Senile old dog.

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He's off to the vets early next week for vaccinations and a check up, But I'm sure he's going senile. The dog in question is almost 16 JRT , he's always been a bit of a grumpy git but he's less tolerant than before, he'll have a go if you disturb him, he's deaf too so that's not helping.

Recently he's been having accidents in the house - he's been clean since a 12 week old puppy, he can go in the garden and wee and poo and will come back in a 20 mins later will wee inside, going to have to confine him to a room with a hard floor with a stairgate.

If I leave the room he's staring to show separation anxiety, again he's never shown this before and was quite happy with his own company when left, no barking, whining destruction etc, but now he whines and paces.. he also pants alot - dry panting which I'm sure is stress related.

Is there anything you lot would recommend to help him? I had thought of an adaptil collar, and hopefully the vet will prescribe something to reduce the anxiety.

He also has a heart problem with a grade 4 murmur and his cough, related to his heart is getting worse.

I don't want to PTS just yet as he still has bright eyes, enjoys his food and generally toddles around, but I don't want him to be in the situation of everyday being stressful as he's losing his memory and forgets where he is.

Blimey - the FIL has dementia and now the dog!!
 
I don't agree with keeping dogs with dementia going, but that is just MO. A friend had one, and drugs helped for a while, but he used to get 'lost' in the garden and panic, it was awful to watch. SA, if he didn't have it before, is a sign of stress, so are you sure he is as happy as he seems?
 
Clodagh said:
so are you sure he is as happy as he seems?
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You have summed up my gut feeling, if it was someone else I would probably say it was time, but it's harder when it's your own! He's currently sleeping next to me and the worst thing is he actually looks quite good for his age...yesterday he just stood and stared into space, and I do think he's getting stressed, yes...he also seems a bit stiff in his back end but I think a touch of arthritis is the least of his problems although will be getting this checked in case he's got some pain that is causing the stress. So I have a plan..

- vet visit - check joints etc possibly try Metacam and see if he improves in case of pain issue...

- the dementia - there is definately something going on, the weirdness of his behaviour is becoming quite apparent, and I would like him to have quality of life, it's bad enough watching FIL struggle and seeing how stressed and frustrated he's become - at least I can give my dog a way out...

Just for another complication I'm away for a week in October and I'm wondering how he'll be in kennels this time....
 
I totally understand where you are coming from. My old rescue dog who I had for 14 years started showing signs of dementia. He was stressed, confused and not the dog I have always known.
I made the decision of getting him pts however my vets wanted to try him on medication. The way I saw it was we rescued him from a terrible situation as a young dog and he lived until he was 16 years old a very happy healthy life. I felt terrible afterwards really guilty on not trying the medication but now im pleased I let him go with his dignity and I was there to comfort him.
Once they stop enjoying things they normally do that's when you know.

Think of you x
 
Lévrier;13628425 said:
I wouldn't dream of putting him in kennels and would be deciding to PTS if he were mine - he is not enjoying life from your description :(
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I have to agree and I'm really sorry to say this Maisie, but it seems that the time is now …….. .

Alec.
 
I'd be seriously considering the options and I definitely wouldn't be putting him in kennels. It can also be very upsetting for a normally clean dog when they start to soil themselves.

I'm also not a vet and I may be barking up the wrong tree, but combined with what you were saying about his heart, a dog I was very fond of had the coughing, panting, whining and sitting in one spot staring into space for prolonged periods and it turned out to be heart failure.

But only you can make the decision x
 
My old boy is definitely a bit senile, but he is currently in full health (bar blindness in one eye) after an episode of lameness, he's back off the lead and galloping round, demanding attention and mostly clean in the house. He came on holiday with us, the others went into kennels, but there was no way I would have left him. I wouldn't allow any invasive procedures or any extensive treatment now, I'd PTS if he deteriorated.

The vet suggested Nutramind, allegedly it supports senile dogs, in reality, it just delivers omega 3, B12 and a joint supplement, all of which mine gets anyway with oily fish, Marmite etc. Turmeric has some interesting studies claiming it can reverse the signs of senility, but I don't think that's at all reliable, nothing is or we'd have cured human senility by now.

16 is a good innings. Speak to your vet. Does he really need vaccs?
 
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Sorry, I think your dog may be reaching his 'sell by date' monitor him carefully, remember better a day too soon than a minute too late.

He really doesn't need booster vaccs at his age, I'm guessing it's necessary because you were considering kennels.

If this were my dog (and he's not) I would be seriously considering PTS rather than kennels, seeeing as he's confused and unwell.

So sorry.
 
gunnergundog said:
Can you get a house sitter to stay with the old lad whilst you are away?
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He can stay with a relation so no problem there. He's had a really good day today, but I know the time is here, I suspect he does have chronic heart failure and will be having the chat with the vet.

The next hard bit will be seeing the Spaniel miss his mate...Spaniel will have to go to kennels as way waaaaaaaay too much for relation to look after!!! Plus relation has habit of spoiling dogs by feeding cake etc, which TBH for the old boy will be a total delight and make him very happy indeed! We do have a fantastic kennels though so spaniel will be in very good hands.
 
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