Grey Paws and All

Sometimes the changes are subtle at first.  You might notice your dog seems a little more confused, a little less like themselves, or doing things that don’t quite make sense. It can leave you wondering what’s normal aging and what might be something more.  Those questions can be hard to sit with on your own. Many of the signs of dementia can be explained by other health issues. For example, a dementia dog can forget his housetraining and pee inside, but that could also happen if a dog has a urinary tract infection, kidney disease or diabetes and can’t get outside fast enough or often enough. That’s why I created this checklist! This alone does not prove your dog has dementia, but it will go a long way to helping your vet make a diagnosis. In addition to bringing this with you to your appointment, it’s also helpful to make a list of all the changes in behavior you’ve been noticing. Even something you don’t think is worth mentioning, is worth mentioning. Try and note when it st...

There's a difference between a puppy nipping because he hasn't learned bite control yet, a dog aggressively going after someone and biting them, and an old dog that bites due to stress, anxiety, pain or vision loss. If your senior dog suddenly starts biting, I highly recommend you schedule a vet visit as soon as possible. Your dog could be lashing out due to pain, be scared because of vision and/or hearing loss or feeling anxious due to something like dementia for example. Is It Ever Time to Get Rid of a Dog That Bites? Sadly there are times when that is the only choice left. Biting needs to be taken seriously, but it also doesn't mean that should be the first and only decision you make. Every dog is different and so is every situation, and while the reason is often a lack of training, in this article we're going to be discussing why a senior dog may bite and what you can do about it. My Experience Living with a Dog That Bites Several years ago we adopted a dog named Ja...

It’s a pretty common problem to see senior dogs waking up in the middle of the night, or spending their nights pacing and restless. Not only is it rough on our dogs, it’s also rough on us when we lose sleep, affecting mood and the ability to function well. There are several reasons why your senior dog is restless at night. He or she may be in some pain or discomfort due to an illness or joint problems, a medical condition or medication is causing excessive peeing, or cognitive issues like dementia are responsible. *There are affiliate links in this post, which means if you make a purchase I may receive a small commission. This has no effect on the price you pay.* Why Your Senior Dog is Restless at Night Before we get into the reasons and what you can do to help, I want to ask if your dog has been to the vet recently for a check-up? If he has, I’m assuming any medical condition has been diagnosed, and a treatment plan put forward. If that’s the case, the restlessness is likely continuin...