Hello everyone, haven't been on for a while. 

I am really worried about Teddy; we got back from my friend's house last night and he wouldn't let me take his lead off (started growling really hard, he meant business).  Then he wouldn't let me go near him to stroke him atall.  I thought he was overtired as had a long day at the daycare place (where they take him to a field and he runs around with other dogs).  So i let him sleep.  When i woke up this morning he had pooed in the lounge and been sick and still growling, but even worse.  I managed to pet him a bit but he was grumbling all the time and his leg was kind of held up in a funny way against his body....for a horrible moment i thought it was broken but when i looked again it looked normal again.
I have booked to take him to the Vet at 2.45 but should i take him earlier?  Is there any Emergency Vet facility?  Also he won't even let me get near him, i don't even know how i'm going to get him there....it's almost as if he's really scared of something, i don't know, has anyone experienced anything like this before?

Thanks

Hi,

If this is unusual for him then yes which it siunds like it is along with being sick and toileting , It sounds like an extreme reaction and I would get him to the vets asap, he could be terrrified if he's feeling very sore or unwell.  Have you got a muzzle?  If not and your worried about him biting you then do a make shift one with some bandage or something, pop a thick coat on and some gloves or something and just get him there?  Have you called the day care to ask if anything happened yesterday?  I would get him to the vets asap or ask for a vet to come to you if you are worried about getting him to them, I hope he's ok, let us know how it goes. 

Karen

ETAThe holding his leg up could be lots of things including abdo pain.

Thanks Karen
Recently he has been more growly-ish, quite a lot with the children but i put this down to him being tired and not wanting to be bothered.  Two days ago he growled and then snapped at the 7yr old, she had a tiny bit of blood on her finger.
I don't have a muzzle - i could make something and wear gloves like you suggest etc but i can't even get within 3 feet of him now without him getting really upset and growling hard, actually i am a bit scared of him myself he seems so upset and prepared to bite...I will try and get a Vet to come out i think.
I called the daycare she said he was fine...only thing was he stayed by the car instead of dashing off into the field like usual.  After that no problems.
I also took him on a long drive last night to my friend's house and she didn't want him in her lounge so i agreed to put him in her utility room for a couple of hours.  I wasn't happy with this so rushed the evening and got home asap.  That's when he started this behaviour of growling so i wonder if i have completely over-stressed him, he is only a year old?
This all stems from my neighbour complaining about him barking last week, she said it was constant for 2 hours (the other neighbour didn't hear anything) hence me booking him into daycare weds, thurs & friday so she wasn't disturbed. 
I will definitely keep you posted, hope he's okay, horrible seeing him like this.

If he's starting to change his behaviour and is aggressive towards children I would be seriously worried, not only for him, but for the safety of others, especially children! Get him to the Vets asap for a FULL check over!

that doesn't sound good, teddyboy--do take him asap to the vet to see what they say. It does sound like he may have an injury. Will he eat or drink? Do you have a carry crate for him? Will he not stand or walk about? Poor little lad--sit with him, talk gently to him, try to encourage him, but at the end of it if you can't do it any other way use a slip noose and drop it round his muzzle to keep his mouth shut, then lift him gently into a secure container and take him as quickly as you can. Please let us know how you get on.

Definately get the vet to see him as soon as possible (even if that means the vet comes out to you).

Untill he sees a vet, remember that he is a dog who is obviously not in the best frame of mind at the moment so keep any other pets away from him and do not let your children near him. Keep calm and keep your household as calm as possible for the moment to try to help keep him calm. Don't fuss over him, this can make him feel more pressured/worried/intensify his behaviour, obviously keep an eye on him, but don't keep staring at him.

It's very easy to forget little things when talking to a vet, so make a note of recent changes, like when his beahviour changed, recently starting day care etc. (as you did in your post) and any other incident or occurance (no matter how small), also make a note of his diet and any dietry changes/indescrestions, changes in sleeping patterns/eating patterns/appetite/water consumption (all things the vet will ask you about). You then have all the answers ready for the vet, without missing anything.

