Why would you lash back with “your brothers birthday has nothing do do with…” She was just simply telling you the occasion and what happened? Seriously?

Hi Leana,

The first thing I’d do is teach my child not to bother a sleeping dog. I don’t care how many times she may have done the same thing, that doesn’t make it right nor safe.

I’m sure you’ve heard that people can be startled out of a sleep and do some pretty strange things. I’ve almost been punched in the face more than once by my own husband when waking him. A dog is no different except they can’t punch, so they use their teeth. It sounds to me like your dog responding involuntarily to having been startled out of what may have been a deep sleep. You likely don’t appreciate this kind of thing and neither does your dog.

Additionally, dog’s have their own personal space just like people do and violating your dog’s space can bring a bite.

My suggestion is that you start teaching your child to respect your dog. I don’t see this as being your dog’s fault, I see it as a child not having been taught proper behavior, respect and boundaries around dogs. If you do this, no I don’t think you have reason to worry. Too many people allow their children to behave inappropriately around a dog and then the dog gets blamed and sometimes worse, if they bite.

I would have my dog thoroughly vet checked. You didn’t say how old your dog is now, eyesight and hearing could be changing, I’d definitely include that in a check up. I’d have her tested for hypothyroidism as well. If she’s healthy, not in any pain, eyes & ears good then I believe she just reacted to having been awoken from her sleep and all-around proper training for your child should cure the problem. Hugging and touching a sleeping dog is just not a good idea. Dogs deserve to have their sleep time respected no different than humans.

Hi Dorothy,

I have not used biotin but seems to me I’ve heard of it being used for SLO. I’ve not heard of blood in the urine either, my thought is that it sounds very unlikely the two are related but I’m not a vet.

I commend you for leaving a vet who’d not work with you towards a possible solution! That’s GREAT! I would pursue the Lyme’s disease with your new vet who seems more open to finding answers.

Hi Ann,

That’s great news your baby is feeling better after the metro scare. Our regular vet didn’t know what was wrong with Riley either just that it looked very serious and he told me to spare no gas or time and get him to the specialist. You have to remember that the GP vets have a little bit of knowledge about a whole lot if different topics. It’s impossible for one vet to know it all, that’s why we have specialists just like humans do.

If it’s metro tox the Valium should help a lot, it did for Riley anyway. I would still take my baby to the specialist whether she’s better or not — I would want her checked out by the neurologist just to be on the safe side and to know that the Valium dosage is correct as well.

Good luck!

Hi Rusty,

Happy to hear your Max is doing well! Thanks so much for sharing!

Deb