Older Dog: Behavior Changes

[DesertChildAZ]

My boyfriend and I are starting to see some worrying behavior changes in Tahoe, our older yorkie. Tahoe was born in 1993 - making him 14, almost 15 years old. He is, without a doubt, the most laid back, quiet, gentle dog either of us has ever met. As he gets older, I can see that his cataracts are getting worse. I suspect he may have hearing issues which I can't quite understand. If we call him, he seems to look in a direction other than where we are calling him from. Other times he seems to not hear us but, at the same time, will flinch when he hears a loud noise like a door shutting or if I clap my hands. (Why can he hear those things but not my voice?)

Lately we have been having trouble getting rawhides away from him. He shows his teeth with the rawhide in his mouth and growls ferociously and will not let it go. Its scary, particularly because this is not his personality. It's like he's possessed. (He has only recently been receiving rawhides...since Jason moved in with his basset hound, Zac. Tahoe hasn't had bones or the like for years...since I took him off Greenies after his obstruction.) I would surmise that the rawhides are the problem and just take them away permanently from him (which is what we plan to do) but he has been recently behaving the same way when we try to take him off the bed or couch to put him on the floor to go outside...or if we pick him up. This morning, after I left for work, Jason laid down with him on the bed, massaged him, he rolled over to have his belly rubbed, which Jason rubbed for 5- 10 minutes, Jason rolled him back over. Tahoe proceeded to give Jason kisses and licked his hand which is something he does only with those he loves. Tahoe stood up on the bed (a sign he wants to get down). Jason went to pick him up and Tahoe snapped at him and although he didn't break the skin, it was the first incident of him actually trying to bite someone and not merely using his growl. I could understand if Jason had startled him or if he couldn't identify Jason because he is going blind, but Jason had just been petting him for 5 minutes! He knew it was Jason.

Can anyone explain what is going on and how we can alleviate whatever it is that is causing Tahoe to become so agitated?

It's important to note that Tahoe has gone through some big changes in the last year. He went from being the only dog (with two cats) to being one of 2 dogs (one of which is a very high spirited 1 year old yorkie, Johnny Cash). Then Jason moved in two months ago with his 5 year old basset, Zac. Zac has a tendency to ignore Tahoe (which seems to suit Tahoe fine except when Zac is barreling down the hallway with Tahoe standing in his way). Zac did run over TAhoe like a mac truck about a month ago. We have been keeping them apart during the day when we're at work and Zac has been learning the term "walk!" pretty well so we haven't had any more incidents like that.

Tahoe also suffers from arthritis and has stiff hind legs. He can't jump on or off the couch/bed, which is why we put him up and take him down.

I cannot stress enough that he is a VERY timid, adoring and emotional dog. Everyone loves him. His love is profound. I adopted him at 10 years old and other than this he is as close to "perfect" as anyone can ever hope for or want.

Again, any advice would be appreciated.
~ Kelly

[Ellie May]

As for the hearing, I would wonder if it is different pitches or tones he is having trouble hearing. Have you tried talking in a high, squeaky voice or a really low and deep voice to see if there is a difference?

Sadly, my guess with the agitation is that his mental functionng is slowing down and you might even say senile. If it is not that, I would think something is up maybe in his brain?

[katelin]

We had a lovely little yorkie named Kizzie (short for Kizmet) who lived to 15 years. The last three years of her life we had 2 other Yorkies in the house and although they seemed to ignore her, she really didn't like it.

She began losing her hearing/eyesight and developed kidney failure. But she also got dementia, just like people do. She was confused and got lost in our house sometimes. She snapped(but didn't bite) at anyone who tried to pick her up, until she recognized them.

She was my devoted companion for 12 years. All we could do was love her and try to make life easier for her. And then we had to let her go.

I wish you the very best with your little guy.

[DesertChildAZ]

Now that you mention it, he did seem to get "lost" in the house yesterday. Jason said he called the boys as usual by yelling "outside"...the other two ran to the back door (on one end of the house) and Tahoe ran back to my bedroom (the complete other side of the house)...so Jason stood in the hall calling Tahoe to go outside and Tahoe seemed to keep running from the hall to the bedroom..totally confused.

[grayxie]

My sister's yorkie is 15 y/o, and going through all the normal signs of aging (cataracts, hearing loss, arthritis, etc.). He's quite grabby when it comes to food, I think its because he can't see it and I have to put it literally up to his teeth. One time he even took the skin off my finger when snatching a treat, I know he doesn't mean to though. As for his disposition he's allways been somewhat cranky, but it seems to have gotten worse especially in regards to children.

