Behaviour of my dog after spinal operation - what is happening?

Question

He's a 2 year old basset and has wobblers and was operated on on Monday.  He is walking ok and healing ok, but he is behaving really oddly like a different dog.  He goes outside and stares into space, I caught him standing in the bushes at the back of my garden just still and not moving, he is eating leaves, he follows me round as though he's attached to me.  In his bed he keeps throwing the cushions about for ages, licks his lips all day, shivers, sits in the middle of the room just staring, runs outside in the garden and then sits there staring in the middle of the garden. I guess some of it is pain, but its like he has lost the plot!  It can't be the anaesthetic now and the pain relief he is on is not strong enough to do that.  He is acting like another dog. I look at him and he looks through me like he's on another planet. Its v sad, I hope it stops soon,  Anyone heard of this type of thing before?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I am so sorry I really dont know what to tell you other than seek your Vets advice on this one. What pain medication are you giving? Some of the medications out there for canine pain relief can cause severe side effects. The drugs most likely to do something like this would be a NSAID drug, (Non Steroid Anti-inflammatory Drug. Rimadyl (a common NSAID) is labeled to cause behavioral issues. Check the medication, and consult with your Vet as soon as you can.

jennkeeton · Answer

He most likely is in a lot of pain! Dogs don't show their pain, they are pack animals and it is inbred in them to hide it, so others don't attack him when he is week. he follows you around like all sick or pregnant dogs do their owners. He needs you to take care of him and protect him more than normal.
Did they vet say his pain killers aren't strong enough to do this? if not ask, they affect dogs differently than us.Let him know about the constant licking and shivering-neither is ok.
I hope your guy gets better soon

? · Answer

I think the best thing you can do right now, is to give the vet that performed the surgery, and tell him how much his behavior has changed. Knowing his case, they would be able to tell you more about why and if he should be acting this way. It doesn't sound like normal behavior to me! I hope your baby is feeling better soon!

Behaviour of my dog after spinal operation - what is happening?

3 Answers