Behavior Changes in my 8 year old girl??

Basenji Talk
Log in to reply
  • N

    My 8 year old Olly is the most mellow laid back girl you could ask for. Perfect pup for an older single woman living alone and working from home. I've had her since she was 4 after she retired from the ring. My little paper chewing machine is always crated when she is alone at home and enjoys going to daycare periodically when she watches the other dogs, naps and spends more time hanging with the human counselors. She has always slept in the bed with me at night or during a daytime nap. In the last 8 weeks, she has been shaking her head, looking up as if she is being buzzed by a gnat (which I don't see) and taking off as if she is being chased by the hounds of hell. This can occur at at time of the day or night and from any location, her bed under the kitchen table where I work and surprisingly even in our bed at night. She was treated for an ear infection about 8 mos ago by her regular vet. When this episode started, I couldn't get to the regular vet so I took her to one close by who treated her a minor ear infection in two visits but the ear shaking and wild flights have commenced again. I have an appt with her regular vet this week. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this type of activity and what were the causes of it.
    Thanks for any info and experiences you care to share.
    NJBasenji

    0
  • J

    @njdeb Wow. That's a puzzle. Kudos to you for the new vet appointment. Couple things come to mind... First, I'm not a vet. Just a Basenji junky. Always defer to your vet. I'd be curious if it might be a reoccurring ear infection, an allergy to something (e.g., pollen), a bug in there, or maybe a foxtail, or possibly hearing loss. Can dogs get Tinnitus? Olly's defiantly not happy about something. I'm just throwing out thoughts, But if it were me these are a few things I'd be prepped to ask the vet about and have them eliminate them one by one. Vet might just ignore me and get right to it. Even better. But these are things that cross my mind...

    1
  • N

    @jengosmonkey
    Thanks so much for your thoughtful response. Regular vet checked her ears which looked pretty good although she gave me some additional ear medicine. She also thought it might be allergies (I know mine have been killing me this year). Since the regular vet is a bit of a trip (about 30 minutes), I am set up to have a new patient visit in early June with another well regarded multi vet practice about 10 minutes away. A perfect time to get another vet's opinion on the new behavior assuming that it still occurring. Olly has been boarded at her favorite kennel for a week because I was ill and afraid I might be hospitalized. I check on her via their webcam during the day and she seems perfectly content. I asked if they had seen any head shaking or flight during her but they said she seemed normal. I think her aim is to drive me nuts. She is succeeding!

    Thanks again!

    1

Suggested Topics

  • M

    Socializing 8 week old basenji with other dogs

    Basenji Talk
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    5k Views
    ?
    Hi, Socialization was one of my worries and I wanted to get it right, get your friends over and have them wear hats and bags and anything and everything at different times, what we did at home was just getting the household socialization such as umbrellas, pots, rubbish bins etc started and if you have friends with vaccinated and friendly dogs get them around. There is a lot of socialization you can do before your pup is fully vaccinated at home, rubbish day is a good day for standing at the gate watching the big noisy trucks go by, picking up the bins and banging them down, watching the mower, hearing the motorbike being started. Just remember let your pup take it's time don't force it when it is uncomfortable. Our 6 month old boy is doing great and is quite a confident fella. At 14 weeks we did puppy class for 7 weeks and only started going to a dog park at 4 months and he automatically knew how to be a dog when he was with the other dogs. Good luck.
  • W

    Considering adopting a 3 year old Brindle

    Basenji Talk
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    5k Views
    D
    Congrats! I would still urine strip test him monthly for glucose. Jennifer
  • JazzysMomJ

    Birthday Girls

    Basenji Talk
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    3k Views
    JazzysMomJ
    @Elysium: That's what I wanted to say :D Happy birthday from Germany, too! Cute, sharing the birthday with your dog ;) Yes, I like to tease Rebecca that is how I can remember her birthday – because it's Jazzy's birthday too. LOL Keoki turns 3 on the 17th. My pups are growing up on me!
  • K

    Update on our girl…

    Basenji Talk
    18
    0 Votes
    18 Posts
    4k Views
    renaultf1R
    @lvoss: Have you been counting days since she went in? Also, Walmart has $4 fleece throw blankets that you can use on your furniture for her to lay on as a compromise to britches. If you are really lucky you may be able to find them at Big Lots for as low as $2.50 I'd second what lvoss says about fleece - my pup is in heat as well although we're 10 days further in (Liyah started on the 8th) than you are :D. I found a bolt of fleece in Walmart's remnants section this week - cut 3 throws from it - actually thicker than the pre-made throws. The bolt cost 2.84 - quite a deal!
  • Rita JeanR

    Dogs As Smart as 2-Year old

    Basenji Talk
    33
    0 Votes
    33 Posts
    9k Views
    BasenjimammaB
    nobarcus wrote you could have one of those reality shows like the Ozzy Osbourne Family only it would be all the craziness the dogs were creating That would be so funny and doopey.. Kanagan wrote He's an extremely picky eater. I cannot motivate him with treats at all. Anyone else with a Basenji like this? Otis will eat anything..except the fish my hubby caught during our trip last week..we took it into his mouth, chewed on it for a few seconds, spit it out and thn tried it again, with the same results..he just could not get himslef to eat it. The dachshund on the other hand devoured it, only to realize too late what he had done, then he had this horrified look on his face..as if he had eaten poison or something..hilarious in my eyes, not so much in Gus' eyes..Otis and Luna thought he was insane for eating the fish..it was even cleaned and filead (sorry about spelling, having a blond, foreign moment and can't think of it..), but nope not edible in their mind..
  • sabaS

    My Very Clever Girl…

    Basenji Talk
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    5k Views
    sabaS
    @snorky998: The way those little feet can grasp and manipulate things, it's almost as if they do have a psuedo thumb (like pandas).:) Opposable thumbs are often related to species that are considered to have a higher order of thinking. Those of us here that have ever said "How the h*** did the dog(s) do that!!" may secretly think they just hide their thumbs till we're not looking :D. Higher order of thinking? Who knows. Prankster order of thinking? Absolutely!! :D :D :D Toooooooooo funny, and tooooooo true…