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Dog Anxiety

  • 09-11-2019 1:59am
    #1
    mr_edge_to_you
    Registered Users Posts: 3,019 ✭✭✭


    Hi All

    We have an 8 yr old lab, who I'm currently sitting up with as she wouldn't settle - walking around, nudging me with her head, panting etc. This is the first time we've seen her like this at night.

    She normally sleeps in her bed in corner of our open plan living area.

    Earlier today we got a new suite of living room furniture delivered so the house is very weird for her. Is it possible that such a change in surroundings would cause some upset and she needs to adjust? She's not allowed on the furniture so wouldn't have thought there'd be issue.

    Curious to get your thoughts!


Comments

  • #2
    the_syco
    Registered Users Posts: 37,295 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    Is the new suite in the same place as the old suite?


  • #3
    mr_edge_to_you
    Registered Users Posts: 3,019 ✭✭✭mr_edge_to_you


    the_syco wrote: »
    Is the new suite in the same place as the old suite?

    No. Two very old pieces were dumped. The main suite was moved to replace them and the new one is now in the main living area. It's quite a big change to be honest.

    The new suite is also leather as opposed to fabric so perhaps the smells she's familiar with all gone.

    When I write it out it does seem like a significant change for a very gentle and timid older dog.


  • #4
    the_syco
    Registered Users Posts: 37,295 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    mr_edge_to_you wrote: »
    No. Two very old pieces were dumped. The main suite was moved to replace them and the new one is now in the main living area. It's quite a big change to be honest.
    I mean is the new suite in the same physical location as the old suite was; ie, if the old seat was in the corner next to the window, is the new seat in the corner next to the window?


  • #5
    mr_edge_to_you
    Registered Users Posts: 3,019 ✭✭✭mr_edge_to_you


    the_syco wrote: »
    I mean is the new suite in the same physical location as the old suite was; ie, if the old seat was in the corner next to the window, is the new seat in the corner next to the window?

    Well we replaced a large 3 piece suite with a very large 2 piece suite so it's quite a significant change. She seems to have settled anyway.


  • #6
    Wearandtear
    Registered Users Posts: 36 ✭Wearandtear


    Hope the dog is still feeling better - just FYI, those behaviours can also be an expression of pain, so it might be good to get her checked up. I think labs as a breed are prone to hip/arthritis problems? I hope not though!


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  • #7
    mr_edge_to_you
    Registered Users Posts: 3,019 ✭✭✭mr_edge_to_you


    Wearandtear wrote: »
    Hope the dog is still feeling better - just FYI, those behaviours can also be an expression of pain, so it might be good to get her checked up. I think labs as a breed are prone to hip/arthritis problems? I hope not though!

    Hi

    Thanks for your post. She's grand now. She does have a dodgy hip though.


  • #8
    cocker5
    Registered Users Posts: 3,274 ✭✭✭cocker5


    mr_edge_to_you wrote: »
    Hi

    Thanks for your post. She's grand now. She does have a dodgy hip though.

    You should start her on supplements, and a few bits n pieces to help her hip.

    It will only get a lot worse over time it’s very easy to prevent further damage


  • #9
    puppieperson1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 301 ✭✭puppieperson1


    Sounds like pain furniture doesnt matter shes in pain Loxicon is best or Metacam best to visit your vet if you can she will be arthritic with hip problems very painful <snip>

    Mod note Please don't advise on medications that are not licensed for animal use. Leave it to the vet.
    Thanks


  • #10
    mr_edge_to_you
    Registered Users Posts: 3,019 ✭✭✭mr_edge_to_you


    cocker5 wrote: »
    You should start her on supplements, and a few bits n pieces to help her hip.

    It will only get a lot worse over time it’s very easy to prevent further damage

    She does get a supplement with her food.


  • #11
    cocker5
    Registered Users Posts: 3,274 ✭✭✭cocker5


    mr_edge_to_you wrote: »
    She does get a supplement with her food.

    Do you mind If I ask what supplement?

    Maybe what’s she’s getting isn’t helping anymore?
    Maybe a more comprehensive treatment plan is necessary?

    The thing is soooo many dogs don’t show pain until they are in a lot of pain and many suffer in silence.

    Personally I’d bring her to the vet - get her hips checked and with her age etc start a proper treatment plan - it will give her the best result going forward .. pain / dodgy hips only get worse over time without proper intervention


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  • #12
    cocker5
    Registered Users Posts: 3,274 ✭✭✭cocker5


    puppieperson1 wrote: »
    Sounds like pain furniture doesnt matter shes in pain Loxicon is best or Metacam best to visit your vet if you can she will be arthritic with hip problems very painful <snip>

    Mod note Please don't advise on medications that are not licensed for animal use. Leave it to the vet.
    Thanks

    Please don’t give loxicom / metacam these particular anti inflammatories are filtered through kidneys and liver and cause damage over time.

