Signs of confusion in an older yorkie

[Patti]

I have a night light on now as Nikki can't see well at night at all. He needs to go up and down the ramp to get to the pee pads so I keep one right by the side of my bed the ramp is on and the pee pads are at. I also keep one in the master bath. I think those baby guard rails are great. Now all of mine have to get off the bed one at a time and no jumping half way down and hurting their legs. Other than my room looking strange I love the peace of mind. I am hoping your vet can give you some help.

[shodanusmc]

We have noticed that Maxines night vision is also starting to go. Carlo still sees great in the dark. I am getting like Maxine!

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by Patti

I have a night light on now as Nikki can't see well at night at all. He needs to go up and down the ramp to get to the pee pads so I keep one right by the side of my bed the ramp is on and the pee pads are at. I also keep one in the master bath. I think those baby guard rails are great. Now all of mine have to get off the bed one at a time and no jumping half way down and hurting their legs. Other than my room looking strange I love the peace of mind. I am hoping your vet can give you some help.

Originally Posted by shodanusmc

We have noticed that Maxines night vision is also starting to go. Carlo still sees great in the dark. I am getting like Maxine!

I should probably just go ahead and get a nitelight for Alex. I've been helping him on and off the bed for a while now so I haven't had a chance to see how he does in the dark. I'm hoping with these bedrails I won't have to get up with him every time during the night anymore, but if he can't see in the dark that won't happen. I'm going to do like you, Patti, and put it on the side with the ramp and pee pads.

This thread has offered so many terrific, helpful ideas. I can't thank everyone enough for all the input!!!

[Lizzie07]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

I can tell you that it would have been wonderful when I went through it with three different one's. The one thing that I always think about is that after you've had them so long, you know them so well and you know when even the slightest thing is wrong. Many times you know things that will help them from your experience with previous seniors. Live and learn!

This is so true! When I took one of my seniors to the internist, the senior with heart problems and told the vet she just wasn't right and that I wanted to see if he could do more for her. He was surprised, as she had quite a bit more wrong with her than just her heart. I do feel she is being better managed and it scares me that she might not be with me now had I not taken her to him. I was hesitant too, because my regular vet is a very good friend, my agility trainer, and one of my bunco buddies.

I think with the seniors and some vets, you have to be pushy and proactive. Diane, my regular vet has told me that she doesn't have anyone with dogs as old as some of mine have been. Diane is very good, but I just don't think she has as much experience with the seniors as the other vet.

One of the other things with my seniors seem is getting picky about their food. Anyone else have this problem? I've spent so much trying to find stuff they find palatable. I've even bought lamb, not cheap meat to see if I could get them to eat. I made soups, stews, casseroles, you name it, trying to get them to eat. It can really be tough to find something they will eat. I'd love to know what others have tried.

[143julz]

Originally Posted by Lizzie07

This is so true! When I took one of my seniors to the internist, the senior with heart problems and told the vet she just wasn't right and that I wanted to see if he could do more for her. He was surprised, as she had quite a bit more wrong with her than just her heart. I do feel she is being better managed and it scares me that she might not be with me now had I not taken her to him. I was hesitant too, because my regular vet is a very good friend, my agility trainer, and one of my bunco buddies.

I think with the seniors and some vets, you have to be pushy and proactive. Diane, my regular vet has told me that she doesn't have anyone with dogs as old as some of mine have been. Diane is very good, but I just don't think she has as much experience with the seniors as the other vet.

One of the other things with my seniors seem is getting picky about their food. Anyone else have this problem? I've spent so much trying to find stuff they find palatable. I've even bought lamb, not cheap meat to see if I could get them to eat. I made soups, stews, casseroles, you name it, trying to get them to eat. It can really be tough to find something they will eat. I'd love to know what others have tried.

My late Julz became a very picky eater in her last 2 months.
(Ya'll I have to say it's the 2 yr mark since things started failing w/ Julz and today I sat here and read my very first few post on YT and cried like a baby. The pain is still so intense....)Sorry...

