Dog behaving strangely...
Discussion
Our 11 year old Cairn Terrier, Haggis has started acting a bit strange, since about Saturday.
The first thing was when she was in the garden and hid behind our garden pub, she has never gone behind there ever, and when I found her she pooped out, looking sheepish with her tail between her legs and tried to hide back behind.
On Saturday night, she went and sat in the corner of the living room, shaking and looking as if she was afraid of something.
She has continued to do the shaking thing, and staring as if something is in the room randomly over the past 5 days.
Once it gets to about 7pm, she will run up the stairs and try to stay up there, we have to pick her up to carry her back down the stairs.
We often find her hiding in my daughter's bathroom, or she will go and sit on her bed in her room.
During the day everything is fine - she jumps about like an excited puppy when we talk about going for a walk, she is eating and drinking normally so it's all a bit perplexing.
She also pants a lot, more so at night - we have suspected cushions disease for a while. She has a few fatty lumps on her now but they have been checked by the vet (biopsy) and they are not life threatening.
Last night, we covered the bottom of the stairs so she couldn't run up, she tried at first but then lay down on the couch in the living room and was completely at ease - no shaking, no staring, nothing.
It's all very strange, I don't think she is physically ill but wonder if she is starting to get a bit of doggy dementia or similar? Although why this would only manifest itself in the evenings?
Apologies for the long story, but as I said it's got me perplexed and Mrs Chimp worried sick that she's doing a "Marley" (from the film) i.e. sneaking away because she is going to die!
The first thing was when she was in the garden and hid behind our garden pub, she has never gone behind there ever, and when I found her she pooped out, looking sheepish with her tail between her legs and tried to hide back behind.
On Saturday night, she went and sat in the corner of the living room, shaking and looking as if she was afraid of something.
She has continued to do the shaking thing, and staring as if something is in the room randomly over the past 5 days.
Once it gets to about 7pm, she will run up the stairs and try to stay up there, we have to pick her up to carry her back down the stairs.
We often find her hiding in my daughter's bathroom, or she will go and sit on her bed in her room.
During the day everything is fine - she jumps about like an excited puppy when we talk about going for a walk, she is eating and drinking normally so it's all a bit perplexing.
She also pants a lot, more so at night - we have suspected cushions disease for a while. She has a few fatty lumps on her now but they have been checked by the vet (biopsy) and they are not life threatening.
Last night, we covered the bottom of the stairs so she couldn't run up, she tried at first but then lay down on the couch in the living room and was completely at ease - no shaking, no staring, nothing.
It's all very strange, I don't think she is physically ill but wonder if she is starting to get a bit of doggy dementia or similar? Although why this would only manifest itself in the evenings?
Apologies for the long story, but as I said it's got me perplexed and Mrs Chimp worried sick that she's doing a "Marley" (from the film) i.e. sneaking away because she is going to die!
Anything new in or around the house which might be creating a noise she can hear but you can't?
Otherwise, it could be a medical condition as you suggest, including dementia. One of my dogs developed it as he got older, and it definitely affected him more in the evenings (pretty much only evenings). He would pant, pace and whine and not settle.
I did consult the vet but we didn't put him on any medication; instead I used Aktivait (a supplement) which supposedly aids brain function. It certainly seemed to help Joe. You can order it online without prescription.
However, I would always recommend consulting a vet if a dog starts to act out of character, particularly an elderly one.
Hope you are able to find answers.
Otherwise, it could be a medical condition as you suggest, including dementia. One of my dogs developed it as he got older, and it definitely affected him more in the evenings (pretty much only evenings). He would pant, pace and whine and not settle.
I did consult the vet but we didn't put him on any medication; instead I used Aktivait (a supplement) which supposedly aids brain function. It certainly seemed to help Joe. You can order it online without prescription.
However, I would always recommend consulting a vet if a dog starts to act out of character, particularly an elderly one.
Hope you are able to find answers.
Can't really add any more than what moor x has already said and I also agree with trying Aktivait.
It could be a nose that happens in the evening that is triggering a response then it becomes a habit response.
My friends lab reacted to the beep of the Ants phone then the beep her washing machine made when it finished a cycle then her mobile phone. Every time he developed a behavioural response she would finally realise what it was and change it it for a quiet version!! (she bought a washing machine that didn't beep!)
Evenings does seem to be fun e worse time for the triggers.
Definitely a vet ck to rule out a medical reason for it.
Try a pet remedy plug in as well.
It could be a nose that happens in the evening that is triggering a response then it becomes a habit response.
My friends lab reacted to the beep of the Ants phone then the beep her washing machine made when it finished a cycle then her mobile phone. Every time he developed a behavioural response she would finally realise what it was and change it it for a quiet version!! (she bought a washing machine that didn't beep!)
Evenings does seem to be fun e worse time for the triggers.
Definitely a vet ck to rule out a medical reason for it.
Try a pet remedy plug in as well.
desolate said:
She could just be getting old.
One of ours is doing similar - as long as she doesn't start biting people we will just accept it for what it is.
Try Aktivait. It is a supplement which can ease the dementia signs (which dogs can sometimes find distressing) nothing to lose and obviously as long as a medical reason has been ruled out (pain can cause odd behaviours and not always be obvious) One of ours is doing similar - as long as she doesn't start biting people we will just accept it for what it is.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff