The front door is fixed but my dog has got worse and nearly killed herself to day.

OwnedbyChanter

OwnedbyChanter

With out my boys life would be bland
Apr 16, 2009
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Raininghamshire
Sorry to unload on you all but my Bull Mastiff Tanis the one that on my last thread that ate her way out of my front door has got worse.

We got back from Asda today (only out for about 45 mins) when I walked in the front door I knew all was not well. The child gate that was put up to stop her getting near the door again was smashed but held! and I could not see her. I heard her, she had got herself trapped in the unititly (sp) room!

We could not get the door open! I pushed and pushed and I could hear her panicing, I pushed it open and steve climbed through, we got her out but OMG I broke down there and then. It looked like a murder had taken place, I got her out the house and she all but fainted on me, I removed her muzzle and she had broken 2 teeth and lost one blood was everywhere, I has washing her mouth out and one of her teeth was through her lip, She let me clean her up and cuddle her while I cried and screamed.

We got her to the vets how had to serdate her to calm her down, I all but carried her to the car. We let her sleep in the car while we started the clean up. She had knocked over the ironing basket and the basket with all the gloves and scarfs in pooed and wee on them in terror, actually climbed on the side (she is 9 stone and very big) to try and get out the window and broke the inside door handle. There was so much blood it was everywhere I felt sick with the thought that she was so upset. To cause that much pain to herself. I can;t cope with thinking about how upset her must of been.


OH and I have had to really think out what we are going to do with her this is the third time in 3 weeks. She is muzzled when we go out just to protect her (we could not care about the damage to the house she is far more important) but we are so scared that she will either a) have a heart attack when she is panicing b) really hurt herself c) get out the house on to the road hurting herself and others.

We can't take knowing how dstressed she was. I have had her for 8 years and she has always been an amazing friend and once the panicing is over and she hears my voice she goes back to my wonderful soft gentle and amazing dog. She is currently sat on the sofa next to me and every time I look at her I cry.

Sorry pointless but I am so upset i feel sick
 
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Sorry to hear bout today. I have read before about your poor dog. It must be scary everytime you have to leave her. Has she always been like that when left? Just wondering if there is some sort of pet therapist person who could help. Sorry not much help, but hugs to you and doggy :twins:
 
Is this a recent problem? or has she always tended to panic when left alone? Could there be a medical reason for this if it's a new thing?

Poor girl and poor you - not nice to see a loved pet getting hurt.
 
It's a new thing over the last 4 weeks, her rountie has not changed, She is left with her two Springer friends. We took her to the vets this week to have a full check up after the last weeks front door problem, He gave her a clean bill of health in fact he said for age she is great.

The vet today said it might be some form of demensure (sp) in dog form. I am taking her back on Monday when my vets are in and going to talk about a new drug to see if it will help the Emergency vet told me about it today.

She sleeps in our room at night so I can be with her but I am so upset OH and I are be side ourselves with worry
 
Am so sorry that you're going through this, at least it sounds as though your vet is on the ball. Give the drugs a go if they offer them to you - fingers crossed it will help her. Hugs
 
Oh poor you and OH. Its a horrible feeling watching pets suffering and feeling helpless. I hope that the vet can give you something to try. I think my dogs slowly getting dementia, shes 12 and losing it a bit. Fingers crossed they can give you something to try.
 
Oh, ObC, that sounds horrific. Poor Tanis, she must get herself into a right state.

My lab has randomly tried to chew through the kitchen door a couple of times, but it's nothing near to what you are describing. Though even his measly efforts managed to cut his paws and mouth, if that makes you feel a little bit better.

Maybe try keeping her in different situations? Like she might feel more secure kept in a confined space, or she might benefit from being kept out in the back garden where she can run around and let off steam? Maybe if you could build some sort of run for her that would keep her enclosed and safe, but give her enough space so not to panic?

I have no idea, but I really hope the vet can do something for her. Big hugs.
 
Not sure if this will help, but our old girl Maggie was on medication called Anipryl for dementia. She didn't have the same issues as Tanis and the vet did say it doesn't work in all cases, but it did give her a much better quality of life.

I'm inclined to agree with annareeves that it sounds like a quality of life issue and you may have to make a difficult decision. I don't say this lightly, we had to make the same decision very recently.
 
Its very sad and must be very difficult for you to come to terms with.

Hopefully medication will help the situation but if not I agree with
Annareeves and tbaynancy about the poor dogs quality of life, although
I am sure this is something that has occured to you anyway.

HUGS x hopefully the Vet will come up with some answers.
 
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Obc - I have a Bullmastiff & a mastiff x, and understand how upsetting it could be if there behaviour changed dramatically like this.

