|
Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member! Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us. |
|
| LinkBack | Thread Tools |
11-10-2014, 01:24 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker | Help for our 14 year old Yorkie Up until very recently Sammie has been a very happy and healthy little guy. About 2 months ago, just as he was turning 14 years of age, we moved to a different house. During this time he seems to be going downhill fast. He's experiencing pee accidents, which never happened before, lots of pacing around, licking his lips constantly. His eating and drinking seem stable, he sleeps well. But he appears to be confused part of the time, doesn't respond to familiar commands, and in general seems somewhat anxious. Our veterinarian attributes these changes to dementia, and last week prescribed Anipryl, Melactin, and the Hill Diet. So far we see no improvement, only continuing deterioration. Does it take some time for these meds to start to work? It feels like our little boy is slipping away from us a little more each day, and we are very concerned about him. We know his age is against him, but we're hoping something will kick in to give him a little more time with us If any of you have had experience with this, please share with us. Thank you, Sammies Dad |
Welcome Guest! | |
11-10-2014, 01:37 PM | #2 |
♥Love My Puppies!♥ Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: US
Posts: 5,786
| I wonder if he is having trouble with his eyesight and is confused in your new house?
__________________ RIP My Sweet Darling Angel Daisy 08/09/03 - 10/02/15, RIP My Sweet Baby Boy Teddy Bear 02/01/04 - 02/11/16 Photos HERE |
11-10-2014, 01:47 PM | #3 |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL
Posts: 12,235
| Does he walk close to the wall and sometimes get himself into a corner then is unable to find his way out? It's so hard to watch the confusion what sometimes happens when they get older. Be sure to keep an eye on him if you put him on the bed or furniture. They also seem to lose depth perception with doggie dementia. I'm so sorry
__________________ “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain |
11-10-2014, 02:50 PM | #4 |
Yorkie Talker | Help for our 14 year old Yorkie Yes, he does have some vision problems, but not serious enough to account for the confusion. In fact, he mapped out the new house quite well. And no, he doesn't walk close to the wall as yet. The vision issues show up mostly after dark or in a poorly lit room. He's always been a strongly "routine" oriented little guy, and we're working hard to keep those intact wherever we can. Fortunately he still is his usual perky self, which tells us that he isn't experiencing discomfort. But we see changes happening rapidly. Thank you for your thoughts. We love this little precious spirit so much. Sammies Dad |
11-10-2014, 03:20 PM | #5 | |
Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas
Posts: 9,462
| Quote:
Please be very careful with this symptom, the depth perception....even with very little change in his poor eyesight, he may not be able to "process" depth perception very well with dementia, and he will walk off a couch or chair or bed more easily....I am so sorry for you going through this....this is so hard to watch as they age and start to loose senses. As this progresses, you may want to start to limit the area he has available to him.....it will break your heart to see him get into a corner and can not figure out how to get out...... | |
11-10-2014, 04:14 PM | #6 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA
Posts: 4,285
| Could it be more anxiety from the change than dementia? Sometimes treating anxiety helps.
__________________ . Cali , and Cali's keeper and staff, Jay No, not a "mini" Yorkie - She loves to motor in her Mini Cooper car |
11-10-2014, 05:24 PM | #7 |
T. Bumpkins & Co. Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New England
Posts: 9,816
| I'm not a vet but I'm not convinced that this is dementia. Any 14 yo dog mapping out a new home, sleeping well, eating and drinking fine and not getting stuck in corners sounds just fine! I am suspect of the pee accidents and would insist that someone culture the urine. If it is clear, I would run a urine protein creatinine ratio because a 14 yo probably is having some normal age related kidney issues. I would get a second opinion from a fresh set of eyes. Speaking of eyes, many older dogs have trouble seeing at night. This could be nuclear sclerosis which is that hazy look we seen in older dogs. It's classic for worse night vision or dim lighting. It's not cataracts and they don't treat them unless it's very severe. I have two 14 yo Yorkies and I've seen infections cause very bizarre things, as well as medications cause problems. I think a thorough investigation is in order and I would start as I said with bladder and/or kidneys.
__________________ Washable Doggie Pee Pads (Save 10% Enter YTSAVE10 at checkout) Cathy, Teddy, Winston and Baby Clyde...RIP angels Barney and Daisy Last edited by 107barney; 11-10-2014 at 05:26 PM. |
11-10-2014, 05:39 PM | #8 | |
Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL
Posts: 12,235
| Quote:
__________________ “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain | |
11-10-2014, 06:17 PM | #9 |
♥Love My Puppies!♥ Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: US
Posts: 5,786
| Daisy was having similar things going on. Blood test showed elevated liver enzymes and the vet said that could produce these symptoms. After taking some med for her liver and getting back to near normal readings, and taking some pain med for arthritis, she is acting normal again. Like you, I was worried that it was dementia, but it seems it was due to elevated liver enzymes, arthritis pain and some vision loss. She is acting normal again now, but she is a bit nervous getting around the house at night. I leave some lights on at night because she likes to move around at night. I keep a flashlight by the bed so she can see coming up her doggie stairs and jumping down.
__________________ RIP My Sweet Darling Angel Daisy 08/09/03 - 10/02/15, RIP My Sweet Baby Boy Teddy Bear 02/01/04 - 02/11/16 Photos HERE |
11-11-2014, 01:21 AM | #10 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: TX USA
Posts: 234
| I'm also going to recommend a work up by your vet. I work in a human ER and you'd be surprised at just how altered geriatric humans can get with urinary tract infections. Poor things get so confused. |
11-11-2014, 07:24 AM | #11 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Posts: 146
| My little 15 yr old Yorkie had kidney disease, she started peeing often and everywhere. Prayers for your Sammie. |
11-11-2014, 08:35 AM | #12 |
YT 500 Club Member | That is what happened to my 16 year old Shih tzu. He lost interested in going for walks. he stated peeing all over the house Then he started to get confused. He had doggie dementia. I know my vet told me there was a drug that helped with dementia but I never put him on it whereas he was 16, blind and deaf and afraid of everything at that point and we ended up putting him to sleep. Talk to your vet about the pill. |
11-11-2014, 05:20 PM | #13 |
Yorkie Talker | We've had all of the tests with no indication of any adverse medical condition. We've also had a 2nd opinion. As of now it appears Sammie is in the earlier stages of dementia. We have high hopes for improvement with the Anipryl. Thank you for your response. |
11-11-2014, 08:13 PM | #14 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: TX USA
Posts: 234
| I wish you all the best. It's so hard watching a much loved family member start to fail. |
11-19-2014, 11:12 PM | #15 | |
YT Addict | Quote:
| |
Bookmarks |
|
|
| |
|
|
SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart