Well Curly scarfed down breakfast and supper and is looking at me for more food so maybe it was just a bad morning the other day. I was looking over the pain list again and thought I would add a couple of my own.
Pacing: I guess this technically falls under "agitated" for behaviour changes but to me it is an unexpected reaction to pain. When I'm in pain, I lay on the couch and moan loudly for someone to fix me, or bring me something that will help shut me up for a while, or if it is bad enough, I ask for someone to shoot me. If it wasn't illegal I'm sure someone would oblige after listening to the racket. I DO NOT make 20 laps around the house before settling into the exact same spot I have been lying in for the last hour. Curly has been pacing a lot lately.
Licking - when there is no wound: Dogs will lick sore spots. It's a bit like when you slam your finger in the door and immediately start sucking on your finger to alleviate the pain. Come on - I can't be the only one in the world that does that! At least I don't do that to a stubbed toe. Anyhoo, dogs will lick sore joints in an attempt to make it feel better. But I've seen other types of licking before with JJ. It was more of an obsessive-compulsive licking of her front paws. And on a white dog, that creates noticeable patches of brown when it happens often enough. I noticed she would obsessively lick when she would get an ear infection. She had weird allergies that we didn't recognize as allergies until her third ear infection when our vet suggested that some dogs with allergies get chronic ear infections. Who knew?? She started licking as she got sick from old age too. I'm not saying that this is a scientifically proven fact because I have only observed it with one dog, but it seemed to occur when she was uncomfortable. So if licking is not a usual behaviour, something may be up.
I am thinking of signing Curly up for a little acupuncture this week. It's worth a try and to be honest I am a bit curious to see if it will help. Personally, I've had acupuncture and it didn't help. I'm not saying it can't help, it just didn't help me at the time. I want to see if I notice a difference on the little man. The worst that can happen is I will be out a few dollars. On the up side, it may make him a little more comfortable while I get a little more comfortable with my impending decision.
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