Can Dogs Change Personalities Overnight?

[Jack_Dawson]

My gf is coming unglued cause her long haired chihuaha (sp?), a normally lively, affectionate, loving, energetic creature has morphed into a docile, listless, barkless and energy-less dog overnight. He really is acting strange...I saw it w/ my own eyes. He normally jumps onto her bed no problem, and last night he tried and fell back down. She had to help him up.

But he's not throwing up. He's eating. He's drinking. She thinks it's psychological. Do such things exist?

Any vets in DU? In any case, thanks for listening.

[gollygee]

1. It's probably physical

almost certainly. She should get him to a vet.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. The dog is probably sick

Being sick doesn't necessarily cut the appetite or cause vomiting.

A trip to the vet is next, maybe?

--bkl

[CottonBear]

3. The poor thing may have had a stroke.

[Modem Butterfly]

4. Absolutely, but she should go to the vet just in case

Our Chow puppy changed completely when her older "brother" was hit by a car. She went from being a typically annoying twelve month old to brooding and moody. Of course, adult Chows are like that anyway, but she lost all interest in food, toys, walks, or playing. We got her another companion, and she regained some interest in playing and became quite enthusiastic about food and walkies, but she lost all interest in toys. It was as though she outgrew it the day our boy died.

[Jack_Dawson]

5. I'm very sorry to hear about your boy

:grouphug:

[Modem Butterfly]

7. Thanks.

He actually died four years ago. Some good came out of it: the guy that hit him was a Freeper, with a big Freep bumpersticker on the back of his truck. I started to haunt FR.com and their Atlanta-area events, hoping to find the guy. It was through this search that I found DU.

[hlthe2b]

6. dogs in pain will act that way too... He may well have injured his back

Especially if he is now reluctant to move. See a veterinarian-- this can be serious.

[carpediem]

8. please take him to the vet.

I don't want to scare you, but a similar thing happened with our dog she was always and forever puppyish. Then she got listless, docile etc and I originally attributed it to age, she was 12, then took her in to see what was up. She ended up having a disease that was causing her own body to attack her own red blood cells, resulting in anemic conditions. After transfusions, and steroids and iv's she threw a clot(a by-product of the number of transfusions) and we had to make the decision to have her put down. the whole thing lasted one week, it was devastating.

One thing you can look at are his gums to see if they don't look pink like normal. To see this you can simply put a little pressure on the gums (it will be white under where your finger applied pressure) then when you release it you should see pink rush back into the area. If you don't see much difference or if it seems to pink-up too slowly then you need to go immediately to the vet.

I hope this isn't the case, but the reason I bring it up is because I still think if I had just reacted and taken her in a little sooner the steroids could have helped her faster. Good luck.

[skygazer]

9. Get him to a vet

Dogs will certainly show psychological reactions but you usually know what the cause is. Has anyone moved out or has your gf lost any other pets? If there's no discernable cause for him to be upset then it is probably physical. Not being able to jump on the bed would indicate pain or weakness of some sort. I'd have him checked personally.

[ElectroPrincess]

10. Yes, see a vet and have a blood "work up" done on the pooch

My pup turned 11 y.o. in August. Each year I have a Vet do a "Geriatric Physical" which included blood tests that can detect problems with the liver, kidneys, etc.

If your gf pooch is younger than 7 y.o., STILL take to the Vet for blood work ASAP. It's "activity level" that should concern you because it's the lethargy that brings about the personality changes.

I hope it's something simple and your "little darling" is more active soon.

Oh, BTW and important = my neighbor's Great Dane almost died after eating mushrooms growing in the corner of their yard. Please check out your pet's yard while policing up da poop to insure your's doesn't have the same fate. She (the neighbor's Dane) survived but had to have her stomach pumped etc. etc. It was touch and go for the first 24 hours.

Again, off to the vet for a complete work up ---> best advice.

[MuseRider]

11. Time for the vet.

Have him check thyroid levels as well. Our Golden became listless, not quite as quickly as that but that was her problem. She went from a healthy, fun loving, spunky 3 year old to a dog you would have sworn was near death. Daily meds and she is back to her old wonderful self. Just a thought. I hope everything turns out OK.

[jukes]

12. anything from

potassium depletion to arthritis. better to have him looked @.