How old is she? My Mastiff X is getting on for 11 years old, and his behaviour has started to change (he stands barking, he doesn't want anything when you go to see him, just gets himself worked up. He can do this for hours.)

I hope the vet can give you a soloution, keep us updated.
 
it may be a form of seperation axieity brought on by old age.
My german short haired pointer has very recently, if he's left alone then he starts to pace about relentless, howl, bark and generally completey wind himself up. I know you said he gets left with other dogs but it still could be anxieity from you and or your OH.

It may be a good idea to see if you can book in to see a behavioral specialist for him just in case that does help.
My dog now is on prozac and has a very strict routine.

Have you ever thought about maybe ftaping your voices and leaving the tape on while you go out to see if that helps at all?

Hope everything turns out ok.
 
Oh obc how distressing for you all. I hope the vets can help you in someway to ease her distress. Our SBT can sometimes get so worked up about somthing simple he will run into doors and catch the side of his head on door frames, none of this appears to hurt him either !!

Would crating her, then putting a blanket over it, radio on loud make any difference or would she cause more harm trying to get out of it ??
It was suggest to me to do to him when he became bad, since I have had out youngest and stopped work he doesnt do it anymore.

Do you have any pics as I love mastiff, if only we had a bigger house and garden I would have one in a shot.
 
Is there anyway you could video when you are out? I apologise as haven't read all your threads but could you try leaving her for a couple of minutes, lock the door pretend to go and then come back and then make this time longer and longer. what about putting an old jumper with your smell on in her bed/basket? what about a recording a tape with your voices on and playing that when you go out? sorry if you tried all this hope you manage to sort things. What about contacting a pet behaviourist or try the chat forum on www.champdogs.co.uk i have had some good responses of this site with bits and pieces that have happened to my dog. Could it be an excercise thing, could you walk her until she is exhausted and doesn't have the energy to tear things up or buy a doggie treadmill?
 
I dont know how well you get on with your neighbours? BUT i have a small monitor and wireless camera you can borrow, if you want to set it up and then sit round your neighbours house and see if there is anything setting her off?,
secondly look up Chaz Worrall
http://www.mansbestfriend.co.uk/
he is local to you and if anyone can help I am sure he will be able to,
could you not get a large crate rather than a muzzle? maybe the muzzle is freaking her a bit?
big hugs

(pm me if you want the camera xx ;) )
 
Oh ObC how awful, I am so sorry.

I have no knowledge or experience to help you, but I do hope that you can find something to help your poor dog and you.

Sending big [[[[[[[hugs]]]]]]]]
 
Oh that sounds awful for all of you. Hugs coming your way.

Have you tried a large dog crate? Although she would need a really big and strong one (therefore expensive), I have seen beagles break the cheaper ones so for a mastiff it must be really sturdy. Dogs are meant to feel safer in smaller areas and I have heard of many dogs settling from being crated (my dog however panics in a crate or with a muzzle on).

It sounds to me as if something physically/mentally is wrong with her for such a change in behaviour. Either dementia or a brain problem? Or maybe something has happened to freak her out that you are not aware of. Someone trying to break in whilst you were out maybe? Whatever it is, it must be freaking you all out and if possible, I would avoid leaving her alone to avoid the situation.
 
You could set up a PC with webcam and microphone. Something like gotomypc would allow you to remote access it and see and hear what was happening at home.
 
Thank you all so much for your kind words and advise, OH and I have talked it over so much this weekend, We have descided:

Quailty of her life is the main factor for us, therefore


A cage is not fair on her. The cage would have to very large and strong to with stand a Mastiff in a blind panic and to cover it up with a blanket would mean she does not even get to the see the springer for 8 hours a day. I feel that this would be a punishment.

We always leave the radio on for them and they have the hallway and their own room to run around in so they have plenty of space. I understand about reducing the room so we have closed all other doors (thabk you for that advise)

I am waiting for the Vet to call me back about the drugs.

She was muzzled as a puppy because she chewed so it was not a shock to her, we introducted it slowly put it on while we where still in the house and then for small periods of time. We were both out all morning me at the yard and OH at golf he had been back for a couple of hours and we only went to the shop for 45 mins this time.

Web cam is a great idea so we can see what is triggering the attacks

OH and I both agreed as hard as it is that if it happens again (once we get the drugs) them she will have to be PTS as she is a danger to herself and that to us is more important then anything. The hardest thing is that within 10 minutes she is laid out on the matt in her normal way happy as if nothing happened. This stresses us out given more! As if we went to the vets today with her they would say no as she is perfectly healthly in every way. All you had to do was see the blood to know she is not at the time it happens.

I have never been so distressed in my life, It would be so easy if it was a physical illness and we could see she was hurting but nothing.
 
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