Common behavioral problems in senior/geriatric dogs and cats
As your partner gets older, you really start to get to know each other. Your relationship is easy and everything is obvious.
Unfortunately, this doesn't last forever. As the years go by, your dog or cat may seem to regress to puppy or kitten behavior. They don't test your limits, and don't need to be potty-trained again: they're affected by loss of mobility, sometimes visual or auditory acuity, or memory loss.
What signs may indicate an underlying disease?
- Your pet relieves itself indoors
In most cases, it's not a matter of a learning deficit: many age-related pathologies can lead to uncleanliness. Diabetes mellitus, kidney failure or Cushing's disease all lead to increased drinking: your companion drinks more, and therefore needs to urinate more often, sometimes with difficulty holding it in.
If your dog suffers from osteoarthritis, he/she may have difficulty getting into position to defecate, and may therefore hold back to the point of craving once inside. You should also consider the height of the litter tray's edges, which can become too high if your cat has locomotor difficulties.
Your pet may also suffer from cognitive impairment, a kind of dementia, which can make him forget where to relieve himself.
2. Your pet vocalizes excessively (barking / meowing)
As we age, it's very common for our companions to give more voice. This may be due to increased anxiety, pain or loss of bearings, but it can also occur without any obvious cause.
They bark or meow at night, without trying to provoke you. What's more, the sounds they make can be completely new.
Cats sometimes make long, plaintive meows, which can give the impression that they're in pain. In some cases, a link is made with a thyroid problem.
3. Your pet isolates itself
Animals often isolate themselves when they are in pain. Human contact can sometimes provoke or rekindle pain, especially when they try to run away from it.
Anxiety, which increases with age, drives animals to seek a quiet place, far from the hustle and bustle of the home.
Lastly, some senior dogs and cats may suffer from cognitive impairment (a kind of dementia), with a loss of bearings and sometimes difficulty recognizing their carers.
4. Your pet ignores you or gets lost
We often joke about the "selective hearing" of our geriatric companions, who choose whether or not to hear our requests. If your pet no longer responds to its own name or to familiar, positive words ("candy", "go for a walk"...) it's likely that it's suffering from genuine hearing loss.
At the same time, age modifies the crystalline lens (the lens of the eye), leading to a simple reduction in visual acuity in normal aging (sclerosis of the crystalline lens) through to blindness (loss of vision) in cataracts. Your companion may sometimes seem lost and disoriented, even in his or her own environment (standing looking at the wall, getting stuck under furniture, etc.).
5. Your pet can't stand being alone
On the other hand, some elderly dogs and cats are prone to separation anxiety, which can become a real burden when it worsens. A constant need to be petted, to feel your presence. They may bark/meow relentlessly when left to their own devices.
6. Your once gentle pet becomes aggressive
Pain, anxiety, loss of sight and hearing can lead to irritation in your companion, who may feel aggressed and react in an impromptu manner. He hasn't become vicious, but is simply trying to protect himself from agitation or avoid suffering caused by human contact.
Don't punish your pet in these cases, just leave him alone and check with your vet to see if any in-home treatments/adjustments can improve his condition.
7. Your pet displays new "stereotyped" behaviours
This can range from wandering around aimlessly, especially at night, to staring at a wall for a long time. Your companion may also start chewing his paw pads or licking his paws.
These changes in habit can be very destabilizing for owners, a source of anxiety, worry and even annoyance. A better understanding of their origins can make it easier to accept them sympathetically.
Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss any problems you may be experiencing with your senior companion.
