RallyValley Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 My old girl Lilly is 14. Twice in the past week she has snapped at me. Once was when she was on her bed, I went and sat dow next to her, said "Hi Lilly" and started to pat her, she sprang up and snapped near my face. The second was this morning when I was sitting with my feet on the couch, I didn't realise Lilly was below me and they touched her (gently) and she snapped at my feet. Obviously I am going to be much more careful at announcing myself to her. The vet has said she is night blind but she hears ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 I'd be wondering if she was in pain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 My first thought is that she may now have lost most of her hearing/sight, and so ,when something suddenly touches her she just automatically reacts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RallyValley Posted May 7, 2010 Author Share Posted May 7, 2010 We did a hearing test earlier and she passed, but obviously needs a louder volume to be able to hear. Will have to find a way to test her sight. She is in pain, she has had arthritis since she was 5 and has bad hips. She gets cartrophen and joint supplements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 earlier, when? hearing/sight can just 'go!' overnight, sometimes poor old girl, sounds as if her body is getting weary... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RallyValley Posted May 7, 2010 Author Share Posted May 7, 2010 earlier, when? hearing/sight can just 'go!' overnight, sometimes poor old girl, sounds as if her body is getting weary... Earlier this morning. We are going to the vet weekly for cartrophen so I will get them to have a look at her eyes/ears. While she still has those moments of joy (trying to chase birds/sheep at a slow amble, getting the pups toys and throwing them around, guarding 'her' tennis balls ect) we will do everything we can, but I fully agree that when it's time, it's time and won't keep her aroud for selfish reasons. It seems like since she was 10 we have been waiting for that day when we have to make that choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 she sounds as if she is being very well looked after - old dogs are special Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spottychick Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 Could be a number of things. She just might be easily startled because her senses aren't as good as they used to be. Like other have said, she might be just reacting to pain. Also, if you have another dog, is the other one accidentally stepping on her or bumping her when she's asleep etc? She might react to you touching her if she thinks it's the other dog and she's giving him/her warning just in case! Take heart, my old girl lived till she was nearly 19 and had health issues along the way (after about 14) and went blind and a bit deaf (or at least wilfully deaf LOL) but she was happy and kept her personality right to the end. I just adjusted my own behaviour to deal with her needs and she gave me all she could back - which was a lot!! I'm glad Lilly has such a lovely home in her "dotage". :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted May 7, 2010 Share Posted May 7, 2010 My first thought is that she may now have lost most of her hearing/sight, and so ,when something suddenly touches her she just automatically reacts! That is what I was thinking to pers... Ollie has lost most of his hearing and jumps when we touch him because he does not hear us coming. I always make sure I approach him from the front so he can see me now... His night vision is going too so we leave a night light on for him now (at the suggestion of the vet) so he can see where he is going of a night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheridan Posted May 8, 2010 Share Posted May 8, 2010 Suggestions from someone who's been there. Always get her attention before doing anything or going too close. Never, ever, never ever, put your hands or feet down in front of her even if you have her attention. It's likely her peripheral vision isn't too good so she won't be able to tell where or what is coming at her so she'll snap. This includes picking things up off the floor. Instead, get between her and whatever it is you want to pick up. Shift it out of the way with your foot. Don't startle her. If she snaps, do not scream or get angry because she'll get angry too. Even if she's bitten you, don't do it. Talk calmly and in an even voice; a girly high pitched happy voice is also good. With visitors, give them the lecture on how to behave around her. I don't know if she gets up on the couch, but if so and you have visitors, they should get off the couch and get you to get her off the couch. Bribery, if she likes being bribed, works wonders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RallyValley Posted May 8, 2010 Author Share Posted May 8, 2010 Suggestions from someone who's been there. Always get her attention before doing anything or going too close. Never, ever, never ever, put your hands or feet down in front of her even if you have her attention. It's