My senior dog is digging and clingy after surgery, is this normal?

Hello, I would be concerned with dirt getting into her eyes and causing irritation as well. I would keep her from digging if you could. Perhaps she is digging because she is anxious or bored, so providing her with some toys or something to keep her distracted like a Kong toy would be ideal. If the digging persists the. You may want to speak to your veterinarian about behavior changes in Shafika. Hope this helps and best of luck

Hello. With any odd change in behavior, you do want to follow up with your veterinarian as soon as possible. Hormonal changes from cystic ovaries, for example, can cause unusual behavior, & in an unsprayed older pet, the development of a pyometra could potentiate subtle signs of pain or discomfort. You should definitely make Minou an appointment to have some routine blood work done, followed up by any diagnostic imaging such as x-rays or ultrasound to be sure there are no underlying medical reasons for her unusual behavior. I hope all is well & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. The development of aggression as a dog gets older is not something I would consider to be normal. This behavioral change could be due to canine cognitive dysfunction (think of this as doggy dementia) or potentially something more neurological (brain tumor or degenerative change to the brain). I would recommend having Buddy examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. There may be something systemic going on so having his blood tested would be a good idea. There are drugs that you can use for doggy dementia such as Selegiline. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello. That is a lot of bruising, but it just indicates that there was some subsurface capillary bleeding. This can occur in any surgery, but most often is the result of too much activity too soon after surgery. Try to confine Barklie a little more, by keeping him indoors & leash walking only for another week. If he is licking a lot, you may have to put an Elizabethan collar on him for a week or so so everything can heal. You can pick up the collars at most pet stores or even Tractor Supply if one is near you. If you are truly concerned, it is always best to have the veterinarian who did the surgery take a look to make sure everything is OK. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This sounds like territorial behavior. Dogs are naturally driven to mark their territory. You’re probably aware that dogs urinate on objects to claim them as their own, but that isn’t the only way to mark territory. Dogs have glands in their paws that leave a distinctive scent on bedding or other objects whenever they scratch. Both male and female dogs can do this. Dogs are more likely to return to a bedding spot if they already feel it’s theirs. This may be why scratching behaviors sometimes begin or intensify when a new pet or person has moved into the house, or there has been another type of major change in the household. Since this is a new dog to your house she is likely marking her territory. I see that listed her as not spayed. If she is pregnant and getting ready to have her puppies she may do this behavior as well. I sure hope she is not pregnant at 13 years of age! Hope this helps. Best wishes.

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There can be multiple reasons for a dog to suddenly act clingy: fear, separation anxiety, and medical conditions. Medical conditions could be: pain, anal gland issues, fleas, overall nausea from kidney or liver disease, brain tumor or as some dogs age they develop cognitive dysfunction or doggie dementia. If Snicker's behavior persists then I recommend an exam and possibly blood work be done by your Vet. Sadly his symptoms are non-specific and can mean many different things. I hope this helps and I wish you and Sage the best!

Hello. Everything looks great. The scooting may be related to the healing process, or his anal glans are full & need to be expressed. Try & keep him from scooting too much until you can have him seen by your veterinarian. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.