New Fear, big hives! (long)

[Maxxsmom]

This weekend I asked my Dad to come watch Maxx for us while we traveled out of town for baseball. He says that Maxx was fine when he left him yesterday & he had no problems. :confused: I'm not sure when things went crazy, but it stormed yesterday while he was alone and when we came home & tried to take him outside to potty he froze on the porch & refused to go out into the grass to do his business. The ground was a little wet, but no worse than the typical rain we have been getting, so I don't think the fear was related to the "wet" grass. Anyway, I didn't think too much of it, figured he really didn't need to go, and let him come back in and play for a little bit. Then, about 2 hours afterward, I noticed that his left eye was almost swollen shut. Within 30 minutes the swelling spread, and he broke out in hives. We took him to the vet this morning, and they think he might have eaten a spider or wasp, which ever the case it would have had to have been eaten in the house because he was really scared outside, and refused to walk into the grass. The medicine the vet gave us helped the swelling go down, but I still can not get Maxx to go out into the grass to potty. He's almost 5 months old, and was pretty much house trained, but has had 3 accidents inside the house because he refuses to go outside. This morning I was determined to get him to go so I leashed him up and took him into the back yard...I was literally DRAGGING him into the grass, and he peed, but refused to stay in the grass long enough to poop. I have no clue what could have happened. A big storm blew through town yesterday with lots of lightning and thunder during the time (about 6 hours) he was alone in the room. We leave the blinds up so he can watch birds & squirrels in the back yard while we are away, and also to protect our blinds from puppy chewing issues, so he had a birds eye view of the lightning etc. Since this was his first big storm and no one was in the house to comfort him, is it possible that the storm could have frightened him so much that he won't go back in the yard? I have tried treats & not even treats worked :( so I have no clue what to do. I have worn myself out begging him to go into the yard, but he just WILL NOT. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[izzy3jordan1]

Well, I don't think this is really advice, but my male that passed in December, Brooklyn, had a huge problem with storms. He would sense one that was about a day away. When he thought it was going to storm, he would not leave the house and would pace until the storm passed. It always took a while for him to go outside, but he eventually would (he would hold his potty for well over 15 hours at a time if it was storming).
He also had a traumatic experience that changed him forever. We live out in the country and unfortunately he got out of our yard and traveled over to a pasture down the way. Long story short, the old geizer that lived there shot him in the backside. (Never admit to it; says he was shooting gophers at the exact time) Brooklyn was OK. It missed any bone and he was jumping around the very same day he was shot. Anyways, whenever he heared a gun shot after that event(which happens from time to time in the country), he headed for cover and didn't come out until he was coaxed.
What I am trying to say is I think traumatic experiences do affect their behavior. Perhaps your pup got very scared and thinks you may leave him alone like that again. Perhaps he did get bit by something that was in the grass and is afraid it will happen again. Did you try treats for when he goes outside or potty in the grass. Sounds like you may have to retrain due to his regression.
Sorry so long and hope it helped.

 

[tesster]

Could he have stepped on a wasp in the grass? I've been stung many a time at my lakehouse near Dallas for running in the grass without shoes on. That's enough to keep me out of the grass for a while! It's possible that he did it without your dad noticing and the reaction didn't start until later???

It's also possible, since this was his first "sting" and his first thunderstorm that he associates the thunderstorm with the pain??? That doesn't explain why he'd be afraid of the grass, though....hmmm....well, let us know if you figure it out!!!

You've got me stumped!

Julie

 

[apollosdad]

sounds as if it could be a number of things, and since you weren't there, it makes it almost impossible to determine. since the root of the problem will be difficult to determine, i guess the important thing to focus on now would be to get him comfortable with going outside again. best bet would be to reintroduce him to the backyard and get him going outside again. try luring with food or play toys and see if that helps. start off slow and work your way up little by little. the storm and lightning could have scared him. he could have also eaten a spider or bug of some sort while outside. it usually doesn't take much for dogs to get into something they're not supposed to.
leashing him up and dragging him outside is only freaking him out more. in that case, your better off just picking him up and carrying him outside.

just a reminder. during a storm, you don't want to comfort your pet and tell them that "it's okay" because you will actually be rewarding the unwanted behavior of them being afraid.

 

[Jan]

What happens when you take him out the front door?

 

[*Travolta*]

I started having the same problem with my little one (5 months of age). About a two months ago. She would be in the backyard running around as usual, two minutes later you would look back and her face would be swollen and her body covered in lumps. We took her to the vet and it was an allergic reaction to something. He gave her a few needles and thirty minutes later she was fine and my wallet was $300 lighter. This continued every weekend for a month, which was starting to drain the budget somewhat. We finally went to another vet and he said that boxers are very pronend to skin irritations when they are young and stated to use to look for certain plants in the yard that she may be in contact with. After removing some plants, she was fine for a few days, then a week later up again.
It was only by chance that I actually found out what was happening to cause this. Apparently Travolta has acquired a taste for Wasps. In her weird boxer mind Wasp= YUM!. I now have some steroid tablets that I give her if she swells, and hope that she grows out of it.
So in finishing, I would say that your Boxer is scared of going outside because that equals pain and swelling. I would sit outside on the grass with some treats and toys and show your dog that its ok and and fun to be on the grass.
I hope this helps.

Trent

 

[courtney323]

Hi Travolta -

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Thanks