Change in Bark (vet, barking, maltese, cross)

[RubyJune]

My 8 year old (will be 9 in July) Maltipoo has within the past month had a bark change. Her excited "hooray it's walk time" yips have a raspy hoarsness to them and her guarding "GET AWAY FROM MY HOME YOU STRANGE DOG" barks are an octave higher.

Is this just an age related situation or is this something I need to have checked by a vet?

ETA - no other behaviour changes. Her energy levels are the same, her eating and drinking are normal.

[runswithscissors]

NO, a vet visit is in order. Some dogs experience that with abuse/accidents on a collar or other accidents but without a trauma it could be something you need addressed right away. WITH a trauma, too, actually.

I'm paranoid about throat issues, swallowing and so forth and bet your vet will do a barium swallow xray to see if she has anything visibly damaged in her "throat".

Go quickly, though. Pay strict attention to her eating and drinking and if food is falling out or she's "choking" on water or food RUN FAST AS POSSIBLE to the vet to rule out megaesophagus. Which can be secondary to other diseases like thyroid, myasthenia gravis and a couple others like Cushings.

I never asked if a dog can get nodules like human singers or people who talk for a living and all the Maltipoos I ever knew are very verbal!! So there's that.

[elliedeee]

I don't mean to scare you but looking back that was one of the first signs that my dog had throat cancer.

His eating and drinking habits never changed and his personality never changed either right up until the day he died.


Can you feel any swelling or firmness in the throat area?

and bring her to the vet please.

[RubyJune]

Originally Posted by runswithscissors

NO, a vet visit is in order. Some dogs experience that with abuse/accidents on a collar or other accidents but without a trauma it could be something you need addressed right away. WITH a trauma, too, actually.

I'm paranoid about throat issues, swallowing and so forth and bet your vet will do a barium swallow xray to see if she has anything visibly damaged in her "throat".

Go quickly, though. Pay strict attention to her eating and drinking and if food is falling out or she's "choking" on water or food RUN FAST AS POSSIBLE to the vet to rule out megaesophagus. Which can be secondary to other diseases like thyroid, myasthenia gravis and a couple others like Cushings.

I never asked if a dog can get nodules like human singers or people who talk for a living and all the Maltipoos I ever knew are very verbal!! So there's that.

Verbal would be an understatement for my girl. I didn't know it was a breed trait, but that is very interesting to learn. She's always got something to say, that's for sure!

I have made an appointment for her. I've got my fingers crossed that she's just managed to whimper herself hoarse.

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by RubyJune

Verbal would be an understatement for my girl. I didn't know it was a breed trait, but that is very interesting to learn. She's always got something to say, that's for sure!

I have made an appointment for her. I've got my fingers crossed that she's just managed to whimper herself hoarse.

Yeah I'm a dog walker. Maltese are worse and pretty random with the barking but the Malti-poos have ALOT TO SAY that seems specific LOL!

So hilarious.

I made a blog for one of my clients when I was learning how to do it. From HIS perspective. I have to say it's really funny.

I'll DM you the link because I never really say what my company name is.

I hope everything is well with her.