Muriel
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posted on December 31, 2000 09:01:23 AM
My daughter, who lives with us, has a female miniature long haired Dashund who is 12 years old. Lately the dog has started going behind and under furniture and digging at the carpet. Now, today, she keeps going in the closet and crying/howling. Although the dog no longer goes into heat, my daughter thinks the dog still goes through the "cycle". We think her behavior is related to this. My daughter says the dog periodically goes through this weird behavior. Our other two dogs can sense something is wrong, too. Does anyone out there know what might be going on?
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njrazd
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posted on December 31, 2000 09:08:02 AM
Muriel...I'm no expert, but I can tell you my MIL's cockapoo is about the same age and is going through some of the same symptoms, along with an increase in roaming. She thinks the dog may have some alzheimer-type problems starting up. Has your daughter taken her into the Vet for a check up?
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toke
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posted on December 31, 2000 09:08:22 AM
I am no expert, for sure...but, it sounds very possible she's in pain. I would get her to the vet for a thorough exam...especially at her age. At the very least, it would relieve your mind...
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Muriel
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posted on December 31, 2000 09:11:23 AM
I thought she might be in pain, too. But my daughter says she does this - and has done this- periodically over the past four years. She went to a vet last Sept. for a tooth extraction and did very well. She's not limping and she eats well. Bodily functions are good, except for pretty regular "accidents". 
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Muriel
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posted on December 31, 2000 09:13:07 AM
One more thing... I gave her a doggy tranquilizer to calm her down, and she's sleeping on my lap. But if I put her down, she runs for the closet and starts howling again.
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toke
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posted on December 31, 2000 09:17:45 AM
Boy, I dunno. Almost sounds like a false pregnancy...except for the howling bit. I had an elderly female years ago who howled when she had small seizures...for what that's worth. The vet said she was having the seizures as a reaction to the anesthetic given during emergency surgery. She also became incontinent with some frequency.
Did your daughter mention any of this to the vet? It wouldn't hurt to ask, no?
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toke
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posted on December 31, 2000 09:20:17 AM
Also...if it's doggy Alzheimers, they have new meds for it that are supposed to be nothing short of miraculous. By prescription, of course...
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Muriel
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posted on December 31, 2000 09:22:10 AM
Yep, we have the incontinence. But the digging behind furniture is weird. I guess a trip to the vet is in order. I just wanted some help/advice today since the vet won't be in until Tuesday. 
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toke
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posted on December 31, 2000 09:25:54 AM
Has she been moving her bowels regularly? Does she rub her butt across the floor at all?
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Muriel
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posted on December 31, 2000 09:30:09 AM
Everything is moving quite nicely. No butt scooting.
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toke
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posted on December 31, 2000 09:31:23 AM
Any barfing? Is her tummy rigid and tender?
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Muriel
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posted on December 31, 2000 09:35:03 AM
Toke, she's not barfing. Don't think her tummy is tender. But she keeps doing this kind of choking thing. Kind of like she has a hair ball. Although she does do a lot of licking and biting (dry skin, maybe). I've noticed the choking just in the past couple of days, and it's minimal.
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toke
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posted on December 31, 2000 09:43:34 AM
You could tell immediately if her abdomen is rigid...it would be hard as a rock, and she wouldn't like you pressing on it.
This digging thing she's doing is often a sign that they just can't get comfortable.
Hmmm. My Yorkie has allergies and does the licking and chewing on herself thing. Then the gagging and choking bit. And she actually does get little hairballs. I give her a nickle sized gob of vaseline every other day or so (she weighs about 6 pounds), during those periods. Then she passes a wad of hair in her stool.
She loves the stuff and licks it off my finger.
You could try giving her half a baby aspirin, and see if that helps...
[ edited by toke on Dec 31, 2000 09:44 AM ]
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Muriel
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posted on December 31, 2000 09:53:53 AM
Toke, I have a Yorkie, too. She's a pistol and I love her to pieces. Her name is Molly but I call her Pickleweasel - it seems to fit.  She can tell something is wrong with the other dog.
Good idea on the aspirin. Thanks for all your help, too.
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chococake
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posted on December 31, 2000 09:58:03 AM
Muriel - Are you sure that it's a choking sound she is making, and not a cough? At her age it may indicate a heart condition. If the incontenence is something new I would be very concerned.
Doxies also have back problems because of the elongated spine. She may have some pain. Sometimes they'll dig like that trying to make a comfortable place to lay.
Has she been spayed?
I difinitely would get her in to the vet soon.
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toke
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posted on December 31, 2000 10:00:38 AM
Ha...Pickleweasel...I love it. Mine is Phoebe,often called Fleabee...guess why... Please let us know how your daughter's little doxie is doing...they're such sweet pooches...
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Muriel
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posted on December 31, 2000 10:06:47 AM
Choco: I just said to my husband that I thought the choking might be a cough. Good point.
No, she has not been spade. She has had back problems, but my daughter was able to tell when that was going on because she couldn't jump on the furniture and she limped.
I think a trip to the vet is definitely in order. Wish we didn't have to wait for two more days (or more).
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toke
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posted on December 31, 2000 10:13:43 AM
You sure your vet doesn't have an emergency number? Mine does...though boy does he charge for off hours. Still, it seems that's when our critters always have problems...weekends and holidays.
