children and masterbation

[chica41]

my husband and i adopted my bio nephew when he was 2 years old.  he was born addicted to meth and is adhd and bi polar.  unmedicated.  he is now 13.  i have noticed he likes to choke himself, even in public places, it seems that when he is excited or nervous his hands go right to his neck.  he does it subconsiously... not intentional.  he and i have made up a code word that i say when he is doing it in public so that he knows he needs to stop what he is doing... we did this so not to embarrase him in front of people.

i have noticed a few other things...  there have been times when he is in his bedroom and i open the door and he is masterbating.  so, the code with that is,  if the door is closed i knock before entering as to not cause embarrasement for him or myself.  i understand at this age he is going to masterbate... he knows that this is to be done behind a closed door.  

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Masturbating alone in his room is normal and it does not invite concern. Obviously the behavior with the dog and his choking behavior do warrant concern. If his diagnosis with Bipolar Disorder is accurate, he has essentially an untreated mood disorder and that is not good. You should have him seen by a child/adolescent psychiatrist and commence medication to treat the Bipolar Disorder. It is a biologically-based emotional disturbance and part of the treatment has to be 'biological' - i.e., involve medicine. In addition, if he is not already in therapy he should be.

[chica41]

what is really bothering me is this.  i was sitting at my computer desk with my back to him,  we have a big german shepard dog,  the dog was laying on the floor and my nephew was laying on top of him,  with his hands in his pants stroking himself vigerously while petting the dog with the other hand...  i heard a weird noise and turned quickly when he saw i was looking he stopped.  i asked him what he was doing and he of course denied everything...

then the other day i see him outside playing with the dog, dog was laying on the ground and my nephew was laying on top of the dog dry humping him.  i pulled my nephew inside and told him that was inapporaite behavior and i asked him what gave him the urge to do such a thing.  he told me i was making a big deal out of nothing and it was a game that he and the dog made up togehter.  im not sure what to do.  i have googled children and beastilality and find nothing.  i also know that my nephew deals with abandament issues and that it may be time that i consider medicating him...  please any advise would be greatly appreciated.
a concerned mother