[koda89]

Hi everyone! I just joined today and was hoping someone would have some thoughts on what's happening with our dog. You guys all seem pretty knowledgeable and give really good advice so here it is. My best friend and her boyfriend adopted Max a little over a month ago from a local shelter. He's a 10 month old shepherd mix and the only pre-existing condition he had was a grade 1 heart murmur. Up until about a week ago, he had been the perfect dog. He was very loving and playful with everyone. Very smart and inquisitive. No behavioral problems whatsoever. About a week ago, he began exhibiting fearful, and occasionally aggressive behavior towards everyone in the house except for my friend and me, but only really at night time. During the day he's his usual self and nothing seems wrong, but at night he cries and flinches when other people touch him and sometimes bares his teeth and snaps at them. He refuses to leave his crate or whatever corner he's hiding in unless one of the two of us is accompanying him. He's not just fearful of men either. It's all people other than my friend and myself. He's also just recently started peeing in the house. Up until this point, he hadn't had a single accident. I'm not sure if this is related or not, but also recently, he had some trouble with urination. It was painful if he went at all and there was some blood in it. We took him to the vet because we were worried about stones, crystals, or an infection. They couldn't feel any stones and put him on the antiobiotic Clavamox and it seems to be helping. None of its side effects seem related to his recent change in behavior though. We are all really worried about him and any thoughts or ideas you might have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Update: Last night Max actually bit someone. He was trying to remove the leash after taking him out to pee.

[leashedForLife]

My best friend and her Bf adopted Max (approx) a month ago from a... shelter... 10-MO shepherd-mix... he (has) a grade 1 heart murmur.
Up until about a week ago, he had been the perfect dog... very loving and playful with everyone... smart and inquisitive. No behavioral problems whatsoever.
>> About a week ago, he began exhibiting fearful, and occasionally aggressive behavior towards everyone in the house except for my friend and me, but only really at night time. During the day he's his usual self... nothing seems wrong... at night he cries and flinches when other people touch him and sometimes bares his teeth and snaps at them. <<

has anything changed that U know of?
did he have any bad-experiences?
have the people handling him been the same folks - no new handlers?

some kind of traumatic experience, a vision problem (poor vision in dim light), new ppl with whom he is not comfortable, are all things that come to mind... but it could also be something entirely different. :---(



[quote] He refuses to leave his crate or whatever corner he's hiding in unless one of the two of us is accompanying him. He's not just fearful of men... It's (anyone but) my friend and myself... also (he) recently started peeing in the house. Up until this point, he hadn't had a single accident. I'm not sure if this is related or not, but also recently, he had some trouble with urination. It was painful if he went at all and there was some blood in it. We took him to the vet because we were worried about stones, crystals, or an infection. They couldn't feel any stones and put him on the antiobiotic Clavamox and it seems to be helping. None of its side effects seem related to his recent change in behavior though. We are all really worried about him and any thoughts or ideas you might have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this!


did the FRIGHT pre-date the Clavamox, or come along with it?
i ask because of this... from Clavamox Side Effects in Dogs | eHow.com

Warning
1. Clavamox should not be given to any dog with a known history of
being allergic to penicillin, because amoxicillin is closely related to penicillin.
Normal Side Effects
2. These include vomiting once and some diarrhea. To avoid vomiting,
it's recommended to give some food to your dog before giving Clavamox.
Excessive Vomiting
3. Vomiting more than once is not normal. If the dog has also lost his appetite and seems depressed or frightened, call the vet at once.
It could be a sign of an overdose.
Rapid Heart Rate
4. This is a serious side effect... often coupled with excessive panting. Contact your veterinarian right away.
Swelling
5. If the face, head, legs or tail swell up, contact your vet at once.
This is another rare but very serious side effect.

if the FRIGHT was post-Clavamox, i would be calling the Vet on Thanksgiving, or even the ER-vet tonight - an overdose is nothing to mess around with, there may have been an error in dosing (wrong dose tablet, wrong weight on dog,...).

Update: Last night Max actually bit someone. He was trying to remove the leash after taking him out to pee.

until U get this sorted, either U or Ur friend should be the only ppl handling him, even on-leash -- he is too upset to be passed around, limit his contact to just U two for now.
for Ur safety and his, slip his leash on by running the clip thru the wrist-loop, then use the open dangling loop to slip gently over his face/head, and then walk him out in that; the leash should be at least 3/4 inch wide, for his safety.
IOW -Not!- any Flexis!
no skinny strings, a nice fat round horse-lead type, a Brit slip-lead, or a wide flat 6-ft nylon or leather leash.

once back indoors, to remove the leash, relax all tension on the leash, ask him to sit, offer a treat with the other hand, and give a gentle shake + PUSH to the leash about midway between U; the slight stiffness of the leash will push it slightly back thru the wrist-loop, and it will be open a bit on his neck.

if U now ask him to sniff a treat on the floor, the leash-loop can be slipped off over his head while he is head-down and busy with the goody.
try not to DROP the leash + clip with a clatter! he may react with a snap, if he is excessively sound-sensitive with this reaction. :---(

i would put him behind a BABY-gate and caution everyone else except U two to leave him alone; they should not come by and stare, talk at him, etc; a casual, cheerful, hey Pup, as U pass the door is plenty of acknowledgement.

i have a hunch it is the Clavamox... poor dog!
fingers crossed,
--- terry

[koda89]

Nothing at all has changed that we are aware of. The same people have been handling him since he was adopted. There was one incident a few weeks ago, before this all started that was pretty traumatic for him. They were getting ready to have a barbecue one afternoon and when they turned the stove on, Max flipped out and took off running. We caught him pretty quickly and he was fine, but he sat in my friend's boyfriend's lap for the rest of the day quivering the whole time. The problems didn't start until at least a week or so after that though, so no one really thought anything of it.

And as far as the Clavamox goes, the fright definately began before he was on the antibiotics. I was worried about the side effects myself, but I think this is unrelated. He's finished up his treatment for that now too. I've also noticed that his behavior is becoming increasingly submissive, once again, only at night. If you even walk up to him, he will put his ears back, tail between his legs, and get on his back. He's acting like an abused animal, but as far as anyone knows, including the adoption center we got him from, he has no history of abuse.

You gave some really great advice on handling him, especially the bit about putting on and removing the leash, that we've definately started doing. Thank you so much for all your help! I can't tell you how much we appreciate it. I was wondering what your thoughts were on speaking with a dog behaviorist? Our veterinarian suggested it as a potential option. Thank you again!

[leashedForLife]

I was wondering what your thoughts were on speaking with a dog behaviorist? Our veterinarian suggested it as a potential option.

definitely a VERY good idea -
whatever is going on, his fear is very real, and dogs who are badly frightened will BITE - they are only attempting to defend themselves, but ppl get hurt when dogs, especially dogs over 25#, are badly scared.

Rescue-remedy DROPS (liquid) may help, as would DAP pump-spray -
but i would make an appt with a positive-reinforcement trainer who has experience with fears and phobias, or with a CAAB - Certd Applied Animal Behaviorist - or a veterinary-behaviorist, jjust ASAP.

the longer he lives in this highly stressed state, the more likely that someone, including the dog, may be very badly hurt. in a state of panic, he could do something like run into the street, and be HBC.


i hope that it all works out with no lasting effect,
--- terry