Neurotic...whats going on?!

ravenstears · 11-14-2006, 03:19 PM

Hi everyone,

I have an older germen shepherd/pincher mix. He’s a sweet dog and means the world to me and he has got to be getting near 16.

Over the last month he’s been acting neurotic. He isn’t small by any means and has been climbing on top of people, desperately trying to get, literally, on top of they’re heads. In the middle of the night he kept me up because he wouldn’t lay anywhere but with his body on top of mine. Its as if he’s afraid to be alone. As soon as I put him outside (which I have to trick him into) he jumps on the door and shakes.

He crawls on the backs of the couches and balances, he gets up on top of the washer and dryer, he just goes anywhere looking for comfort.

He trembles constantly and pants, walking in circles around furniture and crawling in strange tight spaces only to turn around and walk back out, repeating the behavior in 5 rooms of the house, over and over again. Making looping obstacle courses for himself.

He’s been urinating and defecating while he hides and when we try and get him to stop he shakes and crouches away.

But he’s not that way all the time. Its been every other day for the last couple days but its only been this intense and crazy in the last 3 days.

Anyone know whats going on?

Curbside Prophet · 11-14-2006, 03:33 PM

I don't think anyone will know with certainty what's going on. All I can suggest is make sure he is up on his vet visits. He is obviously stressed and bothered, and this can be anything from age, a health condition, or a change in his environment. For your concern, I would start with a vet, and then call a behaviorist if need be.

tirluc · 11-14-2006, 06:55 PM

ok, pushing 16 yr old....ummm, have you had his sight/hearing checked? at this age it's possible that one or both may be failing and this can be pretty scary for a dog.....also, at this age, you could be talking a brain tumor or something of the sort.....i would def be getting him into the vet for a check up.....