Senile dog advice

[Snowy Celandine]

My vet has just diagnosed my elderly dog with senility She can be apathetic and uninterested, wanders off on walks, eliminates in the house and, worst of all, has become very aggressive to my other dog who is currently on antibiotics because she has been badly bitten just under her eye

The vet has suggested a tablet called Aktivait but has admitted that it may have no effect whatsoever. Has anyone tried it on their elderly dogs?

I have decided to keep them apart at night too as this is when most of the problems occur. They are fine together in the daytime when I am around. I had been resisting doing this because I thought that one or both of them might be lonely but I can't see that I have any choice now

 

[posie_honey]

honestly... i would have her PTS - if she is like that then she cant be in a happy place and its kinder to put her out of her misery
i know that sounds really nasty - but i have gone through it with my old dog - he was still very happy but started to senile bark and lick - we could control it with pills but they took all the spark out of his eye. (if you search right back you will find my thread - has lots of good advice on)
just as we decided enough was enough he actually collapsed and we had him PTS.
its a really difficult decision but i do believe that you have to think of their quality of life over what you can do to prolong it - esp if they are not really happy

 

[Snowy Celandine]

Thank you. It's not a nasty thing to say, just good, honest advice I have taken her back and forth to the vets a few times but this is the first time they have mentioned senility as being the most likely problem. In some ways she seems happy enough and eats ok, although not as much as previously, and is active on her walks although she is stiff when she first gets up but this soon wears off. I think I will see how it goes for a little while longer but I will definitely make the right decision when she needs me to.

 

[posie_honey]

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=422045

here you go = my post about my old spangle - prob worth reading

 

[Snowy Celandine]

Thank you. Will go and have a read now

 

[Scoutie]

My old girl became senile and was treated with this. It worked for about a year and then its effect started to lessen, she tried other drugs but they didn't work. She then became frightened at night and I had to make the sad decision to pts. What I would say is that the drugs started to work within a week, it may be worth trying a two week course and if there is no improvement you have tried.

 

[Snowy Celandine]

Thank you Scoutie. That sounds more positive than I had hoped. I will phone the vet tomorrow and see if she will prescribe a short course

 

[JeanetteM]

My 15 year old girl is on this, I call them her happy pills, they've made a huge difference in her and I wouldn't be without them,


As there is no prescription needed for them I buy them online and get them delivered for a quarter of what my vet charges


fingers crossed for you

 

[Snowy Celandine]

Thanks for that Jeanette

 

[Snowy Celandine]

I've just ordered my Akitvait on-line so fingers crossed for a good result and thank you to all those who replied

 

[NeverSayNever]

having been through this with my lab I also agree with Rosie.

I would also ask your vet about vivitonin as it may help.