If you are going to take him to the vet (as opposed to the vet coming out to him) and need to muzzle him (a bandage will work well, used that myself), approach him from the side calmy, slowly, (but not with hesitation) using soothing tones and ideally have somebody on hand to help hold him while you put it on, keep calm and only use calm,  soothing tones of voice. I know that man-handling a dog is not best under normal cicumstances, but he needs to be checked over and the vet will have to restrain him to muzzle him, even if he is going to be sedated for examination.

Bets of luck, it must be a worry :(

Just seen this teddyboy--assuming there is no physical reason for his behaviour, could he have been frightened by something in the utility room? As for barking at home, it could be that he has been anxious and 'set off' by the mail man, window cleaner, etc. It sounds like you are doing everything to accommodate your neighbour, perhaps she could be a bit more understanding as well. Does he react well to change or is he a dog who gets anxious and upset unless he is in familiar surroundings? But if he has snapped at a child that is so out of character and unacceptable then a vet and/or behaviourist is needed.

I know this isn't the same thing, but an example of 'not knowing the language': my older son was just 13 months old when I had to take him to childcare three days a week, all day long, to be able to keep my job. He was just learning his first words and immediately turned into into a boy who cried all day while he was there, never talked to anyone, and at 3pm was allowed by staff to wait by the gate crying. I was told he was 'behind' for his age--which I knew wasn't the case because he was perfectly chatty at home and when I could see it wouldn't change I quit my job and brought him home. He used to stiffen every time we even drove or walked past the road where the nursery was, and I remember being amazed that such a little child could possibly know where it was. When he was three we went to Spain for a couple of weeks to see friends. On our return we again drove past the dreaded street, and he made the usual comment. For the first time I asked him why he hadn't liked it. What he said completely blew me away: "That's because they all spoke like Spanish." If I tell you that he was just learning to talk and understand language, that I have a strong American accent, and that we live in a place where people have very strong Lancashire accents (which my German grandmother found it easier to understand than normal English accents because of the similarity with Platt Deutsch!)--he just couldn't understand what anyone was saying to him, and he was completely unnerved by staying in a place without knowing when or even if I'd be back to take him back home to a place he felt safe. Even worse, he never had a comparison to use to explain it to me till we went abroad. I guess you can imagine how I felt, and 20 years later it's still in my mind.

Thanks everybody, lovely to get support.

Teddy has got worse in the last couple of hours, he hasn't drunk anything and won't even eat his favourite roast chicken.  He is shaking and lying on the rug.  I have just covered him with a blanket and pop in to talk quietly to him but i am sure there is something very wrong.  I have called the Vet for an emergency appointment, she will be here in a couple of hours as they are v busy.  Really can't face putting him through all the muzzling stuff, he clearly really upset.  I have made a list of all your answers mastifflover as am sure to forget something, thanks for that.  Have sent the kids out with a friend so v quiet here and he seems at least settled.

Promise i will keep you all posted.

ps - my neighbour isn't v tolerant but i do understand a dog barking is distressing...i put this down to him being with me constantly (nearly) over Christmas and hence upset when i left

> Really can't face putting him through all the muzzling stuff, he clearly really upset.

The muzzle is only for handling him (gettting him into a car/examining him), so don't worry about that for now,(the only muzzle that could be safely left on for any amount of time is the cage/baskerville sort that allows the dog to pant).

Best of luck.

poor little boy, I hope you both get the help you need and that this can be sorted soon. The vet will likely need to muzzle him to examine him anyway if he is in such a state. Good luck, thinking of Teddy today xxx

I've been following this thread with interest.  Good Luck, and do let us all know the outcome.  Jean

Hello everybody

Vet came out, she said sickness/diarrhoea and limp/leg problem were unrelated...he has tummy upset (gastro something! maybe from eating some cat food in friend's utility room last night) so gave anti-sickness jab & antibiotics.  Leg not broken so she thinks soft-tissue injury, she would have given him anti-inflamms but not with tummy upset so have to take him back on Monday to see how things are.

