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#256948 - 11/17/09 12:11 AM
Sudden Dramatic Behavior change in Senior Dog
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Sheila Buckley
Leerburg Web Board User
Registered: 07/14/07
Posts: 597
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Thor is a 9 year 10 month old White Shepherd. He has been with my family since he was 8 weeks old. Up until May 2009, he was a healthy, well adjusted dog with a stable temperment. He presented with itching which snowballed into a wide range of problems including cancer (hermangiosarcoma),possible immune mediated lesions, mites, pyoderma and muscle weakness. He has been treated for all of these conditions and finally given an all's clear last week after a complete follow up exam, cultures and blood panel.
Prior to the follow up I noticed some muscle wasting around his head and neck and also an air of constant anxiety. Drinking more than usual and then of course urinating frequently, panting, pacing, crying to go out and then immediately crying to come in, sometimes forgets to bring the ball back when playing fetch. All medical tests came back negative so I think and the vet agrees it is a combination of having lost so much weight (muscle atrophy) and being isolated from people other than family and other dogs since his immune system was shot and it was unclear what was wrong with him; he could potentially be contagious to other dogs. Also my two oldest children went off to college and my husband left to work in Chicago so his family of 5 is down to 2, my youngest daughter and me. Lots of change and aging could very well be causing the behaviour issues.
Made sense until I came home today to find Thor had destroyed my bay window, he must have tried to get out. The couch was three feet off the window. Two glass lamps had been shattered he ripped all the screens from the windows, tattered the curtains, ripped the rods from the wall, knocked over end tables and managed to chew or dig through one of the window frames. Luckily the window is set with two locks and the upper one held but he still had the window open about an inch wide. I have no idea how he escaped hurting himself other than some small cuts on his paws.
I am beside myself. Has anyone ever experienced such a radical behavior change? I can not leave him alone tomorrow because I don't trust what will happen. My vet said to bring him into his office he'd like to observe him and check that his injuries are superficial he also said until I can make other arrangements, he'd be fine with me having him board there during the day. Thank God! That was a huge relief!
I talked a little with the vet about options. He recommended starting Thor on a supplement to treat senility and setting him up to be evaluated by a neurologist. And he'll talk to me more after he sees Thor when I come to pick him up.
This probably sounds terrible but I don't think I want to go the way of the neurologist. After six months of medical treatment he's physically sound again but the quality of his life over those six months was anything but good.
Suggestions for what questions I should ask and also possible ideas of what is going on. If anyone has had a similar experience what did you do and what was the outcome.
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#256951 - 11/17/09 01:03 AM
Re: Sudden Dramatic Behavior change in Senior Dog
[Re: Sheila Buckley]
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Melissa Thom
Leerburg Web Board User
Registered: 12/04/07
Posts: 1557
Loc: Upper Left hand corner, USA
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Hi Sheila,
Its hard when they get old. We noticed behavior changes in old dogs can be severe or slow onset. Depends on the dog, depends on the health and conditions.
My number one thought is have his eyes checked. Sometimes when eyes go dogs react badly with sudden defensive moodiness, nervousness, and full panic.
My number two thought is has he been checked for Degenerative Myelopathy? Your symptoms smack of the later stages of the disease as it occurred in my dear old dog Sam. Muscle wasting, blindness, lesions, and a poor immune system. Just add in slight limp in the hind legs and you've got them all. GSDs are very prone to this condition which can present up to age 14.
I hope you discover whats going on with Thor. It is truly better to know then left wondering what happened.
Melissa
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