Sara,
Yes, I have a very similar story. My baby, a 13.5 year old Yorkie named Sammy started displaying very odd behaviors himself about 6 months ago including the inability to sleep through the night. I was waking up 3-4 times a night starting at 1:30 a.m. and ranging from that early to as late at 4:00 a.m. I was lucky when he would only wake up once or twice in the morning. In addition to that, he started freaking out past my front door. His love for his walks turned into thunderstom like trauma which even caused him to faint twice (I brought him for an MRI of his heart and while he has two leaky valves and a hint of lung disease the vet said he absolutely did not faint due to the heart and lung issues. What I learned later after doing research is that my boy does not recognize outside his front door. It caused him so much anxiety that fainted from it. AFter researching cognitive disorder I found that the restlessness at night was just one of the beginning signs. I have him on anapryl now and he sleeps through the night. Still can't walk him, I may never be able to again, but he is sleeping. I feel for you, but research canine cognitive disorder and read about the symptoms. It may be worth talking to your vet about it. Most people don't get their dogs checked until they start peeing in the house.....I'd be happy to talk more with you if I can be of any help. GOod luck, I know how hard it is.
Chris
Quote:
Originally Posted by fidola13  i had a 17 yo mini schnauzer who had many years ago and wast treated somewaht successfully with anipryl. however her signs were classic: sudden peeing in the house, unaware of surroundings, gettling "lost" in the house, restlesness.
today my 15- 17 ys nm yorkie bentley has beed displaying odd behaviours that may be dog "senility"- about 5 weeks a go he just started crying, whimpering and shaking in bed one night- so i held him until he calmed down. it was frightening for both of us and the other dogs.
since that time, he barely sleeps more than 2-3 hours at a time with waking up and crying, shaking etc... at 1st i thought he needed to go out but not really, then i tried giving him a snack- no good, put him in bed with me (sleeps in crate next to bed because he is old and uses a male diaper) but that didnt work.
he eats and drinks and everything normally. i tried givng him extra cough medicine a t night (hydrocodone) and that did tn work very well eitehr.
im at my wits end! my partner and i are totally sleep deprived and frustrate! im much more patient but even im burnt out with him.
oh- and he jsut had a healthy checkup in december and noraml blood work 2 weeks ago. and hi is nto on any other meds besides occasionally the cough medicine.
put a call into my vet today.
this is long winded but does anyone out there have any stories similiar? thanks sara |