right now since she has had the Tramadol and Metacam. My vet has given me the Ok to use both of these on her since she had the shoulder bursitis in her front shoulder. That is another thing she can check out as she is the one who first diagnosed her. I will try a neurologist next. She is on a lower protein lower fat food becasue she is overweight and I keep them all on the same food and Cali needs a lower protein diet due to her MVD. I may need to switch Pixie to a higher protein food. Thanks for the support and possible ideas. It helps to get thoughts on what it could be so I can run it by the vet. I have a list of all her symptoms so I don't forget them.

Patti Im sorrY Pixie is still having troubles, it is awful when you know something is wrong but you just dont know what it is. I hope you get to the bottom of it and Im keeping her in my good thoughts and prayers

Thinking of you folks and your conundrum. Such a trial for both of you. Hope you find the solution soon! Can only send you our best wishes and sincere hopes!

Jay and Cali

Sending prayers your way!! Hope you get a DX soon.

My DH said Pixie started shaking earlier this evening while I was at exercise class and wantd to be held. I came home and fed them and she ate her wet food but not her kibble. She has been wanting to be held and panting. I gave her another dose of Tramadol about an hour ago and she is now settled down. So I definetley think she is in pain some where.

Oh no. :( Poor girl... she definitely sounds like something is bothering her. I hope you get to the bottom of this.

Is there a reason she has not had a dental? You say she cannot chew hard treats and that her teeth and gums are bad....if that is the case, I am sure her mouth really hurts.

I am sorry that you are still going through this. Poor Pixie. :(

Pain and mouth related maybe? It's great that you have a list of symptoms. Maybe you need a list of questions to ask too. I always tend to forget something or other when I visit the vet. And I believe the worst is not knowing a diagnosis. I really hope they can shed some light on what's troubling her.

Keeping Pixie and you in my prayers...

Patti, I'm so sorry you and Pixie are still going through this. I'm praying you'll find the answers to help her soon.

Hugs,
Bonny

Thanks! Pixie had her last dental a little over a year ago. She has been seen by 3 different vets in the past couple of months and they all checked her teeth and said her teeth weren't too bad.I have been using Petzlife on he teeth and they have improved some. I am leaning to mouth and legs as a possible source of her pain. The things that seem strange is this all started again with the thunder storms we had and she seems ok during the day. In the evening and night is when she is shaking and panting. I am hoping we can get some answers at the vet today. Last night she didn't have any shaking or panting after the dose of Tramadol. I will let you know how the vet visit goes at 4.

Update! I took Pixie to her vet and I was able to get a urine sample before we left. I wanted to make sure her UTI wasn't back. Her vet did a thorough exam, a smear of her vaginal area, checked her mouth real well as well as her whole body. Everything looked great. She said she just had a yorkiepoo in the next room with a lot of the same symptoms and her terrier has been very anxious too. She felt it was an anxiety issue and gave me a herbal medicine called Nutricalm. She is to take .5 ml 2 times a day to start and we can go up to 2.0 ml if needed. She said she is seeing good results with it in her own dog. She is going to call me Friday to see how it is working. I am also going to go buy another Thunder shirt since I can't find the other one and use that as well. Thanks for all the good thoughts. I am hoping for a quiet night.

I hope this helps you both get a good nights rest soon.:) Glad her physical came back so good.