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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

The doghouse

My dog bit me

75 replies

TigsytheTiger · 01/01/2019 13:23

I have a large Rhodesian Ridgeback who will be 8 years old in March and a French Bulldog who is just 4.

Last night I tried to get them both to go out and do a wee about 10pm. The Bulldog trotted off but my Ridgie sat there, eyes open but upright with a vacant look in his eyes. He's done this a few times over recent months and has snapped at my daughter who is 18 when she tried to touch him. I have told her not to touch him again when he seems to be in this vacant place. He wouldn't move last night so I gently touched his shoulder and said his name and turned on me snarling and bit my finger leaving quite a deep wound and lots of bleeding.

A few hours spent in A&E, hand dressed and antibiotics given. However I am very shaken and now very concerned and will speak to the vet tomorrow when they open.

He's back to his usual docile waggy tailed self but this is not a good sign and seems to be an escalation.

He's also wee'd and poo'ed a couple of times overnight in the house which again is totally out of character but seems fine otherwise and eats well and bounces around on walks.

I had a Ridgeback previously who had a massive brain tumour and had to be put to sleep but with hindsight was behaving a bit oddly for a few months previously - although not this vacant, trance like state with aggression.

Just wondered if anyone had experienced similar. I will obviously deal with this, although not helped by him being totally vet phobic and can only be examined under sedation.

I can't have an aggressive dog that is a danger to me and others but it's broken my heart that my big soft baby is behaving so strangely.

My partner died in an accident nearly 4 years ago and this dog was my rock in my deepest darkest hours.

OP posts:

Report

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 03/01/2019 21:03

I was thinking of you earlier. I hope tomorrow goes well and they are able to find a treatable problem

TigsytheTiger · 04/01/2019 10:51

He's back home They were able to take bloods without a full sedation but he can hardly walk because of the 6 diazepam tablets I had to give him and is falling over, losing his legs and very disorientated. Managed between me and my daughter to lift all 8.5 stone of him onto the sofa, so I’m sat with him, trying to keep him still and quiet.

Have to wait for test results and in the palaver of paying trying to get him out to the car I forgot to ask when I'll hear, so will call them later.

OP posts:

Apocalyptichorsewoman · 04/01/2019 12:27

Oh Bless you! Hope it all goes ok- thinking of you.

Bordercollies · 04/01/2019 15:13

My friends dog had this. It was a type of epilepsy. He escalated and the vet said they could try meds but it could build up and he could have a big seizure. He was a big dog and could easily have killed someone if he had a big seizure so my friend had to put him to sleep. He was only a young boy and so lovely the rest of the time but it wasnt worth the risk.

123deepbreath · 04/01/2019 17:06

Sending lots of hugs to you and your big pupper right now

TigsytheTiger · 07/01/2019 15:13

just thought I would post an update as the blood test results have shown his liver is not functioning properly so he has to go back to the hospital on Monday 14th for a general anaesthetic and an ultrasound.

It could any number of things they look for, so no closer to really knowing apart from the fact that his liver isn’t working properly and they need to find out why.

OP posts:

Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername · 07/01/2019 16:01

Ohh bless his heart...and yours. I really hope everything turns out ok. Lots of love and hugs for him and for you OP

Nesssie · 07/01/2019 17:02

Oh bless. Best wishes to you and doggy

Normalnorman · 10/01/2019 04:01

TigsytheTiger

Just wondering how you're getting on?

Zariiya · 10/01/2019 04:29

Why have you left it so long to take him to the vets... this has obviously gone on a while and now you've been bitten.

Poor dog.

Devilishpyjamas · 10/01/2019 04:34

RTFT. She went the day after posting. This is a second vet visit following up on tests.

I hope it is something easily fixable OP.

Zariiya · 10/01/2019 04:52

I rtft but op said it happened before with her 18yo daughter. So it obviously wasn't dealt with right away.

TigsytheTiger · 11/01/2019 06:33

I said he had previously snapped at my daughter who is 18. It happened just after he had woken up and at the time I thought he was just half asleep and she had surprised him.

As soon as there was an indication it was something more than that I was in contact with the vet straight away.

I told the vet the whole story and he certainly didn't say your poor dog why didn't you come sooner

OP posts:

Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername · 11/01/2019 07:52

I was thinking about you lsst night.....how is he doing? ? Hope all goes ok on Monday. ... Ignore pp.....the rest of us are behind you

TigsytheTiger · 11/01/2019 08:06

He's ok, but weeing a lot, so a few accidents and he's a big dog so there's a lot of wee!

I'm calling the vet today to talk about an alternative sedative to diazepam as he thinks the issues last week after sedation were so prolonged because his liver couldn't process the drug through his system.

So hard to watch him as sometimes he's full of beans and dancing around wagging his tail and other times it's very obvious that he's not well at all.

OP posts:

MissingGeorgeMichael · 11/01/2019 08:44

So sorry to hear you and he are going through this

Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername · 11/01/2019 10:05

Love his heart. Please let us know how it goes on Monday. ...a random stranger on the net is thinking about u both

TigsytheTiger · 11/01/2019 19:20

Sadly I spoke to the vet today who has had further test results back and with his support have made the decision to put my poor old boy to sleep on Monday.

It's devastating but I couldn't bear the thought of any suffering and his view is that the vacant bouts and aggression are unrelated to the health problems and most likely onset of dementia.

Thanks for all the support, I'm going to spend the weekend spoiling him rotten and giving him lots of love,

OP posts:

PineappleTart · 11/01/2019 19:24

I'm so sorry to read your update :( tough decision but for the best x

Rolypolybabies · 11/01/2019 19:25

So.sorry to see this update. You seem like a lovely , committed owner. I hope it goes well x

BiteyShark · 11/01/2019 19:26

Lots of cuddles and spoiling. So sorry

Namechangedforthis79 · 11/01/2019 19:29

I'm so sorry to read your update. You're undoubtedly doing the right thing, to let him go while he still has quality of life. It doesn't make it any easier though.

TheGreenDot · 11/01/2019 19:30

I’m so sorry op. I hope you have a lovely weekend with him and enjoy spoiling him.

SaturdaySauv · 11/01/2019 19:34

HollyBollyBooBoo · 11/01/2019 19:37

Gosh you poor thing, really feel for you. The right decision though x

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