Concerned about the auld yin

PucciNPoni

PucciNPoni

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My old girlie (16) is showing some signs of dementia that I am not sure I should ignore.

This morning she was in the kitchen near a light source just doing wee circles in front of it - rather moth like. Her eyesight is definitely failing her and her hearing isn't great either. Nothing wrong with her sense of direction generally though. Physically she's fairly fit, her weight is good and she's walking and bouncing despite arthritis. Feeding times she's well and truly up for the task of eating and impatiently bouncing while it's being made ready.

however, last weekend i had a bit of a nightmare (I'll post that as a seperate post in a bit) but it involved my poodle (I think) having a wee go at her again. I didn't see the episode, but whatever happened resulted in the tip of her ear bleeding.

She's a happy acting wee dog, still wants to follow me about and is content to snuggle in to whatever bed happens to be in the room that I'm in. But it does concern me that she might be sort of "lost" now and again in her own mind and just sort of taking up these wee moth like tendencies. :(
 
Poor old girl, I do sympathise it is horrible to witness. Vivitonin is supposed to be good for giving them a bit of a boost when they become a bit confused. We considered it with Buffy (who is not really old at 10 but does have some sort of brain problem we think), but decided against it. Vivitonin apparently boosts the blood supply to the brain and as its possible Buffy has some sort of tumour I didn't want to increase blood supply, does that make sense.
I do think dogs sense when one of their pack is a little frail, so maybe just monitor them for a bit. Sounds as if your old girlie is still quite happy in herself, so Vivitonin or similar might be all she needs, I would see what your vet thinks.
 
thanks for the words. I'll see what the vet has to say. I know she's getting on and I guess I'm a little concerned that she's ending her time with me. I don't want to rush it, but I can't help thinking that it's getting to be that time.
 
She sounds happy enough in herself at the moment but sometimes these things can get worse quickly and the fighting is an extra concern for you to have to deal with. I think the vet is definitely the way to go to get some advice on the best way forward. Let us know what happens and good luck.
 
No experience of oldies as yet (oldest is 11) but my little cocker puppy Pixel is almost completely blind(can see shadows and lights) and she spins in circles to get her bearings.

So the light may have confused her and she was trying to work out how to change direction. The best way I can describe it is if your windscreen is iced up and the sun shines on it. It blows out any of the vision you do have.

Something I found really helped her (Might help if the poodle worries her too) is putting a bell on her best mates collar. This improved her confidence no end.

Of course she was like this from birth so the adjustment may be the most difficult thing for your girly. Would be much easier if we could tell them what was happening.

Good luck to you and your girlie
Elle
 
PucciNPoni,

what a well considered post. My personal view of most vets, is that you should deal with your own instincts. Not all, but many, will encourage you to keep going, in the hope that you can restore some quality of life. That which your dog, currently enjoys, wont last for ever, but then you know that.

Vain hope of restoring a previous age, in a dog, is heartless, in my view. I would think, that at 16, your dog has done well, and so have you.

I may well be wrong, and there may be a treatment which can give a quality of life, for a while longer, but I suspect that you will know, very well, when the time approaches.

I wish you, and your auld yin, well.

Alec.
 
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