Linking Physical and behavioral health in dogs
My dog, Taro has had ongoing health issues since I adopted him. As many know, his allergies have been quite the journey- and I would not say it’s over yet. He also- notably, has an abnormal gait and muscle atrophy in his right hind leg. We are still in the process of undergoing testing and further treatment. After symptoms seemed to resolve for a long period and I noticed no signs of pain, I almost forgot about his issues. That is, until I noticed the changes in behavior that would follow. In this blog post, I explain what I noticed, how I noticed it, and how you can be more aware of potential physical changes in your dog. The link between physical and behavioral health is irrefutable, and I hope this will encourage you to further investigate behavior change whenever possible.
I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that Taro’s pain has returned within the last 2 weeks. One behavior change and “well that’s odd” moment after another led to my unwavering conclusion that pain meds needed to be added to his treatment plan. How did I know? Well, I think the biggest part of realizing that your dog’s behavior could be caused by their physical health is being open to the idea in the first place. Having seen this story unfold numerous times in my cases and in the dog world at large- it is no longer a last consideration. In fact, I am likely to question if pain is a factor very early in the process of working through a behavior issue. Why? Because when people live with chronic pain, chronic stress and anxiety or even anger issues go hand-in-hand. On a smaller scale, think about what you are likely to do when you stub your toe- could that be considered an aggressive episode or outburst? If we can accept this for ourselves, why can’t it be true for our dogs, too?
Taro has always had some feelings about loud and fast cars- think semis and motorcycles- at a close distance. Usually this would result in a sort of chasing behavior after the vehicle passes. However, he easily ate food when cued and I moved him away if we were ever too close- its was easy to manage and never actually bothered him to the point that I considered doing more about it. When he began lunging at cars regularly on our walks and couldn’t calm down afterwards, I was dumbfounded. I remembered him at his worst- before all the behavior modification, before the diet change, and before the allergy medication. It was oddly similar. Hint number one.
Taro is also terrified of gunshots and fireworks. Like, shaking and screaming kind of terrified at his worst. But- he knows exactly how to communicate with me that he needs out of a situation. If he begins to get worked up about loud noises, he has ways of communicating to me that he needs to leave before he starts to panic. I’m careful about the situations I put him in and medicate him in advance for scenarios we cannot escape quickly- such as holidays. However, he is far improved in his ability to recover from these incidents and can usually relax as long as he is moved indoors, sometimes with some extra help- usually sound masking and ear protection. When he heard distant gunshots while running offleash at a field he is very familiar with and could not recover for hours afterwards, another alarm bell sounded in my head. The fear translated (as it used to) to objects above him like ceiling fans and power lines and he took refuge on my bed- as he does when he feels extremely unsafe. Hint number two.
A few nights in a row, Taro couldn’t seem to settle. It was far past the time he usually curls up and doses off. He was in his crate whining softly as we sat on the couch. No, he wasn’t being stubborn…or annoying. He wasn’t being “needy”. He was in need though- and doing the only thing he could to tell me he needed help. The shortfalls of not addressing issues like these holistically are drastic. Had I gone to any training center and asked “How do I stop my dog from whining in the crate?”, I likely would get a slew of different quick fixes- none of which mention he should be evaluated for pain and discomfort. But it seemed so clear to me. How could I not see it? But the reality is that most pet owners wouldn’t have noticed. Because why would they?
So, here’s what you can do today to help yourself notice those small changes in behavior that someday- your dog will thank you for noticing. First, understand their baseline. Your dog doesn’t need to know complex tricks, do dog sports, or have titles to have a skillset and routine which serves as their baseline. Take a few things your dog knows really well- maybe it’s just getting right up off the couch and running to you when you grab your leash. Or, walking on a loose leash, eating food, or sleeping. If you can say with near certainty that they will do it, it’s an ideal “baseline” evaluator. In addition to any behaviors your dog can complete consistently, also take a look at their behavior around external stimuli. How do they react when they are on leash and see another dog? How much attention do they give you in public? How do they react when strangers approach? Because I have worked extensively with my dog in various scenarios, I noticed his change in reaction quickly and was able to take action.
Next, compile all of your information. You can write it or type it- as long as it can be a physical document. Place it wherever you keep your dogs other records- like their microchip info, breeder or rescue organization, and medical history. Then, refer back as needed. If any major changes occur, especially if they effect more than one “baseline”- reach out for help. You don’t have to have the knowledge of a behavior consultant yourself- and it isn’t your job to diagnose the problem if you don’t have the skills to. However, a skilled professional can help you assess the situation and determine if your vet needs to be involved. If you’ve had private training in the past- reaching back out to someone who already knows your dog and their history is a great place to start.
I hope that hearing my experience was helpful to you. Take care, and send Taro your well wishes.
