Be Your Dog's Best Friend
Module 6- Section 2
Module 6- Section 2
AGING
- Physical signs of aging that can occur
- Early signs of arthritis
- Changes in behaviour that may happen
- Doggy Alzheimer’s
- Dealing with the loss of your dog’s canine companion
- Should I get a puppy to keep my dog young?
- 1. Physical signs of ageing that can occur
Sadly, we don’t always realize how subtle the aging process can be, and we can easily miss some of the signs that a problem could be developing. We seem to tend to think of our dogs being ‘forever young’, until we receive a slap in the face as Scotty did with Brady. A family member, seeing her Brady (in pic) for the first time said, ‘what a lovely old man’. Scotty was shocked, but when she looked at him objectively, she really saw the white circles around his eyes, whiter around the muzzle etc. – in her eyes, because he was full of energy (border collier), and fun, she just hadn’t realized that her, then 8-year-old was no longer a young dog and was actually a senior. What does seem to make a major difference, is that a dog that has been fed a high-quality diet, received regular exercise and mental stimulation, and of course that magic ingredient – love, does tend to age a lot more gracefully.
What we do recommend, is to run your hands over your dog’s body (slowly and gently, in a stroking motion) daily, which helps you to get to know your dog’s body intimately. That way, you will easily pick up any changes and can consult your vet. The below all sounds scary, however, if you pick up any of these changes early enough, you can really help your dog with the ageing process. Do bear in mind that your dog may have none of the ageing problems that can occur. Just like humans, some dogs sail through with very few problems, and hardly need any vet assistance at all – these sections are just to give you the tools to recognize any potential problems that may be occurring.
Appearance
The eyes can become cloudy which could be the beginning of cataracts, so do check with your vet if you see this, the nails become brittle and can often split or break. The nails also seem to become thicker (just like human toe nails on many people) and as mentioned higher up, more greying will occur. Some dogs tend to lose weight and the spine and hips may be more prominent due to this, and the dog may have a sway back. As the dog’s metabolism slows down, avoid any high calorie foods being given.
You may find that the coat becomes thinner and the skin loses its elasticity. Skin cysts and tumours can develop – golden rule here is that if you find any lumps or bumps that were not there before, again, at the risk of sounding monotonous, go to your vet. Our own vet always says, “that if in doubt, check it out”!
Digestive system
We mentioned previously that older dogs may eat less, or even have a loss of appetite. Vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea could occur. Diarrhoea is not uncommon with older dogs and you may have to chat to your vet with the view of changing the diet or the dog going onto medication.. Changes in digestion can occur with poor digestion, and absorption of foods is not uncommon, and you may well find that a change in the dog’s diet, or even medication may have to be considered.
If you find that your senior dog suddenly starts to eat stools, it could be that the food is not being digested properly and the dog is eating the stools in a search for nutrients. Stool eating could also indicate other medical concerns, so once again, give your vet a call.
Teeth, mouth and gums.
Tartar gradually builds up, and this is at a different rate for each dog, and depends on genetics, how often the teeth are cleaned and diet. Interestingly enough, dogs on a raw diet, who are also fed raw bones a few times a week, very often have very little tartar. Brady, above, had teeth like those of a young dog – Scotty firmly believes this was due to daily cleaning from when he was a pup, plus the later addition of raw into his diet. If a dog has tartar, and it is not removed periodically by your vet, what will happen, is that periodontal disease or gingivitis will eventually occur, with the result that the teeth will start to become loose, and gum disease can affect the organs of the body.
Elimination Changes – Kidneys and Bowels
Inappropriate elimination - this is one you will more likely pick up on, as hard to miss! Sometimes our senior dogs may have an ‘accident’ and we will put it down to the dog being locked up too long or a similar scenario rather than realizing that a problem may be developing. Some dogs may present a full flow of urine, whilst others may ‘drip’ or ‘leak’ and some dog’s soil with their faeces.
It could be that there is a medical reason for this such as a condition that increases the frequency of elimination, or that due to the aging process the dog is battling to either lift its leg or squat, or that it is finding it difficult to negotiate the stairs down to the garden. There is also the case wherein the dog may be experiencing pain due to an underlying condition which is contributing or causing the behaviour, and a simple solution could well be found at the vet
What does often occur with this behaviour is that stress levels can raise. The dog cannot perform its normal functions in the way it used to and most dogs, especially females, do not like to be ‘dirty’. Due to this keep an eye out if your dog is cleaning itself more than usual, especially around the penis in males and the vulva in females. We have known females who licked themselves so much in the vulva region that it was red and swollen, and the owners had just not thought of looking there. This is a sure indication that something is not right, and your female may be ‘leaking’.
If we are adding to the dog’s stress by chastising, punishing etc, we are just (inadvertently) making the behaviour worse and reinforcing it, and raising stress levels further. Just realize that your dog does have a problem and take the necessary steps to assist.
Whatever the reason for this occurring, a visit to the vet is a necessity. We spend hours and hours with our dogs, while our vets have a limited time period. In order to help your vet to make a diagnosis and suggest medication and/or treatment, try putting together a list such as the one below (regardless of the behaviour or physical concern) in order to make it easier for your vet to help your dog.
Start to gauge how much your dog is drinking daily and instead of just putting water in the bowl, measure the amount you are using. This will help you and your vet to see if the amount the dog drinking it is normal, or if there has been an increase in thirst due to an underlying medical condition such as diabetes – of course weather conditions need to be considered if very hot. Here are some tips so that you can see if changes occur:
* See how often your dog is urinating, defecating daily.
* Is the urine light or dark?
*Does the urine have a particular smell?
* Is there blood in either the urine or stool?
*What is the consistency of the stool – soft, runny, hard etc and is this different from normal?
*See if you can determine if the stool is particularly smelly – not hard!
*Does the dog appear to be constipated?
*Has the dog’s posture changed while eliminating or eating?
