My oldest Golden Retriever(Poppy) is 10.5years old and she has started having what we call 'episodes'. When out on our walks she wanders off in a'world of her own', I have to call and call to get her attention, but on the odd occasion not even then has this worked and she sets off in a trance almost,then something will snap her out of it. I was most concerned this morning and I have desided to buy an extendable lead to at least still give her the freedom but at least I am still attached to her! She isn't being naughty and it's not selective deafness, I know those tricks, she has also started having these 'episodes' indoors too, perhaps it's just old age, as she is the oldest dog I 've had perhaps some of you more experienced out there may enlighten me.
I look forward to your replies - thanks

In a word, yes. I had a mini poodle who was a couple of months short of his 16th birthday when he died. In the last 2 years of his life he became very senile, wandring off on his own if he was off lead, peeing everywhere (although, he had always done this to some extent), then in his last few months (over xmas) I only got about 2-3 hours sleep a night as all he would do was cry. I would put him outside incase he wanted to pee, put him to the water bowl incase he wanted a drink, but most of the time he didn't want to do either. We then had to have him put to sleep coz he started walking in circles and would have to be held while he went to the loo otherwise he would fall over. Sorry, this was 2 years ago and is still very upsetting to write about.

I would have a chat with your vet, as there is a great drug called "Vivitonin" which hellps the blood circulate better to all the vital organs (including the brain) and certainly gave my Terv a boost. She started to chew her Kong again at night whereas for a few months previlusly she just slept a lot more. I wonder if it could help your dog?

My 16 yo dog who I lost last christmas day became like this in his last year, he would just stand and stare into space, look at food as if he had no idea what it was. We got an extender lead for him as he just couldn't be trusted on walks and like yours would just wander ainlessly at times, but at others was fully alert.
As Lindsay say do check with the vet, unfortunatly this drug didn't help with Kerry but it can work wonders on most dogs. Ingrid

Hi

My elderly Lab, Mars who is just 14 shows all the same traits. We did the same and invested in an extendy lead. She did the same wandering off into the distance but some of that is accountable by her deafness and her cataracts!
To help to stimulate her mental awareness and also her mobility we bought a play ball that you can put treats in so they have to push the ball along and the treats will fall out. It has definately improved her awareness and has given her a new lease in life.(make sure you reduce the amount of food you giveto her when you feed her normally) We will also sit on the floor and play fetch with a toy. It is thrown just a few metres away but it is still stimulation which we have found invaluble.

Keep them occupied with things and hopefully you should see some inprovement !

Lucy

hi, yes they can is the answer. I had an alsation/Dobey and she was 13 when she died, and she would walk off with other people when we were out for a walk & it was hell trying to convince her, she did have to come home with us. I have a lurcher & a Dobermann now and I know what signs to look for as they grow older. It's not too worrying as long as your dog does not get out alone!!

It has been a few months since I put my concerns about Poppy on here and I thought I would update you. Poppy is fine and though she does have her moments when she is 'in a world on her own',she is just fine in every other way and she will be celebrating her 11th Birthday tomorrow. It has added to her character, and we just love her to bits and continue to enjoy her companionship.

Sweep :)

Great news about Poppy, I hope she had a lovely 11th Birthday :-)

hello ! Hills also do a brain diet (canine b/d) for senaility (s?) we are trialling it at work at the moment so i don't know much about it - seems to help ?? vivitonin is also really good

Our lab crossbreed became very vague in her last years. She was over 16 when she died. She declined gradually and it took one particular incident to make us realise that we needed to make some changes to ensure her safety. One day, on being called to have her lead put on, she went and sat obediently by the doggie poo bin in the park next to where I was standing and looked up at it lovingly. It took me some seconds to realise that she couldn't tell the diference between that and a person. Bless her she looked embarrassed when she realised her mistake. After that we still walked her off her lead in safe areas but made sure that we kept her close and that she didn't wander off. We realised that her hearing was going so made sure that she was never startled by someone coming up behind her. The children seemed to understand that she was an old lady and treated her with the respect she deserved: they were quiet when she wanted to sleep, they made sure that she knew they were approaching to give her a hug, they didn't rush her when they were out on a walk with her, they took care when riding bikes and scooters in the garden. Looking back these last years were every bit as precious to us as the puppy and young dog years and we feel that the girls learned a lot from the experience of sharing their lives with a "granny" dog. I hope they cut me some slack when I'm in my dotage.

Hugen...what a sweet write-up. I believe that with the breakup of extended families & communities, learning how to successfully cope with an elderly pet is a positive experience for us all. :) It teaches patience and tolerance, plus much much more.
toodles

Forgot to say that Poppy is now a Great Grandmother and she really does suit her newly acquired title :D

Sweep