Mastodawn

Faragon Jan 8, 2025

Y'all, I'm slightly bored and a little uninspired.
Hit me with your burning dog training and behaviour questions!

@faragon
What to do with a senior dog who is panicking. Wants to go outside, then inside, outside, inside. Listening for an 'unusual' sound. Bulging eyes.

Pain is nearly impossible because of loads of painkillers.
Alopurinol and PUUR Tranquil both help to give a little bit of relief but the panic is always lurking. Are we looking at dementia?

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Faragon Jan 13

@src_esther dementia is the first thing that came to mind, even before I finished reading.
Is it better/worse at specific times?
Did you notice a decline in auditory/visual responses?
Going deaf/blind can be very disorienting.
Regardless of those answers, you'll probably have to take whatever this is up with your vet, so you can treat the symptoms (panicked behaviours) or even better, the cause (hypothetical underlying condition)

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Esther #antifa Jan 13

@faragon
The dog response to 'sign language' and we sometimes whisper a command when the dog isn't looking at us. All good. Blood checked, never been beter...
Bedtime is worst. Sometimes also sunset because of shootings (hunters). And to make it very complicated, sometimes weeks (months even) nothing, sometimes a few times a day...
The vet is not very helpful.

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Faragon Jan 14

@src_esther sounds very dementia like to me, the official term is Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS).
It's not at all my specialty, but from what I know by heart I would recommend:
- a predictable routine
- a nightlight if it's after "light's out"
- staying close by the dog if possible
If you let me know (in DM is fine) where you are I might be able to help you look for a specialist for the behaviour aspect, and possibly a vet who is open to quality of life improving interventions.