Bizarre dog symptoms - help please!

[TigerTail]

10 yr old Patterdale Terrier.

Randomly started with what I can only call panic attacks but with no provocation i.e. thunder or fireworks(which produce the same reaction). Instant heavy panting, asking to get up on my lap shivering on me for a min or two and jumping off to sit puffing, runs to the back door, let him out doesn't do anything but stand and puff. Have just taken him for a walk as he was so bad in the house - he's gone belting off up the lane like normal, bustled bout all fine. Come in and wooded his dinner and is now fine.

Has had bloods and urine test a the vets last week, calcium was .2 too low but vet not worried, heart sounded fine no lumps or bumps. Wants him in for x rays but I'm dragging my feet as he gets v stressed in the vets and because he's v vocal, breed trait, and vets /nurses take this as aggression and handle him totally wrong

Help please so worried about him, he's my little black shadow can't even contemplate life without him.

 

[Equi]

Hes getting on in years, its likely that his sense are dulling making him more anxious - his little brain could even be going as dementia (CCD in dogs) is not unheard of in dogs esp terrier breeds. Just try not to pander to him when he is anxious, it will make him more so. You can also try some herbal remedies like lavender on the radiator or a plug in that relaxes them.

What is he being fed?

 

[Dream19]

We had an aging Border Terrier with similar symptoms and found Rock Rose Bach Flower helped him with both fireworks and thunder. Some symptoms but more controlled and just took himself off after dosing and hid under his favourite chair. Just a drop on tongue as thunder around and before if possible over fireworks period.

 

[Alec Swan]

Hes getting on in years, its likely that his sense are dulling making him more anxious - his little brain could even be going as dementia (CCD in dogs) is not unheard of in dogs esp terrier breeds. Just try not to pander to him when he is anxious, it will make him more so. ……..

^^^^I think that I'd go along with this. The problem with dogs which are seriously stressed is that when we try to make amends for the perceived problem, if we comfort the animal, then all that we are actually doing is rewarding the dog, and encouraging the fear and the stress levels. The temptation is to react by offering comfort which all so often actually encourages the state of fear.

Mostly, the best answer is to remove the dog from the situation, but with thunderstorms and fireworks, that often isn't possible. There's realistically little that we can do about thunderstorms, but with fireworks, and assuming that they aren't literally outside the home, then I've always closed the curtains, turned on ALL the lights in the room, and then turned up either the television, or the music volume. With closed curtains and with a bright room, the level of the dog's awareness should be lessened.

Why a 10yo dog should suddenly start to behave as yours has, is a mystery and whilst there may be a variety of possible reasons for his misery, the answer is also not always too clear. I'd suggest that the best that we can do is to lessen the influence of what he fears, and again, comforting a fearful animal is often counterproductive. It's difficult and I feel for you.

Alec.

 

[Alec Swan]

10 yr old Patterdale Terrier.

……..

Has had bloods and urine test a the vets last week, calcium was .2 too low but vet not worried, heart sounded fine no lumps or bumps. Wants him in for x rays but I'm dragging my feet as he gets v stressed in the vets and because he's v vocal, breed trait, and vets /nurses take this as aggression and handle him totally wrong

……...

And just to add;

I cannot imagine what on earth will be revealed by x/rays, and as you, if the dog loathes the Vet's Surgery, then increasing his stress levels by taking him in there will serve no useful purpose. On the very rare occasions when my dogs have been to a Vet's Surgery, and I've been talked in to test after test, there has NEVER been any conclusive feed back.

If you feel that your dog will be mishandled, either because of his likely behaviour, or the likely reaction of those who aren't competent, then that would simply reinforce my determination to cope with the problem as best I could, rather than inflict further suffering on him.

Just my thoughts!

Alec.

 

[JillA]

Can you ask if you can hold him while he is sedated at the vets for some investigation? I hold my feisty JRT for her nail clipping by just firmly holding her head and neck so she can't reach round and nip, or scruff her hard down onto the consulting table. It is far less stressful for her because I don't let her wriggle and generally get wound up, the vet nurses are all scared of her and try to bully her into submission - has the opposite effect on a terrier lol.
Ask if the vets think that is something like brain related or epilepsy related, I would want to get to the bottom of it because even if it is dementia medication can help.

 

[Clodagh]

I hope you get to the bottom of it, OP, how upsetting.
Our patt dog used to have to be muzzled by me before he even got out the car at the vets - he has personal space issues and didn't understand the thermometer concept at all. We took him as little as possible as well.

 

[ladyt25]

Very strange he should act like this yet fine when out on a walk away from the house.
I guess it's possible x-rays could show if any spinal issues that could be causing this.
Having watched Supervet the other day they had a dog with similar panting type symptom although it was at the stage it was affecting her movement. However, they found scans showed a burst disc that was pressing on the spine. It was successfully treated.
Makes me just wondering if your dog is suffering something similar although to a lesser degree.