Musculoskeletal System
As in humans, an overall loss of muscle mass and tone occurs with age, and the long bones becoming more brittle and arthritis occurring is not uncommon. These contribute to the dog slowing down where activity is concerned. The dog will be less agile, and jumping into the car, or going up steps, or onto your bed may become difficult for the dog. Do bear in mind, that there are many companies making ramps to help older dogs with problems like this. Some older dogs tend to wobble at times as well.
Get into the habit of running your hand gently, slowly and firmly over the whole body. Be aware if your dog shows discomfort in any area. The dog may not just get up and leave - look for subtle signs such as the dog turning its head towards you, licking its lips, putting its ears back, and trying to move its body to another position so your hand does not touch an area. Are there any whines, growls etc?
Nervous System
The dog’s basic senses are diminished with age, and on average dogs to tend to compensate for these. Your dog’s hearing may be affected. Eyesight can also be affected as well as the sense of smell and taste. You may find that the dog battles to eat its regular food. Yes, old age sucks, however, with your help your dog can adapt, and still have a good quality of life. Scotty’s Brady had sudden onset blindness which could not be corrected, however, she found a way for him to still catch his beloved balls, and he easily found his way around the home. The golden rule she said was, don’t move anything!
General
Sleep patterns can be affected, and the dog may walk around at night, even pacing, as well as barking/wining. You may even find your dog standing staring at nothing in-particular.
Your dog may seem slower to learn new things, however, don’t let that stop you from stimulating it mentally – like humans a dog’s brain shrinks the older it becomes, and the good news is that mental stimulation can help to slow the ageing process, so consider behaviour games and clicker, to mention just two easy options.
Vet Assistance
As we mentioned in the section on pups, older dogs may well have to go and visit the vet a lot more often, so if you have invested in medical insurance for your dog, this will help you financially and you will be able to give your dog the vet care it needs and deserves in its Golden Years, as chronic diseases will require attention for the rest of your dog’s life.
If you have fed your dog a high quality food and supplied physical and mental stimulation, your dog, on average if less likely to fall prone to some of the common diseases, such as diabetes, hyperthyroidisms, liver and kidney disease, various cancers, arthritis (we have given you a separate section on this, as so important), Cushing’s, various bowel concerns as well as heart disease.
A point we feel we should make, is if your dog is put onto medication, do ask your vet about any side effects that may occur – this way you can be on the lookout for them and let your vet know. It often takes an older dog a bit longer to get over any illness, so seek advice to find out what is ‘normal’ where your dog is concerned, and how long it should take for the medication to have an effect.
Your Home Care
Do all you can for your dog by keeping up hygiene and prevention programmes, such as dental health, flea and tick control, and when it comes to the nails, keep them nice and short. A dog with nails that are too long can really impact on the dog’s gait and cause pain. Speak to your vet to determine if the diet needs to be changed or any supplements added.
Keep on inspecting ears, gums, teeth and running your hands slowly and gently over the body - remember, if in doubt, check it out!
2.Early signs of arthritis
According to the Arthritis Foundation (USA), approximately 20% of all adult dogs have arthritis, which is about 1 in 5 dogs. However, if your dog is more than 7 years of age, there is a 65% chance he’s suffering from the disease – believe it or not, that means that more than half of older dogs have arthritis!
Exactly what is arthritis?
There are two main types of arthritis. The one is Osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative joint disease. This type of arthritis occurs due to a gradual loss of the cartilage (Cartilage is the connective tissue found in many areas of the body. Cartilage is firm tissue but softer and more flexible than actual bones) which provides a cushioning for the bones. As it gradually wears away, the bones rub against one another, which results in considerable pain.
The second type is inflammatory joint disease. The cartilage does not degenerate as above, but from the result of a bacterial or fungal infection. This could also occur due to genetic deficiencies that attack the immune system.
Early Warning Signs
Self- diagnosis and treatment of arthritis is not the way to go – rather take your dog to the vet and let him diagnose. However, the quicker this condition is picked up on, the sooner you can get your dog the help he needs. Here are some of the common signs: -
Vet Assistance.
Whether you decide on conventional vet assistance, or prefer the more alternative/holistic approach, it can indeed help your dog. There is a vast array of medication, supplementation, modalities and treatments that can help your dog, which are too vast to be covered here – rather get assistance from a medical professional as to which option would suit your dog best.
Tartar gradually builds up, and this is at a different rate for each dog, and depends on genetics, how often the teeth are cleaned and diet. Interestingly enough, dogs on a raw diet, who are also fed raw bones a few times a week, very often have very little tartar. Brady, above, had teeth like those of a young dog – Scotty firmly believes this was due to daily cleaning from when he was a pup, plus the later addition of raw into his diet. If a dog has tartar, and it is not removed periodically by your vet, what will happen, is that periodontal disease or gingivitis will eventually occur, with the result that the teeth will start to become loose, and gum disease can affect the organs of the body.
Elimination Changes – Kidneys and Bowels
Inappropriate elimination - this is one you will more likely pick up on, as hard to miss! Sometimes our senior dogs may have an ‘accident’ and we will put it down to the dog being locked up too long or a similar scenario rather than realizing that a problem may be developing. Some dogs may present a full flow of urine, whilst others may ‘drip’ or ‘leak’ and some dog’s soil with their faeces.
It could be that there is a medical reason for this such as a condition that increases the frequency of elimination, or that due to the aging process the dog is battling to either lift its leg or squat, or that it is finding it difficult to negotiate the stairs down to the garden. There is also the case wherein the dog may be experiencing pain due to an underlying condition which is contributing or causing the behaviour, and a simple solution could well be found at the vet
What does often occur with this behaviour is that stress levels can raise. The dog cannot perform its normal functions in the way it used to and most dogs, especially females, do not like to be ‘dirty’. Due to this keep an eye out if your dog is cleaning itself more than usual, especially around the penis in males and the vulva in females. We have known females who licked themselves so much in the vulva region that it was red and swollen, and the owners had just not thought of looking there. This is a sure indication that something is not right, and your female may be ‘leaking’.
If we are adding to the dog’s stress by chastising, punishing etc, we are just (inadvertently) making the behaviour worse and reinforcing it, and raising stress levels further. Just realize that your dog does have a problem and take the necessary steps to assist.
