puppy scared of own shaddow

[amanda171]

My puppy is 7 months, we are her second home and got her at 15 weeks. Over the last couple of months she has started to become quite timade for no reason. The smallest noise or if people approach make her back away. She is well socialised and goes to puppy training class. Don't know if this is connected but she never stops scratching and nibbling herself.

[elaine.e]

I've just looked at your other posts and see that she's just coming to the end of her first season. That means she's been going through some very big changes over the last few weeks. Puppies often go through a second fear stage between 6 and 12 months so I expect that combined with her season are the cause of her becoming timid. If she was mine and backing away when people approach I wouldn't let them approach her for the time being because it may increase her fear.

In one of your other posts you say she's always sniffing her vulva. Did that start at the same time as the generalised scratching and nibbling? Scratching and nibbling could be due to any number of things including fleas, skin mites, food that doesn't suit (as an example, grains, especially wheat, are a fairly common cause of skin problems) or environmental causes. Some dogs can be very sensitive to laundry products used on their bedding, carpet and floor cleaners that they come into contact with in the house etc.

[Karma]

Agree with what Elaine said.

Would also add that, if you have ruled out mites/fleas etc as the cause of the itching, it is worth looking at diet for potential intolerances.
This time last year, Honey suddenly started itching and nibbling, eventually digging holes in her skin.... we realised this started when we changed her bedtime biscuit (due to lack of availability rather than anything else), and the new biscuits contained wheat.  We cut out all wheat, and the itching stopped.  Wheat is apparently a major culprit for food sensitivity in dogs...

[amanda171]

The smelling her self and itching/nibbling has been going on as long as we have had her. Mitzy came to us with runny poo and blood she has been back and forward to the vet and is already on a hypoallergenic diet which helped with her runny poor she has had a bad start I think and I appreciate all you time to help me give this puppy the home with us she deserves. Thanks

[Patp]

The problem is with the prescription diets that the vet provide is whilst it might cure one problem, it creates another!

My MIL staffy was prescribed a food from her vet due to a dodgy stomach, but they have had to take her off it because all of the other ingredients were making her scratch all the time.

It might be worth starting from scratch with a very bland diet for 3 months to see if it all settles down before introducing more foods.

[amanda171]

Thanks