4yr Old Dog Babying A Ball And Chasing Our Cat She Used To Love.. Why?
My dog is about 4 years old now, and shes a huge sweet heart. But recently (within the past few days) she has started doing something she has never done when she was in heat, she is babying a ball. She carries it around with her everywhere, holds it when shes sleeping, brings it out with her when she uses the bathroom. If she can’t find it, she will look everywhere frantically for it. She will just sit there with the ball in her mouth, staring at you and whining, but she does not want to go for a walk or play (she will play, but thats not why shes whining). She had just come out of heat about 2-3 months ago. Her babying the ball isnt the issue though, it is that we have 2 cats that she has lived with for some time now, and all of a sudden she is on this attacking spree of the male. If she sees him or hears him, if he comes into a room she is in, she will chase after him growling and trying to get him. This is strange behavior, she has never had any issue with cats in the past. It was just so sudden, and makes us worry for the cats mental stability and safety. She has also been eating notably less, using the bathroom less, and drinking less. What could be going on? Our female cat is in heat, and our roommate is pregnant and due any day now. Is it possible that just the extent of female hormones in the house has triggered this? Or should we have her looked at by a vet? Any KNOWLEDGEABLE help at all would be appreciated.
Sounds like she has a false pregnancy and the ball is her puppy, which is why she’s after the cat; she’s protecting the “puppy”.
It will go away by itself. What you can do is to give her plenty of exercise and, without her noticing it, take away the ball. If she’s intolerable, take her to the vet. He can give her something called galastop, which will end the false pregnancy faster.
If she’s lactating and keeps getting false pregnancies, you should consider having her spayed, as there will be an increased risk of mammary cancer.
Get your pets spayed and neutered (if you have any males) and those hormonal problems will clear up.
Your local SPCA can do this at a greatly reduced rate.
edit:
You stated that your dog and your cat are in heat. Though I am happy that the male cat is fixed, you should still get your female pets fixed as well. I am sure that you don’t want any accidental litters.
Good luck