Whatever the reason for this occurring, a visit to the vet is a necessity. We spend hours and hours with our dogs, while our vets have a limited time period. In order to help your vet to make a diagnosis and suggest medication and/or treatment, try putting together a list such as the one below (regardless of the behaviour or physical concern) in order to make it easier for your vet to help your dog.
Start to gauge how much your dog is drinking daily and instead of just putting water in the bowl, measure the amount you are using. This will help you and your vet to see if the amount the dog drinking it is normal, or if there has been an increase in thirst due to an underlying medical condition such as diabetes – of course weather conditions need to be considered if very hot. Here are some tips so that you can see if changes occur:
* See how often your dog is urinating, defecating daily.
* Is the urine light or dark?
*Does the urine have a particular smell?
* Is there blood in either the urine or stool?
*What is the consistency of the stool – soft, runny, hard etc and is this different from normal?
*See if you can determine if the stool is particularly smelly – not hard!
*Does the dog appear to be constipated?
*Has the dog’s posture changed while eliminating or eating?
Musculoskeletal System
As in humans, an overall loss of muscle mass and tone occurs with age, and the long bones becoming more brittle and arthritis occurring is not uncommon. These contribute to the dog slowing down where activity is concerned. The dog will be less agile, and jumping into the car, or going up steps, or onto your bed may become difficult for the dog. Do bear in mind, that there are many companies making ramps to help older dogs with problems like this. Some older dogs tend to wobble at times as well.
Get into the habit of running your hand gently, slowly and firmly over the whole body. Be aware if your dog shows discomfort in any area. The dog may not just get up and leave - look for subtle signs such as the dog turning its head towards you, licking its lips, putting its ears back, and trying to move its body to another position so your hand does not touch an area. Are there any whines, growls etc?
Nervous System
The dog’s basic senses are diminished with age, and on average dogs to tend to compensate for these. Your dog’s hearing may be affected. Eyesight can also be affected as well as the sense of smell and taste. You may find that the dog battles to eat its regular food. Yes, old age sucks, however, with your help your dog can adapt, and still have a good quality of life. Scotty’s Brady had sudden onset blindness which could not be corrected, however, she found a way for him to still catch his beloved balls, and he easily found his way around the home. The golden rule she said was, don’t move anything!
General
Sleep patterns can be affected, and the dog may walk around at night, even pacing, as well as barking/wining. You may even find your dog standing staring at nothing in-particular.
Your dog may seem slower to learn new things, however, don’t let that stop you from stimulating it mentally – like humans a dog’s brain shrinks the older it becomes, and the good news is that mental stimulation can help to slow the ageing process, so consider behaviour games and clicker, to mention just two easy options.
Vet Assistance
As we mentioned in the section on pups, older dogs may well have to go and visit the vet a lot more often, so if you have invested in medical insurance for your dog, this will help you financially and you will be able to give your dog the vet care it needs and deserves in its Golden Years, as chronic diseases will require attention for the rest of your dog’s life.
If you have fed your dog a high quality food and supplied physical and mental stimulation, your dog, on average if less likely to fall prone to some of the common diseases, such as diabetes, hyperthyroidisms, liver and kidney disease, various cancers, arthritis (we have given you a separate section on this, as so important), Cushing’s, various bowel concerns as well as heart disease.
A point we feel we should make, is if your dog is put onto medication, do ask your vet about any side effects that may occur – this way you can be on the lookout for them and let your vet know. It often takes an older dog a bit longer to get over any illness, so seek advice to find out what is ‘normal’ where your dog is concerned, and how long it should take for the medication to have an effect.
Your Home Care
Do all you can for your dog by keeping up hygiene and prevention programmes, such as dental health, flea and tick control, and when it comes to the nails, keep them nice and short. A dog with nails that are too long can really impact on the dog’s gait and cause pain. Speak to your vet to determine if the diet needs to be changed or any supplements added.
Keep on inspecting ears, gums, teeth and running your hands slowly and gently over the body - remember, if in doubt, check it out!
2.Early signs of arthritis
According to the Arthritis Foundation (USA), approximately 20% of all adult dogs have arthritis, which is about 1 in 5 dogs. However, if your dog is more than 7 years of age, there is a 65% chance he’s suffering from the disease – believe it or not, that means that more than half of older dogs have arthritis!
Exactly what is arthritis?
There are two main types of arthritis. The one is Osteoarthritis, which is a degenerative joint disease. This type of arthritis occurs due to a gradual loss of the cartilage (Cartilage is the connective tissue found in many areas of the body. Cartilage is firm tissue but softer and more flexible than actual bones) which provides a cushioning for the bones. As it gradually wears away, the bones rub against one another, which results in considerable pain.
The second type is inflammatory joint disease. The cartilage does not degenerate as above, but from the result of a bacterial or fungal infection. This could also occur due to genetic deficiencies that attack the immune system.
Early Warning Signs
Self- diagnosis and treatment of arthritis is not the way to go – rather take your dog to the vet and let him diagnose. However, the quicker this condition is picked up on, the sooner you can get your dog the help he needs. Here are some of the common signs: -
- Feeding or eating patterns. These can change due to old age, but they can also change due to pain.
- Back pain – when you run your hand along your dogs’ body, pay special attention to the neck and hindquarter area. Other signs may be that your dog’ gait may change, and you may notice the dogs walking with a slight hunch in its back.
- Your dog may no longer be able to the things it used too, such as get in and out of the car, up and down on the couch and stairs, and may even be slower when out on walks.
- Limping – a sure sign! Limping may occur from a slight injury, a burr in a foot, torn nails etc, however if it persists, then guess where you go!
- Energy levels – may drop a lot with many dogs, and more time is spent sleeping. Also, if your dog is a ball chaser, for example, the dog may tire after a much shorter time period than normal.
- Behaviour – a normally good-natured dog, may suddenly become a bit irritable, especially with other dogs around. This could be due to pain and wanting to be left alone and not wanting to play.
