Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We have a senior (14 years old) toy fox terrier. For 1 week, she has been waking up in the middle of the night SCREAMING. She shakes, pants, and looks wild eyed for a minute. She'll let us pick her up and loses the shocked look, but still shakes. When we examine her to see where she might be hurt, nothing seems to bother her: legs, stomach, back, ears etc. She isn't showing any signs of seizure either such as foaming at mouth.

During the day, she's fine. She's eating well and no change in drinking or bathroom habits.

We have a vet appt, but not until Saturday! Can anyone give us an idea of what could be going on?

It is likely that dogs , as well as humans, have dreams and nightmares. One thing you might try is to sit with her and relax, putting one hand over her kidney area, which is right at the end of her ribcage, and the other hand over both eyes and the bridge of the nose between the eyes. Do this for at least fifteen minutes each day, perhaps in the evening when you are watching TV. Let me know how this works after a week.

I forgot your advice about the hand on the kidney, but I will definitely start that.

Casey's physical was fine, and the vet thought the same kind of thing. A disorientation, a touch of old age, coming out of sleep and it caused anxiety and panic. She had stopped having these for 2 nights before the vet appointment, but Sunday she had one coming out of a nap. While I forgot about what you said, we are trying to keep a physical contact with her while she sleeps at night. Since she likes to burrow under the covers, it's easy to at least have an arm around her or snuggle her to our sides. I don't know if it really helps, but I'm thinking if she wakes up, the physical contact helps "ground her" so to speak.

She does get tense and a little anxious at bedtime; I wonder if she's aware she's having these panic attacks so she's gets nervous. We just try to keep her calm until she falls asleep.

Thanks again for all your help!!

Erin