Is my dog suffering from some forn of Anxiety Attack.

Question
QUESTION: Yes, I have a 4 yr old Welsh Pembroke Corgi that I 'rescued' for an abusive environment. The owners before would yell at him, beat him, and put him in a cage at night or when they would have company.
A year ago this month, I brought him home.
Last June he started hiding in my small bathroom. He shakes when I talk to him. I mean he shakes so much that you can hear it vibrate in the bath tub, itself. When I talk to him or approach him his ears go down against his head. He still goes out for walks but he walks real fast and he doesn't stop to smell things like he normally does. He refuses to go up the steps; going down them is fine. He refuses to jump on the couch and sit with me or sleep in the bed. When I pick him up to carry up the steps, he cries and whimpers.
 Lst time, I took him to two vets. The first one couldn't find anything wrong. They took blood samples. The 2 second one didn't find anything either. He didn't understand or see any problems. The 2nd vet said that he probably pulled a muscle. He gave me some meds and told me to just let him have his space and he will eventually get over it. I did. Yes after a week or so he was back to his old self until last night, he's doing it again.
He's not as bad as he was the first time. The first time he wouldn't let me approach him or pet him. He would act like he's trying to bite me. This time he isn't that bad. He would even let me put the leash on him last time.  I had to get my parents or neighbor to put the leash on him just to walk him.
I was thinking maybe he has some anxiety from his last owners. I was walking him last night and he went after a smaller dog. I had to yell and grab him before he jumped on the little dog, so since then he's been like this.
Could he be having an anxiety attack or some memory of his last owners being 'angry' at him, beating him and putting him in a cage as punishment. I didn't hit him last night but I yelled at him loud last night.
His last owners would get onto him and put him in a small cage, when he got into 'trouble.' I figure that's why he goes into the smaller bathroom and gets into the tub.
What worries me is when he yelps like his in pain, but the doctors couldn't find anything physically wrong. Could his yelping be a part of anxiety attack? When I walked him earlier today when he pooped he yelped, stopped, and came to me. I patted his head and spoke to him softly, then he walked on. He pooped again and he whimpered a little but not as bad as the first. Could that be a symptom of anxiety? Like I said the 2 vets didn't/couldn't find anything physically wrong.
I hope you can help. I'm worried about my little buddy. I don't like to see him like this. I hope it doesn't last long. I miss his happy self.
Thank you %26 Blessings,
 Terry

ANSWER: Hi Terry,

God bless you for caring for this poor little dog. Yes, it sounds like he was VERY traumatized.

Despite being known as the "barkless" dog, some corgis do bark, even yelp.

I've thought about your question for a while, and think *maybe* the yelp is a sign that "I have to go". Some dogs have a particularly 'shrill' yelp when they need to go, and it is a yelp that is unmistakeable. It sounds like something between pain and insistence - and a dog that has been so abused as you describe might well be confused about what to do and where. That would be my first guess.

A cage should NEVER be punishment. Never, never, ever. By putting him in it when he was 'bad', he didn't learn appropriate behaviour. They taught him that there is no rhyme or reason in his world, and that doing something totally necessary and natural was 'bad'.  They probably didn't really understand how to use a crate for crate training - which is sad because if its done right, it provides total feeling of safety for the dog. Done wrong, well....you are seeing the result of it having been done wrong.

He probably goes into the smaller room for a feeling of safety. Thank you for rescuing him - one thing you could do is make sure he has a small space that is just his - some call it a crate, and use a crate - some call it a den and use a dog bed - in this case, I'd try a dog bed as a crate would be too much for him given it was used as punishment in the past.

You might also take him to some dog classes to socialize him around other dogs - but talk to the trainer first, before you decide on a class, because for a dog that has been traumatized, sometimes the first few sessions all you would do is sit on the sidelines with him, and watch.

If he wouldn't let you put on his leash, this is more of a concern. You could try calling him over to the door, with you holding the leash. Let him come to you, don't try to approach him. If going out is always 'nice', he should usually come - especially if you have his favorite treat.

Hope this helps!





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It's Saturday, today he is shaking tremendous and he hasn't used the bathroom all day.  I took him for a walk earlier today and it seems like he can't use the bathroom because it's painful. He wants to go outside and I do walk him, but he doesn't do anything. It's like when he wants to use the bathroom, poop, he shakes, cries, whins & yelps and comes to me; between my legs. At one time he just backed up against the wall and whinned. It's like he wants to use the bathroom but afraid of the pain.
He hasn't eaten today. He sits in the bathtub and pants.
I'm at witt's end trying to figure out what's wrong with him. I want to help him but I don't know what's wrong.
Like I said he did this before in June and after a week or so, it was as if nothing ever happened and he was the same Drake ( his name ). Now here we are again, happening all over. It kills me to see him like this. I try to give him his space and hoping it's nothing dangerously life threating serious. I wish I was the dog pysche.. lol.
Thanks for your help.
 Terry

ANSWER: If he still is unable to go, you need to take him to the vet. Panting is a sign of pain for dogs, and he needs to be seen by his doctor. He could have anything from constipation to intestinal blockage, or need medication to calm him. Its impossible to say - but what you describe does need attention from the vet - during the time when he's actually symptomatic.
Please take him as soon as you can - if he's panting, not eating, and appears to be in pain, the vet can help him. Please don't delay getting him seen - it could be very serious. I hope it is not, but what you describe with the panting - he needs medical attention, and ASAP.

Hope this helps, I hope he feels better soon.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It's Sunday night.  He's seems to be doing a little better. Not panting as much. Still shaking a little. He went out once and peed, but nothing else. He hadn't eaten or drank all yesterday, but today I got him to drink some water and eat a little bit. I got him to take a relaxer from him last vet visit the first time this happened back in June. Hopefully it will help him relax.
There's no vets open around here during the weekend, but tomorrow if he isn't any better I'll make him an appointment.
Like I said he seems to be doing a little better, but I wish he would come out and be his old self.
Thanks for all your help and listening to me.
I will let you know how he's doing.
Blessings,
  Terry

Answer
Hi Terry,

I'm very concerned about your dog. Even if he is better now, please get him checked.
What you describe, as its gone on for a few days, isn't likely to be just anxiety. He
sounds like he's in pain, and dogs don't usually show us pain until its REALLY bad. I
would not feed him - if he's refusing to eat, there's probably a good reason, and eating
could make it worse. Water is good, but he may need surgery or some diagnostic test: if he does,
you want him to not have eaten. Please, let us know how he is.