. Bichon Keeps Damaging Neck… Could It Be Physical Or Behavioral?
Your advice has been appreciated by me in both your tapes and your guide.
My male Bichon is a great dog, light however lively, minds well, and treats me as the group leader. He comes when I call, gets into his cage during the night with only one ‘kennel up’ control and is a general throughout great dog.
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Beloved Adam:
Your advice has been appreciated by me in both your tapes and your guide.
My male Bichon is a great dog, light yet playful, thoughts well, and treats me since the group leader. H-e comes when I call, gets into his crate during the night with only one ‘crate up’ command and is a general throughout great dog.
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One issue that I've been unable to break him of is scratching his neck area to the point that it bleeds. He knows that he shouldn't do this and quits immediately after I say something to him. I've taken him to the vet on three separate occasions.
He has received an anti-histamine opportunity, been handled with Cortaid and anti-itch spray, had flee treatment, washed with hypo-allergenic shampoo and conditioner, been given a special diet, and none of this made any difference. The final visit to the vet h-e recommended a mild tranquilizer along with hor-mone treatment. He quit damaging nearly instantly but he was notably tired. I cut out the hormone treatment and cut his tranquilizer by 50 percent, under advisement of the vet. H-e today scratches only moderately but I'm reluctant to increase his tranquilizer dosage back-up to where it was. Also, I don't see any end to the form of treatment. As a coach I wondered if you'd ever experienced this before and whether you had any recommendations I may possibly try other-than the tranquilizer. For me this just hides the problem and doesn't fix it. I'd appreciate any suggestions you may have.
Genuinely,
Gordon
Gordon,
No, that is most likely an actual problem… Not really a behavioral one.
You might try finding another vet. To obtain a second view and see another method of it. My question would be: Exactly why is he scratching? It's maybe not the collar, is it?
[Gordon replies:] Since he started scratching (about 3 months ago) he has not worn a collar. One vet shaved his neck area and it shows no sign of any discomfort. Visiting 500 Service Unavailable Error maybe provides warnings you could use with your sister. I believe it to be something mental and the vet (I've seen two) will accept me; ergo, the tranquilizer. The point is I do appreciate you answering.
[Adam:] You might look into anti-anxiety medications, if you feel this is the case. Have your doctor call around and learn. Prozac-type drugs will most likely are more effective than just tranquilizing canine..