can dogs have flashbacks?

Steinhauer

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Ok, something spooked my dog, and he is behaving the same way he did after being attacked by a coyote 3 years ago. He is absolutely, physically, fine. However, he keeps crying and acting like he is hurt. When I pick him up, he is fine. When he walks around and plays, he is fine. When I look at him when he is resting, he starts to behave like he is hurt all over again.

What gives?
 
Dogs can remember prior abuse for sure.

But I wouldn't put myself into the dog's head like that without ruling out other causes.

I would take the dog to the vet to check for cancer or any other problem that could be causing pain.
 
Dogs can remember prior abuse for sure.

But I wouldn't put myself into the dog's head like that without ruling out other causes.

I would take the dog to the vet to check for cancer or any other problem that could be causing pain.

It just happened about an hour ago. I will take him to my sister in law on Monday (she is a vet).

He was acting like his paw was hurt (the one that was bit by the coyote). His paw is perfectly fine. He has not dislocated anything, there are no bruises that is why I am ???

Also, he has since stopped. It was really weird.
 
Not that I am diagnosing your dog, but you can get arthritis in old injuries to joints.

I am glad you have a vet in the family and can get him checked Monday.
 
He was acting like he was in pain, but only when I paid attention to him. When I wasn't, he was his hunky dorky self. I had not thought of arthritis, he is 4 years old.

But yes, he is getting checked out. I was thinking maybe I needed "the dog whisperer" :giggle:
 
Yes, I do believe dogs have flashbacks...especially if they were abused. And it's really sad they can't tell us when they are hurting. My doggie and I have a very close bond..

Hope ur doggie checks out well.
 
Reason I am wondering about flashbacks ... my wife said the name of the other dog that was killed by the coyote. The other dog was his best friend. It was just part of a conversation, and my wife is completely deaf, so she has a particular way of pronouncing the other dog's name.

Then, my dog starts acting like he did when attacked by the coyote. Took a while to put all that together.

Maybe he really misses his best friend? The other dog belonged to my wife. It was how we became close - our dogs approved ;)

background info: both dogs were together outside using the bathroom. A coyote came out of nowhere, and my dog was attacked, the other one defended him and was dragged off never to be found again. It was a very traumatic experience for everyone.
 
Ok, something spooked my dog, and he is behaving the same way he did after being attacked by a coyote 3 years ago. He is absolutely, physically, fine. However, he keeps crying and acting like he is hurt. When I pick him up, he is fine. When he walks around and plays, he is fine. When I look at him when he is resting, he starts to behave like he is hurt all over again.

What gives?

Maybe he is smelling a coyote around the yard and remembering the attack . My dog is refusing to pee when I take him out at night. I am not sure if the coyote is back but something is scaring the crap out of Marty! He can't back into the house fast enough! Dogs do get post-traumatic stress disorder , your dog may have this.
 
Years ago we had two cats who grew up from kittens together. One got taken by a fox, and the other one absolutely was very upset and always missed the cat who was killed.
 
Maybe he is smelling a coyote around the yard and remembering the attack . My dog is refusing to pee when I take him out at night. I am not sure if the coyote is back but something is scaring the crap out of Marty! He can't back into the house fast enough! Dogs do get post-traumatic stress disorder , your dog may have this.

You should get an air rifle if you have coyotes. One that shoots a pellet 1,200 f.p.s.

That will take down a coyote and it is not a loud gun. Check your local ordinances to see if you can fire a pellet rifle on your own property though.

Here in Georgia, you do not even need a hunting permit to kill a coyote. And, there is no limit to how many you can put down - they are a nuisance animal and they kill everything.

The ones near me are the size of German Shepherds and can easily maul, maim, and kill an adult.

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more expensive one:

http://www.airgundepot.com/airforce...50-scope-1-inch-high-rings-and-hand-pump.html

or get a .177 and save $$$

http://www.airgundepot.com/gamo-airguns-shadow-varmint-hunter.html

P.S. Since coyotes are nocturnal, make sure you have a backstop and know what you are shooting and what is behind it in case you miss. It takes a lot of skill.
 
You should get an air rifle if you have coyotes. One that shoots a pellet 1,200 f.p.s.

That will take down a coyote and it is not a loud gun. Check your local ordinances to see if you can fire a pellet rifle on your own property though.

Here in Georgia, you do not even need a hunting permit to kill a coyote. And, there is no limit to how many you can put down - they are a nuisance animal and they kill everything.

The ones near me are the size of German Shepherds and can easily maul, maim, and kill an adult.

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more expensive one:

AirForce Condor Air Rifle - .22 Caliber 1200 FPS w/4-16x50 Scope, 1" High Rings & Hand Pump - AirgunDepot.com

or get a .177 and save $$$

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P.S. Since coyotes are nocturnal, make sure you have a backstop and know what you are shooting and what is behind it in case you miss. It takes a lot of skill.

I live in a condo and I would not be allowed to shoot a gun in our yard. I do not want to kill the coyote as it eat the wild rabbits and helps keep the number down. The rabbits are all over the yard pooping and eating the grass
and leaving bald spots on the lawn.
 
Wow, I do believe it is possible they have flashbacks. I have 5 Dogs total, 3 are rescues. The oldest one is an approxiately 7 years old pug, she was nearly bred to death/abused by the previous owner who dumped her in a dog park i was at with my other pugs . Every now and then she would flinch when Women bends down to pet.

So, if it is possible she took a disliking to women, i believe that All dogs have trigger objects. Triggers can be Things/persons/Smells/feeling. As the others have said, i would take him to a vet to just make sure. I am sorry to hear that the coyotes took the other dog.
I hope everything is allright with you and your dog.
 