- Grooming – the dog may not enjoy grooming as much as it used too – and even show signs of sitting down, or moving away, if you groom over areas where pain may be in the body. Sometimes, changing the brush to one that is less invasive may help.
- Thinner legs – as the dog is now moving around less than before, what can occur is that the muscles of the legs start to atrophy.
- If you are going to go to your vet for a check-up, do add in anything else you think is relevant even if it seems silly – nobody knows your dog as well as you do, and even small details can help your vet.
Vet Assistance.
Whether you decide on conventional vet assistance, or prefer the more alternative/holistic approach, it can indeed help your dog. There is a vast array of medication, supplementation, modalities and treatments that can help your dog, which are too vast to be covered here – rather get assistance from a medical professional as to which option would suit your dog best.
3.Can a Senior Dog’s Behaviour Change?
The answer to this question is most definitely yes – the behaviour can change.
Due to all these subtle changes that take place as above, it often occurs that the dog is prone to more stress and can start to show symptoms of anxiety. We are going to cover here the three most common behaviour problems/changes that we deal with, to increase your awareness and offer some advice. Before we do so, what is so very important is to realize that with all behaviour concerns, the quicker the concern is tackled, the quicker the turnaround in behaviour will occur. Most of these concerns are better undertaken with a professional behaviourist to assist, as they may start small, but can quickly escalate.
Very often your vet’s assistance is also required, so don’t hesitate to take your dog to the vet to receive help with any medication or treatment that can improve your senior dog’s quality of life. At the end of the day, they can’t drive themselves to the vet and use their credit cards – it is up to us, their owners – to be aware of the changes and to do all we can to help them enjoy these ‘golden years’ that they so richly deserve given the love, devotion and companionship they give us throughout their lives.
Another point to bear in mind, is that here we are talking about changes taking place in behaviour due to aging, but sometimes changes in behaviour are an indication of a more serious physical problem, so do keep an eye of your senior.
Separation Anxiety – this to us, at least, is one of the worst behaviours there is to modify as it takes so much work from the owner and can take a long time to turn around - so look for signs of this happening and tackle straight away. It really would be an idea to get in a professional to assist you, as this behaviour does tend to become worse as time goes by. Some of the more common symptoms: -
a. One of the things to look out for is a dog that starts to become anxious when you are preparing to leave the home. Behaviour may include, barking, demanding attention, turning in circles, running to pick up a favourite toy, inappropriate elimination, excess salivation, pacing, panting etc.
b. The dog may start to pay you even more attention when you come home than normal and may even be a bit ‘over the top’ and act as if you have been away for weeks, rather than just a short period.
c. If the dog is being destructive, barking, chewing, exhibits inappropriate behaviour etc only when you are out, this is one of the definite signs that separation behaviour has already begun.
If your dog is barking/whining while at home, it may be that the dog is trying to get you to come to it, which sometimes happen with older dogs due to a lack of mobility, or even has the need to eliminate. If you feel the dog’s behaviour is to get your attention and it does not need to go out etc, ignore the barking and it should soon stop, otherwise your dog has just found a new way to train you! If you feel the barking was because the dog has the need to eliminate, walk to the door calling the dog and take it outside to eliminate and praise lavishly afterwards. Be aware that you may need to take your dog out more often, if the above does occur, or leave a door open for your dog.
There is an article on the site that will assist with the modifications that need to be introduced if you do not have access to a behaviourist. These are lengthy, so we are supplying a link to the article instead - read more on Separation Anxiety.
If you find that your dog is taking strain going up and down stairs and on slippery surfaces, do what you can from the management point of view to help – buy some ‘el cheepo’ rubber mats and put them down on the path to outside. Invest in a ramp to help your dog with the stairs. If the stairs are steep, place something, short term on the sides of the ramp, to make your dog feel more secure. If your dog is hesitant about going on the ramp, simply toss a few very tasty smelly treats onto it, starting close to the bottom. As your dog gains confidence ongoing this small distance, simply increase the distance. Always go slowly and don’t rush or force your dog.
Also, from the management aspect if inappropriate elimination has occurred, clean all areas soiled with either an enzyme-based product from the vet, or use 1/3 white vinegar to 2/3 water and put in a spray bottle. Spray the area several times, sponging up the excess with paper towels. After this we find it is often helpful to put down a few drops of pure Citronella oil. On average dogs don’t like this odour and will avoid it. Unfortunately, many of the household cleaners contain ammonia, which is contained in dog’s urine, and use of such to clean will only make the area smell more like a toilet as we mentioned in the Toilet training section for pups.
If your dog can no longer go the whole night without soiling, start to either change your routine by taking him out later at night and earlier in the morning, or alternatively put in place an inside toilet which you dog can use day or night, or perhaps even consider doggy diapers, or a waterproof on his bed and perhaps put his bed very close to a door for easy access, as some older dogs simply do not have the control over their bladders that they used to have.
Reactive/Aggressive Behaviour – this is not an unusual situation in a dog getting older, and reactive behaviour could occur for several reasons i.e. pain in the body and the dog not wanting to be touched or interfered with by people or other dogs. A dog may have less vision or hearing, and if disturbed without hearing the person or animal approach, may react with aggression. The tolerance levels may not be as good as before. This is not the dog being ‘funny’ in any way – it is acting out of its natural tendency to defend itself. A change in the hierarchy in a multi-dog household, where another lower ranking dog may try to take over the position when it becomes aware that the older dog is no longer as strong may trigger reactive behaviour. These factors, in turn, can lead to increased stress impacting further on the dog’s behaviour. Not all dogs will react in this way, and some may become more dependant and/or clingy – it just depends on the individual dog.
As mentioned before, you need to examine the reasons why the behaviour is happening – what triggers it – is it a young child going to close, another dog trying to play etc. When you understand what triggers the behaviour, you can start to take steps to avoid it happening, thereby avoiding or reducing the chances of an altercation occurring.
We are firm believers that all aggressive/reactive behaviour should be treated by experts in their respective fields i.e. Your vet to rule out or assist with physical treatment and medication, and a qualified behaviourist who can teach you to understand a dogs body language so that you become aware of the stress building up, and who can give you the tools and modifications so that you can handle this accordingly.
