My dog keeps looking around frantically and won't respond. Why?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! If Louie is otherwise acting normally (normal appearance regarding appetite, thirst, peeing, stools, walking, playing, and sleeping), it sounds like either a noise or a smell has his attention and may be activating his instinctive response to be alerted and cautious. Mice or other pests are common culprits as dogs can often smell or hear them through openings such as electrical outlets or light fixtures in walls. Strange behavior can also indicate early onset neurologic disease, so if nothing can be found that he may be looking for, please have him examined by your veterinarian, especially if he starts having any other abnormal behavior, trouble walking, trouble hearing, or other signs of neurologic disease. Here is a link containing some other clinical signs of forebrain disease for things to watch for: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/c_multi_headpressing Hope this helps!

That is concerning. It is possible there is something they are hearing outside, such as a neighbor or wild animal, or even a critter in the walls that could be bothering them. Looking for a pattern (time of day, certain TV or radio shows on, person coming home, etc) may help you figure out what the trigger is to stop the behavior from happening. Taking a video of the behavior and bringing it to a trainer or behaviorist may also be a good idea to see if they can pick out any details that may provide more information.

It is possible that something may have startled your dog, or there could be something that is causing him to feel dizzy/nauseated, which is leading to looking at the ceiling and not wanting to eat. If the symptoms continue, a wellness check at the vet may help to rule out any health-related issues. Offering a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice may also help if the cause is nausea-related. If he is healthy, looking for causes such as strange lights, noises, or new things in that area may help alert you to a cause to his fear.

Hi there. This behavior is actually a common compulsive behavior in Miniature Schauzers, and is thought to have a genetic basis in some affected dogs. It sounds like your veterinarian has done a good job of ruling out an obvious medical issue that could be contributing, such as constipation, spinal pain, dermatitis, anal gland issues, etc. You might consider talking to your vet about a trial course of an anti-inflammatory medication such as prednisone and/or a medication for neuropathic pain such as gabapentin if these things have not been tried yet - some dogs will respond favorably to these meds, even without a specific diagnosis. If there is no response to medical therapy and no evidence of a physical problem can be found, then the problem is likely behavioral. In that case, I would recommend seeing a veterinary behaviorist for a full evaluation and treatment plan, as these issues can be challenging to treat without expert help. Most dogs with compulsive behavior issues will require a detailed training and management plan as well as medication to see significant improvement. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

It is possible that he is thinking/seeing/smelling something. However, if you feel like he is not acting normally during one of these episodes, you may want to have him checked out by a vet. It is possible there is a medical cause for this behavior, such as seizures or epilepsy or low blood glucose. Try to get a video of this happening to share with the vet so maybe they can figure out what is going on.

It is possible she has a source of pain such as an anal gland abscess or spinal/joint pain causing her distress. I recommend you video the episodes and schedule a full physical exam for Opal with your vet to identify the location of the isse

Hello. Is the circling always in the same direction? Can you call her from the circling & stop the behavior? If not, this may be indicative of an inner ear infection, or more seriously, a brain lesion. You should have Snickers evaluated at your earliest convenience to diagnose the cause of this behavior. Once done, then the appropriate treatment can be initiated to help her to heal. Best to a speedy recovery & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.