KitKat Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 (edited) I've noticed this more in the last few weeks...some of it could have been going on for longer and i've just taken more note of it recently. But here is waht i've been seeing... When inside (crated) he's been licking more...no main specific spot...just licking..himself, Bronx, the floor of the crate, he will stop when told but will either go to sleep or will start up again. He's been digging to get into the front yard from the back yard more often lately...in fact the last few days he's done it each day. I sunk some besser bricks which seems to have stopped him getting thru so far. It seems to me to be frantic digging as the dirt flung stretches back quite a way. He doesn't do it while i'm there but having Bronx for company doesn't make a difference either way. Once he's in the front yard he's fine..doesn't dig...but occasionally sits and howls. He has been getting cranky (barking more often at people at the fence etc etc) but i've put that down to just getting older. And he does have some vague moments where he doesn't seem all there then all of a sudden the light will come back on. His noise sensitivity also seems to be getting worse. Last night he caught and killed a possum. I got home to him resource guarding it and he wasn't happy to leave it either but i got him out of the back yard and stuffed him in his new crate inside and disposed of the possum. RIP lil Possum. This is the first time he's done something like that. Last night as i was getting him out of his crate he went to pounce the cat, i'm guessing the fact that he got the possum made Tango a bit of a target. But once again...he has never ever gone after Tango ever before. In fact the cat has probably done his fair share of wandering past Harm (inside uncrated, in laundry) just to see if he could get a reaction out of him....with no result. I'm thinking of keeping an eye on him for a litlte while and trying to keep a note of what he's doing, when he's doing it and how often etc etc and then popping down to the vets to give them a run down of what he's doing...but i figure they are going to tell me "he's getting old, put him on these tablets" etc etc. Now...at the moment i'm considering bach flower remedies (any other suggestions?) and i'll be seeing what else there might be that i can make use of to try and settle him a bit more. Normally he's really quite friendly, a big sook and about the most easy going dog around...and he still is...most of the time. I'm also wondering how much effect the pup is on all this, mind you the digging into the front yard, the growing crankiness was there before i got the pup and has jsut been getting steadily worse. When i'm home they get the same amount of attention, however if i go somewhere where i'm able to take a dog i usually take Bronx because of Harm's getting old and cranky etc and Bronx's need to still socialise and train etc. Oops...sorry about the epic all over the place post Edited July 28, 2005 by KitKat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DobermanDave Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 ive seen something about that dog licking everything i think its something to do with sight but im not 100% but i think its normal for an old dog do that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreatDanz Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Here's a good site with some Q&A's on senior canine behavioral changes: http://www.vetinfo.com/dogold.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ci Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 He could also be deficient in something. Maybe his dietary requirements are changing now that he is getting older? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted July 28, 2005 Author Share Posted July 28, 2005 Thanks everyone (I think part of my problem is i don't want to accept he's getting old and everything that goes with that etc) Harm is fed mostly Barf but supplimented with old fart kibble...he also gets vit C, glucosamin (sp?) and fish oil tablets... His coat is shiney adn in good condition, his breath is nice, teeth are good, no stinky/dirty ears, occasional hot spots (but he's gotten them his entire life), he's not over weight, eyes are clear, no real stiffness in joints etc unless he's over done the exercise etc thing. Umm... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted July 28, 2005 Author Share Posted July 28, 2005 (edited) Aaarrggghhhhhhhhh he did it again! this time it's dug out further...i'm going to try and get a pic or two but this is driving me nuts....and i know it's driving him nuts. What also makes it worse is that Harm is going to do himself an injury if he isn't careful ETA - pic Edited July 28, 2005 by KitKat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KOE Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 He is probably getting senile and has gone back to his puppy days. My old Vizsla Abby who passed on at 13.5 years went like that at about 11years, she always came to the horse paddock with us every day of her life and 1 day she wandered off, I could see her in the distance but because she was deafish she could not hear me. I had to go and get her. She was wandering around in circles with a look on her face saying where am I. After that she was on a lead. She begun pulling clothes off the line and digging and all those other naughty puppy things. We made sure she could not dig under to get out. So I would guess he has dementia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted July 28, 2005 Author Share Posted July 28, 2005 (edited) That was in the back of my mind...but i think i'm still in denial... Can anything be done? or is there treatments to ease what's going on? ETA - Pic Edited July 28, 2005 by KitKat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KOE Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 She was on Metcam for pain relief but appeared drugged, and at her age I let her be the puppy she wanted to be. I just hung up the washing at night while she was inside and OH concreted under the fences so when she dug she could not get out, then just filled up the holes everyday. Ring your vet and ask them but honestly I would rather my dog play puppy than be in a drug induced coma. Hope you find a soloution that suits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted July 28, 2005 Author Share Posted July 28, 2005 (edited) Yeah...i thought it might be a matter of "take two of these and they'll feel better in the morning...drugged but better" I wasn't sure if there might be something 'softer' that i could at least start him on to take the edge off...oh well. That reminds me...i have to go fill in a big hole...lol. Thanks for your help ;) ETA - pic (all that dirt is dirt he dug out of the hole :p ) Edited July 28, 2005 by KitKat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted July 28, 2005 Author Share Posted July 28, 2005 (edited) Seems the boy has gone back to his younger days indeed...for the first time in over 6 odd years he peed on my car last night, and peed on the steps and attempted to pee on his bed...cheeky sod. I got some pics of the