Pickles has recently (about a month ago) began obsessively sniffing anytime we are outdoors. He LOVES to just walk through the grass and sniff for hours on end, which wouldn't be a problem until it became excessive and he now gets nosebleeds, a sore nose, and has scarring under his nostrils from it. Within the last week or so he's began to do the same thing indoors. Any ideas on why he would do this and how to keep it from causing pain/scarring on his little nose?
snj7735
- Status
Sniffing is sometimes a sign of stress. Do you see any other body language that would indicate he's stressed when he's doing this behavior?
Have you taken him to the vet to be checked? If he's doing it inside too and is damaging tissue, he needs to be seen by your vet. Good luck.
Have you taken him to the vet to be checked? If he's doing it inside too and is damaging tissue, he needs to be seen by your vet. Good luck.
Moving is usually stressful for dogs. Perhaps it started out as nothing but smelling all the new smells and became obsessive. Some dogs can develop unusual repetitive behaviors.
Here's an article by Pat Miller on the subject of compulsive behavior. It might be of some help to you.
Obsessive Compulsive Behavior in Dogs - Whole Dog Journal Article
Here's an article by Pat Miller on the subject of compulsive behavior. It might be of some help to you.
Obsessive Compulsive Behavior in Dogs - Whole Dog Journal Article
To update:
The past few days we have followed some of the suggestions in the article, including an increase in exercise, a more structured schedule, playing "Through a Dog's Ear" when its time to calm down for the night, and also giving him long lasting chews (antlers, dried sweet potato chews, etc). We've seen a small bit of improvement already - still sniffing some, but he's cut down enough that there have been no nosebleeds or sore nose and his attention can be moved from sniffing to other activities (three days ago he would be so focused on sniffing that nothing could capture his attention).
He'll be seeing the vet for a check-up soon so we will rule out other causes then but things are looking a bit better already!
The past few days we have followed some of the suggestions in the article, including an increase in exercise, a more structured schedule, playing "Through a Dog's Ear" when its time to calm down for the night, and also giving him long lasting chews (antlers, dried sweet potato chews, etc). We've seen a small bit of improvement already - still sniffing some, but he's cut down enough that there have been no nosebleeds or sore nose and his attention can be moved from sniffing to other activities (three days ago he would be so focused on sniffing that nothing could capture his attention).
He'll be seeing the vet for a check-up soon so we will rule out other causes then but things are looking a bit better already!- Status
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