doggy dementia ?

Just been reading your posts Lemmony99 i have a little dog who i believe is in the early sages of Dementia, she started acting very strangely a few months ago, standing with her face into a corner or going to the hinge side of the door instead of the opening side,
She also has cataracts, she had one when i got her from a couple looking to re-home her, but they never mentioned it, she has 2 now,they said she was 3 years old, but the vet reckons she is more like 9 or 10, i think now she is probably older than that
The vet has put her on some tablets called Aktivait, which has made a big difference to her
Luckily she is insured
How is your little dog? i hope she can be treated, i have never heard of the medication mentioned earlier,

No not yet .We have a vet who comes to your home and he is on holiday at the moment .I don't want to take him to the surgery as I'm not sure how he will be with other animals .Just wondered if anyone else recognised this kind of behaviour .
thanks
L.

Have you taken him to the vets yet?

oh dear . Just returned from visiting another resident who also has a dog , and as the other dog was lying on the floor minding her own her own business ,my JR got level with her head , then whacked her hard as he could with his rear end .If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes ,I wouldn't have believed it ! The other dog leapt up and moved away and I apologised to her owner . His behaviour seems to be getting more bizarre rapidly .From being a picky eater he is now eating anything and everything ,as if he's forgotten he's already eaten .I had another dog who we had to have put down due to dementia ,aged 17 , but his descent was very slow ?

Hi, vivitonin works for our 15 year old Toy Poodle. Symptoms were very similar to your J.R., she also has Propalin for bladder problems and pain killers for arthritis. The joys of getting old. Do speak to your vet, vivitonin has made such a positive change to our dog's life for this past year.

That’s the stuff my vet prescribed - Vivitonin

It did help. In fact I nearly slipped DH a couple

Take them to see the vet if it is canine cognitive dysfunction he'll probably prescribe vivitonin which seems to help a lot.

It does sound like dementia unfortunatly your vet will be able to help you hopefully.
I would ask your neighbours if they are being disturbed before they complain to you or if they can hear your little dog, explain you are going to seek treatment its best to try and stop any complaints before they start I think and will show what caring neighbours you are.

thanks all so far .Fennel , we live in sheltered accommodation and if our dog ends up barking all night , the other residents would want us gone !! so I hope he doesn't do that .Sometimes he just takes himself off and stares at the wall which is pitiful , but the constant disturbances in the evening and then the night when he can't be pacified ,are really awful .I just hope the flat beneath us aren't going through it because of us .

Our JR is 14 this year and is very demanding. This is a trait with JRs who like to be in charge, we have tended to go along with him as he is an old man but he does take advantage. He has had bladder problems on and off for several years.
If this is changed behaviour then you need to get advice from your vet but beware your JR will play you for all he is worth. We love ours because of his bossiness and independence.

I know what it's like, Lemmony.
Our 15 yr old collie was the same, and ended up barking at night for hours on end. She had epileptic fits too.
We were about to move house from France to England, and the vet said this would disturb her even more, so never tried the tablets.
Sadly we agreed for her to be put to sleep .
I don't know the average lifespan of jack russells, but at 12 I would definitely try the tablets first.

Our dog was very similar to this Lemmony. I agree with Anja there are tablets that may help. It is very difficult and distressing for you.

thanks Anja .

Yes, it sounds like doggy dementia. I’ve had experience of this in several older dogs. See your vet there are tablets that might help.

For self help we give out 14-year old fish oil tablets (NOT cod liver oil ones) and that seems to help her brain a little bit.

Off to pick GC up from school. I’ll try to log on later, much later, they’re here till about 7.00 ! and see if any more advice on offer.

??