Strange puppy behavior

winkfamily · 07-19-2008, 10:37 PM

We recently rescued a puppy from a shelter; a great perinese husky mix. She is about 11 weeks old and has been with us for 3 weeks. Recently she has started to spend some of her time just walking around the perimeter of our house with her head down and her mouth slightly open; she does this over and over again. I have never seen a puppy do this before so I am hoping someone with more dog/puppy experience may have seen this before.

We took her to the vet last Friday and she got a clean bill of health.

valerie · 07-20-2008, 07:33 AM

First of all, good for you for the rescue!!

I have some questions... is the puppy actually going around the
perimeter of the HOUSE or is it the yard... or perhaps both?
And where exactly are you located, are you in the country?
I was thinking there might be "critters" of some sort and she's
picking up the scent.

What do you do when she does this? Do you try to re-direct her
at all? Is she easily taken away from this behavior or is she sort
of "crazed" about it? If you haven't tried stopping her from doing
it, that is where I would start. A little obed training, simple things...
or her favorite toy or ball.

The only other thing I can think of is that this might be a boredom
thing. She's only a baby, even though she might look big, but they
can still need more physical and mental stimulation, especially the
husky part of her mix.

Good for you also on taking her to the vet for a check!

Accountable · 07-20-2008, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winkfamily

We recently rescued a puppy from a shelter; a great perinese husky mix. She is about 11 weeks old and has been with us for 3 weeks. Recently she has started to spend some of her time just walking around the perimeter of our house with her head down and her mouth slightly open; she does this over and over again. I have never seen a puppy do this before so I am hoping someone with more dog/puppy experience may have seen this before.

We took her to the vet last Friday and she got a clean bill of health.

Like Val says, good on ya for the rescue!

Where are you? It's summer here (hot as hell) and that's a cold-weather pup. Can you upload a video by some great coincidence?

winkfamily · 07-20-2008, 08:27 AM

Thank you all for your help. We figured it out the hard way last night. She got worse last night and she began whining and drooling while she was following the perimeter of the house. We ran her down to an emergency pet hospital and they discovered that the ammonia levels in her blood were 4 times higher than normal; which they said effects her brain functions.

The vet said that this is due to a blood vessel (or vessels) which is allowing her blood to by pass her liver. She spent the night in the hospital and we are hoping to pick her up today. We will have her tested by her normal vet to see if this can be corrected surgically or if she will have to be on medication and a special diet.

The vet called it a type of shunt.

pantsonfire321@aol.com · 07-20-2008, 08:56 AM

All the best to you and your little one i do hope doggie feels better soon .

Trunk Monkey · 07-20-2008, 09:09 AM

I want to say welcome to FG and so happy you rescued this pup. I found a website that may help you understand what is happening http://vetsurgerycentral.com/pss.htm

Good luck and please keep us udated

Accountable · 07-20-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winkfamily

Thank you all for your help. We figured it out the hard way last night. She got worse last night and she began whining and drooling while she was following the perimeter of the house. We ran her down to an emergency pet hospital and they discovered that the ammonia levels in her blood were 4 times higher than normal; which they said effects her brain functions.

The vet said that this is due to a blood vessel (or vessels) which is allowing her blood to by pass her liver. She spent the night in the hospital and we are hoping to pick her up today. We will have her tested by her normal vet to see if this can be corrected surgically or if she will have to be on medication and a special diet.

The vet called it a type of shunt.

Goodness! Finger crossed for you.

valerie · 07-20-2008, 10:16 AM

Oh I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm glad you acted quickly, though.
Interesting that her vet gave her a clean bill of health such a short
time ago, but things can change rapidly with the little ones.

Thanks for letting us know, and hopefully you'll find a way to manage
her problem and she'll be fine.

<<hugs>>

Accountable · 07-20-2008, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valerie

Oh I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm glad you acted quickly, though.
Interesting that her vet gave her a clean bill of health such a short
time ago, but things can change rapidly with the little ones.

