The Shy Puppy

One of the most challenging problems new dog owners face is dealing with a shy or fearful puppy. Occasionally, fear is a manifestation of an undiagnosed medical ailment.

Unrecognized pain

Most veterinarians would agree that unrecognized pain is the number one medical cause of fear in puppies. Orthopedic problems such as elbow and hip dysplasia; damaged cartilage in the knee, shoulder or ankle; intervertebral disc disease of the lower back; and other inflammatory conditions of the bone can cause mild to severe pain that doesn't manifest as an obvious limp.

These dogs may simply be reluctant to go to the dog park, act afraid of a leash, shy away from other dogs or bite in fear of being touched in the area where they feel pain. A good physical exam by your vet and radiographs (X-rays) will usually pinpoint the cause of orthopedic pain.

Visually and hearing-impaired dogs

While most dogs don't like to be surprised by loud noises or quick movements, the deaf or visually impaired puppy may also act excessively fearful if it cannot anticipate the approach of an unfamiliar person or animal. Puppies may cower, fear-bite, urinate, roll over submissively on their side or startle easily if they simply can't hear or see as well as nature intended.

While there are many dog breeds that are affected by congenital deafness, other causes of progressive hearing loss include bacterial or viral ear infections, impacted wax or foreign bodies like grass seeds in the ear canals, trauma and hypothyroidism. The basset hound, shar-pei, Westie, and nearly all spaniel and retriever breeds are commonly afflicted with ear infections. Veterinary attention should be sought if dogs are scratching at their ears, shaking their head excessively, or if a strong odor is detected or debris is seen in the ear canal.

Itchy skin

Skin diseases are an increasingly common and frustrating set of diseases for owners and veterinarians alike. While most of these dogs are plainly itchy, some are so uncomfortable that they hide, withdraw from attention or even fear-bite. Other more common symptoms include hair loss; coat discoloration; greasy, dry or oily skin, and ear infections. Very young puppies are less commonly affected by true environmental allergies than adults, but we are beginning to see more one- to two-year-old dogs with allergies to molds, mildew, grasses and dust mites. More common are the puppies that have an allergic reaction to biting insects. Affected pups will cower, avoid the places where they've experienced bites, or quickly turn and chew at the insect (which is usually not visible). Many owners incorrectly assume this is fear-based behavior.

An evaluation by your vet can determine the cause of the itching.

Upset tummies

Most puppy owners recognize that diarrhea, vomiting and flatulence are symptoms of a digestive system problem. Less appreciated is the fact that these symptoms are really painful for puppies and their stomachs hurt. Gurgling sounds, burping, reluctance to eat and wincing or tensing up when the back or belly are touched are generally very unusual in a healthy puppy. These symptoms should always be brought to your veterinarian's attention.

Hypothyroidism

A less common medical condition in puppies that can cause dramatic behavior changes is hypothyroidism. Typical behavior signs of hypothyroidism include unprovoked aggression toward other animals or people, moodiness or erratic temperament, depression, anxiety and fear. As many as 30 breeds are now recognized as being predisposed to this disease including shelties, German shepherds, golden retrievers, cocker spaniels, akitas, Doberman pinschers and rottweilers. It is usually classified as an autoimmune disease because it results when the body attacks its own thyroid cells for reasons that aren't yet clear. Hypothyroidism can be seen in puppies as young as seven months of age and can be diagnosed with a blood test.

It's important to seek veterinary care if your new puppy is fearful or develops signs of fear. If the results of this initial evaluation are normal, enrolling your puppy in socialization, obedience or individualized training classes are a great next step to help your shy puppy become more confident.

Dr. Cathy Sinning is the co-owner of Lake Harriet Veterinary and editorial advisory board member for Star Tribune Pet Central. www.lakeharrietvet.com