Crazy, almost hyper
I've posted about this before, but Barney is now nuts. I mean, he has SO much energy, bouncing all over the place, knocks us over, doesn't care who is in his path, will bound down the stairs misses the last 3 steps. We have wood floors so he just slides constantly into wall, many times completely flattening himself onto the floor and sliding another 4 feet or so. The energy is just out of control to me it seems. He's been on thyroid meds for almost a year now. We just had his levels tested again last week and they said that his thyroid levels were still low and to up his dosage. I'm a little scared to, given how active he's become on a dose that is too low. Could it be that I'm just not used to having a dog with energy and this is normal? Do you think raising his dose will make him crazier? Or better? Also, we've almost doubled what we're feeding him as he was constantly on the search for food...AND at the vets he only weighed 77 pounds! He's been as much as 100 (which is too much, but I feel like 77 is too low, although the lower end range should be better for his hips). Any thoughts? |
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| He needs some jobs...sounds like he's going bonkers. Of course this is assuming the thyroid isn't going crazy, but even then he can't learn this is OK behavior. Time to head back to class - double benefit of burning off some mental and physical energy, also to renew his awareness of the rules and proper behavior. And back to you working as a team, you being the leader and boss.  He will just keep doing it and loving it if you don't get a handle on it soon. And then you have a new habit made that no one will enjoy.  |
| I agree, hobby or job. With those hips, how about carting. Building up muscle all over will help stabilize him. Start with a back pack and maybe a couple of water bottles and soft dog water bowl for him....drink along the way. When he gets used to having something on his back, go with a harness and simple wagon.....work at it slowly, it is frightening. The reward is big time play time where he can burn some more energy. Tired dogs are good dogs. Don't forget mental toys.........Kongs or other items that make them think to get their treats. As to more thyroid.....they may be looking at his weight. If the numbers are good, then no. I agree, better to keep him lean. Can he eat low calorie snacks....veggies. Jack goes crazy for broccoli and carrots. He also does ice cubes but I don't want broken teeth. Understand energy. When at the dog food store the other day a young goldie came in dragging the older owner behind. Of course I loved up the dog and as they moved on, I turned to DH who said, "You really don't want to go thru that do you??" I knew exactly what he meant,  Also I could read it in his eyes......"I don't want to do that again." |
| I'm coming at this from more of a medical perspective. Based upon Barney's reactions, I would seriously consider not increasing his dosage. Have his skin issues or any behavioral issues cleared up since he's been on the thyroid meds? Do you think 77 lbs is just right for Barney, still too heavy, or getting too thin? If his current dose of thyroid meds seemed to have solved all of the issues, I would be hesitant to raise his dose, and might even consider a decrease. Are there any other medical issues that might be at play here? As you might know from my numerous posts,  Oscar's health is a balancing act. Whenever something comes up, my vets weigh all of the pros and cons, and then we decide if something is necessary, or worth trying. If this were Oscar, regardless of the results of the bloodwork, I'm fairly certain my vets would not recommend taking things up a notch. They would probably run tests to see if there were something else going on. Blood tests are only one indicator of how the body is handling things, and side effects/behavior are another. The thyroid is a tricky thing as well. Some tests don't give the whole picture in humans, and I'm not sure if it's the same for dogs.Laurie and Oscar |
| I agree with Laurie, if all his symptoms have cleared up and he is lean and energetic I would not increase his dose. Thyroid levels vary from individual to individual and sometimes you can get an aberrant reading. His behaviour sounds exactly like Tiggy when she's not had enough exercise and jobs to keep her busy. She runs down the corridor (polished board) skids to a semi halt at the front door and leaps in the air. Bounces off the door with her front paws then runs back again. It's hell on the boards.  She will also go from just standing to trying to gallop in an instant to chase the cat. Picture her running in place for a few seconds as her feet try to get purchase on, you guessed it, the polished boards. The only thing to settle her is a run at the park and some training. |
