Our 12 year old female Jack Russell cross has started howling like a banshee, for no appartant reason. She does this about 2 hours after her morning feed usually when she wakes up from a rest and is inconsolable for about 10 mins. She does not appear to be in pain but continues to make this earsplitting howling almost wolflike. She venetually settls down and then sleeps for a couple of hous. Any ideas anybody. It frightens the life out of me especially as I do not know why she does this.
2007-10-18 04:01:19 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
i would take your dog to the vet.
her howling could be cause by many things, the 3 most likely would probably be-
1. pain, dogs will often howl if in any sort of pain
2. demeture - it does occasionally happen to in dogs
3. going deaf or blind and getting disorientated
ask your vet to check for all of these things and i'm sure you will find the problem
2007-10-18 11:32:38 · answer #1 · answered by Fred 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi
It is quite possible that your problem is just down to her age almost like senility sometimes elderly dogs regress almost back to puppy like behaviour, or she could be going slightly deaf and some sounds appear louder than usual. I had an old English sheepdog years ago who had 9pm barkies she did it every night for no reason and there was nothing wrong with her. I am a groomer and dog psychologist so can advise. Good idea however to get a vet health check just to put your mind at rest.
2007-10-18 14:07:15 · answer #2 · answered by P S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off get her vet checked. If every thing is o.k. it could just be old age. Is she deaf or blind? I ask this because a dog that I used to have, was blind and deaf when he got old, and he would wake in the night and howl. It was because he was disorientated. There was not really much we could do except comfort him and settle him down again. I hope it all works out for you.
2007-10-18 12:00:48 · answer #3 · answered by red lady-bird 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dogs often howl when they hurt.
This might be associated with the nerve that feeds the eye, sinus, teeth and ear. It's a pretty major nerve - the same one in humans which causes our teeth to be sensitive or our ears to ring when we have a sinus infection.
That said, she needs to go to the vets for a thorough exam - including her eyes, ears, nose, throat, teeth, jaw, neck etc.
At 12, she could easily have some age-related concern - including joint, nerve, and sensory issues.
2007-10-18 11:19:15 · answer #4 · answered by Barbara B 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, I believe that any elderly dog with an unexplained behaviour change needs to see their vet. The vet will likely want to give her a geriatric blood panel first and foremost, especially if she hasn't had one in over 6 months to rule out any physical problems that can creep up really fast in older dogs.
But if a physical cause is ruled out, it's likely cognitive dysfunction syndrome (equivalent of alzheimer's). It can make dogs act in some really strange, inexplicable ways. But your vet can help her. Please don't delay making her an appointment.
2007-10-18 11:25:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
We had a friend who had a Yorkshire Terrier cross that had started to do this same thing...turned out that the dog had a form of canine dementia.Check with the vet
2007-10-18 14:16:50 · answer #6 · answered by murphywingedspur 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
our 10 year old shih tzu started doing the same thing our neighbours must have thought we were killing it but the vet said its sight and hearing could be going it still does it now it has gone a bit senile the vet reckons but she isnt in any pain it is just a bit embarrassing
2007-10-20 15:32:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
shes old and has the beginnings of arthritis... we have lurchers who the same thing, but only when gettin up off the sofa, or their beds...
the vets can give you stuff... or, you can try her on HALF an aspirin before bed... it eases the joints...and reduces inflammation.. youll know when you get it right, shell sleep soundly and wake refreshed...
and before anyone says ooh no, you shouldnt do that... Buddy lived to 18-19 years, he had aspirin for almsot 4yrs... Tyler was 17... he had em for 3 years, and Lec, poor lad, left us yesterday aged 18... just try it... what have you got to lose? one aspirin never killed anyone...
2007-10-18 11:11:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
you need to change your dogs food as dogs get elderly just like people there metabolic rate slows dog .Good dog food company's Hills science plan and eagle pack make food for senior dogs ,She/he is probably having problem digesting her food hence the noise.You need to check her poo to make sure she isn't constipated. Please do take your dog to the vet to make sure that he/she is healthy and her tummy is okay.
2007-10-18 11:11:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
phone the vets, it dont sound right does it.
2007-10-18 11:04:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