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KatyD
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posted on December 31, 2000 10:18:03 AM
Yes, Muriel. Cough could = heart disease. Get her to a vet asap! One of our airedales developed a cough we thought was a respiratory problem. Turned out he had advanced heart disease. He was not quite 13 years old. The digging I don't know about, but combined with trying to hide under furniture indicates that she is trying to find a "safe" or "comfortable" spot. I'm thinking that she feels physically uncomfortable. I hope you get some answers soon.
KatyD
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Muriel
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posted on December 31, 2000 10:18:52 AM
We live in a small town, and our vet would probably meet us at the office. I hate to bother him though... you know how it is.
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toke
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posted on December 31, 2000 10:28:49 AM
Yes...I know how it is... Still, your pooch is more important. I'm sure your vet will understand...after all, he must have become a vet because he loved animals.... You could get a chewing out for waiting!
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chococake
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posted on December 31, 2000 10:35:58 AM
I asked about spaying because sometimes they can get a uterine infection, but you will usually see a discharge. People are under the assumption spaying is only to stop heats and pregnancies. But it's also a preventive for cancer and infection. The same for neutering a male, to prevent testicle cancer.
Toke - we have two vet emergency clinic's here. They're open from 6 in the evening until 8 in the morning. Also all week-end and holidays. They are expensive, but can mean saving your pet's life in an emergency.
Muriel - I know what it's like waiting and watching for any new sign of something wrong. Sure hope it's nothing serious, they are so precious. Good luck.
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toke
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posted on December 31, 2000 10:46:16 AM
chococake...
Isn't it the truth. Animal illnesses, human problems...even dental stuff. Always nights, weekends and holidays. It's a curse...
Still... One Christmastime I was wrestling with myself...about 8pm...my vet was at a Christmas party. My Josie just wouldn't stop barfing. Called the vet, finally...mortified for disturbing his evening. Thank heaven I did...she was dehydrated badly, and I hadn't spotted it. She had too much hair for the pinch test I think! Anyway...if I had waited, she would have been a goner. As it was, I got a major lecture from the world's best vet........
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bunnicula
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posted on December 31, 2000 10:48:27 AM
It does sound as if she's in pain. Do you know if the dog is fixed? The reason I ask: You say this has happened "periodically" for 4 years. Dogs go into heat twice a year for a period of three weeks each time. It is possible, if she isn't fixed, that she has some sort of problem with her ovaries or uterus that flares up with the onset of heat and subsides when it is over.
I would definitely take her to the vet to get a complete check up.
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rawbunzel
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posted on December 31, 2000 11:25:03 AM
Muriel, Those are definatly signs of a dog in pain. Last year,just before Christmas I lost my last little doxie to heart disease. The first sign was a little cough ,a year and a half prior to that I lost my other doxie to the same thing. Both were twelve when they passed away. Both had back problems as well .
If you put you head on the dogs chest area can you hear any gurgling? I ask because many times the cough is from fluid building up in their chest and it must be taken care of asap if that is the case.
As for the back thing,if you take your fingernail and just lightly run it down her backbone does it twitch anywhere?That is a sure sign that the back is having problems.I always kept muscle relaxors on hand in case of their backs going out on the holidays, that is always when it happened!
If you have an unspayed 12 year old you could also have other problems.
Please try to get your vet to see this little dog. She is surely trying to tell you something important!
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Muriel
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posted on December 31, 2000 12:49:40 PM
Bunnicula: Bingo! I called our vet and he said it sounds as though it's connected to her time of going into heat, even though she no longer goes into heat. He said she may be having some false pregnancy symptoms, but that it didn't sound like an emergency situation. He suggested Ascripton, which is aspirin with Maalox in it, to help relieve her discomfort. I gave her 1/2 of a baby aspirin - as someone suggested earlier- and since then she's been better. Thanks to all of you for your help. I always know where to come when I have a dilema.
Happy New Year to you all, and remember not to drink and drive.
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toke
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posted on December 31, 2000 12:55:25 PM
Happy New Year to you, too! I haven't heard of that Ascripton. How much of a dose per pound of dog? Sounds better than Pepto...
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nobs
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posted on December 31, 2000 01:09:47 PM
Muriel
I had a Peke for 14 years and she had a heart condition and the symptons DO sound similar. My Ruffian used to cough this dry, hacking cough and she started to display some similar symptoms. My Vet told me that this was more common in smaller breeds. Also, when you have her checked (and I would do so ASAP) have her checked for a urinary tract infection. Until you get her to the Vet, keeping her as quiet and stress free is most helpful. If you have stairs in your house, carry her up.
I wish you all the best in the New Year.
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tegan
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posted on December 31, 2000 02:35:52 PM
toke: thanks for the advice about the vasoline. My little Yorkie does the chewing licking thing too. The vet told me it was allergies too. She has very long hair and I will bet it is the hairballs she is choking on.
It happens every time she bites at her feet.
I'll try it tonite.
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toke
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posted on December 31, 2000 02:40:20 PM
tegan...
Hope it works for you. Funny thing is, Phoebe (Yorkie) loves the vasoline, while my cat hates it. Works for both of them, though...
Downside can be an oily Yorkie butt...heh.
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