Older Dog - No longer lasting through the night
Discussion
Our collie greyhound cross lurcher has just turned 12, and for the past few months has woken us up early in the morning, barking outside the bedroom door, and is typically keen to go out and will then go for a wee pretty much straight away.
Spoke to the vet, as I was in for his annual vaccinations, and she wasn't overly concerned, nor recommended anything other than managing it. Which is likely fair enough.
At which point I am sense checking that with the knowledge on here, but also interested in practical suggestions for managing it as currently we are being woken up prematurely most nights, might be 7am just half hour before my alarm, but also might well be 5am.
With a 10 month old child we are also often going to bed a bit earlier, but I aim to let the dogs out last thing after the night time routines, so its often 9.30-10ish as it was previously.
- Often he will have a big drink from the plant pots when let out last thing, which is clearly not going to help. He prefers drinking water outside to out of the bowls left for him and our other younger dog, but he does also get let out at other times in the evening include usually when I get home at around 6pm. Maybe we should make sure he goes out before this.
- The dogs are fed on a mixture of dry kibble and wet tinned food (Sainsburys own brand for both), typically either just before or just after we eat. Between 6.30 - 8.30 , maybe we should be more consistent with this, to ensure they eat, then go out a bit after than then get a final let out.
- We could try using rain water in his water bowl throughout the day?
Have thought about a dog-flap in the back door, but we have foxes which they like to go out and bark at, and would need to be able to keep them out of the house too etc.
There is also I think an element now that he has learnt that if he barks, we come and let him out. Sometimes recently rather than making a bee line for the door, he has stood in landing for a fuss, or done his little 'play with me' and or 'feed me' dance in the living room. I tried to avoid giving fuss on this let out and never fed them. But instead give them the usual fuss when I get up again and hour or so later.
Basically, any thoughts or suggestions welcome.
Spoke to the vet, as I was in for his annual vaccinations, and she wasn't overly concerned, nor recommended anything other than managing it. Which is likely fair enough.
At which point I am sense checking that with the knowledge on here, but also interested in practical suggestions for managing it as currently we are being woken up prematurely most nights, might be 7am just half hour before my alarm, but also might well be 5am.
With a 10 month old child we are also often going to bed a bit earlier, but I aim to let the dogs out last thing after the night time routines, so its often 9.30-10ish as it was previously.
- Often he will have a big drink from the plant pots when let out last thing, which is clearly not going to help. He prefers drinking water outside to out of the bowls left for him and our other younger dog, but he does also get let out at other times in the evening include usually when I get home at around 6pm. Maybe we should make sure he goes out before this.
- The dogs are fed on a mixture of dry kibble and wet tinned food (Sainsburys own brand for both), typically either just before or just after we eat. Between 6.30 - 8.30 , maybe we should be more consistent with this, to ensure they eat, then go out a bit after than then get a final let out.
- We could try using rain water in his water bowl throughout the day?
Have thought about a dog-flap in the back door, but we have foxes which they like to go out and bark at, and would need to be able to keep them out of the house too etc.
There is also I think an element now that he has learnt that if he barks, we come and let him out. Sometimes recently rather than making a bee line for the door, he has stood in landing for a fuss, or done his little 'play with me' and or 'feed me' dance in the living room. I tried to avoid giving fuss on this let out and never fed them. But instead give them the usual fuss when I get up again and hour or so later.
Basically, any thoughts or suggestions welcome.
Could you try taking him for an short 15-20 min evening walk? Avoids drinking the plant pot water and perhaps will give him some more opportunity to fully empty his bladder?
Interesting post though, I have a female 18mth old retriever and she will go from 4pm to say 8am without toileting or making any noises to toilet. I live rural and with dark nights we don't do an evening walk anymore.
Interesting post though, I have a female 18mth old retriever and she will go from 4pm to say 8am without toileting or making any noises to toilet. I live rural and with dark nights we don't do an evening walk anymore.
dhutch said:
Our collie greyhound cross lurcher has just turned 12, and for the past few months has woken us up early in the morning, barking outside the bedroom door, and is typically keen to go out and will then go for a wee pretty much straight away.
Spoke to the vet, as I was in for his annual vaccinations, and she wasn't overly concerned, nor recommended anything other than managing it. Which is likely fair enough.
At which point I am sense checking that with the knowledge on here, but also interested in practical suggestions for managing it as currently we are being woken up prematurely most nights, might be 7am just half hour before my alarm, but also might well be 5am.
With a 10 month old child we are also often going to bed a bit earlier, but I aim to let the dogs out last thing after the night time routines, so its often 9.30-10ish as it was previously.
- Often he will have a big drink from the plant pots when let out last thing, which is clearly not going to help. He prefers drinking water outside to out of the bowls left for him and our other younger dog, but he does also get let out at other times in the evening include usually when I get home at around 6pm. Maybe we should make sure he goes out before this.
- The dogs are fed on a mixture of dry kibble and wet tinned food (Sainsburys own brand for both), typically either just before or just after we eat. Between 6.30 - 8.30 , maybe we should be more consistent with this, to ensure they eat, then go out a bit after than then get a final let out.
- We could try using rain water in his water bowl throughout the day?
Have thought about a dog-flap in the back door, but we have foxes which they like to go out and bark at, and would need to be able to keep them out of the house too etc.
