Now we have a physco dog.
I took Buster to the vet on Friday because he is still scratching. They wanted to observe him so I left him for 6 hours.
Of course he was so scared he didn't scratch once. They dipped him in a sulfur dip and put a flea spray on him (even though there isn't flea to be found!). Then they put him on special dog allergy food. $130 total! Augh.
Well, now all the sudden he is having these sort of panic attacks. He started Sat. morning and has had 2-4 a day since then. He will go around panting really hard, pacing, staying right next to us, has his tail between his legs. It is so weird! He will do this for an hour or two and then stop.
I have no idea what in the world started causing this but now I'm having horrible flash backs!
We rescued another dog about 10 years ago and he was NUTS! After a year of taking him to the dogie psychiatrist at the university and spending $1000 on him we finally had to put him to sleep. He had the best personality most of the time but when ever the sun would go down he would just start going crazy! We named him Ed and then started calling him Crazy Eddie.
Now I don't know what to do with Buster. Of course after all of that and he is still scratching! Augh!
Tawra
Of course he was so scared he didn't scratch once. They dipped him in a sulfur dip and put a flea spray on him (even though there isn't flea to be found!). Then they put him on special dog allergy food. $130 total! Augh.
Well, now all the sudden he is having these sort of panic attacks. He started Sat. morning and has had 2-4 a day since then. He will go around panting really hard, pacing, staying right next to us, has his tail between his legs. It is so weird! He will do this for an hour or two and then stop.
I have no idea what in the world started causing this but now I'm having horrible flash backs!
We rescued another dog about 10 years ago and he was NUTS! After a year of taking him to the dogie psychiatrist at the university and spending $1000 on him we finally had to put him to sleep. He had the best personality most of the time but when ever the sun would go down he would just start going crazy! We named him Ed and then started calling him Crazy Eddie.
Now I don't know what to do with Buster. Of course after all of that and he is still scratching! Augh!
Tawra
posted by Tawra Jean at 12:56 PM
10 Comments:
Tawra,
Check out Cesar Milan's website. His techniques are amazing and if you follow his plan--absolutely free--you're bound to see some improvement. Exercise, discipline and affection.
http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/
I have my Beaulah Mae on doggie 'Prozac' and it is cheap. The doctor writes me a script for it and I get it at Wal*Mart for $4.00 a month. It has helped my Beaulah Mae so much. Beaulah Mae was eating her own foot. I am telling you she was chewing her foot to the point that it was a bloody mess. Never could figure out why? Well, I love my Beaulah Mae so much I was willing to do anything..so vet said try Prozac. It worked. She has taken it now for 2 years. Her foot finally healed, she is 'normal' as long as she gets her pill every morning. I slip it into a 'liver flavored treat' and she gulps it down...Good luck to you with your pet. Pets are such a blessing to us. Roxie
Tawra,
The Washington Post runs an article each Sunday (question/answer session) by Dr. Michael W. Fox. He is a big advocate in NOT feeding dogs and cats commercial pet food. I know people have written in to him in the past regarding dogs itching/scratching, etc. among other problems, and he recommended the homecooked recipe (listed on his website) for the problem. I checked out his website and found the recipe listed on the left-hand side under "Recipes for Dogs & Cats". Here's the link: http://tedeboy.tripod.com/drmichaelwfox/index.html I hope this helps (either this link or the one from the post above). We have had problem cats in our household in the past. It seems like it's a 24/7 ordeal. You have my sympathies. Hang in there and good luck!
Tawra,
I found this on Dr. Fox's website:
Dear Dr. Fox:
My mother adopted a 7-year-old cocker spaniel that has had skin allergies and constant itching and biting of her feet and legs for over two years. Apart from this, she has developed a new habit of howling whenever my mom leaves her house to do a few errands.
Cortisone shots and vet visits are costly for my mother, who is on a limited income. Now, with the howling problem, she's afraid she won't be able to take her pet with her when she moves into an apartment building next month.
She has tried many vet-recommended remedies for the itching and biting, but none has worked. We're hoping you can suggest something to calm the dog while my mother is away from her home for a few hours, and also something to keep her from biting her paws raw. The dog takes 2.25 mg of Benadryl and 500 mg of fish oil daily, and gets a cortisone shot every six to eight weeks.
-- L.D.
Miami
What a sad situation. The veterinarian should consider treating the poor dog for a possible food allergy and vitamin A deficiency. Seborrhea and greasy skin are quite common in cocker spaniels. Dietary supplements of zinc, selenium, vitamin E and B complex may also help.
The separation anxiety-linked howling might be diminished by leaving on a radio or television while your mother is gone. And the veterinarian could prescribe Valium or Xanax.
Tawra,
Take your dog to another Vet for a 2nd opinion. The dip could have been toxic to his system - we are laymen and are not able to give you expert advice - but, I would go to a specialist rather than a regular veterinarian. If Buster was not acting this way prior to the vet visit other than scratching then you need to get a detailed history of everything they did and the ingredients in the dip they gave him and also the special allergy food - the combinations could be causing these issues. It is best to get a 2nd opinion from a specialist!
Try Steroids prescribed through your vet. It help our dog a lot!
tawra- how long have you had the dog? It takes 6 months to see how their personalities actually are. We have rescued 2 dogs, and they change dramatically in the first 6 months. Scratching could mean a couple of things, but this time of year eczema is bad in people and would be the same in dogs. the dog might need a steroid or if it is just an allergy benadryl helps. you might need at least one more trip to the vet to see.
liz
Stay away from steroids, that will make the poor dog nuttier and in a few weeks when they wear off he will be back in the same shape. I have dealt with this problem for the last twenty years, as one dog JR had this problem and then my Miss Maizie has it also. It has got to be the food. Try vitamin E capsules and fish oil to start. Another cheap thing you could try is giving him a can of Jack Mackerel. Warning only do this when you can feed the dog outside and wipe mouth really well, the stench is horrid!!! Let him eat the mackerel bones too. It's really gross, but it will help his coat and skin so much. You may want to look into the BARF diet. Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. That made a MIRACULOUS difference with Miss Maizie(JR passed before we found out about it). It is a mixture of raw meat, raw bones and veggies. The glory of it is you can use things like tripe and other cheap cuts. If you want to write me for more please do, Miss Maizie will be 14 in a couple of months, and the raw food has made the world of difference. She would litterally chew her skin raw and bloody, get infected the whole nine yards-it was awful, she took steroids, allergy pills and shots, you name it-I have been there. He also may not be getting enough excercise. You really need to wear him out so that he will be too tired to chew. Hope you can work this out.
Again email me if you need to.
maizie13@msn.com
Heather
alot of dogs are allergic to corn, and corn is in almost all commercial dog food...
check out this website...tells you how to make homemade dog food...its not tht big of a deal, and alot of oter info here too..
http://www.pet-grub.com/myths.pets
did the vet check the dog for heart problems? Also, what about his breathing, we have a dog that has asthma attacks, he would breathing would imitate panting for long periods of time, took several trips to the vet to be diagnosed.
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