Behavior changes

mysweetkaos · 09-20-2011, 03:34 PM

Not sure if I should have posted here or under health section, hopefully this works. We have a 9 yr old GSD he has been acting rather sullen lately. Sleeping tons, not coming out to greet us or when we go outside....before you couldn't even whisper outside and he would beat you to the door. He went on eating strike this weekend and went 2.5 days and then started eating again. He has always been a bit of a compulsive licker, but in the last month we had to have him treated for 4-5 lick granulomas.....and now I just noticed another one after coming down from putting away laundry (so he only had about 1/2 hr to do it). History he is on Castor/Polluck organix dog food, he has severe arthritis in both knees, he is on tramadol, glucosamine supp, and salmon oil daily. He has had vet visits (which as of 6 months ago he has started growling at the vet who he has never had a problem with.) He had a checkup last month after unexplained nose bleeds.... all of his bloodwork (CBC) came back good. Does anyone have a similiar experience.....I guess I am looking for any feedback on how to help the granulomas....or anything that may explain his recent changes. Thank you.

Emoore · 09-20-2011, 06:03 PM

I don't know, my first guess would be that he's in pain, either from the arthritis or something else. Maybe the tramadol's not doing it anymore?

mysweetkaos · 09-21-2011, 09:16 PM

We just started the tramadol about a month ago...after the Rimadyl quit being as effective. Not acting in pain...took a great walk today. I am hoping tonight he will be too tired to lick (wishful thinking) I spoke with the vet today, he recommended prozac since Kaos has always been prone to OCD and it seems to be getting worse with age. Any thoughts on Prozac?

Freestep · 09-22-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mysweetkaos

We just started the tramadol about a month ago...after the Rimadyl quit being as effective. Not acting in pain...took a great walk today. I am hoping tonight he will be too tired to lick (wishful thinking) I spoke with the vet today, he recommended prozac since Kaos has always been prone to OCD and it seems to be getting worse with age. Any thoughts on Prozac?

Dogs will sometimes play through the pain if they are doing something they enjoy, but then will feel it afterward. Licking of the joints can indicate pain, amongst other things; the OCD does not help.

I have seen animals make a complete turnaround on Prozac, so I think it's worth a try. It may even help relieve his pain a bit. I have a neck injury and arthritis in my hands and back; I am on Prozac and it seems to take my mind off the pain, if that makes sense.

mysweetkaos · 09-22-2011, 03:11 PM

Dogs will sometimes play through the pain if they are doing something they enjoy, but then will feel it afterward. Licking of the joints can indicate pain, amongst other things; the OCD does not help.

I agree with that Kaos can be pretty stoic for the most part, I guess what I meant by doesn't act in pain is he gets a certain "swagger" about him when his knees are hurting which he didn't display on the walk today. Thank you for your reply. We are off to the vet to pick up Prozac this afternoon. I hope it works....I hate to see him suffer even a bit whether it is from pain or anxiety.

msvette2u · 09-22-2011, 08:00 PM

Prozac can cause aggression and IME, did little to help the anxiety.

I found with our one dog that licks out of anxiety, leaving a ton of chew toys lying about helps. Especially if, when I catch him licking, I can redirect with the chew.

mysweetkaos · 09-23-2011, 08:43 AM

Thank you. We will definetely keep an extra vigil watch on him for signs of aggressiveness. Kaos is a very old 9 unfortunately, he hasn't had much interest in kongs, toys or much of anything besides his daily walks. So distracting him is much harder to do. He does leave it well...so they are starting to heal, but due to his OCD affecting his happiness we are willing to try it and hope for the best.

LisaT · 09-23-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mysweetkaos

..... He had a checkup last month after unexplained nose bleeds.... all of his bloodwork (CBC) came back good. Does anyone have a similiar experience.....

