Oh wonderful experienced dog folk, I am in need of your guidance again.

This is another question about Dolly (15 yo, fully deaf, Cocker Spaniel). We recently switched her from canned Pedigree to THK. She's been on THK solely for just over a week now. I have a chicken back in the freezer but have not added it yet, because this issue might be getting a bit worse. I just wanted to point out the food change because we do know if they coincidentally happened at the same time, or if it might be part of the reason.

About four or five days ago, we noticed Dolly has been pooping on the edge of the grass and partly on the side walk in the backyard. We didn't think anything of it, as she usually goes at night and we don't think she can see at night anymore. We haven't seen her run into anything at night, but she does seem to get a little confused, and will wander through the house at night. We have a dog door and she can find her way in and out of it no problem at night, but we thought that maybe it's getting harder for her to do so and once she reaches the grass, she poops, not realizing that she might not be fully on the grass (that was long winded, and I hope it makes sense).

Anyway, the past two days or so she's just gone fully on the sidewalk, not even half way to the grass, even in the day. Then last night, we heard her go outside, then come back in very quickly (like there was something in here she was missing out on and caught her attention) and got two little poops inside. The rest was right outside the dog door on the sidewalk.

I know that this may be a sign that she is growing older and less stable. She could have dementia setting in, as I know that confusion and wandering around the house are key symptoms of it. And as much as I'd like to think she's young at heart, she is 15. My mom and I always wondered how we would start to know that she's ready, and I think these might be our first signs. But! I just wanted to make sure that it couldn't be in relation to the food change. While I do think it's the beginning of doggy dementia, I don't want to blame it on that if maybe she's just being lazy, so to speak. Some of you might remember my first post ever, about her barking at us for seemingly no reason. I am happy to report that she hasn't barked at me in months, and only sometimes barks at my mom. I think my mom secretly reinforces her when I'm not around. But even then, there has been no random barking

Thanks so much everyone. I'm sorry this was so long. I really appreciate you taking the time to read it and offer input.

Poop still good? Log form?

Yeah! The poop is great. Nice and solid and easy to pick up. We'd just rather have it outside, so hopefully the inside instance doesn't become a habit.

We were thinking that maybe she can't hold it is easily as the pedigree, and when she has to go she just really has to go?

Obviously I would never want my advice to take the place of a health pro.

Everything you've posted about her tends to old age, IMO. Even a few days ago when you posted about her looking bonier on parts of her body. Muscle loss is part of it, too.

Just from reading, though, I wouldn't assume she is "letting you know" anything yet.

This is just a time in her life where a little extra help might be in order. Just as with a puppy, try to get her outside a tad earlier. Kick the turds off the sidewalk and hose off the pee.

You guys sound very patient and loving with the old gal. Plus she has all this kick ace new food. If it were me, and it raised any concern at all, I'd stop by the vet for a check up to confirm your suspicions. Then just make a few daily adjustments for her.

I'm with Michael. Also, I/we found when my dogs have aged and my granddog became 14 and older, that moments of confusion or bewilderment could be made far less painful with a little very simple basic ob. A confused moment ("Now what is it that I do?") when the dog looks bewildered can be made much more comfortable with a simple command that you know the dog knows to the bone, like maybe "sit" followed by a reward and praise. ("Oh, I do that!")


Log poop pretty much means that it's not emergency poop, so maybe just more trips outside and a little walking to get the peristalsis going in the right place (outdoors).

Having the oldsters on great food is such a profound thing to do for these end-of-life times when many dogs are really living for their dinners (not to mention how much better it is for their health).

Thanks to you both. Oddly enough, she hasn't peed anywhere but the grass. So we know she knows, she just either gets confused or can't make it. On the Pedigree, she would go outside to the bathroom maybe 20 minutes after she ate. The THK I think takes a little longer, so it might throw her off a bit.

Good idea to take her outside a little while after she's eaten. I think we're really used to her having the dog door to go in and out as she pleases. She rarely poops on walks so we've never really thought about taking her out to do her business.

I'm so happy to have changed her food even in her later years. She just stands there and shakes because she's so excited. You could be right about the muscle loss Michael, I hadn't thought about that. I don't think we're under feeding her because usually when we try to give her more she doesn't eat it. She knows her limits I guess? That always baffles me because I think of my Corgi who would try to eat an entire pet supply if he ever got the chance!

 Quote: Katie Finlay

... I'm so happy to have changed her food even in her later years. She just stands there and shakes because she's so excited.

Aren't you glad? There's nothing like it for me. It's so great that the food the dog wants and is thrilled about is the same food that the dog was designed to eat!

I am really glad. Especially because even if/when she does start slowing down more I know we're doing the best we can physically and she enjoys it at the same time.