Post by corbesa on Nov 6, 2013 11:48:11 GMT -5
Hi,
I've not been on here for ahwile so I'll provide a little background :-) Heidi joined us Dec 27, 2012. In January 2013 she was diagnosed with hookworm and after 3 different medications, one of them twice we are on a monthly fourth (due to get another test in January). Along with that we had some difficulties finding the right food for Heidi. We ended up on raw which worked great for awhile but then she started losing lots of weight. We tried different foods within the raw but she just got sick so we stuck with what worked but with the weight loss we were referred to OVC and a Nutrionist. Heidi is now being slowly transitioned to a vet high fibre gastro-intestinal kibble and all is going well (poop wise...lol). Her B12 and folate levels were low so she is taking a folic acid supplement and she got her first of 7 B12 shots last Saturday.
Despite all her lovely medical issues, Heidi is a great dog. She is so calm and sweet. Whines if people won't say hello to her on walks. She is so friendly :-) At home she usually follows me about. She started out in the crate but we gave her free roam after about 2 months. The crate stood empty for quite some time. A couple months ago, she switched from sleeping with us to going downstairs to the crate. She would not stay upstairs with us at all. No idea why. Since she now spent lots of time in the crate I made sure it was comfortable for her (big cushy old duvet folded up), but I stopped feeding her treats in the crate when I left (We always asked her to go into the crate when we left and that is where I feed her treats - the door was open so I'm sure she didn't stay there). She is super excited and happy when I get home and is eager and well-behaved on walks.
Our problem is this....now she is doesn't want to be with us at all. Normally, where I am, Heidi is, whether it is in the bsmt working out/watching tv, main floor in the kitchen, etc. I move floor to floor so does Heidi. It seems after her dinner she goes to the crate and doesn't come out until bedtime. She doesn't even come into the kitchen/dining room for our dinner. If I come and get her and take her downstairs with me she will go and stay as long as I watch her until she settles. It is all very bizarre. It's like she wants to be alone all the time. It makes us sad. Since I've gotten used to her being everywhere it is rather disconcerting.
Any thoughts on this behaviour? Is it a phase? My philosophy is a dog is part of the family and it is hard not to think that she doesn't want to be part of ours :-( We both love her. We've never yelled at her or done anything scary that I'm aware of. She is very well-behaved and does what we ask. She greets us with great enthusiasm (or maybe it is YEAH! Your Home! I can get outside and pee now!)
Anyway thanks for reading my long rambling story :-) All suggestions/thoughts welcome!
I've not been on here for ahwile so I'll provide a little background :-) Heidi joined us Dec 27, 2012. In January 2013 she was diagnosed with hookworm and after 3 different medications, one of them twice we are on a monthly fourth (due to get another test in January). Along with that we had some difficulties finding the right food for Heidi. We ended up on raw which worked great for awhile but then she started losing lots of weight. We tried different foods within the raw but she just got sick so we stuck with what worked but with the weight loss we were referred to OVC and a Nutrionist. Heidi is now being slowly transitioned to a vet high fibre gastro-intestinal kibble and all is going well (poop wise...lol). Her B12 and folate levels were low so she is taking a folic acid supplement and she got her first of 7 B12 shots last Saturday.
Despite all her lovely medical issues, Heidi is a great dog. She is so calm and sweet. Whines if people won't say hello to her on walks. She is so friendly :-) At home she usually follows me about. She started out in the crate but we gave her free roam after about 2 months. The crate stood empty for quite some time. A couple months ago, she switched from sleeping with us to going downstairs to the crate. She would not stay upstairs with us at all. No idea why. Since she now spent lots of time in the crate I made sure it was comfortable for her (big cushy old duvet folded up), but I stopped feeding her treats in the crate when I left (We always asked her to go into the crate when we left and that is where I feed her treats - the door was open so I'm sure she didn't stay there). She is super excited and happy when I get home and is eager and well-behaved on walks.
Our problem is this....now she is doesn't want to be with us at all. Normally, where I am, Heidi is, whether it is in the bsmt working out/watching tv, main floor in the kitchen, etc. I move floor to floor so does Heidi. It seems after her dinner she goes to the crate and doesn't come out until bedtime. She doesn't even come into the kitchen/dining room for our dinner. If I come and get her and take her downstairs with me she will go and stay as long as I watch her until she settles. It is all very bizarre. It's like she wants to be alone all the time. It makes us sad. Since I've gotten used to her being everywhere it is rather disconcerting.
Any thoughts on this behaviour? Is it a phase? My philosophy is a dog is part of the family and it is hard not to think that she doesn't want to be part of ours :-( We both love her. We've never yelled at her or done anything scary that I'm aware of. She is very well-behaved and does what we ask. She greets us with great enthusiasm (or maybe it is YEAH! Your Home! I can get outside and pee now!)
Anyway thanks for reading my long rambling story :-) All suggestions/thoughts welcome!