[SophieRose]

Oh, Kelly, he is old. Sophie was 13 and she began to act strange. Afraid to be outside in the dark to go potty, would stand still and believe she saw the wind moving the trees, and frightened her. When she was about 11, I noticed a dramatic change in her. She always slept with me, but if I made a movement in the night, she would be startled and snap at my hand.

Just old age unfortunately, and she was very ill. It is very hard to see them change, and wonder what is wrong. Her hips ached, so I would massage them. She just slowed down and if you realize the human - dog years, Tahoe is in his sunset years.

Bless you and have lots of patience with him. I wish I could go back, and understand what was happening to her. Charlie is my rescue male, and he is 11 yo. His hips bother him, and he is scared of quick movements.

Warmly, Deborah

[SophieRose]

I also wanted to add that any changes when they are older is extremely difficult for them. I also moved to a new apartment when she was 12 (she had lived in the same apartment with backyard for 12 years), and it was very hard for her. Since she would jump off the bed due to a noise, and I was worried about her legs, she began to sleep in a crate when she was 11.

Tahoe sounds confused, doesn't he? I had a 3 yo. foster Peke for two weeks recuperating from surgery stay with us, and Charlie was so unhappy during that time. He justed wanted his quiet existence back, his own bed and Momma.

Perhaps Tahoe needs place quieter place in your home to call his own.

[katelin]

I just wanted to add that our vet said she has noticed that a majority of dogs start really aging around 12 years old (little dogs). In her experience that is when they start to lose their eyesight/hearing and have other problems that just increase until they cross over. I found that somewhat comforting, because now i can be on the lookout for changes and won't be alarmed if they do start to occur. Of course, we all hope our Yorkies will live forever in perfect health!

[DesertChildAZ]

It's really amazing to me though how one day he can be like that (cranky old man) and then late yesterday and today, he's running around like he's an 8 year old...looking me right in the face...like he can see me perfectly clear. So odd.

I did discuss this with his vet yesterday and he believes that it's just time to start making sure he's as comfortable as he can be and so he is putting Tahoe on another round of anti-inflammatories. ShadowsMom made Tahoe a wonderful snugglebuddy which he LOVES and that is obviously very comfortable for him. No more rawhides, but we are easing up on his food restrictions and giving him some of the things he does like more that don't fit his strict I/D food diet...such as chicken breast and little pieces of the other dogs' Mealbones.

I got a bit weepy thinking about all this on the commute home from work. God has given me so many days with Tahoe, more than I ever even expected and I'm so grateful for every day more (I pray to God every night for "one more day") but I can't even imagine what an absolute wreck I will be when the time come for God to take him Home.

[Sandysbabies]

Its hard to see them aging and slowing down. When Max (mini schnauzer) went deaf with diabetes we would clap to get his attention. He did strange things too like, go to the gate and bark for seem like hrs. We thought he was getting dementia too. Bless his little heart, it was hard. Their eyes get disclored and really all you can do is just love and have patience with them. The only time he tried to nip was when we started to help him up on the couch one nite and he probably was having pancreatis then and we did not realize it and did not know how painful it is to them. All I can say is just enjoy what time you have left. I miss him so much and it will be a yr. this Mother's DAy we lost him. It still hurts like it was yesterday.

[katelin]

When Kizzie started having kidney failure, we just put her in newborn pampers. She was just as happy -- although she wasn't thrilled about the little wash-ups she had to have. It made it so easy for all of us. We never had to worry about whether she found the dog door or got lost outside, etc.

It is so hard to lose our little friends. I hope you have many more days together.

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by DesertChildAZ

It's really amazing to me though how one day he can be like that (cranky old man) and then late yesterday and today, he's running around like he's an 8 year old...looking me right in the face...like he can see me perfectly clear. So odd.

I did discuss this with his vet yesterday and he believes that it's just time to start making sure he's as comfortable as he can be and so he is putting Tahoe on another round of anti-inflammatories. ShadowsMom made Tahoe a wonderful snugglebuddy which he LOVES and that is obviously very comfortable for him. No more rawhides, but we are easing up on his food restrictions and giving him some of the things he does like more that don't fit his strict I/D food diet...such as chicken breast and little pieces of the other dogs' Mealbones.

I got a bit weepy thinking about all this on the commute home from work. God has given me so many days with Tahoe, more than I ever even expected and I'm so grateful for every day more (I pray to God every night for "one more day") but I can't even imagine what an absolute wreck I will be when the time come for God to take him Home.

You're not the only one getting weepy. Your posts are filled with love, and your level of concern for Tahoe is inspiring. I have a 12-year-old, and I know I will be going through the same things you are soon enough. Thanks for the thread, and thanks to all who replied. It has been educational.