Dog having a "moment"
Discussion
My 14 year old Westie is in great shape apart from being very deaf
In the last month there have been a few times where, on finishing her evening meal, she goes a bit weird.
She sometimes shakes, always looks at me and cries/whimpers and then proceeds to walk around the perimeter of the garden stopping from time to time to dig the ground (or shingle path) and then push it all back with her nose as though burying something. She has regurgitated her meal on occasion and buried that.
I stopped feeding her her normal dog food a couple of week ago in the evenings and now she just has a little meat and biscuits. This seemed to have stopped the little 'turns' but tonight after having some chicken and biscuits she had another episode.
After about 30-60 minutes (or straight after she brings her food up) she's fine and will happily get on her bed and relax.
Any ideas what is going on? I'll take her to me vet for a check-up but she was given a clean bill of health (apart from mild Westie chest) only 3 months ago.
Thanks - it's bloody awful seeing my best friend looking a bit vacant, whimpering and acting like this
In the last month there have been a few times where, on finishing her evening meal, she goes a bit weird.
She sometimes shakes, always looks at me and cries/whimpers and then proceeds to walk around the perimeter of the garden stopping from time to time to dig the ground (or shingle path) and then push it all back with her nose as though burying something. She has regurgitated her meal on occasion and buried that.
I stopped feeding her her normal dog food a couple of week ago in the evenings and now she just has a little meat and biscuits. This seemed to have stopped the little 'turns' but tonight after having some chicken and biscuits she had another episode.
After about 30-60 minutes (or straight after she brings her food up) she's fine and will happily get on her bed and relax.
Any ideas what is going on? I'll take her to me vet for a check-up but she was given a clean bill of health (apart from mild Westie chest) only 3 months ago.
Thanks - it's bloody awful seeing my best friend looking a bit vacant, whimpering and acting like this
bexVN said:
Does sound like tummy ache (esp the digging) try and see if there is a common link with foods being given in relation to the episodes.
Thanks Bex. It's interesting that you say that - although it is like a mental thing from my point of view, the crying would indicte pain. Can a dog suffer from an inability to process excess of, say protein? I wonder if a dried food may be an idea for her second meal?Thanks for taking the time to reply, it's much appreciated.
It's funny, we often suggest chicken as an easy digestible, bland food but actually there are quite a few dogs that don't digest it well.
Dry food can depend on the quality re its digestibility, smaller more frequent meals may help (eg 4 or 5 small meals rather than eg 2 bigger ones), white fish may be a better alternative.
Sounds like the balance was right recently until the chicken though so there may not be that much to alter with the diet.
Check exercise not clashing with eating habits, running around just before or just after a meal may cause issue.
Quite vague responses I'm afraid but hopefully it'll help with a possible link.
Dry food can depend on the quality re its digestibility, smaller more frequent meals may help (eg 4 or 5 small meals rather than eg 2 bigger ones), white fish may be a better alternative.
Sounds like the balance was right recently until the chicken though so there may not be that much to alter with the diet.
Check exercise not clashing with eating habits, running around just before or just after a meal may cause issue.
Quite vague responses I'm afraid but hopefully it'll help with a possible link.
a pleasure to try and helpali_kat said:
I've no advice, as none of my dogs have done this (my cats do, but they work differently!)Hope she is better soon Gary
She's absolutely fine and normal after the episode so Bex diagnosis makes perfect sense - I just need to make sure her evening meal stays very very light.
Trouble is, as a 14 year old sneaky little madam, she stares at me with those big brown eyes and I have to stay really strong not to give her more.
You see what I mean
ali_kat said:
Oh I do! I'd have a Westie yesterday if my Landlord (& work!) allowed it 
And a Dash & Dobie & Mongrels & Rottie & I need to win the lottery! lol
Light is not small, necessarily
How is she after treats?
LOL!!!!And a Dash & Dobie & Mongrels & Rottie & I need to win the lottery! lol
Light is not small, necessarily
How is she after treats?
She's fine - but I only give her one treat, a chew stick of some sort, at lunchtime so as not to overdo it ans to stop her growing a middle age spread
She also gets a bowl of tea too... she loves that!!
The things we do for our little friend huh?
But at least I expected to be a slave to my cats 
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