Senior dog not settling?

[fiwen30]

My lad is 13.5, and hasn’t been himself this morning.

He goes out for a last toileting around 10.30 at bedtime, and then we’re up at either 5:45 or 7 depending if I’m WFH or in the office. If I’m WFH, he typically spends the day snoozing in his bed beside me, and we do his short walk when I’m finished - around 4pm. When I’m in the office, I leave the house at 7am and I’m also home around 4pm for his walk.

This morning he was up at 5am, scratching and scrabbling at my bedroom door, but not vocalising. I let him out for an early wee, and then tried to get back to sleep - no luck, more door scrabbling.

Since then he’s been on his feet all morning, pacing about the house and panting, coming over to me and looking very worried with no discernible reason. If I put him in his bed he’ll lie for a minute, and then spring up like he’s been electrocuted. We’ve been for a walk which usually tires him out - no luck. He’ll go out, but isn’t needing the toilet.

There’s been no changes to his diet, medication, or exercise. It’s like he’s woken up this morning with the energy of 6 dogs! Or like something has seriously unsettled him.

I don’t want to freak him out more by dragging him straight off to the vet, but there doesn’t seem to be anything which is working to calm or settle him. Thoughts?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Can you call vet to discuss or do they have an app where you can ask them?

Is it the heat?

It could be the beginnings of an infection, like a UTI or similar.

I would also, worst case scenario, consider the beginnings of dementia or organ failure, my ex's brother's dog got very restless before his heart packed in. But it's hopefully not that.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

He does sound unsettled. Is he on regular pain meds? If so, I would speak to the vet about possibly increasing the dose. I agree that unless he enjoys/doesn't mind going to the vet, there is probably no.point at this stage.

Eta but if there is no improvement by tomorrow, I would take him

 

[JGC]

Our senior dog has had various stomach and gut problems, and her getting unsettled as well as struggling with the stairs and disorientation is the first sign of tummy pain with her, even if she's still eating and pooping OK. If you gently palpate stomach/gut area is there any reaction?

 

[fiwen30]

Yes he’s on pain meds - Gabapentin, loxicom, and Librela. He got his Librela jab last week, and we increased his dosage as he’d been less tolerant of excercise.

We were at our vet physio a couple of days ago for his laser session, and she remarked on his improvement in the past 2 weeks. I really don’t know what’s got into him today. He snoozed all yesterday morning, I was out from 1-7pm, and he was settled all evening.

He still hasn’t laid down for more than a minute, just constantly pacing, panting, and coming back to me. Ears up and restless, listening at the doors, and trying to climb into my skin.

 

[Clodagh]

Can he have had a reaction to the increased librella dose?
How are his eyes? Are they flickering? (That’s not connected to anything librella related).
I would think he’s in pain.

 

[fiwen30]

Can he have had a reaction to the increased librella dose?
How are his eyes? Are they flickering? (That’s not connected to anything librella related).
I would think he’s in pain.

Possibly? The jab was 10 days ago though, and there was no other signs in those 10 days.

Eyes all fine, and gums a healthy pink. He’s alert and responding, just very unsettled and clingy.

We sat on the floor and I stroked him for a while. He lay down and stopped panting for a couple of minutes, and we got an eyes-half-closed, and then suddenly leapt up again like I’d stabbed him and the pacing continues.

May be a vet visit this afternoon, we’re both exhausted already.

 

[tda]

Possibly? The jab was 10 days ago though, and there was no other signs in those 10 days.

Eyes all fine, and gums a healthy pink. He’s alert and responding, just very unsettled and clingy.

We sat on the floor and I stroked him for a while. He lay down and stopped panting for a couple of minutes, and we got an eyes-half-closed, and then suddenly leapt up again like I’d stabbed him and the pacing continues.

May be a vet visit this afternoon, we’re both exhausted already.

Our old chap went thru a few phases like this over the last few months, one day he'd be right as rain, the next day pacing and panting.
We let him go peacefully a couple of weeks ago, maybe time to start thinking of that, especially as he is already on a few meds x

 

[fiwen30]

Our old chap went thru a few phases like this over the last few months, one day he'd be right as rain, the next day pacing and panting.
We let him go peacefully a couple of weeks ago, maybe time to start thinking of that, especially as he is already on a few meds x

It’s definitely been closer to the front of my mind this summer, as he’s not getting any younger after all.

