Worrying Puppy Behaviour
Hi all,
We are experiencing some issues with Asher, our 6 ½ month old female (born 26/12/2013).
Until recently, she has been the cutest, most loving and affectionate puppy we’ve ever known. She would always want to cuddle, her tail never stopped wagging, and she would be our shadow and follow us wherever we went. She just always wanted to be around us. Just the best lil dog in the world.
We moved house on 25/06/14. For the past maybe 2-3 weeks or so, things have changed with Asher. She has become aloof, not very affectionate at all, and prefers to laze up on the couch/sofa by herself. A worrying issue with the couch/sofa is that if you disturb her in any way, more often than not she growls at us or our other bullie, Thor, but she has never bitten or snapped. This becomes more pronounced when you pick her up to take her to her crate of a night time. When she does growl, we have kicked her off the couch/sofa and pinned her. She often continues to growl whilst pinned, but eventually stops after a short time. The growling has been ongoing though. Once she is standing we have felt over her entire body and she doesn't react in any way, and nothing seems amiss or tender/sore, even pushing on her belly etc. When she stands, she seems to be hunched like a cat with the middle of her back raised, tail between her legs and wrapped under her as far as it will go.
The past day or so she has seemingly lost her appetite also at times. But eats well otherwise. She also shakes/shivers as if she's freezing and her teeth were chattering last night for about 15mins, then it stopped.
Further to that, on one or two occasions the past few weeks, we have noticed a little blood in her faeces. But this is not an everytime event so far as we can tell. It seems her bum is reddish. She has chewed some hard plastic in this time, but not sure what else. I’m not sure, but there also may be some plants/vegetation in our new yard that may not agree with her.
Does anyone have any ideas? I have read the article by Mary Remer on this forum about critical stages of development. Might this be just a stage she is going through, or something more sinister? It might be worth noting, that she is up-to-date with all her vaccinations and worming etc.
We just want our lil girl to be the way she used to be. Attached is a photo when we first got her at 8 wks.
Thanks,
Matt
Comments
The adolescent stages of a Bull Terrier can often be a difficult time period. Many have posted on this forum with concerns about their young Bull Terriers temperament. Here are a few examples:
http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/1764/dog-nipped-daughter-in-face#Item_13
http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/1554/help-with-rufus-aggression#Item_20
http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/1689/does-wilma-have-soa#Item_12
http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/82/sudden-onset-aggression...#Item_49
http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/1753/please-someone-tell-me-if-this-has-happened#Item_26
http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/1782/help-needed-with-sids-temperament#Item_7
http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/1701/my-pups-temperament-is-in-question#Item_13
http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/1049/5-month-old-male-bull-terrier-always-jumpingnipping-my-kids#Item_61
http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/89/brutus-nipping-aggression#Item_72
http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/115/sudden-agression-at-6-months-towards-family-members#Item_20
Most of those discussions stem on changes in regard to aggression and dominance. My concern with your Bull Terrier is that some of the things you mentioned could in fact be reactions to pain or discomfort that she might be experiencing. Based on what you described my gut tells me she ate something that she shouldn't have. It isn't normal for any dog to have blood in their stool and Bull Terriers never tuck their tale unless they're trying to prevent an unwelcomed breeding. The arching of the back is another sign of discomfort as well as loss of appetite. I would have her looked at by a Vet. If you decide not to, at least keep a close eye on the color of her gums. Take her temperature as well to ensure she does not have a fever. Is she sliding her butt on the floor as though she itching herself? Is she trying to bite her tail or spinning?
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
Thanks for the reply Steve. I’ll read through that when I get home from work.
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Asher isn’t displaying any of those behaviours you asked about (i.e. dragging her bum etc). She has been licking that area more than usual though.
Anyways, my wife is on her way to the vet with Asher as I write this. We shall see what the vet says. Here’s hoping its not gonna be too serious.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
So, after the x-rays (which were clear) Asher has sustained a back/spine/hip injury and has stress related intestinal tract bleeding. We have absolutely no idea how it happened either!
My wife will have to correct me if i have gotten anything incorrect, but Asher was prescribed three lots of meds. 1) Pain killers/anti-inflammatoryies - the vet reckons she is in ridiculous amounts of pain owing to the injury and associated muscle spasms. Even when sedated for the x-rays, Asher was trying her best to wriggle away and escape! 2) Amoxycilan? for any infections and 3) Some stuff to get rid of the blood in her intestinal tract.
Long story short, we have to carry her around everywhere for a few days until she comes good. She will be fully healed in 2-3 weeks. We may need to construct a howdah to carry her about on so she is even more pampered than usual! I think she is loving getting everything done for her haha.
