First time ever my dog bit a friend (she is 11 years old)

• First time ever my dog bit a friend (she is 11 years old) Andrea Tamsevicius Posted : 4/24/2006 11:55:22 AM Hi I have an 11 year old Black lab Weimaraner mix. Let me give you a little information about what is presently going on. She has been a great dog for 11 years. She grew up in my parents house with my 2 sisters, my brother, myself and my now husband ( he has been with her for 4 years). My parents have decided to move to Florida my 2 sisters moved there 2 years ago. I just recently got married and we bought a house. So my parent decided that it would be a bit easier  for the dog to move to our house which is only and hour from where they live now as aposed to a 25 hour move to Florida. Not to mention My dog Cynders has kind of attached herself to my husband and I. But We have been in the new house now for 3 months. When she first got there it was a bit odd for her. She didn't have a fenced in yard at my parents and she was a leashed dog when she went anywhere. Now we can let her out in the yard anytime with no leash because we are fenced in. She adjusted to that very well. She went from a senior dog activity level to a puppy which was great for us. We love being outside. But just recently she has started to act a bit odd. She is hidding in our closet all the time. She usually did it during storm which I know is a bit more normal. But now she is doing it all the time even when there are no storms. Now here is the big problem. We just had a friend over this weekend.Whom spent the night at our house. The dog was great with her all night on Saturday and on Sunday morning until she came into our room and sat down on the bed with my husband and I one the bed. The dog nugged me to come up. Which isn't unusal. I let her up on the bed. The dog was laying on her belly between my husband and I and my friend was sitting on the foot of the bed petting her head. My friend lened over to give the dog a kiss on the top of the head(which she had done several times befor) and the dog grabbed her lower lip. No growle just a quick bite with a yappy bark to it. I immediately grabed her musel and yelled at her telling her no. Then placed her in the bathroom with the door closed. I then went to check on my freind. The dog did grab her lip No serious injury put a small little puncture wound on the inside of the lip and on the out. My friend wasn't really bleeding but her lip did get really swallon. She was really great about it. I apologized till I was blue in the face. She said that it wasn't the dogs fault she was just protecting us. But this is the first time the dog has ever done anything like that before and she is 11 years old. She is very aggresive to other dogs so we don't let her around them but never toward a human. I am a bit nervious of having friends over to the house now. Can anyone help with and explination? (Sorry I am really bad at spelling) LIKE 10 REPLIES 376 VIEWS LAST POST SPIRITDOGS Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• glenmar Posted : 4/24/2006 11:59:19 AM Leaning over to kiss a dog can be threatening to the dog.  In that particular location she may have felt more vulnerable.  I vote for an immediate vet check to see if there is a physical problem causing the behavioral problems. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• forpaws Posted : 4/24/2006 12:05:28 PM She is hidding in our closet all the time. She usually did it during storm which I know is a bit more normal. But now she is doing it all the time even when there are no storms. Sudden changes in a dogs behavior indicates something is not right and could be a health issue going on with her. And she could have preceived your friend as a threat leaning over her head to give her a smooch. I agree with Fuzzy Glenda to have this dog vet checked asap. Please keep us abreast of what the vet says about her. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Andrea Tamsevicius Posted : 4/24/2006 12:06:06 PM Leaning over to kiss a dog can be threatening to the dog. In that particular location she may have felt more vulnerable. I vote for an immediate vet check to see if there is a physical problem causing the behavioral problems.   I called the vet that she has seen since a puppy and he said the same thing. But he also told me that it will most likely never happen again and that I shouldn't be so worried about it. Just to watch her till the apt. and see if I can notice anything else that is different. Thanks 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• ewin0210 Posted : 4/24/2006 12:06:09 PM You may want to have her thyroid levels checked. I know that weims can have some problems with thyroid function.  And her being older it could be possible that her levels are just a bit out of line and this can cause sudden aggression. Its also possible that she's got something else going on inside that is causing pain. Definitely rule out any health issues first.   0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• glenmar Posted : 4/24/2006 12:07:59 PM FUZZY Glenda??  I'm furry right now, but not fuzzy that I've noticed....[] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• forpaws Posted : 4/24/2006 12:10:56 PM OK, OK , I stand corrected..... Furry Glenda... Actually it is Furry Old Wise One... [sm=clapping%20hands%20smiley.gif][sm=rofl.gif][sm=proud.gif] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• forpaws Posted : 4/24/2006 12:16:38 PM OK Back to the topic. I am happy you called your vet to make an appointment. I agree Thyroid is a good place to start. What I don't like is she is hiding in the closet and only did this when a storm came through. I would take notes of her odd behavior so when you do have your day with the vet you can recall some odd behaviors that she displayed in the meantime. Good luck with her and please keep us informed. Hugs to you and your Laberimer. I love laberimers... LOL 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Andrea Tamsevicius Posted : 4/24/2006 12:19:58 PM She does have Liver disease. We caught it very early. She went through a very strong treatment of antibiotics and a total diet change. But is doing great and hasn't shown symptons in about a year. We do a vet visit every 3 months for blood work up and test. They say she is doing exceptionaly well for her condition. But that may explain the closet. I know they say that animals find a safe and comfortable places when they are going to move on. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• spiritdogs Posted : 4/24/2006 7:46:07 PM Liver disease can cause changes in mental status.  Humans get it, too.  It's called encephalopathy, and it is usually addressed with lactulose.  Get your dog to the vet and get her checked out for that.  Also, if she is in pain (liver disease can cause tenderness and pain, too), then the act of a stranger leaning over her might have caused pain, or it may simply have felt threatening.  0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Andrea Tamsevicius Posted : 5/7/2006 5:37:50 PM Update on the labweimer: She went to her vet on friday. We just received her lab work up. The vet says that she has what seems to be hypothyroidism her levels were at .02. The Dr. said that we can give her some medication for that. On top of that she has what appears to be the start of Cushing's Disease and Kiddney Disease. I know all of this sound very bad but on a positive note her liver enzymes and very good. And the vet thinks that we caught thing early so she thinks that we will be able to help her. The only problem is that I have no idea what any of these things are and what we can do to help her. Let alone what we should expect in the near future. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login