Traumatized Pug (wound, black, teeth, shedding) - Dogs - - City-Data Forum

cleosmom · 10-06-2007, 08:26 AM

Has anyone ever had a dog go through trauma? A friend of mine took a bad fall at her home a few days ago. So bad that she has no clue as to how long she blacked out and wound up with 20 sutures on her forehead!

Well, her one pug who is 99.9% of the time food driven, is not eating and sticking like glue to her owner. After I hand fed her hamburger and rice last night I did ask her if she's taken a good look at her teeth, you know thinking the timing might be coincidental. If her teeth and all else are fine, any ideas on how to bring her out of this funk? Granted, time is our best defense I realize that, but it's heart breaking to see this normally dominant little pug so drawn back.

Katie1 · 10-06-2007, 03:44 PM

I would hate to think what would happen to the pug if your friend died. I think as the friend get better so will the dog.

Scholar · 10-06-2007, 04:14 PM

We have been going thru something similar with our dog. After we had our senior dog put to sleep, she wouldn't eat. She started shedding horribly. She got better when we got a new puppy, but we still only refer to our senior dog by his first initial because she gets upset when she hears his name and he isn't here. When we packed away his collar and tags, she cried and ran around looking for him. It is getting better daily, but we recently took our first road trip without him. She has never traveled without him, and she as a nervous wreck. She threw up twice. She shivered constantly. Not until we were half way home did she settle down. She was fine in the hotel, but on the road, she was shaky. We have learned that these firsts without him are traumatic. We just try to be reassuring and comforting. It is working, slowly.

I think when a dog's sense of security is shaken, it can just take a while to rebuild that confidence and security. It sounds like the pug is just trying to protect its owner and find its security, too. Maybe re-establishing some normalcy and some continued extra TLC will help the poor pug feel better. Good luck!

astrogal · 10-06-2007, 04:19 PM

Awhile backI broke my ankle really bad....basically snapped it off. We had a siamese who was more my husband's cat then mine...but when I came home from the hospital she planted herself next to my ankle and wouldn't move!The first few night's she wouldn't move unless I moved her and actually would growl and get defensive if anyone came near me. This went on for almost a month!

So maybe the pug 'just feels her pain'?

Carbondated · 10-07-2007, 10:48 AM

My dog has a nurturing response when I get sick. On those rare occasions when I have had to throw up, my dog will follow me to the bathroom and stand in the doorway and watch me. She then follows me back into bed. I'm sure when your friends dog will start to feel better when your friend returns to her normal routine. Some extra reassurance that everything is going to be all right will go along way.

cleosmom · 10-07-2007, 10:59 AM

Seems to be getting better. Friday night my friend and her sister went out and I stopped off at her house to let her critters out to potty

I went to the fridge after and took the one pug into another room and hand fed her cooked hamburger and rice to which she ate more than she had previously.

I spoke to her yesterday and she seemed to be back to her it's-time-to-eat-afterall-I-am-a Pug mode

Perhaps you were right, getting back to a routine of sorts helped.

Thank you all for your replies!

Scholar · 10-08-2007, 11:36 AM

cleosmom, sending rep your way! What a great friend you are! Glad your friend's pug is perking up!

cleosmom · 10-08-2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scholar

cleosmom, sending rep your way! What a great friend you are! Glad your friend's pug is perking up!

Thanks, not needed, but thanks. I'll do tons for friends and then there's practically nothing I'd say no to when it comes to the fur babies