My dog won’t come near me after chemo

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
My dog won’t come near me after chemo

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  • Shelligirl
    Shelligirl Member Posts: 72
    edited January 2020

    I have the sweetest little lap dog that is always on me or near me, except for the four days following an infusion. It’s not my demeanor that throws her off because she was fine when I came home from surgery. No amount of coaxing can convince her to want to be close tome. She will even sleep alone in the bedroom chair, which would kill her any other time.

    Anyone else seen this with there pups?

  • Yogatyme
    Yogatyme Member Posts: 2,349
    edited January 2020

    I did not have chemo and have not had your experience but have always had dogs. I think that perhaps your little sweetie might smell the chemo. It is their strongest scent and it’s not beyond imagination that this could be the reason she avoids you for 4 days. I’m so sorry for you both.....you could use the comfort and so could she.

  • DogMomRunner
    DogMomRunner Member Posts: 616
    edited January 2020

    My dog didn’t seem to have a problem with chemo smell or anything like that. She did and does react more to my moods. During chemo she seemed to sense that I was feeling bad or tired and usually left me alone. Now though she is back to her normal probably because I’m back to mine

  • Shelligirl
    Shelligirl Member Posts: 72
    edited January 2020

    My husband and I are convinced it’s the smell, and it’s a smell that doesn’t wash off and takes three to four days to disappear. We did think it was my mood at first, but she was her normal self when I came home after port surgery and my mastectomy. She doesn’t mind if I have the flu or a cold. It’s just chemo.

    Dogs are so simple until they aren’t. I don’t know what my husband and I would talk about without our her because we can analyze her moods and behavior with never ending interest. Haha.

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2020

    My husband and I also do that with our little doggo. I never had chemo, but I am retired, and we are empty nesters. I think I focus on her all the time to fill the void(s).

  • DogMomRunner
    DogMomRunner Member Posts: 616
    edited January 2020

    We don't have kids so our animals are a high priority for us too. Our small furry children. :) I don’t know what I would do without them.

  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited January 2020

    Stay extra hydrated for those days to help flush out the odor she senses. You don’t smell “right” to her. Although my 2 have never done that, it’s possible. Their noses are soooooo sensitive.

  • Shelligirl
    Shelligirl Member Posts: 72
    edited January 2020

    Spookiesmom, my next infusion is the 17th, so I will try drinking lots of water and see how that does.

    Pup mom, is that a Pom in your photo? Love that breed! It is crazy how much we focus on our baby. She is 6lbs and bosses my husband and I around. She runs our house.

    Dogmomrunner, couldn’t agree more. The love is real.


  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 5,068
    edited January 2020

    Shelligirl, yes she's a Pom. That picture is from when she was a puppy. She's 6 now also, and has calmed down quite a bit, long story, lol!

  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited January 2020

    A guy at my dog park has 2 of the Mexican Hairless dogs. They both wear diabetic alert dog vests. Don’t usually see that breed as 𝙰𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚝 dogs. Dogs can sense the chemical change that happens when a diabetic is starting to crash. Same with epilepsy or other illnesses. And they are used in law enforcement, agriculture, fire noses.

    For you and your fur kid, I really think it’s the chemo.

  • Brilee76
    Brilee76 Member Posts: 227
    edited January 2020

    My dogs haven't seemed to behave any differently through any of my treatment so far. If I'm sitting, they're on me. I have 4 Chihuahuas.

  • santabarbarian
    santabarbarian Member Posts: 3,085
    edited January 2020

    Maybe there's a metallic smell to our sweat, to go along with the metallic taste in our mouths??

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