dog

Question
my 8 year dog ran away in the storm  about 1 week ago, for whole day she was gone and now she is acting strange, cower when we call her and keep hiding like we going to beat her, shakes when get close to use, cry's most nights, stay in dark places and if you go near her she cowers away from you, there is no injury on her, teeth are fine,eats well, yet if I call her for her walk she off like a shot chasing and playing with the little one.

Answer
It can take quite a while for a dog to get over a scary experience. Is she storm phobic? I'd give her a few more days of not asking much out of her - do only what is necessary for her to be able to relieve herself, etc, and let her seek you out. Sometimes by being overly attentive, we make things worse. If she sees that it is a big deal to you, it will also continue to be a big deal to her. If you don't see an improvement,  check with your vet to make sure there's no physical problem that you aren't seeing (internal pain, illness)- ask for a tick borne disease test, blood work up and thyroid panel. 8 or so is when a lot of dogs start displaying more anxieties - especially to things such as storms, and if she doesn't recover on her own, you may want to have your vet consult with a veterinary behaviorist about anti-anxiety meds. While vets can prescribe these on their own, sometimes it helps to have a specialist who can choose the right one for your dog's situation. Sandy Case BFA MEd CPDT www.positivelycanine.com