| They did a bunch of bloodwork...can't remember all the #s off the top of my head. But his thyroid was .5 and I believe the vet said 'normal' is usually something like 1-4 or 1-5? so I think that's what they were basing their recommendation of upping his dose, not his weight. They didn't actually say anything about his weight, but I mentioned it, saying when we last came in to the vet he was at 83 pounds and nothing has changed with his diet or anything since then, why is that? And he said he didn't know. I think 77 is a little low for him. I'd say 83 is about right for him. As for his skin, for the most part it's good. Along with the thyroid meds, he's on a low-dose steroid. The second we stop the steroid he goes back to licking and scratching. It worked out well b/c we had been meaning to get in to the vet for a little while to get his bloodwork done, but the other week DH came home from work and found Barney shaking...it's almost like what a freezing person would look like. And he was having a hard time getting up off the floor (carpet). This has happened before and just goes away on its own after a little while. So DH took him immediately to the vet where they ran the tests. Of course the second DH got the leash out the dog was nuts and forgot all about his pain or shaking or whatever and must have felt silly checking in at the vet with this nutty, bouncy, overly enthusiastic dog saying "I just called saying my dogs hind quarters were shaking uncontrollably and could barely get off the floor"--they were probably thinking, did you bring the right dog?! The vet also said he has some age-related spinal degeneration. I said, excuse me, but I find it hard to believe that at age 6 he already has 'age related' spinal degeneration. He very well could have spinal degeneration but 6 seems a little young to be b/c of age. And the vet said, oh, I guess you're right  BUT, he also said that his hips just from feeling them seemed like they were not doing well overall.The BAD OWNER part is coming...as much as I'd like to do things like carting with him, I just don't have the time. With DH who works a funky schedule, me working a regular full-time job, and taking care of a 2.5 y/o with another coming this summer, I just don't have the time or energy to do that sort of thing with him. And with the weather how it's been, even going for walks is out of the question. He won't play with us in the yard. He'll just go out there and sit. So I'm not sure what I can do for him exercise-wise right now. I do know that he 'should' have more exercise though. Just being able to find the time to do it is the hard part. |
| Maybe even just think about a dog walker (or runner)? I hate walking the dogs so, I have to admit, I don't do it often but I can see how it would help. Owen is always much calmer after activity. |
| Yeah, I was thinking about a dog walker too. Toddler can be in the wagon....once Barn is trained and of course better weather. I wouldn't expect DH to help much, other than watching babies (or baby) while you and Barn get outside for an hour or so. Actually, it would be good for DH to take Barn out for an hour.....sometime. All has to be scheduled......sigh, I remember those days. 0.5 is low. I don't know if the steroids are interacting or are they doing bad things to his hips....or he just has crappy hips. Muscle is needed.......room for a tredmill indoors?? If you do increase thyroid, do so every so gradually least the licking returns. We have to keep Glacier just under normal but at least now she can hold her weight. |
Did I miss something??? You are expecting again??  |
Abuckie wrote: Did I miss something??? You are expecting again?? Sure am! Been sick as a dog  Hmmm, my neighbor has a dog sitting/dog walking business. She seems $$ though (probably b/c she's a grownup and just doing it for extra $$ and she loves dogs). But she loves Barns. Maybe I'll talk to DH about that possibility. Susan, yeah, it'd be nice if DH could watch the baby and kid while I take Barney out, but that would mean he was home  such is the life of a resident (and his wife). |
Hmmmmm  . What steroid is Barney taking? Pred? What is his daily dosage? How much is the dose of his thyroid med?Oscar also takes both thyroxine for hypothyroidism, and a low dose of steroids to control his autoimmune disorder (5 mg per day of pred), in addition to a ton of other meds. The reason I am asking about the steroid is because it might help explain the increased appetite, depending upon how much Barney is getting. (Oscar's only side effect of pred is increased urination.) Not sure about the shaking, either. Could be cold intolerance, which would indicate he is having some continued symptoms of hypothyroidism. If you are going to increase the thyroid meds, I would watch Barney very closely for any worsening of, or additional symptoms. Laurie and Oscar |
