New Behavior is Troublsome

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pipersmommy

Forums Regular
Ok so Hollywood did something last night that is very troubling to us. His behavior has not changed at all since we brought him home but I am starting to think there is more than an adjustment problem. His spot that I mentioned on the couch is obviously the only place where he feels truly comfortable so we just let him lay there and encourage him when he looks at us or sniffs around, but he refuses to move still. Most of all, he stays so still that we did not realize sitting right next to him that he just laid their to pee! He never moved or anything. We sat next to him on the couch watching TV until bedtime and when my husband picked him up to bring him to bed he had peed on himself while laying there. He now has not eaten or drank (other than the little bit we were bringing to him on the couch which we stopped doing) since we brought him home and I fear he is making himself sick. He had thrown up in his kennel yesterday when we got home, I am assuming from dehydration. I hate to say it but I think he is truly depressed and not just about the adjustment. He was not very social when we went to pick him up either, he was the only one out of ten that ran when we came in, all of her females came up to greet us. We thought maybe it was just being in the house...but now I am just truly worried about him and his health. We cannot force him to eat...I have considered calling an animal behaviorist in, the vet can't do much for him other than fluids if he is truly sick. Maybe we are not the right family for him and he knows it? I have no idea, I really want this to work we love him to death but if he is not happy and making himself sick...Any advice would be great!
 
I think it might be one of three things:

1. He simply has not had time to adjust
2. You need a new vet or second opinion.
3. All of thee above.

If he is dehydrated and not eating he could be sick. Don't be afraid to get a second opinion. If a dog is dehydrated something is not right. If he threw up it's bad news on top of all that. I'd be running to another vet.
 
You should really consider contacting your vet if you haven't already. It sounds like he might just need more time to warm up and is still very afraid of all of the changes in his life, but you need to rule out any health issues first.

Vomiting and peeing could be an indication of a UTI. UTI's can also make you feel very ill, so its possible that's part of the reason why he's so quiet and antisocial.
 
OntarioSheltie said:
You should really consider contacting your vet if you haven't already. It sounds like he might just need more time to warm up and is still very afraid of all of the changes in his life, but you need to rule out any health issues first.

Vomiting and peeing could be an indication of a UTI. UTI's can also make you feel very ill, so its possible that's part of the reason why he's so quiet and antisocial.
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Agreed!
Definitely a vet visit, doesn't sound normal to be laying down and peeing?
 
As Ontario and Smudge said, you need to rule out medical issues first as they can cause a myriad of behaviors. If you haven't already, bring in a urine and fecal sample. If Hollywood wont stand up for a urine sample, the Vet can get one.

I am so sorry you are going through this, it's very upsetting when we have a hard time figuring out what's wrong. :(
 
I had considered that too, but he just went to the vet on Monday for a checkup and to get his rabies shot and came out with a clean bill of health. I feel terrible for him. It just seems by his behavior that he does not have any interest in trying to adapt. I have done a lot of fostering and such over the years and I have just never seen it this severe, even in major abuse situations. Ya'll think that with such a recent vet visit we should take him again? :(
 
In my humble opinion, this is not something to be ignored. I would definitley take him back to the vet. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
 
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pipersmommy said:
I had considered that too, but he just went to the vet on Monday for a checkup and to get his rabies shot and came out with a clean bill of health. I feel terrible for him. It just seems by his behavior that he does not have any interest in trying to adapt. I have done a lot of fostering and such over the years and I have just never seen it this severe, even in major abuse situations. Ya'll think that with such a recent vet visit we should take him again? :(
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Absolutely. Its hard with animals since they can't tell us whats bothering them. Some animals have an extremely high pain threshold, so we don't know there's anything wrong until it's really bad.

UTI's aren't usually apparent with just a physical examination, the vet would need to do a urine sample. The vet also might not have have looked for any specific signs of a UTI since your new sheltie hadn't started peeing on himself at the time of his last vet visit.
 
yeah peeing themselves isnt a good sign.. Iris only did it once and it was when she got spayed, poor thing was all dopped up and after the puddle began to appear she had this really sorry look on her face
 
Do not take him to that vet. Take him to another one and explain what is going on, and tell them you are looking for another opinion. I did the same for Smudge when he was sick. I got the same answer, but a different treatment. Sometimes that can make all the difference in the world.
 
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