General - We do find that with senior dogs an additional tool of Tellington TTouch does an amazing amount of good. It can help and reduce pain, assist the dog to cope better, and lessens the stress levels. Simply by using a Wrap, on occasion, in a certain manner, can help a dog with back problems to walk and move easier. Do check out the TTouch websitewww.ttouch.co.za to get more information on this wonderful modality. We really do believe that this is something every single pet owner should learn.
Just because your dog has reached the senior years and may not be as active and involved with your life as before, don’t just leave him to lie on his favourite chair sleeping all day. By engaging him in games he loves to play, but for a shorter time, or taking him out for a shorter walk, spending some quality time rubbing and massaging him, simple training, a wonderful chew bone to help clean teeth and keep him occupied, car rides with a short smell around outside before returning home etc, you will be helping him to remain healthy, keep him stimulated and quite possibly prolonging his life.
The answer to this question is most definitely yes – the behaviour can change.
Due to all these subtle changes that take place as above, it often occurs that the dog is prone to more stress and can start to show symptoms of anxiety. We are going to cover here the three most common behaviour problems/changes that we deal with, to increase your awareness and offer some advice. Before we do so, what is so very important is to realize that with all behaviour concerns, the quicker the concern is tackled, the quicker the turnaround in behaviour will occur. Most of these concerns are better undertaken with a professional behaviourist to assist, as they may start small, but can quickly escalate.
Very often your vet’s assistance is also required, so don’t hesitate to take your dog to the vet to receive help with any medication or treatment that can improve your senior dog’s quality of life. At the end of the day, they can’t drive themselves to the vet and use their credit cards – it is up to us, their owners – to be aware of the changes and to do all we can to help them enjoy these ‘golden years’ that they so richly deserve given the love, devotion and companionship they give us throughout their lives.
Another point to bear in mind, is that here we are talking about changes taking place in behaviour due to aging, but sometimes changes in behaviour are an indication of a more serious physical problem, so do keep an eye of your senior.
Separation Anxiety – this to us, at least, is one of the worst behaviours there is to modify as it takes so much work from the owner and can take a long time to turn around - so look for signs of this happening and tackle straight away. It really would be an idea to get in a professional to assist you, as this behaviour does tend to become worse as time goes by. Some of the more common symptoms: -
a. One of the things to look out for is a dog that starts to become anxious when you are preparing to leave the home. Behaviour may include, barking, demanding attention, turning in circles, running to pick up a favourite toy, inappropriate elimination, excess salivation, pacing, panting etc.
b. The dog may start to pay you even more attention when you come home than normal and may even be a bit ‘over the top’ and act as if you have been away for weeks, rather than just a short period.
c. If the dog is being destructive, barking, chewing, exhibits inappropriate behaviour etc only when you are out, this is one of the definite signs that separation behaviour has already begun.
If your dog is barking/whining while at home, it may be that the dog is trying to get you to come to it, which sometimes happen with older dogs due to a lack of mobility, or even has the need to eliminate. If you feel the dog’s behaviour is to get your attention and it does not need to go out etc, ignore the barking and it should soon stop, otherwise your dog has just found a new way to train you! If you feel the barking was because the dog has the need to eliminate, walk to the door calling the dog and take it outside to eliminate and praise lavishly afterwards. Be aware that you may need to take your dog out more often, if the above does occur, or leave a door open for your dog.
There is an article on the site that will assist with the modifications that need to be introduced if you do not have access to a behaviourist. These are lengthy, so we are supplying a link to the article instead - read more on Separation Anxiety.
If you find that your dog is taking strain going up and down stairs and on slippery surfaces, do what you can from the management point of view to help – buy some ‘el cheepo’ rubber mats and put them down on the path to outside. Invest in a ramp to help your dog with the stairs. If the stairs are steep, place something, short term on the sides of the ramp, to make your dog feel more secure. If your dog is hesitant about going on the ramp, simply toss a few very tasty smelly treats onto it, starting close to the bottom. As your dog gains confidence ongoing this small distance, simply increase the distance. Always go slowly and don’t rush or force your dog.
Also, from the management aspect if inappropriate elimination has occurred, clean all areas soiled with either an enzyme-based product from the vet, or use 1/3 white vinegar to 2/3 water and put in a spray bottle. Spray the area several times, sponging up the excess with paper towels. After this we find it is often helpful to put down a few drops of pure Citronella oil. On average dogs don’t like this odour and will avoid it. Unfortunately, many of the household cleaners contain ammonia, which is contained in dog’s urine, and use of such to clean will only make the area smell more like a toilet as we mentioned in the Toilet training section for pups.
If your dog can no longer go the whole night without soiling, start to either change your routine by taking him out later at night and earlier in the morning, or alternatively put in place an inside toilet which you dog can use day or night, or perhaps even consider doggy diapers, or a waterproof on his bed and perhaps put his bed very close to a door for easy access, as some older dogs simply do not have the control over their bladders that they used to have.
Reactive/Aggressive Behaviour – this is not an unusual situation in a dog getting older, and reactive behaviour could occur for several reasons i.e. pain in the body and the dog not wanting to be touched or interfered with by people or other dogs. A dog may have less vision or hearing, and if disturbed without hearing the person or animal approach, may react with aggression. The tolerance levels may not be as good as before. This is not the dog being ‘funny’ in any way – it is acting out of its natural tendency to defend itself. A change in the hierarchy in a multi-dog household, where another lower ranking dog may try to take over the position when it becomes aware that the older dog is no longer as strong may trigger reactive behaviour. These factors, in turn, can lead to increased stress impacting further on the dog’s behaviour. Not all dogs will react in this way, and some may become more dependant and/or clingy – it just depends on the individual dog.
As mentioned before, you need to examine the reasons why the behaviour is happening – what triggers it – is it a young child going to close, another dog trying to play etc. When you understand what triggers the behaviour, you can start to take steps to avoid it happening, thereby avoiding or reducing the chances of an altercation occurring.