Where was I, Oh...I made Julz creame of wheat, which she liked for a few days then pasta w/ broth, then resorted to adding cheese...I was pulling at anythign just to get her to eat

Best of Luck

[Ladymom]

I have night lights all over the house for Lady. I wish I could install the lights like they have along the floor in movie theaters to guide her way!

I put two pads and two water bowls down at night to increase her odds of finding them at night. Otherwise she'll bark until I get up help her.

[lisaly]

Originally Posted by Lizzie07

One of the other things with my seniors seem is getting picky about their food. Anyone else have this problem? I've spent so much trying to find stuff they find palatable. I've even bought lamb, not cheap meat to see if I could get them to eat. I made soups, stews, casseroles, you name it, trying to get them to eat. It can really be tough to find something they will eat. I'd love to know what others have tried.

Ashley ate a little bit of kibble daily, but I always home cooked for her. It definitely got difficult finding things to get her to eat that she would enjoy. I'd cook a variety of things, and we always got her to eat unless she wasn't feeling well, but I often had to try more than one thing. I also had a number of medications to try to get her take with the food, so that made it more difficult and urgent to get her to eat. I think when I spoke about finding something for her to eat it was so matter of fact that I didn't realize others might think she was highly spoiled. I wouldn't really care if they did. I am a high school teacher with students in a small class setting, and some of them asked about Ashley regularly. They loved asking what Ashley ate for dinner, and I could tell that the ones that were asking weren't doing it to mock me. Although it was frustrating, it was also funny. If I picked up something on the outside for her that I know she liked, and I got it from a different restaurant than her favorite one, she wouldn't eat it. I gave her anything she would eat, as long as it was healthy and it didn't bother her stomach. She had problems with gas pockets from swallowing too much air because of her trachea, but it didn't really affect what foods she could eat. Fortunately, Ashley never had pancreatitis, so I didn't have to worry about that. She'd go at times eating and loving one food and then refusing to eat it after a while. She was a very funny little girl. It was definitely more challenging to get her to eat when she had dementia, and I had to be persistent with her. I know most people would think it was ridiculous, but most nights when I asked my husband what he thought he'd like to be eating, his usual response was, "What do you think Ashley would like most?"

[lisaly]

Originally Posted by 143julz

[/COLOR]

My late Julz became a very picky eater in her last 2 months.
(Ya'll I have to say it's the 2 yr mark since things started failing w/ Julz and today I sat here and read my very first few post on YT and cried like a baby. The pain is still so intense....)Sorry...

Where was I, Oh...I made Julz creame of wheat, which she liked for a few days then pasta w/ broth, then resorted to adding cheese...I was pulling at anythign just to get her to eat

Best of Luck

I am so sorry that it still hurts so much. We lost Ashley's two sisters six years ago, and the pain is still deep. As much as it hurts, I believe it's not a bad thing. It shows the depth of our love and how strong the bond is that we have with our babies. It's something we never lose. I think that's one of the things that helps me cope with the loss of Ashley three months ago. When your life revolves around loving and caring for your little one, it's difficult to figure out how to live your life without him/her.

[lisaly]

Originally Posted by BonBon

I went to Babies-R-Us and bought two different types of bedrails to try out. All of my pups sleep on the bed with me and I'm always terrified of one of them falling off. This terrific suggestion may be just what I need to help keep them all a little safer.

Alexander really, really scared me last night. I normally go home straight after work, but I needed to run several errands and it was late when I got home last night. I can't bear to think about it all now, so I'll spare the long, rambling story. After a couple of hours, I got Alexander calmed down and he actually snuggled in bed with me for a long time before we fell asleep. I'm not certain what happened with him, but I really think he was afraid of the dark! Every time I'd turn the lights off to go to bed he'd start crying and panting. So we wound up sleeping with the bedroom lights on last night. I'm hoping that this only happened because he was expecting momma to be home and I wasn't there. But if it keeps up, I'll just buy us a nitelight and see if that's enough comfort for him.