He’s ticking over well with the right balance of medication, additional therapies, and home adaptions - we’ve got a great team between his regular vet, our vet physio, and the hydro therapists. We’re all on the same page of quality over quantity, not that that will make any final decision any easier.

 

[Annette4]

We went through a phase of this with Jack and ended up trying nutramind on the vets advice. He's so much more settled once it kicked in. I'm under no illusion that we're at months left with him now but he's much happier. Might be worth exploring?

 

[Goldenstar]

He might have ulcers .
This happened to one of mine it was the loxicom she had doggy gastroguard we swopped the loxicom for Gallipriant and she settled .
She had a stroke about a year later.

 

[AmyMay]

How is he this evening?

 

[Birker2020]

Possibly? The jab was 10 days ago though, and there was no other signs in those 10 days.

Eyes all fine, and gums a healthy pink. He’s alert and responding, just very unsettled and clingy.

We sat on the floor and I stroked him for a while. He lay down and stopped panting for a couple of minutes, and we got an eyes-half-closed, and then suddenly leapt up again like I’d stabbed him and the pacing continues.

May be a vet visit this afternoon, we’re both exhausted already. dog does that jumping up thing when her anal glands need emptying

My lad is 13.5, and hasn’t been himself this morning.

He goes out for a last toileting around 10.30 at bedtime, and then we’re up at either 5:45 or 7 depending if I’m WFH or in the office. If I’m WFH, he typically spends the day snoozing in his bed beside me, and we do his short walk when I’m finished - around 4pm. When I’m in the office, I leave the house at 7am and I’m also home around 4pm for his walk.

This morning he was up at 5am, scratching and scrabbling at my bedroom door, but not vocalising. I let him out for an early wee, and then tried to get back to sleep - no luck, more door scrabbling.

Since then he’s been on his feet all morning, pacing about the house and panting, coming over to me and looking very worried with no discernible reason. If I put him in his bed he’ll lie for a minute, and then spring up like he’s been electrocuted. We’ve been for a walk which usually tires him out - no luck. He’ll go out, but isn’t needing the toilet.

There’s been no changes to his diet, medication, or exercise. It’s like he’s woken up this morning with the energy of 6 dogs! Or like something has seriously unsettled him.

I don’t want to freak him out more by dragging him straight off to the vet, but there doesn’t seem to be anything which is working to calm or settle him. Thoughts?

Our dog does that startled movement when her anal glands need emptying. I think it's like a sudden twinge, like a pain or an itch, she looks like she's been shocked.

 

[fiwen30]

How is he this evening?

Thank you for thinking of us! After a solid 7 hours of pacing, I’m not ashamed to say I had to barricade myself behind my bedroom door and get some sleep for an hour. That was around midday - he scuffled about for a little bit, but when I got up he was fast asleep in his bed.

Since then he’s been out to the loo, had his evening meds, eaten all his dinner, had a little playtime, and then gone back to bed. No more pacing or excessive panting, thank goodness - he’s clearly blooming knackered!

Not quite sure what was wrong this morning. I took today off work in case we needed vet visits, and I’ll likely WFH tomorrow too and keep an eye on him. Hopefully we won’t have any repeat, and I’ll speak to our vet.

 

[meleeka]

Could something have just frightened him? It could be something as simple as a noise that made him jump. I'm glad he seems better now anyway. Hopefully you can both get some rest tonight.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Thank you for thinking of us! After a solid 7 hours of pacing, I’m not ashamed to say I had to barricade myself behind my bedroom door and get some sleep for an hour. That was around midday - he scuffled about for a little bit, but when I got up he was fast asleep in his bed.

Since then he’s been out to the loo, had his evening meds, eaten all his dinner, had a little playtime, and then gone back to bed. No more pacing or excessive panting, thank goodness - he’s clearly blooming knackered!

Not quite sure what was wrong this morning. I took today off work in case we needed vet visits, and I’ll likely WFH tomorrow too and keep an eye on him. Hopefully we won’t have any repeat, and I’ll speak to our vet.

My old girl was acting very odd yesterday. Pacing around, panting and kept coming and looking at me as though wanting something done but no idea what. In the end I tried grooming her which she doesn't like, shakes when I do it however gentle I am. Chopped some of the thick fur off to try and cool her down. Finished by giving her some frozen dog meat and she then settled. No idea what had upset her but something definitely had. So worrying when they are getting old, mine is 13 tomorrow.

 

[scats]

JD had this reaction to Librela, but hers happened within 48hrs of the first jab.

