Question:We went on vacation for three weeks and left my loving, sweet, hyper puppy with my sister at our house. He has stayed with her before for a few days at a time and has always been fine.
The day we got back, he was happy to see us but seemed kind of depressed and lethargic. My sister and mom said he'd thrown up once that day but they thought it was because he was given different food. When we took him home he barely moved and just layed around and actually growled and acted like he wanted to bite us. He had never done this before. We thought he must be sick because he wouldn't eat or drink anything - not even his favorite treats. He wouldn't go to the bathroom either.
We took him to the vet again and after blood tests said he probably had gastroenteritis. He's eating a little more normally but his personality is totally different. I'm afraid he's had brain damage or something. My sister came over to see if he missed her but he acted like he did to us. Any ideas? I miss my dog!
Answers:
Three weeks is a long time to you and me...let alone our dogs! We went for 9 days and we came home to our dog who was MAD at us! He wanted to come to us, but he chose to give us the cold shoulder for awhile cause he missed us so much!
And it's not a good idea to switch dog foods anyway, but especially not when he's like this. Try to keep things as normal as possible for him, yet give him extra love and attention. Don't scold him if he doesn't immediately become lovey dovey. He needs time to realize you didn't leave him...that you DID come back. He may be nervous that you're going to leave again.
Our dog gets nervous when the suitcases come out!
So I'm glad you took him to the vet, but I'm sure his tummy is all in knots from missing you so much. It'll just take a bit of time and I bet you'll have the same happy dog back!
Don't allow your dog to fight!
Just give him some time! Maybe take him to another vet!
and watch his stool!
~Hang in there!
When I went on Vaca a couple of years ago to Boston my cat (who never used to do this) starting peeing all over my bed and my personal things. It was like she was mad that I had left. She wasn't even home alone, my b-friend stayed with her the entire time. I think animals have emotions, but un-like humans, they aren't able to understand or rationalize them. They are just raw, they just act without thinking. The part about the gastroenteritis I can totally understand because I had to put my cat down because of it. She lost total bodily functions eventually. The surgery just cost too much and my cat was old to begin with. If the dog is young than you might consider it. There is really nothing you can do except surgery. The meds they gave the cat worked only for a while then she built an immunity to them. I feel horrible for you, I know what your going through. Just make the decision that feels best to you! Good Luck!
WELL IT IS MOST LIKELY JUST HE WASN'T TREATED LIKE
HE WAS USED TO GETTING. YOUR SISTER MAY HAVE
NEGLECTED HIS PLAY TIME AND HE IS STILL ADJUSTING
BACK TO LIFE. TRY TALKING HIM ON LONG WALKS, PLAY
WITH HIM, LAY WITH HIM, AND LET HIM SLEEP WITH YOU.
THE BITING THING JUST CALMLY AND WITHOUT ANGER
SAY: NO NO (NAME) YOU KNOW BETTER THAN TO BITE ME YOU HAVE TOYS TO CHEW ON. IF YOU WANT TO ASK ME ANYTHING E-MAIL ME AT willoughbylucas@yahoo.com. LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES. BYE.
A cause could range anywhere from just the stress of being in a new environment for so much longer than previously, to some sort of accident, abuse, or even ingestion of a foreign object or substance. Does he like to chew electrical cords? A solid electrical shock could leave a dog loopy. (just making some wild guesses here).
If the dog continues to have digestive problems, that's one you might want to revisit the vet about.
Could he have swallowed something there that is stuck in his digestive tract? A small toy or object? A toxin?
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