What the hell is wrong with my dog- is she going senile? Long post

claire1976

claire1976

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I have 3 dogs and one of them is a 10-12 year old Dobie X. I don't know her exact age as I rescued her 7 years ago and they guessed her age between 3-5. I also have a terrierX that was in kennels with her and a 1 yr old ESS.
My routine has been the same with all the dogs as hasn't changed since getting them. During the day whilst I'm at work they have the garage which is carpeted, heated and has radio on, a dog flap leading to garden and a further 2 large kennels to share. When I return from work they get 45mins off lead walking across 20-30 acres of fields. They are fed twice a day, same diet as always. On weekends they get 2 hours a day off lead walking round 3 reserviors and woodland. They get more exercise when my OH has his 4 days off shift as he takes them out for half a day in land rover.
Over the last few weeks my Dobie has taken to doing the following annoying things:
1/ Escaping from very well fenced garden into next doors garden then running around their garden panicking until they let her back into ours.
2/ Barking all day in the garage.
3/ Constantly pacing around the house being unsettled and whining.
4/If left in kitchen when hubby is in bed after nights-barking all the time.
5/Becoming totally obsessed with mealtimes-spinning and throwing herself at shed where food is, almost breaking her neck to get to food bowl.

Now I've done a fair bit of dog training over the years including psychology courses but seem to be confused by this one. Her behaviour seems to have changed really quickly and there's no trigger for it. I cant imagine she's bored as they get plenty of exercise, lots of kongs stuffed with things and various bones/chewies. She has 2 other dogs for company and they seem quite content with their lifestyle.
I wonder if she's going a bit senile as she just seems so unsettled?
I have an appointment with my vet on Monday to discuss but just fishing for ideas/experiences really.
confused.gif
 
Don't think she's senile just got very clingy in her old age!

My dobie came to me 2 and half years ago-I am his 3rd home. He needs 1:1 all the time. Which is fine as my work allows him to come along and he knows that Mum has to drive the car so he will wait patiently for me to return.
however I cannot leave him at home as he will try to get through the door or anything else he thinks he can get through. Dobies are very family orientated dogs and are very loyal.

Although you have created a wonderful dog friendly environment your dobiex she now wants a more human companionship.

The only trigger I can see for the moment is your 1 year old that would now be of age and maybe this has unsettled your dobie as she may have been the alpha and now maybe the 1 year old has challenged her?
 
since the change is so quick, and you cant think of a trigger. id probably get her checked over, just to make sure theres nothing neurological going on.

xxx
 
Does she have any physical symptoms that could explain it? I am wondering if, because of her age, she has some sort of internal problem that is causing toxins to affect her brain. I am sure your vet will do a blood test.
 
I'm really sorry but I recognise some of the symptoms that my dog had. The official name was Canine Cognitive Disorder.
he was food obsessed but one of the typical signs is that they literally cannot remember being fed hence the obsession with food.
He would pace constantly and restlessly crying so that it seemed like he was in pain
This then led to complete incontinence because the next stage is they can't tell the difference between outdoor and indoor.
Speak to your vet as I understand it there is a treatment available but it does have to be commenced at early onset (which we missed) and whilst it is not a cure it can slow down the progression.
Of course it may be something else but I definitely recognise the symptoms you describe
It can seem like a very sudden degeneration but changes can occur so slightly you don't notice or put them down to another factor
 
Some interesting replies here and there is a possibility that my 1 yr old ESS is upsetting her perhaps. Whilst Tilly (the ESS) would not challenge Amber for alpha, she is, however, extremely full on and as a result possibly gets more unintentional attention than the others. Amber has always enjoyed human attention but when I allow her into the room at night when I watch TV she will not settle down. I don't allow dogs on the sofa but even when I bring her bed in she won't settle. I also tried taking her to work with me but she just paces around whining.
However, I'm more inclined to think her behaviour is related to something else. I agree it could be neurological based and will certainly ask my vet tomorrow for blood tests to rule things out. There are no physical signs I can put my finger on. As she has regular exercise she is in great shape, not an ounce of fat and runs like a youngster whilst out walking. Other than a little bit of stiffness the day after a long walk she is mostly OK.
Something has just sprung to mind though. About 4 yrs ago she was hit by a car - directly on her head. She was bleeding from her ears and nose but after a thorough vet check and overnight stay she was discharged as OK. She hasn't shown any symptons (until now) of long term damage - but maybe something has finally caught up with her?
 
Have you thought about if she is ill, something you cant see with your eyes, dogs can change in behaviour when ill although have the other dogs changed in any way of behaviour?
 
I don't know if this is any help to you whatsoever, but some of the characteristics your old dog is showing, are oddities that my old dog developed about a year ago. She started to bark a lot more than normal, generally not at anything, she became a little bit protective over her bowl, though not necessarily the food that was in it as they are all fed ad-lib. She gets lost sometimes when she frantically tries to find where I have gone, so I have to follow her and call her back to where I am.

Anyway if any of these things sound similar, I can tell you what is wrong with my old girl....she is going deaf. She can't hear me unless I am very close to her now and it has definitely disorientated her.
 
I took her to the vets last night for a check up. Physically she is in fine fettle on the outside. The vet was useless TBH and first of all offered me anti depressants for her before he even checked her over. She's not depressed - I'm sure of that.
She'd not deaf either - maybe selectively I admit!
He's checking for kidney disease and liver dysfunction but its unlikely to be anything serious such as neurological as she would display more clinical signs such as confusion and disorientation - but like I said - on the outside she's fine - just crazy!!
As for Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome-well this is hard to test for and is basically senility which vet doesn't think it is.
I'll wait for results then go back to see head vet as he has Dobie's and after speaking with other Dobie owners it does seem quite common behaviour.
 
I know - its ridiculous isn't it!! The vet I saw was a new one and I suspect a locum. I have the utmost respect for my vets normally and the one's I usually see are fab- this one was fresh out of vets school I think and he literally stood there scratching his head!
 
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