Mary Velazquez Webboard User Reg: 12-24-2007
Posts: 575
Loc: Texas
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this is jsut a general question about Older dogs and their mental stamina. My older shepherd seems to be reverting to puppyhood mentally. Certain things like housetraining seems to be taking a few steps back. She would hold it for days rather than use the restroom in the house and the other day she went out and just ssquatted without letting me know she needed to and with no remorse. Ive had her checked out at the vets and shes healthy, but It was extremely unusual that she didnt even alert me that she needed to go.
Also, she still loves learning new things, but she seems to forget things. And she has been stubborn in the past so Im sure its not jsut stubborness or testing me. she is a little peevish these days as well (with the younger dogs).
So is it normal and to be expected that an old dog will slip mentally a little, almost like they are a clean slate puppy again sometiems? I just wanted to double check.
I don't think I'd ever though of it as like a clean puppy slate, but many older dogs start loosing basics like housebreaking as they get into senior years. There can be MANY underlying health causes for this, and I'd be sure to get a urine culture, and a full spectrum of senior panel before you write it off as an old dog thing. If it's a sudden change and she's all of a sudden urinating in the house, I'd bet something is up besides age.
How old is she?
Dogs are just like people, with age, certain things start slipping/diminishing. Eyesight, scent, hearing... the list can go on and on.
Wendy Lefebvre Webboard User Reg: 12-08-2005
Posts: 1271
Loc: Stoney Creek , Ontario, Canada
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I don't think it's them forgetting.
Their bladders aint what they used to be.
Plus if there's even slight Kidney problems, they have a tendency to consume more water.
What type of tests did you have done at the Vets?
was it just a looking over or did the vet do some bloodwork?
Taz (my previous dog) started to lose some bladder control at around 10 or so. He just couldn't hold it as long. In his younger days he could hold it all night till 9 0r 10 the next morning (if i happened to have a late night and slept in)
but as he got older he just couldn't wait that long and some mornings i would find a puddle in the kitchen...right by the door.
Mary Velazquez Webboard User Reg: 12-24-2007
Posts: 575
Loc: Texas
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well Bladder control isnt the whole deal- obviously aging dogs are likely to lose some bladder control. I got the full work up at the vets-fecal, blood and urine. They said she was in good health and I got some pills for her incontinence.
She is at least 12. she was dumped on our ranch in Mexico and appeared to be about a year old.
I dont feel like I have a real strong obvious example of what I mean but shes been by my side for 12 years and I noticed subtle changes.She is a fairly serious dog, will goof off but likes her job (keeping watch, making sure everything is going like its supposed to, shes very much an enforcer) and lately she has been more goofy or peevish by turns, not as serious and watchful as she usually is. Its hard to explain, I guess I just wondered if it was normal aging related.
Mental changes in older dogs are real. I attended a talk some years ago about the aging dog as a model for Alzheimers in people. They spoke about a medication, but I think time proved it ineffective.
Blindness, deafness and arthritis make their own contributions to the changes we see.
I hope the urination doesn't get out of hand. There are medications to help with this - a little estrogen (used very sparingly) can help with tone and control.
FWIW, my 12 y/o is a bit more snappish with the younger two than she used to be. Nothing major, but if they bump into her they'll probably get snapped at. I think part of it is that she's just a bit more stiff than she used to be and it's her way of telling them to be careful around her.
For those that have multiple dogs, it's not uncommon for one or the group to gang up on an elderly dog when it starts showing weakness.
In the many years I've had 3-4 dogs at a time that's the only time I've really had to break up anything close to serious fighting.
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Senior dog and mental status
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