Manic and/or Anxious dog...help!

grammarhammer11 · New member Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Iowa

I am looking for any resources I can about dealing with a manic dog. She has a lot of skin allergies but lately I think they are flaring up since the fall is here...and I'm wondering if this is putting her in panic episodes?

Constantly, for a few hours at a time usually, she is walking around, panting, pawing/clawing at furniture and my family, and sometimes shaking. This isn't all the time though. Sometimes she's okay. She sleeps pretty sound so once she's out, she's out. But it doesn't hit her till about an hour after she gets up and she starts in on these "epsiodes" again. We have no idea what to do with her and the vet is clueless and the condition. When she's NOT manic, she's dragging her belly across the floor or scratching or digging. I think something must be itching so bad she's going crazy. Is this possible? We need all the help we can get. I don't want to see her get put down but she is 13 1/2 years old....PLEASE....if you know what this might be, let me know.

ebtiesman@mchsi.com

Thanks so much!

honeybears · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 3627

Hi, your poor dog. My dog has been seuffering severe allergies this summer the vet said its the worse its been in years. It almost sounds like 2 different things happening, maybe allergies with the crawling on teh floor, but that could be a sign of anxiety. and then something neorlogical or panic like you suggest? Is there a sound possibly. The other thing my dog does and only started in the last couple of years, he is 8 now, is the sound of a smoke detector battery going dead, anything that make that chirping/freqency sends him into a horrible panic attack, where I think he would go thru our window if he could, he shakes and pants and it takes him a few hours to calm down. Just yesterday I was watching TV and he was next to me and they were showing how to detect radon gas in a home and this device only chirped twice and he wentt nuts.

As for allergies, what are you feeding her now?

grammarhammer11 · New member Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Iowa

I think we just have her on regular wet dog food and dry dog food, and table scraps not very often...actually, we're cutting those out completely via doctor's orders...but we've been told to put her on a Science Diet? dog food...can dogs develop allergies at any time?

We just got home and she seems fine...but I know in about an hour she'll be manic again. I just wish I knew what was wrong with her. She goes to the bathroom, eats and drinks regularly so it's not affecting her THAT bad...

Let me know what you suggest/think.

Thanks!

honeybears · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 3627

They are probably putting her on the science diet allergy food, which usually takes weeks to show any difference if its a food allergy, but a good place to start since so many dogs have food allergies, mine inlcuded that can develop at any age.

As for the panic thing I would really watch as soon as it happens to see if there is anything that could be trippering this beahavour.

I hope someone else can chime in on what could be causing this

Shineillusion · Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 3:20 pm Post subject:

My first suggestion would be to get a second opinion from a different vet. If the dog has severe allergies and is itching all the time, she's miserable. So miserable she very well might become anxious enough to behave the way you've described. Has your vet given her anything to settle the allergies down and give her some relief?

But considering her age, there are also other possibilities that should be looked into. Tumors, strokes, seizure disorders, even age related cognitive disfunctions, should be ruled out. Hormonal imbalances like thyroid problems should be considered, too.

kyles101 · Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:40 pm Post subject:

has she had a complete blood workup done? ditto to the thyroid problems shine. grammar, id get those all checked out.

is she shaking because she feels cold, even though the room temp is fine? where is she itchy?

Jamiya · Moderator Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 5593

Poor baby! Definitely do a full blood work-up and probably switch vets. I wouldn't go with Science Diet. Try something like California Natural, which doesn't have all the additives. Even better, feed raw food. Ask me, and I will post some info about what I do.

grammarhammer11 · New member Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Iowa

I appreciate all the responses I've gotten back so far about this matter.

We switched her to science diet about 4 days ago. I'm not sure how long it will take to see the changes. She's on a doggy alzheimer's medication but that doesn't seem to be working so as of now, my mother is giving her two Benedryls at night and two in the morning. It's twice what the doctor prescribed but only one tablet twice a day was not helping. This at least calms her down enough to sleep.

I'm away at college and was only home for about 4 days and saw the misery my dog is in. I think if the changes don't start coming soon, we're going to have to put her down, although it would break my heart if we did. She's 13 and our vet is very, very expensive (they're the only good vet between two choices, I live in a really small town back home) and my parents are leary to pay that much to get her checked out with lab work if its hopeless. The vet is even telling us that we might have to put her down.

I have been sending these messages to my mother though, to let her know that other things beside old age could be getting to her. They are doing their best to take care of Shelby (my dog). I'll keep in touch on any other developments. If any one thinks of any other suggestions in the meantime, please don't hestitate to fill me in.

Thanks!!!

honeybears · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 3627

I am sorry I misread your post and thought your dog was 3 and 1/2 Since he is 13, I agree with what others have said, it could very well be age related as some of thing things Shine has said.

good luck

coppersmom · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:06 pm Post subject:

What breed is Shelby? Poor baby Sad

. I hope she gets better soon.

The doc can give her a prescription allergy medicine that works better than benadryl...I forget the name. I think it begins with an "A" but the drug's real name is something like hydroxizine. Crap. I just threw some of it out. Someone will come up with it. Anyway, my dogs took it when they had reactions to their vaccines and it helped and it knocked them out.

Does she have these manic episodes only at home? Like is she OK at the vets--cuz that's kinda how my dogs act at the vets. I was just wondering if it was something at home that has changed. Did it start when you left for college?