Why Does My Senior Dog Walk in Circles?
Circling behavior in senior dogs usually occurs as a result of cognitive issues or anxiety. A trip to the veterinarian is warranted each time your senior dog exhibits uncommon behaviors, including circling frequently and repetitively. (Circling before lying down in his dog bed or favorite napping spot is normal.) Keep in mind the circle may be tight and easy to spot, or wide and tougher to recognize as worrisome.
Along with pacing, repetitive circling is a symptom of canine cognitive dysfunction. Other symptoms include disorientation, sleep disturbances, unusual vocalization, and incontinence. Don’t ignore circling or other symptoms as the regular effects of aging. Cognitive dysfunction is a disease, and early intervention can help delay or slow the decline of mental functioning.
As with pacing, circling can also indicate serious brain ailments, such as a tumor.
Anxiety can cause circling in dogs of any age, but it becomes more prevalent as dogs age and experience normal cognitive decline and pain associated with other illnesses. Circling caused by anxiety is a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder, in that it gives dogs a sense of control and comfort.
The response to circling behavior is similar to handling pacing. Take your dog to the vet with notes on how long he has circled, how often, and any other changes in behavior or health. For both anxiety and cognitive dysfunction, the vet may prescribe medications that manage symptoms.
At home, keep your dog’s schedule as routine as possible and offer regular exercise and mental stimulation. Increase any activities that are particularly calming for your dog, such as belly rubs or getting fresh air. Keep rooms uncluttered and don’t move the furniture around, especially if he’s also experiencing disorientation.
How Much Do Senior Dogs Sleep?
Your once active dog may sleep between 18 and 20 hours every day as they age into their later senior years. Your senior dog may, of course, sleep less, but if they suffer from some of the common senior dog ailments, your dog may be active for only four to six hours every day.
Take your dog to his veterinarian if you notice a sudden change in his sleep pattern or sleep changes combined with other symptoms. Depending on the diagnosis, the vet may prescribe medications to manage or slow symptoms. At home, offer your dog a comfortable, peaceful sleep environment to help facilitate the best night’s sleep possible. If it’s a joint disease such as osteoarthritis, an orthopedic dog bed offers protection from cold, hard floors which can worsen symptoms.
Why Does My Senior Dog Pant So Much?
Noticeable changes in your senior dog’s panting may indicate several serious health issues. Increased panting is normal when dogs are overheated from the temperature or from exercise—it’s how they cool down. But when the panting is out of the ordinary for your senior dog, or unrelated to heat or exertion, it’s time to trundle your dog in the car to visit the vet.
Possible causes of increased or heavy panting in older dogs include:
Sudden panting unrelated to heat or exercise requires immediate medical attention. Once the underlying cause is determined, your dog’s veterinarian will determine next steps.
If you suspect the panting is heat related, get your dog to a cool place, give him cool water (not cold), and get him to the veterinarian or the emergency room at the nearest animal hospital.
Yes. As your dog gets older, he’ll probably sleep, take cat naps, and rest more often. Though sleep changes are a normal part of aging, they can also indicate underlying problems such as cognitive decline and osteoarthritis. The loss of cognitive function, and pain from these illnesses, can cause sleep disturbances resulting in one exhausted senior dog.
Sundowner’s Syndrome in senior pets
Dogs get old. No matter how much we take care of their health and well-being and do whatever we can to increase their longevity, old age is inevitable. And it will always manifest in different ways. One common behavioral issue in senior dogs is pacing.
Geriatric dogs tend to walk back and forth from one spot to another due to anxiety or compulsive behavior.
Find out what elderly dog pacing is, why elderly dogs do it, and what other behavioral issues to expect in senior dogs. Learn all about cognitive dysfunction in old dogs now and know what you should do to help them!
When a dog paces, they usually walk back and forth from one spot to another in a repetitive pattern. Sometimes, they stroll from one part of the house to another without a destination in mind.
Dogs pace when they wait for people or things. Normal dog pacing is also sometimes caused by excitement. They also sometimes do this when they’re stressed. However, that does not necessarily mean that dog pacing is a medical issue.
When dogs pace due to anxiety, the source can be a variety of things like trips to the vet, waiting for you to come home, having to pee, or simply general restlessness.