Sky

[MellowYellow]

I love the oldies... they are so precious. xxx

 

[Selina27]

Dear Sky

 

[Atemas]

I haven’t posted about Sky for a little while. I worry about her a lot. There is definitely something neurological going on with her. She does a starange nodding thing which is increasing. Bless her, she seems to so want to go on the walks with DH and Red but her legs are too stiff so she can’t. Instead, I take her out each evening. We don’t go far and she does a lot of sniffing instead of walking. She has a poo and wee, then we saunter back home. What is weird though, is that by the time I have then taken Red for her quick trot around the village, I sit down and this is starting to happen. She comes up to me and stares. I ask her what she wants - I say ‘do you want to go outside?’ As there is nothing else she needs (she has been fed). She prances meaning yes, so I take her out into the garden. She stands there as if to say ‘why am I out here?’ It’s as if she has forgotten that she has already done all the outside stuff. We go back in and she lies on the carpet but she is sitting staring at us - oftenfor the whole evening - she used to just dose in her bed. She is rarely in her bed during the day or evening - she is more comfortable just sitting/lying on the carpet. When we have visitors now, she doesn’t come to greet them - even all the grandchildren who she has known since they were tiny babies. This old age stuff sucks

 

[Cath]

Poor Sky

 

[Boogie]

 

[Charlie]

I'm sorry Alison, old age really does suck especially as our dogs don't know what's happening. If she's eating, still going to the loo, still going for little ambles I don't know what else you can do. As long as she's not in any physical pain it must be the ageing process If you feel worried a visit to the vet might put your mind at rest. xxx

 

[jazzmynn]

 

[Anne123]

 

[kateincornwall]

So sorry to read this , poor old lass . I believe that dogs ( and cats ) can suffer from a type of dementia in old age , where they become vague and often forget what they are doing . If she is otherwise happy , I would just let her keep on doing as much or as little as she wants to do , seeing a decline is horrible I know, hugs xxx

 

[SwampDonkey]

Check her hearing and eyesight too. I loved my oldies like you do Sky. Time does creep on but she'd having a good life likes being with you. Dementia can cause them to want to be with you more but so can hearing loss and fading vision

 

[snowbunny]

Oh bless her and you, it must be so hard. Is there any way of her going in some sort of push chair so she can occasionally join Red and your husband?
What is she like if you give her a frozen Kong or something in the evening? The licking and chewing might soothe her and help her fall into a snooze? Or if you get down on the floor with her for cuddles?

 

[Selina27]

 

[Atemas]

give her a frozen Kong or something in the evening

Yes she always has one after we have eaten

if you get down on the floor with her for cuddles

DH has just been having cuddle time with her on the floor and she is now snoozing - think we will have to do more of this

she's not in any physical pain

She is with her arthritis I know but the Rheumocam takes the edge off.

suffer from a type of dementia in old age

I hate to think this is what she has but I think it must be

Thanks for all your comments everyone. I just feel kind of sad today about her - love her so much.

 

[Atemas]

Check her hearing and eyesight too

I will get this checked out

 

[SwampDonkey]

You can check her hearing yourself. It's just distraction testing children. You engage you dog from the front and some one else makes a gentle noise behind her if she reacts she's hearing if not she's got some hearing loss. Your trying to engage a startle reflex.

 

[Granca]

There’s no harm at all in just getting her checked out but otherwise, as @kateincornwall says, just let her do whatever she wants to do.

It’s difficult watching them grow old, but sadly it’s inevitable - and one of the reasons why I’ve sometimes thought I’ll never have another dog because it can be so difficult to cope with, but as yet that hasn’t happened...

 

[SwampDonkey]

I just felt proud and lucky. Proud because I got them through puppyhood and health worries and they got to enjoy a active old age. Lucky because they did get to be old happy dogs. Unfortunately we know what's to come they just concentrate on beings dogs.

 

[Stacia]

Have you taken Red to the vet? There is a tablet which can help old dogs.

 

[snowbunny]

DH has just been having cuddle time with her on the floor and she is now snoozing - think we will have to do more of this

I think she will love that

 

[Joy]

I'm sorry to hear about Sky. Do you think when she's staring at you that she's looking for some sort of interaction / entertainment? Perhaps now she can no longer walk far she'd still like to do something easy with you - like pick up a toy and put it in a box, nose touch objects etc.