Thanks
all for your support!
And Phil,
the pups were kept well away from the removalists....We were paying them by the
hour and the pups would have definitely gotten in the way and been a major
distraction!! They were banished to playing in the back yard.
Not good. I took the blanket off her to give her time to wake up so that she wouldn’t growl at me. I had a denta-chew which she loves and she was taking it when I put it to her mouth but wouldn’t move to get it herself. After a few minutes of her not getting up I tried to pick her up, but once she was in my arms she let out a bit yelp. I put her down on the floor where she sat for a minute until I was confident she was calm (and I myself was calm). Then I picked her up from behind by holding her underneath her armpits and let her legs sort of dangle which she didn’t mind. I put her down on the grass and she sort of stood while I was supporting her front chest area and feeding her more of that denta-chew. When I let go of her though she just flopped down to a sit.
I knew it was time to go back to the vet. Once I got her in the car she sort of walked to the other side of the back seat. I wanted her to lie down for the ride so I scratched her neck and then she slid down onto her belly. At the vet she was more mobile. The vet had me steady her front end while he examined her back legs. He would fold her paw under so that her toenails where on the ground and watch her reaction. Her left leg she would slowly pull back into place but she just left her right leg toenails down. As he was stretching her legs and feeling her lower back she didn’t yelp or whimper though it was clearly painful because she lowered her bum towards the ground as he touched her. Also while he was doing this she did a couple of little pees and he said sometimes when they’re in a lot of pain they struggle to urinate. Then she started walking around though her back legs were a bit wobbly. It was nice to see her a bit excited when the vet nurse was patting and treating her. She even started wandering around and investigating the place. The vet said that the painkillers were probably only just kicking in which is why she was walking around. Then she took a little drink of water and the vet gave her a high dose injection of anti-inflammatory pain relief. He believes that there is nerve damage going on as well which is resulting in this seemingly paralysis in her back legs. He said she may need to go to a specialist as he doesn’t have the equipment to do proper dye tests etc. This will be required if she doesn’t improve or respond today.
The vet’s got her resting in a cage and in a couple of hours will try to take her outside for the toilet and basically just observe her. He said he’d call around 2pm to fill me in. If she does improve then we can continue on with the initial 2-3 week rest period without the specialist.
And this was the first day in the new house
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
We have a referral to a specialist tomorrow morning. Asher's condition has worsened. The lameness in her back legs is increasing. Pain killers/anti-inflammatories are doing diddly squat. I'm beginning to think it could be a herniated disc!? We shall see what the specialist says tomorrow. I imagine she will require an MRI and, worst case scenario, surgery. Its especially hearbreaking because we can't really afford it.
This is so sad. Praying for your baby.
It's great that at least you have a diagnosis and a treatment. I know it sounds as intimidating as "Obamacare" and ten tons of shyte at the same time, but I feel confident that, now your vet has "woken up", and knowing how resilient Bullies can be, you can count on a full recovery. I rescued a lost dog a few months back who had been in the wild for some time, my daughter took the poor blighter under her wing. He has heartworm and it's been a bitch getting rid of it. I believe they have now migrated from the heart, (with treatment), and he just has to eradicate them from his body.... So, if he can do it, Asher can too. Please keep in touch and give us daily reports 'cos a bunch of us are waiting to hear. Here's a photo of the rescue, looking as proud as poop now that he knows he is re-loved ... but still as skinny as heck. Good job on the perseverance! Asher will do you proud.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
Thanks everyone for your prayers and support. I wept this morning reading your posts.
We love Asher to bits, and its been a trying week or so to date. It will be a day by day thing for Asher from here on. We have to wait and see how the worms migrate out of her system, and what nuerological damage (if any) they and the resultant meningitis leave in the process. She's on a fist full of meds, she's resting well, still incontinent of urine and her paralysis is still there cuasing a very unsteady gait/ataxia in both hind and fore quarters. She is eating like a horse though and is quite alert and responsive so we are hopeful and praying to the Lord something fierce.
Thanks again - we'll keep you posted.
Matt
I'm so glad you hung in there and didn't give up fighting for her.
Oh and by the way...That teddy bear is totally reserved for her to tear to pieces when she gets better!
I'm picturing a moment soon when she'll gingerly nuzzle the teddy bear with her nose, then a paw and a few licks, then go full-on wild tearing that teddy to pieces. Won't that be a wonderful moment? Lots of prayers and energy being sent her way and your family's way. Thank God she is your BT, because she's got a good mommy and daddy fighting for her.