2 1/2 year old English Mastiff - PACING & PANTING ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT!!!

[bigbomommy]

I have a 2.5 year old English Mastiff. He had a shattered nail and we took him to our local vet. He is aggressive towards strangers so they sedated him and cut his toe nails and gave him his vaccines. Anyway he is still not acting right. He is pacing (all day and ALL NIGHT) and panting. However he will go out and play and act like he's fine..... Any ideas what this could be? He won't leave our sides. He's eating and drinking and using the bathroom outside. But goes from room to room with us. Gave him 3 low dose aspirins and he got in bed with us for about 2 hours then started pacing again. Vet also gave us antibiotics to make sure the shattered nail wasn't infected. He will not lay down!! I can't stand to see my big baby in pain!! Please let me know what you guys think. I'm trying to get a hold of our vet now! Thanks so much!!!

 

[tmricciuto]

I don't have any advice but I hope your baby gets better soon.

 

[bigbomommy]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Just really worried about him. He is truly our baby!! so hard just to take him to vet too since he's so aggressive! At home he's truly a teddy bear but in public he turns into a grizzly bear!!

 

[Liz_M]

How long ago was the vet visit?

Just wondering if it could be a vaccine reaction, or a reaction to the antibiotics (they can cause nausea and upset tummy.)

We have some knowledgeable veterinary type folks here so maybe they can confirm: Isn't it a bad idea to give vaccines if there is any other health issue or infection going on? I always thought that was a no-no.

Anyhow, hope you can talk to someone in your vet's office and your boy starts feeling better.

 

[angelbears]

While it can be many things, pacing and panting is the main symptoms of Bloat, which can be very deadly, quickly. I would not hesitate to get veterinary care. I'm not trying to scare you but if it were me that is the first thing I would rule out.

Good luck!

 

[CeeCee]

I agree with AB, pacing and panting are not things you want to see. I would get him to the vet ASAP.

Please let us know the outcome.

 

[scorning]

One of my danes and my current Doberman have never reacted well to sedatives. They would be very anxious after being drugged, panting and pacing and not eating until the drugs wore off, which generally took a day or 2. Those dogs had to be given very low doses of drugs. If it was my dog, I would call the vet just in case, but since the dog is eating, drinking, and using the bathroom normally, my vet would probably have me take the dog's temperature, and if it was normal, wait a couple days to see if it gets better.

 

[bigbomommy]

I was worried about bloat as well but he isn't trying to throw up or anything. It's all so weird. My husband called and we do have a very large mouse problem in our very old house. He found some mouse feces in the dogs bowl so he cleaned everything out and we are going to stop leaving his food out. Here is the thing though - we have a Great Dane (mix) and she is acting completely fine. Not sick at all. I was really hoping the pacing and panting was due to the pain of the shattered nail but since it's not stopping I fear its something else. The vet office called me back after she talked to the vet, he figured it was a reaction to the sedative but after I explained to her he was doing it before she had to ask him again and will call me back. Is there any way a 200 lb. English Mastiff could be sick from mouse droppings? Again - we have cleaned the area and will be putting their food up but I just want my baby better NOW. I don't know if he is sore from romping around with the Great Dane just seems odd that he doesn't want to lay down at all. He's typically a lazy, laying down type of dog lol.

I have a feeling we will be taking him back for blood work. But again with him being aggressive it means more sedatives I'm sure....

I kid you not - he's been harder to raise than my 9 year old daughter!!! lol But wouldn't trade him for anything!!

 

[vadersmom]

Humans can get very sick from mice droppings, dont know about dogs as they eat road kill. Pacing and panting are issues-is he panting of is he short of breath? May be hard to tell the difference. Short of breath can be life threatening. I would suggest taking him IN so the vet can lay eyes on him. I called the vet a few years ago with a panting bully and she said that it was a med reaction-NO, my girl died in 5 hours from sepsis that could have been stopped. Yes, I may over react a bit due to this happening. Take him in so they can see for themselves!

 

[NYDDB]

The only time my DDB paced and panted at the same time, was when he was in pain- no whining, barking, nothing...

But if your guy is playing and otherwise acting normal...I don't know. Quite possibly could be a reaction to the vaccines-- or, the sedative/vaccine/antibiotic combo all at once.

Let us know how things go!

