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

Odd behaviour from 7yo Tibetan Terrier

13 replies

Dillidalli · 01/01/2022 11:19

Bit of health background: she is on long term steroids for eczema. She has them little and often.
4 months ago she strained her rear leg and she has limped and been sensitive ever since. X-rays show nothing wrong, no arthritis no scoliosis, nothing out of place.
So here’s her most recent behaviour changes:
Weeing upstairs when she has always been house trained
Lethargy (previously so energetic)
Lying down in strange places, facing the wall under a table
Still somewhat stiff in back legs
She scratched a hole in the wall of the room she sleeps in (never been a destructive dog)
Her tail is down a lot and she is out of sorts.

Has anyones dog behaved this way and did you find the cause?

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ViceLikeBlip · 01/01/2022 11:25

I've only had one tibetan terrier, but I know that they have very sensitive stomachs, especially to fat. Has she been having more little bits and pieces of leftover sausages/meat etc over xmas?

ImJustNotMeAnymore · 01/01/2022 11:29

Not a vet but I'd be suspicious of kidney issues.

PermanentlyDizzy · 01/01/2022 12:00

Personally, I would suspect the steroids are at the root of it. Just about everything you’ve listed can be a side effect of them.

Steroids can increase water consumption and lead to weeing in the house. They can also cause stomach issues for some dogs, in which case a stomach protectant like omeprazole should be prescribed alongside them. Lethargy is also a common side effect. These things are often dose dependent, but some dogs are super sensitive.

Are the places she’s choosing to lie cool? Steroids can also cause dogs to feel excessively hot. Even my skinny, thin skinned sighthound used to choose to lie on the floor rather than his bed when he was on them.

How long has she been on them? Long term steroids can lead to muscle wastage as well, which might explain the problems with her back legs. As for the destruction, anxiety driven behaviours are also not unusual for dogs on long term steroid treatment.

To be honest, I would book an appointment to discuss it with her vet. With steroids, if they are essential and long-term, they need to be carefully and very slowly tapered down to the lowest possible dose and frequency that keeps the condition under control. Sadly for my boy, long term steroid treatment caused him to develop other serious health issues, even with very careful management. He had a really serious life threatening condition though, so there was no other option. In your position, I would want to discuss all potential treatment options aside from steroids with the vet to be sure there is no other choice. If she does come off them, the taper needs to be ridiculously slow and carefully managed by the vet.

PermanentlyDizzy · 01/01/2022 12:05

Info on long-term steroid treatment.

My boy developed Iatrogenic Cushings due to long-term steroid treatment. This is info re steroid treatment from the specialist vets he was under.

TickleMyFanny · 01/01/2022 12:07

I would consider dementia. That's what my dog did - facing the wall, weeing in odd places and started eating anything and everything.

Dillidalli · 01/01/2022 14:02

Thanks, yes she has been sneaked extra treats. I’ll look into both. Kidneys did cross my mind.

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Dillidalli · 01/01/2022 14:04

@PermanentlyDizzy aw sorry about your dog. So hard trying to balance what’s best for the dog. I’ll look Into it.

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Dillidalli · 01/01/2022 14:06

@TickleMyFanny it did cross our mind but as she’s so young we thought we’d look into everything x

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Thatldo · 01/01/2022 14:22

How old is your dog?

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 01/01/2022 14:41

I would have though seven is a bit young for dementia, though of course anything is possible.

I think I would be making a vet appointment to discuss the benefits of the steroids vs. the apparent negative side effects for her. Long-term use of steroids can cause other health issues and sometimes the benefit of the steroids isn't worth it long-term in some dogs.

What other treatment did you try for her skin issues before deciding to go down the route of steroids? I'm wondering if she has an allergy to something and with all the tidbits at Christmas, something has caused it flare up even more.

Dillidalli · 06/01/2022 22:49

So I’ve been back to the vet and he’s said that everything is pointing towards hip dysplasia but it’s not showing on the X-ray so it may be mild or beginning stages. So on-lead walks from now on, anti inflammatories, massage, keeping her warm etc etc.

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PermanentlyDizzy · 07/01/2022 13:33

So sorry to hear it could be HD.

The Canine Arthritis Management website and FB group have some really useful information and interviews with specialists which you might find useful to help manage it.

Dillidalli · 07/01/2022 14:01

Thank you. I’ll check it out.

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