any advice please!!!! dog keeping me awake!!

[polyphonic]

i own a a jack russell x staff bitch who is twelve years old. she sleeps int he kitchen with her "sister" in a bed that they share and are locke din ver night, obviously with food and water. for the last couple of nights she has been causing so much noise to come out of the kitchen. BANG BANG BANG, she goes every hour on the hour. i have told her to get in her bed, which she normally does straight away, but the last couple of nights, she seemed a little dazed as to what ive asked her, and when i went to move her, she growled which for me not being a stranger is very odd behaviour. i let her out for the toilet but she didnt need it, i put her back in the kitchen and away she started. does anybody have any idea why she might be acting this way. im not sure as she is getting older she is feeling a little unsecure but during the day she is bright as day and no trouble at all (although im not there all the time) any help would be much appreciated. thank you

 

[mlm]

it might work but when we brought our racing greyhound home he whined all night, someone told us to put one of our old t shirts in with him with our smell on work a treat. he had lived in kennels for 5 years

 

[SSM]

Bumble Dog offers the following advice: Let her come and snuggle down in bed with you

 

[spaniel]

Maybe she would prefer to sleep on her own......??

 

[polyphonic]

they have been together since they were a year old. this is what has confused me. im not sure if its an attention thing, she bangs, i go down stairs and theres the attention? i will try the t shirt tonight but i am sorry to say no dogs on my bed!!

 

[SSM]

Bumble Dog says she won't be visiting your house soon!!!!! and can she correct you on this, she was not suggesting on the bed, she thinks in the bed is much better

 

[Oneofthepack]

If she's twelve and has never done this before it's possible she's going senile or has had a mild stroke that's changed her personaility. When my mums old dog suddenly started getting 'stuck' in corners and whining for no reason the vet said it was dementia.

 

[kibob]

I agree with oneofthepack, our elderly lab used to have dimentia moments when it seemed like he'd forgotton where he/we were and got very confused - bless him. I think an item of your clothing for her to take to bed is a good idea and could you perhaps leave a radio on low? As she doesn't do this when you are around perhaps she gets confused when the house is silent and forgets where everyone is awwwwww.

Hope you get a good nights sleep.

 

[filly190]

My mum had this with one of her dogs at about this age. She caged the dog to try and get some sleep, but she still scrabbled at the cage and managed to make loads of noise. My mum would get up and tap the cage and tell the dog off. This worked very well. Of course, she checked before going to these extremes if it were medical, desire for toilet etc.

Lucy settled down, but every few weeks would start up again. Months and months of this went on and she eventually heart trouble showed up at the vets. She was having small attacks in the night with her breathing and panicking. It was'nt until the heart trouble was advanced did it get picked up.

Sadly Lucy was pts last Monday.

 

[Loubielou]

This does sound like a separation anxiety problem that has arisen due to age. Dogs, like people, also feel vunerable as they get older. A DAP diffuser might help. You can get them from your vet.

 

[Sooty]

I suspect it might be a medical problem, I can't see how it can be behavioural after this length of time. Our old JRT got a bit like this when she was old. I know 12 is no great age, but I would be tempted to get your vet to look her over and maybe do some blood tests. Some conditions release toxins into the bloodstream which can affect behaviour. Or maybe she heard you talking about getting another dog...

 

[PLAYBOY]

ow go on let them snuggle into bed with u xx both of them like padsta does xx

 

[mollymurphy]

Hi there, I'm in my 3rd year of an animal behaviour degree, and yesterdays lecture was on cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). It sounds to me like your dog is in the initial stages of this. It is quite similar to alzheimer's disease in people. Symptoms include disorientation, decreased interaction, disturbed sleep patterns (including seemingly pointless barking & stereotypic pacing) and loss of house training & previously learned behaviours.

Vets can offer various drugs, but diet can also play a part - Vitamin A and C are highly beneficial.

Hills Prescription Diets - Canine b/d - has been proven to be of great benefit.

Good luck! x

 

[fmay]

Mollymurphys info sounds feasible, I didn't realise that dogs can get dementia

Two of our borders (brother and sister) always shared a kennel and basket but then the bitch wouldn't let the dog in and poor Thistle was lying on the concrete floor until we realised and separated them. This was when they were 2 years old though.

 

[CAYLA]

Yep...........I have studied and have behavioural certs and dimentia is covered in parts of the study......very interesting too.........in my job I do come across it often............It is a scary thought but they do suffer from dimentia just the same as humans.