Thank you all for your continued prayers! I'm so anxious for tomorrow's appointment to get here, I don't know how I'll sleep tonight.

Bonny, the nights are usually more difficult, but Ashley started to sleep mostly peacefully once Anipryl started to help her. I truly hope tonight is better for you and that tomorrow offers hope and a way to help both you and Alexander.

[Lizzie07]

Originally Posted by 143julz

[/COLOR]

My late Julz became a very picky eater in her last 2 months.
(Ya'll I have to say it's the 2 yr mark since things started failing w/ Julz and today I sat here and read my very first few post on YT and cried like a baby. The pain is still so intense....)Sorry...

Where was I, Oh...I made Julz creame of wheat, which she liked for a few days then pasta w/ broth, then resorted to adding cheese...I was pulling at anythign just to get her to eat

Best of Luck

Your post brought tears to my eyes. It happens when I least expect it. Lot's of times I find myself thinking and missing some of my babies when I am driving and the tears start like crazy. I've lost two girls this year, one 17 and the other 16 and a senior cat I adopted from the shelter. When I first found out about the mass in Opal's abdomen, the mast cell tumor on her side and how bad her heart was, it was all I could do not to cry over Opal every time I looked at her. I didn't know if I could take losing another baby. I know I am blessed to have each one of them for whatever time, but it's so hard to lose them.

[beachdog]

[QUOTE=Ladymom;3273545]I have night lights all over the house for Lady. I wish I could install the lights like they have along the floor in movie theaters to guide her way! ]


How about the rope lighting they sell around the holidays?

[gemy]

Originally Posted by BonBon

I tried it last night once he stopped his frantic pacing and I really think it helped. Alexander started to calm down pretty quickly once I began. I'm not sure I was doing it exactly right, but Alexander sure seemed to like it. Thank you for that great tip!

Your most welcome

[Lizzie07]

[quote=beachdog;3274064]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

I have night lights all over the house for Lady. I wish I could install the lights like they have along the floor in movie theaters to guide her way! ]


How about the rope lighting they sell around the holidays?

Just don't talk about it, all your friends will be convinced you've gone around the bend.

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by 143julz

[/COLOR]

My late Julz became a very picky eater in her last 2 months.
(Ya'll I have to say it's the 2 yr mark since things started failing w/ Julz and today I sat here and read my very first few post on YT and cried like a baby. The pain is still so intense....)Sorry...

Where was I, Oh...I made Julz creame of wheat, which she liked for a few days then pasta w/ broth, then resorted to adding cheese...I was pulling at anythign just to get her to eat

Best of Luck

I'm so sorry. I understand exactly how you're feeling. I lost my Becca 2 years ago in May to a very aggressive cancer - she was almost 12. I still think about her every day, and while the pain is milder it's still there. I'm crying with you now over our girl's memories.

[BonBon]

We just got home from the vet, where Alexander was such a good boy.

The doctor was very supportive of putting Alexander on Anipryl. Yay!! He's had a lot of success with it and is really hopeful that it can help Alex, too. He also put Alex on a half pill of Rimadyl one or two times per day (the bottle said 25mg, but I'm not sure if that's for the whole pill or for Alex's 1/2 pill dose).

The bloodwork results won't be in until next week, but the doctor said Alex appears extremely healthy except for the arthritis and the confusion. He was impressed with Alex's coat, teeth and weight, and said his left eye looks in very good condition - he didn't think Alex should be having any problems seeing out of that eye. The right eye does have a large cataract though. Heart, lungs, etc. all sounded great he said. He repeated several times that Alexander appeared to be in excellent health.

I asked about vitamin B, denamarin (sp?) and the other things recommended throughout this thread, but the doctor wants to wait for the bloodwork before putting Alex on anything else. He said as good as Alex looks he really doesn't think Alex needs anything else at this time.

I'm so hopeful that these medicines will help Alexander. Thank you all so, so much for the wonderful advice, the strength you've given me to take Alexander in and ask some tough questions, and for all the prayers!!! It means more than I can ever say.

Hugs,
Bonny