 

[bigbomommy]

thank you all so very much for all your help and comments. The vet called me back and since he is eating and drinking and able to go to the bathroom and not vomiting they feel it sounds like more of a pain issue. I'm going to pick up some pain meds and see how he reacts with them. Again - I can't thank you enough for all your help. I'll update as soon as we know something. He's truly the most sensitive big baby ever. lol I told my husband it's because he's male and milking the shattered nail for all it's worth! lol Really though -just want him to be okay!! THANK YOU ALL AGAIN SO MUCH!! This place is awesome!!

 

[karennj]

Does sound like pain and possible effects from the anesthesia. Just watch for signs of bloat

 

[DDSK]

I would agree that it sounds like a reaction to pain and or the meds he was on. I have seen this with my CC Zoey.
The good sign is that he is eating, drinking, and playing, I would assume he hasn't become aggressive with your Dane so these are good signs.
I would go with your vets input as long as you have confidence in his abilities.

 

[DennasMom]

I'd get some video of how he's acting if you do go to the vet - so the vet can see what's going on at home. Once AT the vet, I'm sure he'd put on a stoic face for strangers and not act the same.

Sure hope he settles and feels better soon!

 

[Hector]

My dog is like that after being sedated. It will last for the rest of the day. He whines, paces, falls asleep whining and then wake up whining. It's non stop and very concerning, but after seeing the same behaviors post sedation (been 3x) I was not so worried. He also has anxious/whiny/unsettling reactions to certain pain meds. He will fight the drowsiness for as long as he can. Try to make the dog as comfortable and calm as you can as stress can/might lead to bloat. That's what worries me the most post sedation/drugs.

Is it possible just to muzzle the dog and hold him? My dog hates vet visits, but if I held him in a down position - he doesn't move - not that I don't hold him tight or straddle him, but there is no struggle or resistance just a lot of noise.

Nail trims - perhaps try doing that yourself through training or games.

 

[karennj]

We have a couple dogs at our practice where the owner has to hold them. We don't mind if the owner can actually do it but sometimes we still request the dog be muzzled. One dog will allow me to hold them but it is a very time intensive process and the owner has to basically stand right up against me so they are just as close to the dog as I am. It is kinda awkward being basically spooned be a person you barely know but if it makes the dog comfortable I'll deal with it. Have you tried leaving the room? Some dogs are much better with the owner not there. I know people hate when we bring dogs into the back but honestly some hard dogs are completely different once we get them away from their owner.

 

[BAMCB]

How are the pain meds working? Has the panting and pacing stopped?
As a rule of thumb I will give panting about 24 hours IF they are eating and in good spirits. After that they go in. My vet explained to me that my JRT was so occupied with me(yes, very neurotic) that her pain was not enough to stop her. But when we settled for bed she panted all night long because she no longer had me as a distraction. Panting and pacing is not something I put off, this is their way of letting us know they are stressed and uncomfortable.
Please give an update.
Oh! And I completely agree with some dogs behaving like angels once the owner is out of their sight.

 

[Liz_M]

I had a stressy fear-biter GSDx (I didn't raise her that way; got her as an adult rescue) who got massively stressed out on vet visits. I bought her a basket muzzle from leerburg, just for going to the vet, and not having the option to bite calmed her down considerably. She still wasn't happy but she just resigned herself to her fate. Of course her not having the option to bite probably calmed me and the staff down too, which I am sure contributed.


I work in other peoples' homes frequently and there are often dogs. It's amazing how much calmer and better-behaved many dogs are when their owners aren't around!


OP, how is your dog doing, any updates?

 

[bigbomommy]

thank you all so much for all your replies and concerns! Bo is still not himself unfortunately. The vet gave me some pain meds for him and they helped him through the night. We helped him on our bed and he stayed there all night. However in the morning when he was getting down he yelped and lifted his front paw. So we assumed he hurt his foot when he shattered the nail. HOWEVER - we took him for a leisurely walk last night since he seemed to be doing okay. He stopped like he usually does and rolled around on the grass scratching his back and when he went to get up he yelped again but then started lifting his back paw. He will be 3 in December and I'm praying it's not his hips this early. I called the vet's office and they were going to talk to the vet and call me back. We started giving him aspirin to help but he still just doesn't feel well. Him and the Great Dane still are playing and running in the back yard but then you can tell he just "hurts". We have a trampoline which he loves to lay on and play with Jade (GD) on. Maybe he got hurt on the trampoline?? We do have a lounge chair for him to use to get on and off the trampoline so he doesn't have to jump so far.

 

[angelbears]

Until you hear from the vet. I would severely restrict his activity. Something minor like a sprang could turn into a tear or break. Unlike humans, most dogs will not restrict their activity until it is something major. Just something to think about.