We are firm believers that all aggressive/reactive behaviour should be treated by experts in their respective fields i.e. Your vet to rule out or assist with physical treatment and medication, and a qualified behaviourist who can teach you to understand a dogs body language so that you become aware of the stress building up, and who can give you the tools and modifications so that you can handle this accordingly.
General - We do find that with senior dogs an additional tool of Tellington TTouch does an amazing amount of good. It can help and reduce pain, assist the dog to cope better, and lessens the stress levels. Simply by using a Wrap, on occasion, in a certain manner, can help a dog with back problems to walk and move easier. Do check out the TTouch websitewww.ttouch.co.za to get more information on this wonderful modality. We really do believe that this is something every single pet owner should learn.
Just because your dog has reached the senior years and may not be as active and involved with your life as before, don’t just leave him to lie on his favourite chair sleeping all day. By engaging him in games he loves to play, but for a shorter time, or taking him out for a shorter walk, spending some quality time rubbing and massaging him, simple training, a wonderful chew bone to help clean teeth and keep him occupied, car rides with a short smell around outside before returning home etc, you will be helping him to remain healthy, keep him stimulated and quite possibly prolonging his life.
4.Doggy Alzheimer’s
Unfortunately, not many owners are aware of this condition, and it is often misdiagnosed. Leticia Fanucchi, DVM, PhD, a veterinary behaviourist and director of Veterinary Medicine Behavior Services at Washing State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital says, “I get that question – ‘Dogs get dementia?’ – even from colleagues. However, she says that CCD – Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, is nothing new.
CCD falls into 4 separate cognitive forms and is an age-related neurobehavioral syndrome which leads to a decline in the relationship between dogs and owners. The 4 different types, according to Fanucchie are:
Involutive depression (this is a depression which can occur in the dog’s older years) and is very similar to chronic depression in humans. What seems to be a major factor is stress or anxieties. Think of it like this – the dog is circling, soiling etc, and due to this the dog is confined to an area whereby, it used to sleep in the bedroom, for example. The stress of this move can increase the dog’s stress levels, which, unfortunately, results in the condition becoming worse!
Some of the symptoms of the above include the dog being very lethargic, sleeping patterns change, dogs does not seem to be able to learn new things, and very often barking, whining or moaning occurs.
Dysthymia
More than anything else with this condition, the dog seems to lose awareness of its length and size of its body, and you may find that the dog becomes stuck in a corner or under a chair for example – the dog simply cannot find its way out from this predicament. The logical thing that a dog without this condition would do, is to walk backwards, but they can’t seem to fathom this out.
Some dogs have strange sleep patterns, waking and sleeping off and on. Other dogs could resort to continuous vocalizations, such as moaning, or whining. If a dog is interrupted while in this state, it often leads to aggression.
Hyper-aggression
This type is associated with dysfunction related to serotonin and cortical tumours can also be involved.
Unfortunately, with this type of CCD, dogs tend to bite first, with no warning, and seem to lose their ability to be able to communicate with other animals.
Confusional Syndrome
This is the closest condition to Alzheimer’s in humans and results in a profound decline in cognitive abilities. They can forget people they have known before, and when advanced, can even forget who their owners are.
If your dog has one of the forms of CCD, there is an excellent book by Eileen Anderson on CCD which can help you, to assist your dog. The link is https://dogdementia.com/dog-dementia-book/ or her website www.dogdementia.com.
Symptoms in General, in no specific order and the first four below were classified under the acronym of DISHA
However, Anderson says that the above does not cover many other important symptoms such as: -
Treatment
At this stage, no research being undertaken has shown a cure for CCD, however certain forms of CCD may be preventable, and with others, the symptoms can be minimized. If you do suspect that your dog is suffering from any of the above, then first stop is your vet, who will prescribe what your dog needs.
We would further suggest you access the website given above. At home, you can do your best to stimulate your dog, to help to slow down the process, and Eileen Anderson suggests simple activities such as food toys such as those that can be stuffed, or simple one’s for pups, such as balls that roll around and the kibble falls out easily from them.
Diet can also impact and do speak to your vet about this as there are some foods on the market that can help.
5.Dealing with the loss of your dog’s canine companion
This can be a really difficult time for the dog left behind, however, if you practised the Alone Time Exercises, right from getting the 2nd dog, the grief should not be too severe.
What many people find hard to believe is that animals can form very firm attachments with each other. Even pets that outwardly seem to barely get along will exhibit intense stress reactions when separated. In fact, grieving pets can show many symptoms identical to those experienced by the bereaved pet owner. The surviving pet(s) may become restless, anxious and depressed. There may also be much sighing, along with sleep and eating disturbances. Often, grieving pets will search for their dead companions and crave more attention from their owners. How can you help your grieving dog?
* Keep the surviving pets routines as normal as possible.
* Try not to unintentionally reinforce the behaviour changes that can occur, such as if the dogs appetite if picky, or a bit off, don’t pay any attention to it – don’t change the food, or try to get the dog to eat by hand.
*Don’t overdo the attention given to the dog, this can lead to over dependency, plus, possibly reinforce the behaviour you don’t want – think about it – the dog is miserable, you give additional attention, odds are that the dog will keep on engaging in the behaviour that works, even when he starts to feel a bit better.
*Take the dog out for a few short walks, preferable in an area where other dogs may have defaecated. What often happens is that the dog initially does not seem very interested in walks, so therefore we say short walks – this allows the dog to sniff and smell the other dogs that have eliminated and may help to lift the depression.
*Do short intervals of time with the dog, with any activity that he enjoys – short drives in the car – a short game of ball – Tuggies etc.
*Some TTouch here, will really help the dog, even if just a few of the Touches. Additionally, we find that the FOTD Dog Behaviour Spray – Grief, really helps – apply at least twice a day.
*Allow the surviving dogs to work out the new hierarchy themselves as much as possible, if other dogs in the family. If you are concerned and it does seem as if aggression may start, please get hold of an accredited canine behaviour consultant, before the aggression starts. www.animal-behaviour.org.za
*Don't get a new pet to help the grieving dog unless you are 100% ready for this. If you do, it may well backfire, as you are not emotionally ready for a new dog and could well not have the energy to deal with it. These incredible animals sometimes seem to mean more to us, than people we know, and grieving for the dog you lost is totally natural. There are some notes on letting a dog go, in the senior section.