latest hole last night which i've posted...i've come home to that each night since i buried the bricks so it looks as if the bricks are at least halting his progress but he digs along them as well so i'll have to get some more and sink them all the way along the bottom of the gate. I also have a cement slab (biiig stepping stone type thing) which i usually lay in the way...and he moves it with ease and it weighs a good 20kg's or more. I might still try the bach flower remedies...it may take the edge off somewhat still.. Edited July 28, 2005 by KitKat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DobermanDave Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 (edited) lol could i please see a pic of him? Edited July 28, 2005 by DobermanDave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted July 28, 2005 Author Share Posted July 28, 2005 (edited) My darling boy...who is likely to be high and relaxed (hopefully) on Bach Flower Remedy in the nearish future Edited July 28, 2005 by KitKat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 My previous Saint lost his marbles, turns out it was a brain tumour But like you said I am often freaking out that Victoria is losing hers, lol, then realise that she is simply aging and I am looking too much in to it by being in denial. I hope it all works out for him, and he is just going thru a phase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DobermanDave Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 he actually looks exellent for a 9 year old dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DobermanDave Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 you must be taking good care of him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scales of Justice Posted July 28, 2005 Share Posted July 28, 2005 My thoughts - BOREDOM!!! Colder weather promotes more activity in dogs and he is bored and looking for something to do to amuse him. Try spending more time with him in some activities which will use up his energy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brightspark Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 we had a rottie bitch about 8 years ago, who did similar things whe she was about 9 / 10 years old, started acting wierd, going after people whom she knew, but it finally dawned on us that her eyesight was going, her hear wasnt the best either. Our vet suggested that, the pacing and digging and chewing could have been a form of distraction for her as she had athritis, and was possibly reacting to some pain. (she was a rescue girl who had been badly mistreated and half starve before we got her) we only had her for about four years until this, and she was the most sweet gentle affectionate sweetie you could imagine, and wonderful with kids. We put her on medication for the Athritis pain for about 6 months until the next Summer, it seemed to help the destructivness. but everyone who came into the yard called out very loudly so she could recognise their voice and not eat them but the following Winter we had to make the terrible decision to let her go as it was just too cruel as she really went down hill that Winter, she was now over 11 years we think, but like our vet said she had a wonderful life with us for nearly 5.5 years a life that she would not otherwise have had. We still think of Shamrock she was defnitely a one of a kind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted July 29, 2005 Author Share Posted July 29, 2005 My thoughts - BOREDOM!!! Colder weather promotes more activity in dogs and he is bored and looking for something to do to amuse him.Try spending more time with him in some activities which will use up his energy. I would like to think it was that easy a thing as boredom... ok…a run down of what we do when I get home these days... I get home and get changed then head out with the dogs, I spend about half an hour to three quarters of an hour playing fetch and other silly bugger games. Harm tends more to mug Bronx for the toy as the younger dog comes back with it but still does a fair bit of running around. Not to mention the crash tackling and escape & evade games the boys play while I’m with them. We also do about 15 minutes of trick training or obedience type stuff (Harm already knows all the obedience type stuff anyway). By this stage Harm pretty much doesn't want to do anything else and just stands around, once the boys have almost had enough they go inside and get crated until dinner time. At this point Harm either licks everything or sleeps, he also can’t seem to sit still anymore, like ants in his pants etc…this only occurred to me as I’m trying to think what’s been different lately. In the morning before I go to work Harm is pretty much woken up to see me off, when I’ve found him out the front when I get home…he’s asleep, he sleeps most of night and a fair portion of the day (neighbours have told me). He is drinking a bit more then he used to, or at drinking more at night as I’ve often woken up to the sound of him drinking (his drinking and Bronx’s drinking sounds different) and he does tend to pace a bit these days but in no general direction or purpose…and his grass eating is getting a bit more then usual…he almost literally grazes. On weekends if I take Bronx out I leave Harm with either a filled kong, a bone to chew on for a while or I scatter kibble around so that he has to ‘seek and destroy’ all the food. If Bronx stays then they don’t get anything because I won’t take the chance that Harm’s growing grumpiness won’t include food disputes (food disputes don’t happen when I’m around…lol). Weekends are a bit lazier and we all float about if we aren’t doing stuff…but we play and smooch etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitKat Posted July 29, 2005 Author Share Posted July 29, 2005 I went sticky beaking for some stuff online about doggy dementia...it's interesting stuff... Symptoms of Doggie Dementia, aka DISH:Disorientation: dog seems confused, doesn’t always seem to know where it is. Interactions: decreased or altered responsiveness to family members. Sleep: dog’s normal sleeping pattern changes. Housetraining: dog loses its housetraining habits. from here · Reduced activity· Increased sleeping · Reduced responsiveness to commands/apparent deafness · Lack of interest in surroundings/events · Confusion/disorientation · Inability to recognize familiar people · Increased thirst · Excessive panting · Difficulty eating and/or reduced interest in food · Loss of bladder and bowel control · Difficulty navigating the environment (e.g. stairs) from here · Decreased interaction with the pet’s owners · Increased irritability · Slowness in obeying commands · Alterations in sleep-wake cycle · Decreased responsiveness to sensory input problems performing previously learned behaviors from here Another interesting site which goes into what can be done is... this one I did fill out a form on it where it says 'if your dog is experiancing one or more of these signs' blah blah blah and Harm got ticks for about 8 or 9 of them..lol...kinda makes him an over-achiever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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