Advice needed - Dog behaviour?

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Emma27

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Hello,

My 9 1/2 year old Chocolate Lab has been acting a bit strange lately. She has been following me around panting heavily and nibbling at me (she would never normally bite) and she is only nibbling at me!. She has also been taking what i call daft turns, charging about the house at speed, knocking my 4 year old son flying if he is in the way! and whining a lot.

She is an otherwise generally healthy dog apart from slight arthritis and Cystitis when she is in season for which she is treated with Noroclav. She has had a phantom pregnancy in the past which cleared up quickly.

Does anyone know what has got into her?

Any thoughts very much appreciated.
 
Emma - first of all, how long has she been doing this? Have there been any changes in routine/feed/exercise or medication? How is she when she does go out for walks? Has anyone investigated epilepsy as a possible cause?
 
Camilla, there have been no changes in feed/routine. She is only on cortaflex for her arthritis and has been on it a while. She is her normal self when out on walks, so far it has only happened indoors.

She first did it a while ago but it was just the once and she didn't do it again till this week and this has been her 3rd time doing it in the last 7 days. It doesn't seem to matter what time of day it is either, it happened last night and again this morning.

I haven't taken her to the vet yet. The last time she was there the Vet noted her head was sunken in apperance but said that unless it had happened suddenly, which it hadn't, then it was nothing to worry about and was just age related.
 
Emma, I would start keeping a diary of how often/when this happens and monitor it. It's obviously hard for anyone on here to give a firm diagnosis but I'd say it is worth monitoring. Any new symptoms and I'd book her into the vet,otherwise mention it next time you are there for any other reason. There are so many possible reasons, unfortunately, and it is certainly worth ruling out something like epilepsy or tumour. Poor girl - funnily enough I also have a choccie Lab bitch who is 9 1/2!!
 
any sudden change in behaviour should be checked by a vet. She might need a change onto something like Vivatonin.

If the dog is ok then the other thing to do is to get yourself checked by your GP!

Sounds strange but as it's only you she is licking at she might be picking up slight changes in your body chemistry that could be diabetes or another disease.
 
I agree epilepsy is something that is a possibility-does she sleep in a room with you? Ever any unexplained signs of bedding disturbance?
I would nip her down to the vets,
 
My first thoughts are a "neurological" problem, esp as you mention the "sunken head" there are many reasons why this occurs, some as simple as muscle wastage, but obs some more severe.
I would go back to your vet and maybe discuss head scans.
The panting and nibblinb is a sue sign of stress/anxiety, possible chemical changes, and again a bit of confusion with the "tare arsing around
so def vet check sooner rather than later, this could be the early stages/onset of something bigger or as simple as a bit of old age senile type behaviour.
 
I'd definitely consult my vet and, if possible, get video footage of the behaviour to show him. thinking of you and keeping paws and fingers crossed for a good outcome.
 
Thank you everyone for your replies and suggestions.

I have since discovered that she is indeed having a phantom pregnancy at the moment. She has milk coming from her.

Could this be a reason for her behaviour? She didn't behave like this with the other one. Should I still take her to see the vet to be on the safe side, or should I just mention it when she is due her vaccs in 3 months time?
 
yes a phantom ca bring about all sorts of outlandish behaviour. I would still get her checked to rule out anything else and to gets some meds to stop the milk production and maybe try and get her booked for neuter, the video footage as suggested is a good idea to take alone with you.
Is she nesting or carrying teddys around? if so get rid of the cuddlies:D
 
I would definitely get her neutered as soon as you can/it is safe to do so, if she is having a phantom. My old girl had a phantom at a similar age and it developed into a pyometra which nearly killed her.
She also 'mothered' two pairs of tights, which wound around her intestines, and also nearly killed her.
Daft bint!
 
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