old girl with cataracts and skin issues

[leeseya]

Hi there..
I'm new to the forums but have had my tea cup yorkie for 10 years.. she's an old girl but i adore her..

over the last year an 1/2 my girl has gone blind (cataracts) and while I know she can have surgery she does not do well under anesthia..we almost lost her when she was younger while getting fixed.

anyways.. while she gets around well, eats ...her skin is always an issue.. we've medicated, i bath her, groom her, everything.. she's not got a patch of hair missing on her back.. there is also missing teeth again because we can not put her under to have that handled.

the last 2 nights she is up all night pacing, whining, barking to get my attention.. it fries me as I have to work in the am.. but I don't know what to do.. she just whines to get on the bed, whines a few mins later to get down and then paces and barks at me.. then wants back up and the process starts all over again.. last night she final settled in about 3am till about7.. and it started again..

does anyone have any advice, or clues as to why this might be happening?

any and all advice would be helpful...

thank you
me and Miss D

[Wylie's Mom]

Hi and welcome to YT .

I'd get this girl to the vet asap as she could possibly be in a LOT of pain here, especially with a tooth issue. Teeth issues can be excruciating - so if there is an issue, you absolutely must find a way to address it ASAP. It can't be ignored.

All skin issues are secondary to either allergies or some other disease state. What do you mean, exactly, by saying she has "skin issues" - please describe...? If she is starting to lose actual hair, then she should have her thyroid checked and Cushings should be ruled out.

Senior dogs can also pace/whine bc of age related confusion and dementia. In that case, meds can be helpful.

[leeseya]

We've had her thyroid checked and everything.. they think its a flea allergy.. but she's lost such a patch of hair.. its so bad.

she is pacing.. suddenly at 3am wants to go outside.. (she never wants to be out there) and i am thinking there is a level of dementia here..

i'm so afraid of them telling me they need to put her down .. she's my baby but I know the time will come.

thank you for responding

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Hi and welcome to YT .

I'd get this girl to the vet asap as she could possibly be in a LOT of pain here, especially with a tooth issue. Teeth issues can be excruciating - so if there is an issue, you absolutely must find a way to address it ASAP. It can't be ignored.

All skin issues are secondary to either allergies or some other disease state. What do you mean, exactly, by saying she has "skin issues" - please describe...? If she is starting to lose actual hair, then she should have her thyroid checked and Cushings should be ruled out.

Senior dogs can also pace/whine bc of age related confusion and dementia. In that case, meds can be helpful.

[buddybear]

I hope you get answers really soon! It sounds like she is in pain or discomfort of some sort. Wishing you and her the best.

[dottiesyrky]

Poor baby, she does have a lot of issues to endure, teeth, allergies and cataracts.
The pacing and unrest could be due to any of her issues and I hope your vet can help her.
Certainly not being able to go under the anesthetic does limit what you can do.
Is there no other kind of anesthetic or sedation protocol that your baby could endure?
One thing I was wondering. Have her eye pressures been monitored as glaucoma can be very painful? If she has bad cataracts she is prone to glaucoma and may need eye drops to ease it if she does have it.
I pray that you can get some help for her as it would be so sad to have her put to sleep.
Please let us know how she is doing and if the vet can do anything to help her.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by leeseya

We've had her thyroid checked and everything.. they think its a flea allergy.. but she's lost such a patch of hair.. its so bad.

she is pacing.. suddenly at 3am wants to go outside.. (she never wants to be out there) and i am thinking there is a level of dementia here..

i'm so afraid of them telling me they need to put her down .. she's my baby but I know the time will come.

thank you for responding

I'm so sorry you're having to worry about this and her age ...it's so hard!

Since there is a chance she could be in bad pain...I'd still get her in asap as you wouldn't want your girl in pain. As far as dementia, most def ask your vet about using Anipryl - we've seen little miracles here using that med for senior doggies - it may bring your girl back to you for a good amount of time yet !