*Additionally, the existing dog, may not be ready for another companion, whether a puppy or and older dog. Bringing another dog into your family is a big deal, as you will have gathered from reading through this course, so rather take your time, and if you are going to get another canine addition, put in the research and thought that both your existing dog and the new addition deserve – it must be right for all.
If your dog is a senior when this tragedy happens, please read through the notes on whether or not to get a puppy for a senior dog.
*Should you let the surviving animals see and smell their dead companion?
There is no evidence that doing so will help the surviving pet(s), but some people claim that it does. Usually, all it accomplishes is to make the owner feel better. Therefore, if you want to have the surviving pets "say good-bye," then do what is right for you.
6. Should I get a puppy to keep my dog young?
You often hear people say that bringing home a puppy or new addition to keep the older dog company ‘breaths new life into the old dog’ – not always – it can be a complete disaster!
If you have not kept up the socializing aspect, and your existing dog is not well socialized, then we would not even consider it – not fair to your existing dog, or the new addition.
Some aspects to think about: -
Your Senior’s Physical Health
If your senior dog is still relatively active, enjoying walks, games of ball etc, and has no serious diseases or arthritis, HD etc, then, if the senior dog will accept a new pup or dog into the family, a new addition could work, but first and foremost, check with your vet.
Tell your vet you are considering a pup as a companion and ask him exactly what you can expect from the point of view of your dog’s current and future health and could this impact. Think about it, if your dog does have arthritis for example, or any condition, that causes him pain, will he really be happy with a squiggling ball of energy, trying to climb all over him, or bite his body parts? Remember also, that senior dogs do not get younger – they get older, and progressively more inactive, pups on the other hand, also get older and bigger, and want to play more, and often rougher.
You Senior ‘s Mental Health
As you have just read through the section on possible Doggy Dementia, you will know that if your senior dog is exhibiting any signs, that bringing home a pup would not be fair.
Even if your senior dog does not have evidence of Doggy Dementia, remember that hearing and eye sight often deteriorate with age, and this can be stressful for the senior dog and impact on his relationship with a puppy.
Other things to consider
If your senior dog does have any behaviour problems, then the pup is likely to mimic the behaviour, and you end up with two dogs with unacceptable behaviour!
Additionally, from a behaviour point of view, how is your existing dog going to cope with you paying attention to a younger pup – spending time with it playing, taking it to puppy school, the vet etc – could this create a problem in the relationship with the existing dog? Even if we are very careful from this aspect, let’s face it, a pup is a lot of work and time does have to be spend with it, in order to help it become a well behaviour, and balanced member of our family – will your senior dog really cope with this?
We really are not trying to put you off getting a new puppy, some older dog do really well with them, and it does seem to give them a new lease on life, just rather bringing to your attention, the reality of what could occur – perhaps consider if your existing dog would not be much happier being an ‘only dog’ until it is his time to go to the rainbow bridge.
Enjoy every minute with your dog and make sure his ‘golden years’ are the very best you can provide.
Unfortunately, not many owners are aware of this condition, and it is often misdiagnosed. Leticia Fanucchi, DVM, PhD, a veterinary behaviourist and director of Veterinary Medicine Behavior Services at Washing State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital says, “I get that question – ‘Dogs get dementia?’ – even from colleagues. However, she says that CCD – Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, is nothing new.
CCD falls into 4 separate cognitive forms and is an age-related neurobehavioral syndrome which leads to a decline in the relationship between dogs and owners. The 4 different types, according to Fanucchie are:
Involutive depression (this is a depression which can occur in the dog’s older years) and is very similar to chronic depression in humans. What seems to be a major factor is stress or anxieties. Think of it like this – the dog is circling, soiling etc, and due to this the dog is confined to an area whereby, it used to sleep in the bedroom, for example. The stress of this move can increase the dog’s stress levels, which, unfortunately, results in the condition becoming worse!
Some of the symptoms of the above include the dog being very lethargic, sleeping patterns change, dogs does not seem to be able to learn new things, and very often barking, whining or moaning occurs.
Dysthymia
More than anything else with this condition, the dog seems to lose awareness of its length and size of its body, and you may find that the dog becomes stuck in a corner or under a chair for example – the dog simply cannot find its way out from this predicament. The logical thing that a dog without this condition would do, is to walk backwards, but they can’t seem to fathom this out.
Some dogs have strange sleep patterns, waking and sleeping off and on. Other dogs could resort to continuous vocalizations, such as moaning, or whining. If a dog is interrupted while in this state, it often leads to aggression.
Hyper-aggression
This type is associated with dysfunction related to serotonin and cortical tumours can also be involved.
Unfortunately, with this type of CCD, dogs tend to bite first, with no warning, and seem to lose their ability to be able to communicate with other animals.
Confusional Syndrome
This is the closest condition to Alzheimer’s in humans and results in a profound decline in cognitive abilities. They can forget people they have known before, and when advanced, can even forget who their owners are.
If your dog has one of the forms of CCD, there is an excellent book by Eileen Anderson on CCD which can help you, to assist your dog. The link is https://dogdementia.com/dog-dementia-book/ or her website www.dogdementia.com.
Symptoms in General, in no specific order and the first four below were classified under the acronym of DISHA
- D -Dog appears to be disorientated.
- I – Interactions with people and other pets in the family changes
- S – Sleep-wake alterations
- H – House Soiling
- A – Activity level changes.
However, Anderson says that the above does not cover many other important symptoms such as: -
- Memory and learning problems
- Appetite changes
- Anxiety and depression
- Appearing lost or confused
- Pacing back and forth or circling in one direction.
- Standing staring off into space or looking at walls
- Getting stuck in corners, under chairs and unable to get out.
- Not responding to name
- Overall, more anxious and can even be fearful – often of known objects or people.
- Waiting at the wrong side (hinge side) of the door to be let out.
