anxiety, compulsive licking/pacing/rough play

[madie4589]

Help! anxiety, compulsive licking/pacing/rough play

a lot of issues going on here. let me try and sum it up best I can.


frank is seeming really anxious lately. and for the past few days he won’t hang out with us in the living room. usually every night he’ll come up and snuggle with me on my chair. but he won’t even do that anymore. his ears are always going back for no reason it seems. the past few nights he’s been pacing around as well. never really settling down. he’s also jumpy. I’ll walk up near him and he’ll startle a bit. and the LICKING, oh god. he’s been licking his paws like crazy. it seems like he always does it before he settles down to take a nap or go to sleep. I’m fairly certain it’s not allergies but I can’t be 100%.

I also know this can be a sign of pain/discomfort. I’m just not sure what to tell the vet if I were to schedule an appointment? Do I demand X-rays, what kinds of things should she be looking for?

I’ve noticed that my boyfriend plays rough with him. he thinks of him more as a human than a dog, and he doesn’t realize when he’s put frank in a position he doesn’t like. He’s a dog, he’s not a human. when he’s in distress he’ll give off subtle signals. he can’t tell my boyfriend when he doesn’t like something… and it’s hard for my boyfriend to understand this. they also play this ‘game’ where my boyfriend gets down and they’ll chase each other around, and sometimes my boyfriend will hide behind a chair and scare frank. I really think this is contributing to franks anxiety? We talked about it a lot last night and he’s agreed and decided to be more gentle with frank. He thinks maybe he could just be growing out of his cuddling/following me around behavior but I didn't think that's something that goes away as a dog gets older? Frank just turned one.

I’m thinking he could be bored and unstimulated. He’s been really cooped up lately and hasn’t been getting a ton of attention since we’ve both been busy. frank becomes a different dog when we take him to other peoples houses. he's running around, going up to people and having a great time. but in our house he just seems so bored and depressed.


really in my gut I feel like there’s something more going on and I can’t figure it out.

 

[TyTysmom]

It can be one of two things. Either something is bothering him, and this is how he's expressing it OR he really did acquire some form of dog anxiety. If you take him in, ask for a full checkup, maybe some blood work, and bring a stool sample. I know that there is bully prozac [MENTION=9370]brutus77[/MENTION] gives it to one of her boys, and it has really helped. Before going there though, double check and see what the vet says. You know Frank, and if you know this is not normal behavior for him, I would get it checked out. I don't think the cuddle/following around is something they grow out of. Tyson is 9, and if I stop too short he'll run into the back of my knees, and must always be right next to us.

 

[Manydogs]

Sounds to me like he is having some kind of discomfort. is he peeing and pooping normally,and the usual amounts.? Try giving him a famotidine 20 mg. to see if that helps at all. It is like a generic pepcid. Maybe his belly is bothering him. Take him for a walk, and see if he acts better when you come back. If it continues, I would make a vet visit.
Write down everything that worries you so you can tell the vet. You know your dog better than anyone!

 

[brutus77]

I would have him thoroughly checked by a vet. It sounds to me like something medical.

 

[Donnam]

I would probably take him in for a check-up @madie 4589. What Lynn said about writing down everything that concerns you is a good idea. I know I've taken dogs to the vet before when they just don't seem to be themselves, when I suspect something is wrong. These are usually pretty unproductive vet appointments, because my vet seems to want something specific to go on--not just "she doesn't feel good." Imagine that!! I will take that advice next time, to write stuff down before I go. I hope Frank is feeling better and back to his cuddly little self soon!

 

[madie4589]

AHH!! I just remembered an incident. last sunday we were watching game of thrones and frank jumped up onto my chair with a chew toy. he got a little excited, and next thing I knew he was falling off the side of the chair, knocking over the end table and lamp as he went. the lamp crashed into the wall and I grabbed for frank to try and pull him back up. causing him to be frightened and do his little scream he does.

since then, he hasn't come up on my chair with me. wow. how did I forget that??!! I'm hoping that incident is all that's wrong with him, and in time he won't be scared of the chair anymore.

now to assess the paw licking....

should I try benedryl and monitor him to see if he still licks? would that rule out allergies?

 

[brutus77]

AHH!! I just remembered an incident. last sunday we were watching game of thrones and frank jumped up onto my chair with a chew toy. he got a little excited, and next thing I knew he was falling off the side of the chair, knocking over the end table and lamp as he went. the lamp crashed into the wall and I grabbed for frank to try and pull him back up. causing him to be frightened and do his little scream he does.

since then, he hasn't come up on my chair with me. wow. how did I forget that??!! I'm hoping that incident is all that's wrong with him, and in time he won't be scared of the chair anymore.

now to assess the paw licking....

should I try benedryl and monitor him to see if he still licks? would that rule out allergies?

Brutus licks his paws and the couch (thank god it is leather) right before he goes to sleep. I think it is his way of relaxing. you can try to wipe his paws off when he comes inside, but unless he is causing problems to the area by licking, I would leave it alone. As far as the incident, that is definetly enough to cause his anxiety. give him a bit, then try to give him treats so he can associate the chair with good again. Poor baby, give him hugs and kisses from aunt Rosalie

 

[Donnam]

AHH!! I just remembered an incident. last sunday we were watching game of thrones and frank jumped up onto my chair with a chew toy. he got a little excited, and next thing I knew he was falling off the side of the chair, knocking over the end table and lamp as he went. the lamp crashed into the wall and I grabbed for frank to try and pull him back up. causing him to be frightened and do his little scream he does.

since then, he hasn't come up on my chair with me. wow. how did I forget that??!! I'm hoping that incident is all that's wrong with him, and in time he won't be scared of the chair anymore.

now to assess the paw licking....

should I try benedryl and monitor him to see if he still licks? would that rule out allergies?

That's why he isn't snuggling! Of course it is! One of my bullies used to love licking the dishes in the dishwasher while I loaded it. One time the bottom rack rolled all the way out and scared the poop out of her--she ran like the wind to get away from that diabolical rack. She never licked the dishes again and always gave the dishwasher a wide margin and a dirty look when she walked by forever after that. Maybe you can lure Frank back into your chair with treats!

 

[2BullyMama]

Brutus licks his paws and the couch (thank god it is leather) right before he goes to sleep. I think it is his way of relaxing. you can try to wipe his paws off when he comes inside, but unless he is causing problems to the area by licking, I would leave it alone. As far as the incident, that is definetly enough to cause his anxiety. give him a bit, then try to give him treats so he can associate the chair with good again. Poor baby, give him hugs and kisses from aunt Rosalie

agree! paw licking can be anxiety too.... but I would also wipe his paws when coming in from outside and see if it helps

 

[Texas Carol]

Great advice & help from everyone...as always

I'm just sending loving hugs & saying prayers the
cause of behavior becomes known and fixed asap.

It very well could be his fall causing anxiety now.
Our bullies are sensitive & get traumatized easily.