Expert: English Bulldogs ( Marie ) e-mail me at mpmaltese@gmail.com - 9/4/2009

Question
Hello Expert!  I have a one year old female English bulldog who just got spayed about a month ago.  Since she has been spayed she is a completely different dog, she went from being mild mannered, obedient (stopped chewing on household appliances and furniture and "going to the bathroom" inside the house a long time ago), and friendly to other dogs and neighbors to a dog that is the complete opposite and terrified of EVERYTHING.  Taking her for walks takes a very long time, as she hears me open the drawer that we keep her harness and leash in she runs underneath the bed and begins to violently shake and cower away from the idea of going for a walk.  On her walk, she barely makes it down our block before she tries to pull out of her harness and make her way back in the direction of home.  She wants nothing to do with other people, dogs, treats, or anything outside of the house.  During the day she is mostly in her bed and prior to her spaying she would follow us around the house, play, bark, etc.  She goes potty in the house and has bitten just about every piece of furniture and appliance that we hadn't been able to hide from her - all mostly while we are gone.  This is truly breaking my heart and making me feel helpless as her owner.  She has just finally began to finish her food during the day, for the past month I had been throwing out more than half of her meals as she wasn't really eating, this I know post-spay is normal; but everything else she has been doing is scaring me.  Please help us!

Answer
Hi Donna,  Well, we can try some home-cooking and Valerian to relax her:
Crate her when you are not home....  ( Valerian link below)

Recipe - Meatloaf - YUM YUM


Ingredients

2-3 carrots, shredded
4 potatoes, shredded
any leftover vegetables, shredded (No onions ( or toss in some frozen veggies)
1 lb navy beans, cooked
3 lbs hamburger (I use 21 % fat)
4 eggs
1/4 cup wheat germ
3 teaspoons low-sodium beef bouillon cubes

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F.
Lightly oil a 13x9-inch baking dish.
In a very large mixing bowl: shred carrots, potatoes and any leftover veggies, no need to peel.
Using rubber gloves hand mix/mash remaining ingredients into veggie mixture, mixing till no lumps.
Place mixture into baking dish, spreading evenly.
Bake for approx 1 1/2 hours.
Cool on wire rack.
Slice pieces into a size your dog will eat, foil wrap and date, toss into freezer bags, label for dogs Freeze remaining slices.

YOU can also use cup cake pans and place the mix into that type of pan for baking...
LITTLE portions you can feeze all in cupcake form.

With Home-Cooking - always use NuVET Powder and mix into one meal per day - (1) one teaspoon of NuVET per day will help to balance the diet and your dog's body systems...
KEEPs the vet away - home cooking and supplements.
Also, will help her urinary system and helps to prevent UTIs.

http://www.nuvet.com/81098  ( Order NuVET here ) or thru a Holistic vet
Use order code 81098 for the 15% OFF program.
Tell them Pet Nurse Marie sent you.
BEST to call in your first order -   1-800-474-7044

Valerian - give 1 Valerian per night - I like the Nature's Sunshine time release:
Valerian will help to calm her nerves- And, VERY  SAFE for dogs.

very helpful....
VALERIAN ROOT EXTRACT TIME RELEASE (60 TABLETS)
Give just 1 per day /long term is fine
Excellent product-
http://www.mynsp.com/nuvetpetnurse/products/guide.aspx?stockNum=721


Please keep in touch - I am here to help!
I know it is just anxiety...And her diet may be off balance - (  here body is off-balance)
HOME-Cooking should help ....

BEST wishes
Marie Peppers LPN MA
mtnmom@gci.net