Do you have a copy of the bloodwork? If not, please get it. It would be good to double check those numbers ourselves.

mysweetkaos · 09-23-2011, 02:17 PM

I am actually taking our puppy into the vet tomorrow, so I can get a copy of the blood tests then. I am assuming you or someone would be able to see the numbers and interpret them? I can interpret human results....but no experience with doggy #'s. If you could help by looking at them I will certainly get a copy and post the #'s tomorrow.

LisaT · 09-23-2011, 04:00 PM

I can help, to some degree.

We've seen, on too many occasions, where the bloodwork held a clue, but the vet told the client that the bloodwork was perfectly fine. If you can read human values, I bet you'll be fine with the K9 numbers

09-20-2011, 03:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
mysweetkaos Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,246	Behavior changes Not sure if I should have posted here or under health section, hopefully this works. We have a 9 yr old GSD he has been acting rather sullen lately. Sleeping tons, not coming out to greet us or when we go outside....before you couldn't even whisper outside and he would beat you to the door. He went on eating strike this weekend and went 2.5 days and then started eating again. He has always been a bit of a compulsive licker, but in the last month we had to have him treated for 4-5 lick granulomas.....and now I just noticed another one after coming down from putting away laundry (so he only had about 1/2 hr to do it). History he is on Castor/Polluck organix dog food, he has severe arthritis in both knees, he is on tramadol, glucosamine supp, and salmon oil daily. He has had vet visits (which as of 6 months ago he has started growling at the vet who he has never had a problem with.) He had a checkup last month after unexplained nose bleeds.... all of his bloodwork (CBC) came back good. Does anyone have a similiar experience.....I guess I am looking for any feedback on how to help the granulomas....or anything that may explain his recent changes. Thank you.

09-20-2011, 06:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,215	I don't know, my first guess would be that he's in pain, either from the arthritis or something else. Maybe the tramadol's not doing it anymore? __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

09-23-2011, 04:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
LisaT Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern CA Posts: 17,002	I can help, to some degree. We've seen, on too many occasions, where the bloodwork held a clue, but the vet told the client that the bloodwork was perfectly fine. If you can read human values, I bet you'll be fine with the K9 numbers __________________ K9 Tick Disease Information http://www.rabieschallengefund.org

09-21-2011, 09:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
mysweetkaos Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,246	We just started the tramadol about a month ago...after the Rimadyl quit being as effective. Not acting in pain...took a great walk today. I am hoping tonight he will be too tired to lick (wishful thinking) I spoke with the vet today, he recommended prozac since Kaos has always been prone to OCD and it seems to be getting worse with age. Any thoughts on Prozac?

09-22-2011, 03:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
mysweetkaos Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,246	Dogs will sometimes play through the pain if they are doing something they enjoy, but then will feel it afterward. Licking of the joints can indicate pain, amongst other things; the OCD does not help. I agree with that Kaos can be pretty stoic for the most part, I guess what I meant by doesn't act in pain is he gets a certain "swagger" about him when his knees are hurting which he didn't display on the walk today. Thank you for your reply. We are off to the vet to pick up Prozac this afternoon. I hope it works....I hate to see him suffer even a bit whether it is from pain or anxiety.

09-22-2011, 08:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
msvette2u Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 5,533	Prozac can cause aggression and IME, did little to help the anxiety. I found with our one dog that licks out of anxiety, leaving a ton of chew toys lying about helps. Especially if, when I catch him licking, I can redirect with the chew.

09-23-2011, 08:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
mysweetkaos Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,246	Thank you. We will definetely keep an extra vigil watch on him for signs of aggressiveness. Kaos is a very old 9 unfortunately, he hasn't had much interest in kongs, toys or much of anything besides his daily walks. So distracting him is much harder to do. He does leave it well...so they are starting to heal, but due to his OCD affecting his happiness we are willing to try it and hope for the best.

09-23-2011, 02:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
mysweetkaos Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,246	I am actually taking our puppy into the vet tomorrow, so I can get a copy of the blood tests then. I am assuming you or someone would be able to see the numbers and interpret them? I can interpret human results....but no experience with doggy #'s. If you could help by looking at them I will certainly get a copy and post the #'s tomorrow.

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