Advice on Insomniac, possibly senile dog
Discussion
Morning all,
We have a 15 year old tibetan terrier b*tch, who has had health problems, for most of her life: mainly digestive (pancreatitis, gastro enteritis, etc, now under dietary control). Always been a food obsessive & unless we were 100% vigilant, would happily ransack the dishwasher, fridge, or any cupboard she could get into.
She's now almost completely blind (genetic, not operable) & generally manages very well: navigation, walks aren't a problem & she's still sociable. However, just this year, she has become very vocal for food, barking (a single, piercing yap every 10-30 seconds) especially at 05:00, but at other mealtimes too. (She has 4 small meals a day, to minimise the impact of gorging on her system). Her body clock is amazing, mind!
We also have a 2 year old cockerpoo dog & there's little competition for food. His integration has been generally good: he's pretty timid, so arguments about food bowls & who got the sofa first haven't been a big thing. He's playful, she's sometimes annoyed, but there's no serious issues.
Here's the issue. She never starts barking to be fed at 05:00 at my MiL's house. She stays over more than him, but if she, or both, stay overnight, the Tibetan doesn't move until at least 07:00. She is sometimes vocal before other meal times but we don't think, as persistent as at our place.
Also, she always heads upstairs to our bedroom at night, barks if the door is closed, but has never done this at my MiL's: she stays downstairs the whole night.
Why only at our place? Is there anything we can do to stop the dawn chorus? I'm reluctant to give her medication, because her historic health issues are largely under control. Pheromones? More exercise at night? Gin? (Kidding...any advice gratefully received)
Thanks CF.
We have a 15 year old tibetan terrier b*tch, who has had health problems, for most of her life: mainly digestive (pancreatitis, gastro enteritis, etc, now under dietary control). Always been a food obsessive & unless we were 100% vigilant, would happily ransack the dishwasher, fridge, or any cupboard she could get into.
She's now almost completely blind (genetic, not operable) & generally manages very well: navigation, walks aren't a problem & she's still sociable. However, just this year, she has become very vocal for food, barking (a single, piercing yap every 10-30 seconds) especially at 05:00, but at other mealtimes too. (She has 4 small meals a day, to minimise the impact of gorging on her system). Her body clock is amazing, mind!
We also have a 2 year old cockerpoo dog & there's little competition for food. His integration has been generally good: he's pretty timid, so arguments about food bowls & who got the sofa first haven't been a big thing. He's playful, she's sometimes annoyed, but there's no serious issues.
Here's the issue. She never starts barking to be fed at 05:00 at my MiL's house. She stays over more than him, but if she, or both, stay overnight, the Tibetan doesn't move until at least 07:00. She is sometimes vocal before other meal times but we don't think, as persistent as at our place.
Also, she always heads upstairs to our bedroom at night, barks if the door is closed, but has never done this at my MiL's: she stays downstairs the whole night.
Why only at our place? Is there anything we can do to stop the dawn chorus? I'm reluctant to give her medication, because her historic health issues are largely under control. Pheromones? More exercise at night? Gin? (Kidding...any advice gratefully received)
Thanks CF.
When I had an elderly senile dog, I gave him a supplement called Aktivait, which I purchased online from Viovet.
You don't need a prescription for it, but I had taken him to see my vet and confirmed that it would be okay to give him. I would suggest that you do the same in view of your dog's previous medical issues.
You could, as you suggest try a change of routine before bed (extra walk or meal) and/or DAP plug-in/collar.
There might also be an element of knowing who she can get away with certain behaviour with(!) My parents' dogs always 'push the boundaries' more with them than they do me
because they know they're a 'soft touch'.
First stop I think should probably be the vet for a general check over. Good luck, I hope you manage to find something to help.
You don't need a prescription for it, but I had taken him to see my vet and confirmed that it would be okay to give him. I would suggest that you do the same in view of your dog's previous medical issues.
You could, as you suggest try a change of routine before bed (extra walk or meal) and/or DAP plug-in/collar.
There might also be an element of knowing who she can get away with certain behaviour with(!) My parents' dogs always 'push the boundaries' more with them than they do me
because they know they're a 'soft touch'.First stop I think should probably be the vet for a general check over. Good luck, I hope you manage to find something to help.
thanks moorx. we made a little bit of progress over the weekend (after her bl**dy body clock stuck on BST & she woke to be fed at 4AM Sunday!!).
Read somewhere that ignoring the demands for food, making her sleep in a different room to us & adaptil in the room could work & it was ok. She got an extra late night walk in, too & woke at 06:00 this morning, which would be fine by us if it continued that way.
Thanks for the info on Aktivait - we'll keep it in mind. Chs, CF
Read somewhere that ignoring the demands for food, making her sleep in a different room to us & adaptil in the room could work & it was ok. She got an extra late night walk in, too & woke at 06:00 this morning, which would be fine by us if it continued that way.
Thanks for the info on Aktivait - we'll keep it in mind. Chs, CF
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