My Yorkie is acting scared out of the blue :(
 

I am new to the dog and Yorkie world. My partner and I got our sweet boy Meiko about a month ago. He too to us right away as we fell in love with him instantly. I could not have asked for a better doggy. He just turned 5 months old on the 7th. Since we got him, we have established a pretty good schedule. Although we usually don't got to bed until 2-3 am as I work late, our bedtime is still consistent. Also waking up time is pretty much the same everyday. We have a eating schedule down too. He is good about peeing outsude, but poopoojnf outsude isn't totally perfect yet. Luckily if we have an accident he goes pee or poo on the potty pad. He loves to play and run around. When we go to bed he gets so excited and runs around and plays until we settle in and he snuggles us.

I got home from work around midnight on the 9th (which would technically be the 10th since it was just 12am). He greeted me excitedly as he normally does. Everything seemed normal. About an hour later he was in the kitchen looking toward our bedroom and wimpering. The only time he usually does that is if he wants down from the bed or when he can't get to us. So I found it odd that he was whimpering. I pet him and picked him up. Then I put him on his little bed next to us in the living room. Then he started to whimper again and again and again. He laid there as if he was depressed. When I would call him he would cower and crawl to me really low with his belly still touching the floor. He acted as if he was scared, but if what I have no clue. I had him on my lap. He napped some, but sat up and started to poop on my lap. So I ran outside with him and let him finish. I didn't scold him as he was already scared. I thought ok... maybe he had a tummy upset and thats why he has been acting so strange.

Then we go to bed and he was still acting odd. He didn't get excited and run around. He didn't play with me or his toy. Just laid at the foot of the bed and whimpered. It was like he had to keep watch and watch the front room. I grabbed him and tried to get him to lay with me or my partner, nope back to the foot of the bed he went.

I got up the next day. Took him potty. Tried to feed him put he wanted nothing to do with it. It would turn his head the opposite way. Wouldn't drink either. I knew that was never good. Took him to the vet. They kept him there for a few hours to check him. They got him to eat and drink. The only thing she found was excessive distarge on the tip of his penis. She believes it's an infection so gave us antibiotics. He seemed to of acted normal while being there. But the vet thinks maybe an infection made him feel sick so he acted odd. Well when we went to pick him up it was his normal self. He was excited. Tail wagging. I was so relieved. Get home and boom.... back to tail down and tucked. Acting scared. Laying there all mopy like. Whimpering off and on. I got water in him by using the needless syringe provided for his meds. I got him to eat by putting a little chicken baby food in with his food. Bedtime has yielded the same results as last night. He is laying at the foot of the bed. No excitement or playing or snuggling.

So there seems to be something about this,house that's freaked him out. But what? Why out of the blue? We do have two cats. One just sticks to herself. The other tries to play a little but for the most part does his own thing. I'm not saying it's impossible for him to have scared Meiko, but I didn't see them around each other at all that night. Plus my cat has walked close to Meiko the past 2 days and Meiko didn't seem to react. One thing I will say though is that when my cat was meowing because he saw a bug and wanted it... that seemed to stress Meiko out some.

I am at a loss and so sad. I miss my baby boy running around and playing. I feel so bad and don't know what to do. I could take him back to the vet and have x-rays and blood work done I suppose. But it's like he is fine until we come back home again. There having been any loud noises in the house or outside of the house recently either. Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thank you.

So sorry for your situation. I wish I had some advice, but I will keep an eye on this thread to see how it comes out.

Just an off the wall thought - do you have an attic? Is it possible there are racoons in the attic or squirrels?


With two cats I don't think you would have mice.


But wait another week or so and if he does not improve you might have to expand your medical research testing to try to eliminate different medical reasons for his behaviour change.

We don't have an attic. That's a good thought though. I was thinking maybe he smelled an animal outside, but wouldn't think he would be so freaked out for so long.

Thank you. I wasn't too sure if going back to the vet was a good idea or not. I was thinking about waitinh, but wasn't sure how long before having tests done. Thanks for your feedback.

Hmmmm...poor little guy. So mysterious. I wonder if he was stung by a bug or something in the other room? We have scorpions here, so ours at risk of that.

It's just odd though bc even if something did happen, you'd think he'd be over it by now...? But maybe it will just take a while. Keep trying to distract him when he seems scared...via play or a treat or a trip outside or something.

Just one more thought- I know we had a male tomcat marking around our window wells which disturbed my cat but not my dogs so much.

Just curious, has he had a rabies vaccination? Sometime the rabies vaccination will cause them to become more fearful.

No he hasn't had his rabies shot yet. My vet wanted to break his shots up. He is due to have it next week. Thanks for the heads up, that will be something to watch for when he gets it.

How is he acting now ? It's not uncommon for a sick or injured animal to seem fine at the vet but then return to the same depressed attitude upon returning home. It's all part of their defense mechanism, so he's most likely having some kind of a health issue & not a fear issue. Did your vet check his teeth and Anal Glands ? Did you recently change his food or add new treats or human food to his diet ? if yes then it could be a digestive issue. Hope he's feeling better now.

How is your little guy doing lately?

Meiko scared out of blue update
 

After 4 days of acting very depressed/scared... he finally slowly stared to get better. He is back to his silly playful and stubborn self. So relieved, but still baffled as to what on earth caused it. Thank you all for the feedback. :D

Glad to hear that things are getting back to normal!