– continued
We had decided that during the festive season, a break would be taken from the science of geriatrics (the treatment and care of the elderly dog) and instead we would speak about matters pertaining to resolutions for the New Year. So, over the previous few weeks our focus was on the adoption of pets from the Animal Clinic and Shelter of the GSPCA. Now, let us return to discussions on the elderly dog.
On December 7, 2014, we mentioned that with the decline of cellular/organ functions in the old dog, several changes follow. Let us look today at some behavioural changes that can also occur and which may be linked to old age.
Behavioural changes
I suppose, just like with us humans (after all, dogs and humans are both mammals), a dog’s deterioration, based on old age, may reflect itself also in an attitude change. For one thing, the animal often becomes irascible. Crankiness and a heightened irritability are pronounced, especially relative to changes in his environment. Old dogs just can’t stand change. In other words, if Rover likes to sun himself on the front porch, don’t move him to the back verandah. My own dog Patrick actually used to cuss me, in dog language of course – but a good ‘busing’ nevertheless, if I tried to move him from the verandah to downstairs. I suppose walking down the steps was painful and his dissatisfaction had to be presented to me orally.
Of course, concomitantly, other characteristics reveal themselves as well. For example, forgetfulness comes to the fore. I have known old dogs to bury bones and not remember where they hid the bones. They dig up the whole garden looking for the bones. I suppose with age the sense of smell (as do other senses) deteriorates.
Very often, old dogs would just sit and grumble. Patrick used to express his senility by talking to himself during the night, hours on end. It was disturbing to us and to the neighbours. (This is my way of apologizing to neighbours, who after almost 30 years have become closer than family.)
Some old dogs, especially males, tend to wander out of the security of the compound. Since many of them are blind or at least visually impaired, the wanderlust can be dangerous, even lethal. Not many drivers will stop for an old dog meandering along a street, quite oblivious to the traffic.
Old dogs tend to sleep a lot – and they dream; and they talk in their sleep. I wonder if they are remembering the good old days when they were dapper studs, or dreaming about attractive (attracting?) sluts. Sometimes I think I see my old dogs smiling as they dream.
Even though the loss of energy is a physical change (we’ll deal with physical changes next week), it has a connection with the psyche. The loss of energy results in the expectation that you, the owner, must bring the food/water closer to the old dog, simply because he seems not to have the energy to get up and eat.
Old dogs are surely less curious than when they were younger. The wandering to which I referred, three paragraphs above, is not curiosity; it is a part of encroaching senility.
Let me sum up the behavioural changes in older pets:
- Increased reaction to sounds
- Increased vocalization
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Decreased interaction w/humans
- Increased irritability
- Decreased response to commands
- Increased aggressive/protective behaviour
- Increased anxiety
- House soiling
- Decreased self-hygiene/grooming
- Repetitive activity
- Increased wandering
- Change in sleep cycles
Next week, we’ll discuss physical changes.
Please implement disease preventative measures (vaccinations, routine dewormings, monthly anti-Heartworm medication, etc) and adopt-a-pet from the GSPCA’s Animal Clinic and Shelter at Robb Street and Orange Walk, if you have the wherewithal to care well for the animals. Do not stray your unwanted pets, take them to the GSPCA’s Clinic and Shelter instead. If you do not wish your pet to have puppies or kittens, you may exploit the GSPCA’s free spay and neutering programme. If you see anyone being cruel to an animal, or if you need any technical information, please get in touch with the Clinic and Shelter by calling 226-4237.