- Lying partially on dogs’ bed, instead of on top of it.
- Balance – falling off things
- Difficulty with ramps and stairs.
- Either seeking more attention than usual or being withdrawn
- Very easily startled, even at noises accustomed too.
- Dogs seems to forget exercises it once knew
Treatment
At this stage, no research being undertaken has shown a cure for CCD, however certain forms of CCD may be preventable, and with others, the symptoms can be minimized. If you do suspect that your dog is suffering from any of the above, then first stop is your vet, who will prescribe what your dog needs.
We would further suggest you access the website given above. At home, you can do your best to stimulate your dog, to help to slow down the process, and Eileen Anderson suggests simple activities such as food toys such as those that can be stuffed, or simple one’s for pups, such as balls that roll around and the kibble falls out easily from them.
Diet can also impact and do speak to your vet about this as there are some foods on the market that can help.
5.Dealing with the loss of your dog’s canine companion
This can be a really difficult time for the dog left behind, however, if you practised the Alone Time Exercises, right from getting the 2nd dog, the grief should not be too severe.
What many people find hard to believe is that animals can form very firm attachments with each other. Even pets that outwardly seem to barely get along will exhibit intense stress reactions when separated. In fact, grieving pets can show many symptoms identical to those experienced by the bereaved pet owner. The surviving pet(s) may become restless, anxious and depressed. There may also be much sighing, along with sleep and eating disturbances. Often, grieving pets will search for their dead companions and crave more attention from their owners. How can you help your grieving dog?
* Keep the surviving pets routines as normal as possible.
* Try not to unintentionally reinforce the behaviour changes that can occur, such as if the dogs appetite if picky, or a bit off, don’t pay any attention to it – don’t change the food, or try to get the dog to eat by hand.
*Don’t overdo the attention given to the dog, this can lead to over dependency, plus, possibly reinforce the behaviour you don’t want – think about it – the dog is miserable, you give additional attention, odds are that the dog will keep on engaging in the behaviour that works, even when he starts to feel a bit better.
*Take the dog out for a few short walks, preferable in an area where other dogs may have defaecated. What often happens is that the dog initially does not seem very interested in walks, so therefore we say short walks – this allows the dog to sniff and smell the other dogs that have eliminated and may help to lift the depression.
*Do short intervals of time with the dog, with any activity that he enjoys – short drives in the car – a short game of ball – Tuggies etc.
*Some TTouch here, will really help the dog, even if just a few of the Touches. Additionally, we find that the FOTD Dog Behaviour Spray – Grief, really helps – apply at least twice a day.
*Allow the surviving dogs to work out the new hierarchy themselves as much as possible, if other dogs in the family. If you are concerned and it does seem as if aggression may start, please get hold of an accredited canine behaviour consultant, before the aggression starts. www.animal-behaviour.org.za
*Don't get a new pet to help the grieving dog unless you are 100% ready for this. If you do, it may well backfire, as you are not emotionally ready for a new dog and could well not have the energy to deal with it. These incredible animals sometimes seem to mean more to us, than people we know, and grieving for the dog you lost is totally natural. There are some notes on letting a dog go, in the senior section.
*Additionally, the existing dog, may not be ready for another companion, whether a puppy or and older dog. Bringing another dog into your family is a big deal, as you will have gathered from reading through this course, so rather take your time, and if you are going to get another canine addition, put in the research and thought that both your existing dog and the new addition deserve – it must be right for all.
If your dog is a senior when this tragedy happens, please read through the notes on whether or not to get a puppy for a senior dog.
*Should you let the surviving animals see and smell their dead companion?
There is no evidence that doing so will help the surviving pet(s), but some people claim that it does. Usually, all it accomplishes is to make the owner feel better. Therefore, if you want to have the surviving pets "say good-bye," then do what is right for you.
6. Should I get a puppy to keep my dog young?
You often hear people say that bringing home a puppy or new addition to keep the older dog company ‘breaths new life into the old dog’ – not always – it can be a complete disaster!
If you have not kept up the socializing aspect, and your existing dog is not well socialized, then we would not even consider it – not fair to your existing dog, or the new addition.
Some aspects to think about: -
Your Senior’s Physical Health
If your senior dog is still relatively active, enjoying walks, games of ball etc, and has no serious diseases or arthritis, HD etc, then, if the senior dog will accept a new pup or dog into the family, a new addition could work, but first and foremost, check with your vet.
Tell your vet you are considering a pup as a companion and ask him exactly what you can expect from the point of view of your dog’s current and future health and could this impact. Think about it, if your dog does have arthritis for example, or any condition, that causes him pain, will he really be happy with a squiggling ball of energy, trying to climb all over him, or bite his body parts? Remember also, that senior dogs do not get younger – they get older, and progressively more inactive, pups on the other hand, also get older and bigger, and want to play more, and often rougher.
You Senior ‘s Mental Health
As you have just read through the section on possible Doggy Dementia, you will know that if your senior dog is exhibiting any signs, that bringing home a pup would not be fair.
Even if your senior dog does not have evidence of Doggy Dementia, remember that hearing and eye sight often deteriorate with age, and this can be stressful for the senior dog and impact on his relationship with a puppy.
Other things to consider
If your senior dog does have any behaviour problems, then the pup is likely to mimic the behaviour, and you end up with two dogs with unacceptable behaviour!
Additionally, from a behaviour point of view, how is your existing dog going to cope with you paying attention to a younger pup – spending time with it playing, taking it to puppy school, the vet etc – could this create a problem in the relationship with the existing dog? Even if we are very careful from this aspect, let’s face it, a pup is a lot of work and time does have to be spend with it, in order to help it become a well behaviour, and balanced member of our family – will your senior dog really cope with this?
We really are not trying to put you off getting a new puppy, some older dog do really well with them, and it does seem to give them a new lease on life, just rather bringing to your attention, the reality of what could occur – perhaps consider if your existing dog would not be much happier being an ‘only dog’ until it is his time to go to the rainbow bridge.
Enjoy every minute with your dog and make sure his ‘golden years’ are the very best you can provide.
