lab acting weird.

[seth30]

My female lab has starting acting strangely, and I am at a loss for words.  She has been barking and growling at things that are not there, and even growled at me as I came around a corner in the house.  We have two other dogs, as well, so I know that whatever she is growling at is not really there.  My first thought was rabies, but shes up to date on her shots.  She is not the bottom of the pecking order either with the dogs. So there should be no agression issues with being picked on either.   The other two dogs in the house no longer play with her, and avoid her if they can.  She is a working dog, and has been hunting for two seasons, daily walks,and games of catch.  So bordem should not be a issue. Anybody have a dog that acts this way?

[PointNLab]

If the behavior has changed drastically, I would take her in for a vet check.

[BIGINNER]

MAYBE SHE'S SEEING GHOSTS?

WHO YOU GONNA CALL???    GHOST BUSTERS!!!!!  

MAYBE SHE THINKS THAT SHE'S THE LEADER OF THE "PACK"?  

[singleshot12]

Sometimes when labs get older they can get senile and have those same symptoms. But it sounds like yours is young so it may be neurological, maybe a brain tumor causing her weirdness. Good luck and keep us posted on her condition.

[seth30]

Thanks, my wife is going to take her in, and the vet said over the phone that they will do blood work on her.   I hope that its not a tumor and something else.  She hasnt challenged the alpha dog directly but  is hackled half the time and growling so he just stays on the other side of the living room.  Since I have litter mates in the house, I hope that if we have to put her down that the male lab wont go with depression.

[seth30]

Heres a few pics of her, as you can tell she is the runt of the litter as well.  I have had her for two years now, and this last week has been stressful with her.  Never owned a dog in my life that did this.

[gaddy]

hope all goes well

[singleshot12]

Thinking about it some more there could be other issues. Females will get weird if there are other dogs around. They want to be the only dog for their master and will sometimes get jealous or act out to get more attention. Did you get the other two dogs after her?

[Happy Gilmore]

get her thyroid levels checked asap! go to the vet before something happens.

[seth30]

Thinking about it some more there could be other issues. Females will get weird if there are other dogs around. They want to be the only dog for their master and will sometimes get jealous or act out to get more attention. Did you get the other two dogs after her?

no she and the other lab are litter mates.  The other dog we have is a 12 year old weiner that has been around a lot longer.  my two labs just turned 2 years old this last novemenber. They are both spayed and nuetered so that isnt a problem. The thyroid sounds like a area to check.  Thanks for the help in this!

[WRL]

Dogs that are losing their sight will act that way.

Also, dogs that are having "mini seizures" will act that way.

Definitely a vet appt is in order. I'd also have her eyes checked by a veterinary opthamologist.

WRL

[Schmalzfam]

Dogs that are losing their sight will act that way.

Also, dogs that are having "mini seizures" will act that way.

Definitely a vet appt is in order. I'd also have her eyes checked by a veterinary opthamologist.

WRL

I was thinking eye sight too...maybe can't see very well and is scared from the feeling of her sight changing. Poor girl, I hope she is ok.

[seth30]

she has a appoitment next week.  decided to wiegh my self last night, then grab her and weighed myslelf again.  she is 49 pounds, when she is usally around the 55 pounds.  I havent noticed any weird bowel movemnts in the yard, and she still eats like a champ.  With all the duck hunting I have been doing, I wonder if its a parasite   Cant wait for the vet appoitment!

[Clumber]

My first thought as I read this was also sight or hearing loss.  Or maybe something like a cheat-grass hull embedding somewhere causing random pain.  Petite mal seizures can cause the same sort of odd random behavior, like another said.  When something changes radically, I like to give the dog the benefit of the doubt and check for physical symptoms before behavioral ones.  Especially if nothing in the dog's environment has changed drastically preceding the change in behavior.

We'll keep our digits crossed for her.  Hopefully it will be something minor and easily solved  - something like thyroid, since it is fully treatable by very inexpensive pills.  I had a Kees on Soloxine her entire life and if I had to pick a chronic condition for a dog, low thyroid would be my 1st choice!

[seth30]

I spent a lot of one on one time with her friday, and sunday.  Sunday night she did her bark at nothing is there routine, but most of the day she stayed by my side, and tried to keep body contact as much as she could.  Everytime I sat down or stood still, she  would put her chin on my knee or foot.  She is going in soon, and getting a fecal matter check, and blood check, im looking foward to the results.