She still gets like this when she is uncomfortable ie in hot weather.
I hope he is feeling more comfortable today.

 

[fiwen30]

Back to his usual happy self today, thank goodness!

 

[setterlover]

It's really hot where you are ? It's very hot here could the heat be bothering him?

 

[fiwen30]

So after a couple of normal days on Tuesday & Wednesday, last night I was woken up at 12, 2am, and 6am, by more door scrabbling, pacing, and panting.

I let him outside each time, but he didn’t need the toilet. At 2am I dragged a hefty cupboard in front of my bedroom door, but somehow my 17kg dog managed to move it enough to get his nose and a paw against the door to scratch. I let him into the bedroom from 6-7am to see if it would help in case he was trying to get to me, but all it did was give him more room for pacing.

When I got up at 7am to work from home, the living room was trashed from things knocked over by his pacing and circling. I turned him out into the garden for 30 minutes to clean up, did his morning meds and breakfast routine, and he’s taken himself off to bed since then - all calm, quiet, and relaxed, now that we’re all in the same room.

I’ve preemptively cancelled our hydro appointment this evening, I don’t want to exhaust him further.

We’ve got a vet appointment at 11am this morning with our regular vet - we didn’t get to see him for my lad’s last librella job a few weeks ago - so I’ll be having a chat and we’ll go from there.



Dr Google mentions canine cognitive dysfunction in many senior dogs, including symptoms of ‘sundowning’ - switched sleeping in the day, and up at night. But I’ll also chat about additional pain meds, or any other potential underlying issues. Will keep you posted.

 

[AmyMay]

How did the appointment go?

 

[fiwen30]

Vet thinks canine congestive dysfunction.

Could do a urine test to check kidneys and potential infection, but given that the symptoms only present after dark then it seems unlikely. May still take up the offer for peace of mind, though.

We know there’s no real treatment, just management, but we’ve been given NutraMind supplements to try, and ACP tablets as a last resort to help with sleep. Other than that, it’s just trying to keep him comfortable.

I’ll go out and get a fan to help lower the temperature at night and to provide some white noise, and I’ll see about getting some calming plug ins or a calming collar. Possibly a thunder shirt? Though I don’t think they’re meant to be left unsupervised, which doesn’t help at night time.

Does anyone have any experience with CCD?

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Just a thought, would it be worth trying leaving him in a room with a light on at night? My sister's old boy started the pacing at night and she tried him with a calming coat of some sort which worked wonders for him. It might have been a Back on Track mesh coat.

 

[tda]

Both our last two terriers have exhibited those symptoms, panting, pacing, confusion, mainly evenings.
It really is a clear signal to you, sorry x

 

[Annette4]

Vet thinks canine congestive dysfunction.

Could do a urine test to check kidneys and potential infection, but given that the symptoms only present after dark then it seems unlikely. May still take up the offer for peace of mind, though.

We know there’s no real treatment, just management, but we’ve been given NutraMind supplements to try, and ACP tablets as a last resort to help with sleep. Other than that, it’s just trying to keep him comfortable.

I’ll go out and get a fan to help lower the temperature at night and to provide some white noise, and I’ll see about getting some cali ing plug ins or a calming collar. Possibly a thunder shirt? Though I don’t think they’re meant to be left unsupervised, which doesn’t help at night time.

Does anyone have any experience with CCD?

We suspect our 16yo has it, nutramind has really reduced his symptoms so far so we haven't had any further support or advice at this point.

 

[druid]

I've had good luck with the Purina Neurocare for dogs with CCD.

 

[Clodagh]

My brothers Labrador had it and it was a brutal and horrible thing. He was so distressed. He used to absolutely be in a blind panic. Awful.
Good luck.

 

[misst]

I'm sorry you're going through this and your poor dog too. For me I think this would be a line crossed. Our old terrier had this and although the pacing didn't happen she did exhibit odd behaviours. My sons terrier circled and paced and it was horrible to watch. I hope the meds help a bit if you decide to go that route.

 

[Clodagh]

@fiwen30 how is he doing?

 

[Goldenstar]

This is what happened to our first dog when I was a child
I just remember it she paced about and then walk into the corner by the cooker and walk until her head was in the open pan storage area and stand until someone came to rescue her .
Her sight was also failing she had been a rescue and had been difficult at first my parents where I think afraid she might bite us kids ,they had her pts at home .
I hope you can find strategies to help yours it’s awful when they get old.