My dog hides under the bed after an attack. Is this normal behavior?

Poor Brody! How scary for both of you. Dogs can certainly be anxious and upset for a while after a traumatic event like this, just like people. This should improve with time, but there are a few things you can try in the meantime that may help. If he seems nervous all the time, you can try using a DAP pheromone collar along with a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure to help him relax - these products are all very safe, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription. On walks, he may be very nervous about other dogs approaching for quite a while - so I would make sure to give him plenty of space, and don't walk in areas where other dogs are likely to be until he seems more relaxed and comfortable again. You can also carry treats with you on your walks, and praise and reward him every time you see another dog - this can be a very effective way of helping with fear.

Hello, thank you for your question. This is not uncommon after a traumatic event, especially since cats are very sensitive to stressful events. I would allow your cat time to recover from this event and recommend allowing her to come out from under the bed at her own pace. She may be more likely to come out sooner if the dog is not in a similar location, so you could try confining your dog for a brief period of time. If you have any concerns that she may be injured I would recommend having her evaluated by a veterinarian. Hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Nate! I think an important first step is to have your Vet examine Nate. He could be painful at the site of the bite, despite no outward wounds. He could have neck (muscle) pain like whip lash or be generally sore. That could explain the lack of energy and slowly coming down the stairs. I strongly feel that you need to be sure he is actually healthy before considering this a new behavioral problem from being attacked. Most dogs aren't overly traumatized mentally after getting in to fights but it is possible. If your vet finds nothing wrong with Nate they can discuss anti-anxiety medications and behavioral modifications to help him get back to normal. Good luck!

Any continued abnormal symptoms (longer than 24 hours) warrants a vet exam. I cannot tell you what is wrong with him just by your description as those symptoms are very vague. I suggest you get him examined by your vet to see if there is an underlying medical issue. If there is no underlying medical problem found then you can speak to your vet about possibly trying some anti-anxiety medications as the behavior he is exhibiting is not normal. If you can, video him doing this so you can show the vet.

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach to address your concern. She may be hiding due to pain. If she injured her back or something else she may be cowering from discomfort. I would recommend monitoring her for the next 2-3 days, allow her to rest and not play hard. If she continues to cower and hide, then I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at her to help better determine what could be going on. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions!

It sounds like your pup may be suffering from some separation anxiety, perhaps brought on initially by the trauma of the attack. You can read more about this condition at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1502. A visit with your vet is best to be sure there aren't any other medical problems that need to be addressed. They can recommend some behavior modification to try. You may also try some over the counter calming aids including Adaptil collar http://www.adaptil.com/us/Adaptil/Adaptil-Collar or spray, and Zylkene supplement http://www.vetoquinolusa.com/content/zylkene.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If he is fine otherwise then this is likely just a transient change. It may be due to something that has changed in the environment. Please check for anything that may be causing him to be different such as new tall objects in the house that may be causing to be scared. Best of luck!