Spaniel suddenly afriad of Dad

[Slightlyconfused]

I live at home spaniel is 7 years old.

The last month she has been on and off suddey afraid of my dad, he can come home or even just down the stairs and she looks at him and freaks out and runs to me, my mum or my brother and starts shaking.

It has only just started happening and he has never would never do anything to hurt her at all.

We are worried she is picking up an underlying health issue and he does have this werid skin thing that changes colour throughout the day a few times aday. Doctors have said its a fungal infection and given him cream.

He is having huge flares of IBS as well at the moment which is not normal for him.

Will also speak to my vet as well.

Ideas anyone? She normally adores him.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

You know what, I saw the banner for your post BEFORE even I saw that your dad has IBS right now, and thought: there's something going on with the dad - medically - that the dog has picked up on........ now isn't that weird. I've heard this can happen.

Is dad under the doctor currently? Is he taking any med's that he hasn't taken before? Don't want to frighten anyone, but if he hasn't seen the doctor about this then I would be urging him to get a thorough check-up.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Yeah it is probably something to do with a 'change' in your Dad.

The other option is that she has made an erroneous association with him - IE she was looking at him or around him when pain or discomfort or fear was caused by something else.
I've heard of loads of dogs that, for example, develop an aversion to something like wellie boots or bins because they were corrected for something else (like clocking the family rabbit or chasing lorries) when they happened to be looking at or passing something else.
Can't remember the poster but a classic one is the forum user's dog who got a zap from the electric fence while looking at the horses and now thinks horses are spicy hellbeasts who should be avoided, for example.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Yeah it is probably something to do with a 'change' in your Dad.

The other option is that she has made an erroneous association with him - IE she was looking at him or around him when pain or discomfort or fear was caused by something else.
I've heard of loads of dogs that, for example, develop an aversion to something like wellie boots or bins because they were corrected for something else (like clocking the family rabbit or chasing lorries) when they happened to be looking at or passing something else.
Can't remember the poster but a classic one is the forum user's dog who got a zap from the electric fence while looking at the horses and now thinks horses are spicy hellbeasts who should be avoided, for example.

My collie got zapped by the fence and they yelpped startling sheep and never went near sheep again so i know that doea happen.

She does go and cuddle him inbetween her freakout moments so i think its a body thing.

He is under the doctor for the skin thing, not the IBS which we are pushing him to speak to them about.

Thanks both, we thought it is most likely a change in dad but just wanted to make sure.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Agree with a above when my Dad was very ill there cat was petrified of him she would hiss at him and run and wouldn't go anywhere near his room ?

Not saying that your Dad is really ill or anything don't want to frighten you it could just be the dog is detected a change in him.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Strong possibility that your dad's medication has changed his familiar (to the dog) smell, and she now regards him as a stranger. Either that or your dog is picking up some other change. Pacemaker? Whistling hearing aid? Hope you can get to the bottom of it.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Strong possibility that your dad's medication has changed his familiar (to the dog) smell, and she now regards him as a stranger. Either that or your dog is picking up some other change. Pacemaker? Whistling hearing aid? Hope you can get to the bottom of it.

Doesn't have a pacemaker, has been on statins for a year no change in dose, no hearing aids at all.

The werid skin thing is worrying me anyway and tonight he admitted its also aches alot. Its scaly and about the size of a 20p and changes from a dark colour to light grey.
He is very upset she is scared of him and doesn't know what to do. We have said first step back to doctors to push for more investigations on the scaly skin and while he is at it speak to them about his bad stomach.