barney1 wrote: Abuckie wrote: Did I miss something??? You are expecting again?? Sure am! Been sick as a dog Hmmm, my neighbor has a dog sitting/dog walking business. She seems $$ though (probably b/c she's a grownup and just doing it for extra $$ and she loves dogs). But she loves Barns. Maybe I'll talk to DH about that possibility. Susan, yeah, it'd be nice if DH could watch the baby and kid while I take Barney out, but that would mean he was home such is the life of a resident (and his wife).I would assume if you had the time to walk him and do a ton of stuff with him, you'd be doing it already. You're no dummy. Check craigslist. It's not all weirdo creeps. I got the nicest girl to walk Clyde when he was little and she did it amazingly cheap. She was super responsible and it was a great experience. Even a few times a week can make a huge difference. I forget, did he get kicked out of day care? |
ButtersStotch wrote: I would assume if you had the time to walk him and do a ton of stuff with him, you'd be doing it already. You're no dummy. Check craigslist. It's not all weirdo creeps. I got the nicest girl to walk Clyde when he was little and she did it amazingly cheap. She was super responsible and it was a great experience. Even a few times a week can make a huge difference. I forget, did he get kicked out of day care? Awww, back when Clyde was little! *sigh* Jill, yeah, he was kicked out of daycare. I still don't think it was something that really happened or would happen again. It's been a long time, like almost 4 years. He was kicked out for growling at other dogs when they tried to get a drink of water and he wouldn't let them drink anything. BUT, we had been out of town and he had been there for almost 10 days at that point, so I think he could have just been overly tired with the scene. I wish there was another one nearby that we could try him at. Laurie, he's on prednisone. I can't remember the dose he takes offhand, but it's half a pill daily...so I think 10mg? We've tried different amounts of it and this one seems to work the best. He's been on this solidly for about a year now, too, but has taken it off and on for much longer. Yeah, Barney definitely pees more on this and usually hasn't had an increased appetite with it, but maybe the combination of the 2 meds together makes him hungry. Thanks for all the help. I sometimes get scared to post things on here for fear of very judgmental 'advice' For his thyroid he takes soloxine and again I can't remember the dose, but I'm pretty sure it's fairly low, but I'd have to check the bottle. |
| If he's on 10 mg of prednisone, that is a low dose. I'm wondering if it isn't a combo of the meds as well. He would certainly have more energy if his thyroid is partially corrected, and the pred can cause additional "restlessness". (My sister took pred for a really bad poison ivy incident, and she was seriously wired, jittery, etc. She also could not sleep the entire time she took it.) Just something to note. When I refilled Oscar's prednisone prescription at the vet, I didn't notice, but they had given me prednisolone instead, which is the same as prednisone, just already metabolized to make it easier for the body to access. All of a sudden, Oscar was peeing even more, and seemed afraid of things, and generally more hyper. Then I noticed the bottle and called my vet. Turns out, cats are very sensitive to differences between prednisone and prednisolone, but dogs are not supposed to be. Yes, I have the one "freak of nature" canine that can tell the difference.  When I reverted back to prednisone, Oscar's behavior returned to "normal" (whatever THAT is..... ).If Barney is reacting to a combo of meds, maybe a dog walker would be helpful in burning off some of that crazy energy. It's just so nice that he isn't chewing and scratching himself so destructively anymore. Laurie and Oscar |
| You might be able to hire a dog crazy kid in your neighborhood to come and play with the dog a few times a week... daily if possible. A run even just in your own yard and some games like fetch which have an element of training but are also fun and get him moving to tire him out.... |
Willowsprite wrote: You might be able to hire a dog crazy kid in your neighborhood to come and play with the dog a few times a week... daily if possible. A run even just in your own yard and some games like fetch which have an element of training but are also fun and get him moving to tire him out.... Yeah, and combine that same kid into a mother's helper! I was one when I was a teen and helped a mum with her toddler and dog. 100 years ago... |
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