Bless him, he was a soldier with the vet, no probs with muzzle and allowed them to examine him from top to bottom.  I have to make sure he drinks and make sure he rests completely, tlc and only chicken and rice to eat.

He is now curled up sleeping in front of the fire and seems really peaceful.  So relieved!  He did seem dreadful back there for a while!

Thanks for all your words & support, really helped us both!

gastroenteritis? my boy had this last august. i found that a dollop of natural bio yoghurt on his dinner helped to return his gut get back to normal, also pasta

What a relief for you!  It sounded so worrying for you especially at the thought of him not allowing a vet to examine him.  Bet he has been feeling wretched.  Once those antibiotics kick in he will feel so much better.

I'm glad that it wasn't anything worse, and so pleased that you have it sorted.  ;-)

Poor boy and poor you i am glad he will soon be on the mend,if you are finding it hard to get him to drink go to the chenist or vets and buy an syringe they are only about 50p and just squirt it slowly and gently a little at a time hopefully he has started to drink by the time you read this so you might not need to do this.Debby

so pleased he is getting the treatment required to make him better . Such a worry for you , give him a hug from me.

R~

Quick update!  Teddy doing well, still not walking properly, in fact seems to be struggling with both back legs now, he is kind of hobbling about but doesn't seem to be in any pain.  Still just happy to rest, he is wrapped in a blanket now dozing.  He is booked into Vet for Monday to check out those legs...v strange...don't know what sort of injury he can have sustained or how. Spoke to the Vet earlier she said i can call the 24hr helpline anytime with any question, v reassuring.

Just to let you know, the Vet sprayed some pheromone stuff all over his bed and rug, she said it's like the smell their Mum gives off after they're born so helps them relax?  Has certainly done him some good, he looks so peaceful....apparently you can buy the plug in pheromone thing from the Vet's (maybe online cheaper) and can help settle them if they're anxious when you go out etc.

Anyway thanks forum people, can't tell you what a help it is to get advice/support in times of trouble!  No-one else but dog-lovers understand the worry of it - your best buddy is suffering and they can't tell you why! 

The pheromone you mention is DAP and available as a spray or as a plug in.  It may be a good idea to get the plug-in for the room he sleeps in to prevent him getting so stressed.

My Elka was a scavenger and while staying at my Dads managed to get next door and eat the bread put out for the birds.  It must have been mouldy and gave he bad belly ache. 

The symptoms were that she couldn't move or stand on her back end.  In a panic to the Vets not knowing what was causing the paralysis. 

The Vet knew it wasn't neurological when she wagged her tail at him. 

She was given a muscle relaxant and some antibiotics and was right as rain by the next day.

teddyboy

Have to say that I'm impressed with your vet, thinking to bring something with her to calm a dog down.

So glad he's doing a bit better. i hope he continues to improve quickly.

> No-one else but dog-lovers understand the worry of it - your best buddy is suffering and they can't tell you why! 

It is a worry isn't it, made worse becasue they can't tell you whats wrong, so your mind races. I can stay calm when my children are ill, but unfortunately I loose the plot with worry when I have an ill pet :(

jean
I am impressed the vet did a house call !

I just saw this. Last week my st bernard got a terrible doing from a tummy bug. He didn't eat or drink for 3 days and not even a pork chop would tempt him to eat. I knew it was serious!! After 3 trips to the vet, we managed to sort him out. However my gsd then got it, as did 2 of my neighbours dogs and one of my parents dogs. Disaster!! They were all so sick. I think we used up the vets antibiotic supply!! All well now though. Get well soon to your boy.

So pleased he is feeling better, hope it continues to be good news at the vet tomorrow, do let us know.
The dap stuff you can get on line much cheaper think it was vet meds I used but have a google.
Gosh they do get us worried. Oh yes as Tanya suggests do get some natural live yoghurt and give him a spoonful I always give my dogs some if they have been on antibiotics it helps but back the "friendly bacteria" we need in our gut and continue for a week or so after he has finiosh the meds.