Very very odd behaviour

[littlemisslauren]

Hi every1

, I don't think i have ever posted in here before but i hope some of you will be able to put my mind at rest

We have a 11 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback bitch. She is usually very relaxed and sleeps most of the day! The only times she becomes stressed are when people come to the house or she is taken somewhere unfamiliar. She has lived in this house all her life and other than our border terrier and the occasional horse she doesnt see other animals or people outside of the family regularly. Once she has adjusted to a new person being in the house she will then go up to them and make friends. She is a soft dog and hates the rain or to be cold so rarely stays outside by choice for long at all.

In the last couple of weeks she has changed dramatically. She appears nervous alot of the time, hiding behind the couch or under tables (she usually only does this when she hears fireworks or thunder and as you can imagine it's hard for her to hide due to her size!) She follows us around the house constantly and has started to disappear into the garden for hours on her own.

She is eating and drinking as usual and is still going to the loo regularly. But something just isn't right

I realise i probably sound like a mad woman worrying about my dog but she is a very much loved family pet and her behaviour is beggining to worry every1

 

[mattilda]

I think a trip to the vet is in order I'm afraid. My rr is 10 and sounds to have a similar nature to yours. At that age they are getting on in years so to put your mind at rest I would get her checked out. Hope she is OK.
Oh and you are not mad at all, I worry myself stupid if any of mine seem ill.

 

[littlemisslauren]

Thanks for the reply

She really is a lovely dog, its just horrible to see her acting so strangely.

We have been discussing getting her to the vets today but it is so stressfull for her i think we will end up calling him out to the house so that she can 'make friends' with him herself and avoid too much agro for her.

I have accepted the fact that for a large dog she is old and wont be around for many years to come but it's a horrible thought.

 

[mattilda]

Oh no I'm not suggesting she has come to the end of her life. I hope my lady has a few more years yet. It may just be she needs a little help. It does sound strange but as she is obviously not happy get the vet out to her.
Matty hates the vet as well. She shakes when I get to the car park and tries to climb on my knee in the waiting room. Much to the amusement of every one else in there!!

 

[brighteyes]

Try Googling canine dementia. It is characterised by unusual behaviour and repetitive actions, lack of trust/not wanting contact with loved ones or anyone... My Patterdale got it age 15 and it gradually deteriorated to a point where although physically in fantastic shape, her world and ours were many miles apart. She wasn't suffering pain, but I let her go when it was plain that her odd behaviour was going to be her undoing. Still ache for her but glad I consulted the vet from the start until I knew enough was enough

 

[littlemisslauren]

People are always so suprised when they see our rr being a big baby! Last time she went to the vet i hand to stand outside with her because the waiting room is tiny and she tends to bark at every1 she doesnt recognise, the people then get scared and shoo her away... then the barking gets louder.... so we waited outside. A little girl was carrying a kitten and she dropped it (tut tut) the kitten toddled over to the dog and just looked at her. The big scary rr rid behind my legs untill the scary kitten had gone.

far too much agro!

We will be getting the vet out, even if they say they can do nothing. I think my mum is worried that the dog is going to go potty. As you can imagine a rr thats gone a bit (more) dulally (sp?) could become dangerous.