What's wrong with my dog

elainemasey · ‎03-14-2010

or am I just over reacting and over thinking? We had 2 dogs, Nikki and Lucy, sisters, same litter.They were inseparable. A year ago May, Nikki died in my sons arms as we carried her into the vets. We knew she had cancer and selfishly kept her too long. Lucy road in the back of the car with her when we went to the vets. A year later, for the past month or so, Lucy spends hours in the back of the car. We keep it in the garage with back lift open. Nothing gets her to leave. We have to drag her out if we are going anyplace for a while. When she is in the house lately she seems lost. She is 12 yrs old. We are scaring ourselves that in some way she is thinking of Nikki and this is what you do when " the time" comes. She's up to date with her Vet visits. It's like she's just lost her zip. Is this normal for an older dog. The 3 of us, independently from each other, all have that feeling that she's trying to tell us something. Are we crazy?

yellowkitty · ‎03-13-2010

She may still be morning the loss of her sister, I had a Yorkie that acted differently and Vet checked her blood and everything and it came down to she was morning my Husband still. Just hug and love and talk to her.

kittymomNC · ‎08-09-2012

Elaine, just a couple of questions..If you shut the lift on the car so she can't get in, what does she do? Does she still try, or have you tried it to see what happens? You say she seems "lost" in the house - does she act confused, unsure, anxious?

The reason I'm asking is that older dogs (and cats) can get dementia, and confusion, anxiety, seeming unsure of things, or looking around and you can't tell what they're looking at...these can all be signs of dementia. If it's been a year, it just doesn't seem like it would be the loss of your other dog, unless her scent is still in the car. I would try closing the car to see how she will react, and watch her closely for a few days..maybe keep notes on how she's acting, what she's doing, is she eating normally?

Even though she's up to date with the vet, when was the last time she was there? Has she had senior wellness blood work done? It sounds like you really need to take her and get her checked out. Explain to the vet all your concerns. Things can happen to animals, and we don't realize it or don't know what it is. And so many things are treatable..you still might have several years with her.

My 16 year old male cat was doing great, but one evening he had been lying on the couch for about 3 hours, and I got out some treats. He didn't get down, which was SO unusual, and when I got him down on the floor, he tried to walk and was completely dragging his back leg. I rushed him to the emergency vet, thinking he might have had a stroke. They thought he could have thrown a blood clot to his leg, did all kinds of tests, sent him home the next evening. His leg got somewhat better, but cognitively he was different and started going downhill. We had to let him go 3 months later. The vets never knew what happened, but thought it could have been a brain tumor that, just at the time when he was on the couch, finally reached a nerve or something.

I admit that I usually err on the side of caution, but something is apparently going on with Lucy, and I would absolutely get her to the vet on Monday. I have a cat that has had kidney disease for three years, with all the treatment that involves, and now has high blood pressure -- it's so hard when we worry so much about our "furry children", and they can't tell us what's wrong. I hope this helps. Please keep us updated about Lucy.

mewsmomtoo · ‎03-05-2014

I think kittymomNC has given you really good advice. It sounds like it could be dementia and since she has ""lost her zip"" I would take her to the vet for a checkup. Best wishes to you and Lucy.

elainemasey · ‎03-14-2010

Thank you, On my house we have the garage then 3 season room then into house/ family room. If we keep her on the 3 season room or family room she is a " pest". ( I mean that nicely). She wants to go out then in then out etc. between the 2 rooms. She wants us to do something.... Not like her nudging us to go out to do her business. She wants to be in the car. Or she will stay in the 3 season room in hopes that we are going out and have to step over her to get to the garage. The 3 season room is glass on both sides and gets warm with the sun coming in. With the heat, I have literally dragged her into the house to the a/c. She didn't want to leave her " post". We don't mind taking her with us but you can't every time you go out. No matter how many windows you let down. When she is in the house being a " pest" , DH /DS will sit on the floor with her trying to make her feel better. She never liked thunder or fireworks, she would run to the basement. Over the 4th some neighbors had fireworks and she wanted the basement. We didn't think much of it. DH opened the door, down she went and he walked away. About 20 minutes later I walked past and she was about 3 steps down..... Not able to come up or down... Sideways.... Not physically unable but more psychologically . We think that was as far as she got and we didn't know and she didn't make a sound. I tried calling her back up the 3 steps, DH tried( his baby), even took out her favorite treat.. She wouldn't move. DH went down and carried her back up. She went to the Vets about 3 months ago. Before we realized or before she started doing this. I didn't know they had senior blood tests. What would it show? I guess off to the Vet on Monday to get some kind of answer. If it is dementia there is nothing we could do but love her more and be more patient. Thank you all for your concern.

kittymomNC · ‎08-09-2012

On 7/19/2014 elainemasey said: T I didn't know they had senior blood tests. What would it show? I guess off to the Vet on Monday to get some kind of answer. If it is dementia there is nothing we could do but love her more and be more patient. Thank you all for your concern.

Senior wellness blood tests can show all kinds of things - that was how we discovered my Baby Cat's kidney disease. She was 13 and going for a dental, and I told them since we had never done the full workup, to go ahead and do it (they do a minimal blood panel to make sure things are okay to put them under for the dental).

I don't think it can show dementia, that might be dependent on her symptoms, which is why you need to document everything, as you have here, so you can tell your vet. My vets thought my cat was developing dementia, and there are some medications that can be helpful. (We think now her symptoms were because of a blood pressure spike-she's now on BP meds) The meds are used mostly for dogs, but have started being used for cats as well. Many dogs are helped a lot, so don't despair. It that's what it is, she may still be able to be helped and have a fairly good quality of life. You and your vet would have to determine that.

Did you try closing the car up to see how she would react if she can't get in it? I'm curious to know about that. It's good that you've decided to take her to the vet on Monday--as I said before, so many things are treatable, you may still have some good time with her. Please keep us posted.

Edited to add: My cat got very vocal and acted really weird, like she just could not settle down when she was having the blood pressure spike. She has not done that since she has been on the BP meds. I don't know if they check dog's blood pressure or not...it's not a usual thing to do with cats, but they can do it. High blood pressure can cause dementia-like symptoms, stroke, or even blindness. Since her actions were similar to dementia, it's just a suggestion, but maybe you could ask your vet if they can check it.

NChgOfMyAttitude · ‎03-10-2010

Sounds to me like she's getting older and still grieving for her sister. I'm sure she still smells her there and feels comfort being there. Nothing wrong with that.

{{{{hugs}}}} going out for Lucy. It's so hard to loose someone we love.