likely her peripheral vision isn't too good so she won't be able to tell where or what is coming at her so she'll snap. This includes picking things up off the floor. Instead, get between her and whatever it is you want to pick up. Shift it out of the way with your foot. Don't startle her. If she snaps, do not scream or get angry because she'll get angry too. Even if she's bitten you, don't do it. Talk calmly and in an even voice; a girly high pitched happy voice is also good. With visitors, give them the lecture on how to behave around her. I don't know if she gets up on the couch, but if so and you have visitors, they should get off the couch and get you to get her off the couch. Bribery, if she likes being bribed, works wonders. Thanks for the advice! She isn't the most mobile dog so unless visitors come to her they aren't a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted May 8, 2010 Share Posted May 8, 2010 Aww, it's sad. My old girl got so narky in her last year or so. I couldn't blame her. She was old and sore and couldn't see or hear well. She had cataracts. She was starting to go a bit senile, but she wasn't attacking as a result of that. The pain from her arthritis was, I think, a much bigger deal. We had a puppy at the time. He was very good with her, but she was outrageously sensitive about her personal space. He wasn't allowed to pass within 50cm of her. She would snap at me and OH because it hurt, but not at the vet or anyone else. Dogs are such stoics. I kinda felt privelidged she was snapping at me. Her last winter was quite hard on her and we cut it short because she wasn't coping with the cold. Lots of blankets and heat packs made her happier. I'd make her a little blanket coccoon and put a hot wheat pack down her spine and over her hip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheridan Posted May 8, 2010 Share Posted May 8, 2010 Thanks for the advice! She isn't the most mobile dog so unless visitors come to her they aren't a problem. That's good but I suggest they don't do so. She probably won't see them until it's too late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whippets Posted May 8, 2010 Share Posted May 8, 2010 My old JRT had lost both hearing and sight by the time she was 16. I use to put my hand near her nose first so I didn't startle her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheridan Posted May 8, 2010 Share Posted May 8, 2010 My old JRT had lost both hearing and sight by the time she was 16. I use to put my hand near her nose first so I didn't startle her. There's no way I'd be doing that with Grumpy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowenhart Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Not all elderly blind dogs get grumpy. I find the grumpiest dogs are those that are dealing with constant pain. They will strike out before something (or someone) knocks them, they growl when touched and have very low tolerance for anything. I know I get really grumpy when in constant pain. If I had a snapping dog I'd relook at their pain levels. Maybe have them relooked at by a vet, try some other remedies and maybe up the dosage of pain medication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RallyValley Posted May 9, 2010 Author Share Posted May 9, 2010 I will have to chat to the vet about it next wednesday whne we go get cartrophen, I have to say though we went for a walk with her today where she was offleash and we didn't really leave the property so she didn't have to come and she went really well and even trotted a little! I think the cartropehn is starting to kick in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheridan Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Not all elderly blind dogs get grumpy.I find the grumpiest dogs are those that are dealing with constant pain. They will strike out before something (or someone) knocks them, they growl when touched and have very low tolerance for anything. I know I get really grumpy when in constant pain. If I had a snapping dog I'd relook at their pain levels. Maybe have them relooked at by a vet, try some other remedies and maybe up the dosage of pain medication. Not an ounce of pain in Grumpy. He's just grumpy. We tried some anti-dementia medication for him and it didn't make a jot of difference. He's just grumpy. And at the moment, he's a get into everything dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Not all elderly blind dogs get grumpy. No, they don't some get fearful, some get confused, and some show little change, thank goodness! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 (edited) It seems like since she was 10 we have been waiting for that day when we have to make that choice. It's not a 'given' that we have to "make that choice" valleyCBR. Sometimes, if we're really lucky, our dogs cope with the aches/pains that age does bring with it, so that their contentment in life outweighs those rickety times, and their bodies get the opportunity to tell them when it is time to go. That's, if we're lucky. Edited May 9, 2010 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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