    There are better / newer anti inflammatories prescriptions out there via ur vet that are easier on the organs .. ie galliprant!

    You just need to be persistent with ur vet and ask the right questions!


  • #13
    mr_edge_to_you
    Registered Users Posts: 3,019 ✭✭✭mr_edge_to_you


    We're pretty sure it was just a readjustment. She's long back to herself.

    She's brought to the vet whenever she's not well. It's very obvious when she's not herself of in pain/discomfort. As recently as September when she got her check up the vet confirmed she's in good health and her only advice was to introduce a glucosamine supplement into her diet. Don't know the name of it off hand - it's like a syrup. We certainly wouldn't be giving her anything that wasn't recommend by our vet.


  • #14
    mr_edge_to_you
    Registered Users Posts: 3,019 ✭✭✭mr_edge_to_you


    She's had issues with her hips for quite a few years. This is not a new thing, but flares up from time to time. It's something that just needs to be managed which we do reasonably well.


  • #15
    cocker5
    Registered Users Posts: 3,274 ✭✭✭cocker5


    mr_edge_to_you wrote: »
    We're pretty sure it was just a readjustment. She's long back to herself.

    She's brought to the vet whenever she's not well. It's very obvious when she's not herself of in pain/discomfort. As recently as September when she got her check up the vet confirmed she's in good health and her only advice was to introduce a glucosamine supplement into her diet. Don't know the name of it off hand - it's like a syrup. We certainly wouldn't be giving her anything that wasn't recommend by our vet.

    It’s more than likely arthriaid ..


  • #16
    DBB
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 9,726 Mod ✭✭✭✭DBB


    That's odd. I had reason to have one of my dogs down with vet Shane Guerin in Gilabbey a few years ago. Shane is one of a small handful of orthopaedic specialists in Ireland. He was very forthright in telling me that despite many trials, there is very little evidence to support the belief that glucosamine is any good for joint issues. He said it was a very enduring myth, but in reality a waste of time and money.
    He did say that there was more evidence in support of using chondroitin alright.

    As an aside, there's also some more recent evidence to support the finding that CBD oil helps relieve the painful symptoms of arthritic conditions in dogs. There's already a fair bit of research done for humans, as far as I know, but this was specifically looking into treatment for dogs. I have one of mine on a veterinary grade CBD oil, and it's certainly helping her. It's not cheap though, for a big dog. The smaller the fog, the cheaper it gets!


  • #17
    tk123
    Registered Users Posts: 14,020 ✭✭✭✭tk123


    DBB wrote: »
    That's odd. I had reason to have one of my dogs down with vet Shane Guerin in Gilabbey a few years ago. Shane is one of a small handful of orthopaedic specialists in Ireland. He was very forthright in telling me that despite many trials, there is very little evidence to support the belief that glucosamine is any good for joint issues. He said it was a very enduring myth, but in reality a waste of time and money.
    He did say that there was more evidence in support of using chondroitin alright.

    I don't think there's any supplement that's simply glucosamine though?! They're usually a mix of say MSM, chondroitin, glucosamine hydrochloride, fish oils etc etc.. and there has been trails and improvements seen with glucosamine hydrochloride and of course fish oils (and ASU which is in Bailey's supplement).

    To the OP the side effects of metacam aka loxicom are simply exaggerated - loads of dogs do fine on it long term with no issues at all so don't panic and believe the hype. Join the CAM pages on Facebook and you can see this for yourself. Your dog should be getting blood tests every 6 months and a review with your vet. You shouldn't need to fight your case with a vet to get different medicines - if you do well your relationship with your vet isn't working/you're not compatible and you need a new vet. Your vet should be on board with your dogs multi modal treatment and should treat them as a individual and should know them backwards - I'm saying this as somebody who changed vets (our lovely vet left the local clinic and I wasn't getting the same level of care with her replacement).. and the vet we have now is a pain specialist - this is her passion, they have mobility clinics, teach owners how to do exercises with their pets and provide alternative treatments - eg Bailey get's laser therapy every week.. that said if he's in pain he gets pain relief.. With Bailey I try to keep things to the bare minimum and I'm extremely skeptical of anything I give him - if I don't see it making a difference I don't bother. It's very easy to get caught up with all the different natural suggestions and you end up giving a ton of stuff that isn't actually doing anything.


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