Behavioral Changes
Why is my dog acting so differently?
| Want to know how old your pet really is? Click the chart above to enlarge and see. |
| Umm, maybe it's time to change your dogs habits. |
Is your dog elderly or still a young pup?
Well do you know your dog ages differently than you?
Elderly animals sometimes experience changes in behavior
for many reasons. There can be diseases that will affect
behavior, like arthritis pain, bladder infection, intestinal cancer,
diabetes, thyroid conditions and others. Senility can also
manifest as behavioral changes.
What to look for:
Well do you know your dog ages differently than you?
Elderly animals sometimes experience changes in behavior
for many reasons. There can be diseases that will affect
behavior, like arthritis pain, bladder infection, intestinal cancer,
diabetes, thyroid conditions and others. Senility can also
manifest as behavioral changes.
What to look for:
 | Change in appetite: Increase can mean Cushings | |
| Syndrome (too much cortisone being produced by the adrenal glands), or diabetes. Decrease can be kidney, liver, dental, intestinal disease, cancer. |
Prevention/Help: Don't change diet abruptly or without reason.
For those animals with poor appetites and under doctor's care,
special diets may be required. Warming food increases
palatability, as does adding broth or fresh cooked meats (if
allowed).
| Change in urination or house training: Urinary | |
| incontinence can occur with Cushings, diabetes, kidney disease, bladder infections, estrogen in-sufficiency, senility Fecal incontinence can occur with rectal tumors, neurological diseases, senility Diarrhea can result from diet change, intestinal cancers, rectal tumors or other cancers. |
Prevention/Help: Fresh water and plenty is important. Clean
bedding prevents skin sores. Easy access to the outdoors for
arthritic dogs is important
| Irritability: Arthritis, senility, any painful condition. | |
| Prevention/Help: Exercise regularly to keep joints and muscles healthy. Seek veterinary advice about pain medications. Monitor children and older pets to protect pet from rough handling. |
TESTS TO CONSIDER:
Elderly pets should have routine blood analysis and urinalysis
to detect metabolic diseases. Dogs exhibiting senility should
have these basic tests done prior to using new senility
medications.
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