The coyotes where I live have gotten so bad, and numerous, that people are accidentally hitting them with their cars.

I live on an acre and a half and plant veggies in my back yard. I used to have problems with rabbits. But this year, for some strange and unknown reason, I had problems with wharf rats. Those big squirrel sized rats. :shock: It drove me crazy - they would strip my plants bare.

So .... I have been popping them with my air rifle. Kill count is 76 :shock: I, of course, rat proofed the inside of my home. I think they are/were a fleeing population of rats. I just do not know where they were fleeing from.

A coyote population can explode, just like a wharf rat population can explode. They are both nuisance animals and need to be kept in check. They can do a LOT of damage.

Since you live in a condo, you need to carry something when you walk your dog. A coyote WILL attack you, if you get between it and your dog. That is something to take into serious consideration. If I were in your situation, I would choose my walking stick very carefully.

I kind of :hmm: if pepper spray would deflect a coyote attack - but I wouldn't want to spray my dog too.
 
Wow, I do believe it is possible they have flashbacks. I have 5 Dogs total, 3 are rescues. The oldest one is an approxiately 7 years old pug, she was nearly bred to death/abused by the previous owner who dumped her in a dog park i was at with my other pugs . Every now and then she would flinch when Women bends down to pet.

So, if it is possible she took a disliking to women, i believe that All dogs have trigger objects. Triggers can be Things/persons/Smells/feeling. As the others have said, i would take him to a vet to just make sure. I am sorry to hear that the coyotes took the other dog.
I hope everything is allright with you and your dog.


Yeah, I think whatdidyousay may have been right about a smell triggering this effect on my dog. We do have a lot of coyotes in my area, and maybe my dog smelled one.

I will know for sure after the vet checks him on Monday - I am just trying to rule out what it isn't first.

My dog is my best friend. Me and him are pretty tight :) He comes to me when he gets scared.

His behavior today was startling.
 
The coyotes where I live have gotten so bad, and numerous, that people are accidentally hitting them with their cars.

I live on an acre and a half and plant veggies in my back yard. I used to have problems with rabbits. But this year, for some strange and unknown reason, I had problems with wharf rats. Those big squirrel sized rats. :shock: It drove me crazy - they would strip my plants bare.

So .... I have been popping them with my air rifle. Kill count is 76 :shock: I, of course, rat proofed the inside of my home. I think they are/were a fleeing population of rats. I just do not know where they were fleeing from.

A coyote population can explode, just like a wharf rat population can explode. They are both nuisance animals and need to be kept in check. They can do a LOT of damage.

Since you live in a condo, you need to carry something when you walk your dog. A coyote WILL attack you, if you get between it and your dog. That is something to take into serious consideration. If I were in your situation, I would choose my walking stick very carefully.

I kind of :hmm: if pepper spray would deflect a coyote attack - but I wouldn't want to spray my dog too.

Good advise!
 
Yeah it is bad here too. I am a paranormal investigator and occasionally had a few of the coyotes stalking us in the dark. I like the pepperspray idea, I am not a big fan of killing animals.
 
Good advise!

I live in a neighborhood, and built a backstop of firewood in case I missed with the air rifle. The air rifle is very silent. My neighbors don't hear it (they know I do this, I gave them a heads up - they have been finding rats in their homes).

I can legally do this the way I am doing it now. If a coyote came on my property, I would prefer a .22 magnum, which is very loud, so that isn't an option. It is also a firearm, and I cannot legally discharge a firearm on my property (unless self defense). That is why I recommended a high powered air rifle. It is legal - for me - to shoot an air rifle on my property, as long as the pellet does not leave my property (why I have a backstop).

I have a friend who owns a farm on nearly 200 acres. He can legally discharge a firearm to protect his livestock. However, his wife does not want him owning one (he has bears and two small children). So, I had to "chat" with them both about my area having coyotes.

They have coyotes too. They have been taking his roosters/chickens. His children take hiking trips through heavily forested trails. So, after my chat (it was very friendly) he is getting a .45 and a rifle.

You will never see a coyote until it is right up at you. They are natural predators. They will take small children. They are very smart creatures and know where you are and even study your daily schedule.

Now, a bear will give you some warning. A coyote ... never. They are very deft predators.

That is why I am trying to figure a way for whatdidyousay to defend against a coyote (and it has been mentioned they are there).
 
Yeah it is bad here too. I am a paranormal investigator and occasionally had a few of the coyotes stalking us in the dark. I like the pepperspray idea, I am not a big fan of killing animals.

I don't like it either. Sometimes it is the only option though. I hate seeing anything suffer.
 
WOW interesting thread!!! Luckily we don't have that problem where I live. We have deer and wild turkeys tho. I sure hope there is an easy solution for your dog. I totally understand your dog being your best friend and am sad to hear of this problem. I don't know what I would do if something happened to Marley. Keep us posted please!!!
 
Will do.


Here is a good video showing a coyote attempting to attack an adult male. The one in this video is a lot smaller than the ones we have here in my location. What I am asking, is that attention is paid to where this coyote is biting. A coyote (as well as a wolf) will attempt to wound your calf muscles, to wear you down. They are aiming for your Achilles tendon, in an attempt to sever it. That coyote was probably a "scout'. Once you are wounded, more show up. This guy was "annoyed" and went about his merry way unwounded. Imagine a small child, or a senior adult going through the same thing.


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqVE9qfg7yI]Coyote Attack Best Footage Ever - YouTube[/ame]

It was trying to circle around him and attempted to dive for the Achilles.
 
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