Thanks for letting us know, and hopefully you'll find a way to manage
her problem and she'll be fine.

<<hugs>>

They probably checked for worms & diseases & didn't even think about a physical-type defect.

valerie · 07-20-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accountable

They probably checked for worms & diseases & didn't even think about a physical-type defect.

I'm sure that's the case, and normally in a pup that age, if eyes
are clear, etc. there'd really be no reason to automatically do a
blood test.

Poor little thing, I hope she's okay.

07-19-2008, 10:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
winkfamily Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2	Strange puppy behavior We recently rescued a puppy from a shelter; a great perinese husky mix. She is about 11 weeks old and has been with us for 3 weeks. Recently she has started to spend some of her time just walking around the perimeter of our house with her head down and her mouth slightly open; she does this over and over again. I have never seen a puppy do this before so I am hoping someone with more dog/puppy experience may have seen this before. We took her to the vet last Friday and she got a clean bill of health.
Local Time: 07:41 PM Local Date: 11-20-2008

07-20-2008, 07:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
valerie Watanya Cecilia Supporting Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 6,358	Re: Strange puppy behavior First of all, good for you for the rescue!! I have some questions... is the puppy actually going around the perimeter of the HOUSE or is it the yard... or perhaps both? And where exactly are you located, are you in the country? I was thinking there might be "critters" of some sort and she's picking up the scent. What do you do when she does this? Do you try to re-direct her at all? Is she easily taken away from this behavior or is she sort of "crazed" about it? If you haven't tried stopping her from doing it, that is where I would start. A little obed training, simple things... or her favorite toy or ball. The only other thing I can think of is that this might be a boredom thing. She's only a baby, even though she might look big, but they can still need more physical and mental stimulation, especially the husky part of her mix. Good for you also on taking her to the vet for a check! __________________ Tamsen's Dogster Page http://www.dogster.com/?27525
Local Time: 06:41 PM Local Date: 11-20-2008

07-20-2008, 08:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
winkfamily Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2	Re: Strange puppy behavior Thank you all for your help. We figured it out the hard way last night. She got worse last night and she began whining and drooling while she was following the perimeter of the house. We ran her down to an emergency pet hospital and they discovered that the ammonia levels in her blood were 4 times higher than normal; which they said effects her brain functions. The vet said that this is due to a blood vessel (or vessels) which is allowing her blood to by pass her liver. She spent the night in the hospital and we are hoping to pick her up today. We will have her tested by her normal vet to see if this can be corrected surgically or if she will have to be on medication and a special diet. The vet called it a type of shunt.
Local Time: 07:41 PM Local Date: 11-20-2008

07-20-2008, 08:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
pantsonfire321@aol.com Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,941	Re: Strange puppy behavior All the best to you and your little one i do hope doggie feels better soon .
Local Time: 03:41 AM Local Date: 11-21-2008

07-20-2008, 09:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
Trunk Monkey Monkey See, Monkey Do Supporting Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: In Your Trunk Posts: 20,243	Re: Strange puppy behavior I want to say welcome to FG and so happy you rescued this pup. I found a website that may help you understand what is happening http://vetsurgerycentral.com/pss.htm Good luck and please keep us udated __________________ Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Local Time: 06:41 PM Local Date: 11-20-2008

07-20-2008, 10:16 AM	#8 (permalink)
valerie Watanya Cecilia Supporting Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 6,358	Re: Strange puppy behavior Oh I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm glad you acted quickly, though. Interesting that her vet gave her a clean bill of health such a short time ago, but things can change rapidly with the little ones. Thanks for letting us know, and hopefully you'll find a way to manage her problem and she'll be fine. <<hugs>> __________________ Tamsen's Dogster Page http://www.dogster.com/?27525
Local Time: 06:41 PM Local Date: 11-20-2008

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