@krazytoo100 hearing and sight tests sound like the way to go. I have a skittish boy who is very confident in his environment but freaks out easily about little things. He hates loud noises and used to be bad on July 4th, whining and shaking. We play some soothing music (supposedly dog calming cd’s) often and that helps him desensitize. Since we started doing that he is much better. But he has had problems over time, nothing sudden or drastic. I wouldn’t shy away from bloodwork again either, something may be going on. One thing you could try is carrying him outside, feel his heartbeat. If he is really stressed by it you will feel his heart racing.
Just wondering - do dogs leave home to die?
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I'm thinking about this because of my friends dog that got hit by the car and returned home after several hours. I've talked to her since then and she said she thought that after he got hit, he probably wandered off to die somewhere, and then fell asleep for a while before waking up and limping home. Apparently he has a lot more bruises/scrapes than they originally thought and he has some tissue necrosis (death) which they are trying to take care of before resorting to surgery. I'm really hoping he pulls through this!
Anyway, I have heard that cats will leave home and die away from their homes… wondering if dogs are known to do the same thing? What is the purpose of this behavior anyway?
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I've wondered the same thing. Why do they go off away from the home to die? I know that an animal never wants to appear weak even when injured in a hurd - it's like a death sentence by the others - I think because they get rid of the weak to keep the hurds strong for survival.
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I know our family dog growing up made several attempts to go off as the end grew near.
It was very sad. But I think there is something to that survival of the fittest thing- that animals accept their fate easier (and dare I saw with more pride) than we as humans do. I don't think they see death as this "terrible ending"…