Old and Acting Strange
By devideddi
@devideddi (1435)
United States
June 4, 2011 9:38pm CST
My dog is getting up there in years and starting to act kinda crazy. He is about 16+ years old. He has the regular signs of getting old like sleeps more than ever and his hair is thinning, etc. But lately he will just stand there. I mean just stand there...in the middle of the room doing nothing. He also stands in the hallway facing out. He doesn't walk out of the hallway, just stands there facing out like he's fixin to walk out but never does. He fallows me everywhere more than before and if a door, any door in the house is closed he will stand there and bark at it till we open the door. I think he's loosing it...a little. I wonder if dogs go senile like people do?
8 responses
@GardenGerty (160642)
• United States
5 Jun 11
I would guess that he is losing his vision. He is not sure what it out there and he will not go. Yes, they become senile. The reason I think it might be impaired vision is because he wants to follow you so closely.
@devideddi (1435)
• United States
5 Jun 11
oh no...that could be it. I'll have to see if I can kinda test him in the morning.
@ptower76 (1616)
• United States
5 Jun 11
Dogs indeed get senile like people. God bless the dog. I had one pass away at 13 years old and she was already starting to change her behavior a bit. Dogs go blind, they lose their hearing, and they also lose their sense of smell. Your dog is probably trying to adjust and is a bit confused at what is happening to him.
@devideddi (1435)
• United States
5 Jun 11
thanks ptower76, I think you're right. Looks like I've got a trip to the vet coming up.
@rog0322 (2829)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
6 Jun 11
Hi devi,
One dog year is equivalent to seven human years. Just imagine its age in terms of human age. That's old and its acting like one.
Here in our place, dogs only enjoy human companionship until their third year. After that, its the streets or the life of lying around in the house as if they don't exist at all. That dog is more fortunate with an owner like you.
@devideddi (1435)
• United States
7 Jun 11
what happens after their third year? You don't mean people put them out or that people just want young puppy-like dogs do you? Or you are just saying thats how the dog acts...?
@changjiangzhibin89 (16760)
• China
5 Jun 11
It is said that the average life-span of dog is 20 or so.Your dog is 16+ years old ,that is to say,he has reached extreme old age.The strange act surely stems from his senility.
@devideddi (1435)
• United States
7 Jun 11
lol! Thank you so much, you are my hero today for making me laugh!
@devideddi (1435)
• United States
5 Jun 11
he does seem tired! and he moves a lot slower than he used to.
I take good care of him and give him lots tlc!
@Arkine (216)
• United States
5 Jun 11
They loose their vision, hearing and yes, I believe they can have memory loss as well. It's kind of a sad thing to watch, in people or animals. I have one that's about the same way. She's a larger dog but 14 1/2 years old. She's starting to loose control of body functions and she wanders around like she's lost sometimes. Her vision is bad and mostly she goes off of smell, which is why I believe she doesn't like being very far away from any of the family.
But she still gets playful occasionally, and she doesn't seem to be hurting too much although she does have a touch of arthritis in her hips and knees. For now we just let her be.
You might consider having his eyes and hearing checked, it will probably answer some of the questions about his strange behavior.
@devideddi (1435)
• United States
5 Jun 11
yep, that sounds about right. I feel for you and your dog, I guess for both of us. This dog of mine had sister/wife (lol) that we lost two years ago Christmas and it was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my life. I still can't go there in my mind cause its too hard...
So anyway, Im sure these guys have plenty time left. I'm gonna check him out a little and see if I can tell anything.
Thanks!
@rhannealmoite (338)
• Philippines
5 Jun 11
I think you should bring him to a veterinarian to check his condition. That is the best way to know what is happening to him and how you can help him.
