Twice
My Bully Gave Me Wings
- Feb 3, 2012
- 2,686
- 311
- Bulldog(s) Names
- Abby (my Sweetie Head 10.24.11-11.23.12) and Otis
I have had this foster (Elvis) in my home for about a month. He needs his tail amputated and patella surgery before we can even think about finding him a furever home. His tail pocket was so infected that he has been on antibiotics since the day after he walked in here. Since getting the infection under control he is in a lot less pain and is a cute, wonderful bully boy and Otis's new bff. But those are things that I did know. Here is what I didn't.
Last Thursday he turned into a rabid animal. He attacked Otis first. I broke that up. Then he attacked Roxy. I put him in his crate. About an hour later I went to let him out of the crate to go outside and he attacked ME! He did his best to kill me. Thank God I had a big terry cloth bathrobe on because if I didn't it would be my arm in shreds and not my robe. From that point on just breathing in the direction of his crate would send him in a frenzy. Off to the vet we go.
Elvis, at 3 and a half years old, is considered middle aged. He has skin issues that I thought were from bad food and neglect. He is over weight. Add all of that to his sudden behavior change and we have Hypothyroidism.
The behavior changes can be anything from sudden aggression to sudden lethargy or depression.
Skin issues range from hair loss (especially around the head, neck, chest and sides) to dry/scaly skin and/or dandruff.
Weakness in the hind legs. Elvis has had this weakness since he got here but he also has a luxating patella so this went unnoticed.
While so far not present in Elvis, seizures and vomiting are also common.
A full T4 panel (6 tests in total) confirmed the diagnosis and he is now on medication twice a day to control his thyroid function. I've also put him on a low protein, home cooked diet of whitefish or turkey, sweet potatoes (my all-time favorite dog food ) rosemary, echinacea, vitamins E & C, Ester-C and garlic.
So yeah.. behavioral changes could = thyroid. Add that to the list of things I didn't know.
Last Thursday he turned into a rabid animal. He attacked Otis first. I broke that up. Then he attacked Roxy. I put him in his crate. About an hour later I went to let him out of the crate to go outside and he attacked ME! He did his best to kill me. Thank God I had a big terry cloth bathrobe on because if I didn't it would be my arm in shreds and not my robe. From that point on just breathing in the direction of his crate would send him in a frenzy. Off to the vet we go.
Elvis, at 3 and a half years old, is considered middle aged. He has skin issues that I thought were from bad food and neglect. He is over weight. Add all of that to his sudden behavior change and we have Hypothyroidism.
The behavior changes can be anything from sudden aggression to sudden lethargy or depression.
Skin issues range from hair loss (especially around the head, neck, chest and sides) to dry/scaly skin and/or dandruff.
Weakness in the hind legs. Elvis has had this weakness since he got here but he also has a luxating patella so this went unnoticed.
While so far not present in Elvis, seizures and vomiting are also common.
A full T4 panel (6 tests in total) confirmed the diagnosis and he is now on medication twice a day to control his thyroid function. I've also put him on a low protein, home cooked diet of whitefish or turkey, sweet potatoes (my all-time favorite dog food ) rosemary, echinacea, vitamins E & C, Ester-C and garlic.
So yeah.. behavioral changes could = thyroid. Add that to the list of things I didn't know.
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