There is also I think an element now that he has learnt that if he barks, we come and let him out. Sometimes recently rather than making a bee line for the door, he has stood in landing for a fuss, or done his little 'play with me' and or 'feed me' dance in the living room. I tried to avoid giving fuss on this let out and never fed them. But instead give them the usual fuss when I get up again and hour or so later.
Basically, any thoughts or suggestions welcome.
We have a dog flap, still ended up getting up every night with my old dog, in the end I was also having to carry her up and down stairs.Spoke to the vet, as I was in for his annual vaccinations, and she wasn't overly concerned, nor recommended anything other than managing it. Which is likely fair enough.
At which point I am sense checking that with the knowledge on here, but also interested in practical suggestions for managing it as currently we are being woken up prematurely most nights, might be 7am just half hour before my alarm, but also might well be 5am.
With a 10 month old child we are also often going to bed a bit earlier, but I aim to let the dogs out last thing after the night time routines, so its often 9.30-10ish as it was previously.
- Often he will have a big drink from the plant pots when let out last thing, which is clearly not going to help. He prefers drinking water outside to out of the bowls left for him and our other younger dog, but he does also get let out at other times in the evening include usually when I get home at around 6pm. Maybe we should make sure he goes out before this.
- The dogs are fed on a mixture of dry kibble and wet tinned food (Sainsburys own brand for both), typically either just before or just after we eat. Between 6.30 - 8.30 , maybe we should be more consistent with this, to ensure they eat, then go out a bit after than then get a final let out.
- We could try using rain water in his water bowl throughout the day?
Have thought about a dog-flap in the back door, but we have foxes which they like to go out and bark at, and would need to be able to keep them out of the house too etc.
There is also I think an element now that he has learnt that if he barks, we come and let him out. Sometimes recently rather than making a bee line for the door, he has stood in landing for a fuss, or done his little 'play with me' and or 'feed me' dance in the living room. I tried to avoid giving fuss on this let out and never fed them. But instead give them the usual fuss when I get up again and hour or so later.
Basically, any thoughts or suggestions welcome.
It's one of the things you do when you get an old dog. It's not fair to not deal with them, if they need a wee, they need a wee, like old people their bladder control gets poorer.
I have a 16yo collie and we are going through this - his kidneys are on the way out. The vet prescribed some tablets, and it cured it. We spoke to the vet about the cost of the tablets and moved to milk thistle powder on his food which also works.
Sadly, he is deteriorating in other areas and I know this is the thin end of the wedge.
Our younger dogs sleep from midnight to 0900-1000 without issue. I have a well practiced routine of ignoring the dogs on my way out the house at 0730 and they raise their heads and go back to sleep. When they stay with our friends, also with dogs, they are all up and raring to go before 0600. When we reverse the favour, after a couple of days of ignoring them, they all sleep to 0900-1000.
With your dog's age I guess it could be a health issue, or conditioning. Sorry if that's no help at all. Hopefully it's just conditioning.
Drinking out of puddles/rainwater is common - it tastes different to a dog. Ours would rather drink from the outside bowl than the inside kitchen tap water bowl.
Sadly, he is deteriorating in other areas and I know this is the thin end of the wedge.
Our younger dogs sleep from midnight to 0900-1000 without issue. I have a well practiced routine of ignoring the dogs on my way out the house at 0730 and they raise their heads and go back to sleep. When they stay with our friends, also with dogs, they are all up and raring to go before 0600. When we reverse the favour, after a couple of days of ignoring them, they all sleep to 0900-1000.
With your dog's age I guess it could be a health issue, or conditioning. Sorry if that's no help at all. Hopefully it's just conditioning.
Drinking out of puddles/rainwater is common - it tastes different to a dog. Ours would rather drink from the outside bowl than the inside kitchen tap water bowl.
VeeReihenmotor6 said:
Could you try taking him for an short 15-20 min evening walk?
Yeah, it might well help and I think we will start doing this more.Julietbravo said:
Drinking out of puddles/rainwater is common - it tastes different to a dog. Ours would rather drink from the outside bowl than the inside kitchen tap water bowl.
Totally understand it, but we all know how it ends. If I down a pint of water just before nodding off it wont make the night either!Julietbravo said:
I have a 16yo collie and we are going through this - his kidneys are on the way out. The vet prescribed some tablets, and it cured it. We spoke to the vet about the cost of the tablets and moved to milk thistle powder on his food which also works.
Sadly, he is deteriorating in other areas and I know this is the thin end of the wedge.
Presumably a urine test is the trigger for finding out about this?Sadly, he is deteriorating in other areas and I know this is the thin end of the wedge.
Paying for the vaccinations they mentioned their 'pet club' where you pay a monthly fee and it includes most of the annual costs and works out at a cost saving, looking down the example list we do most of it (vaccinations+heath check, flee and worming, etc) but I did spot that urine test was on the list.
Milk thistle powder is a new one on me, but if it works for your dog thats great.
I have exactly the same problem.
Not my dog. Me.
Have vet check for enlarged prostate and if all is fine u just have to accept us old ones can't last the night.
If u can't cope I could move into your spare room and let ur dog out to pee when I get up in the wee small hours to go to the toilet.
Not my dog. Me.
Have vet check for enlarged prostate and if all is fine u just have to accept us old ones can't last the night.
If u can't cope I could move into your spare room and let ur dog out to pee when I get up in the wee small hours to go to the toilet.
Sorry for going a bit cold on this, December was a busy month for a lot of reasons.
However we have had a urine test, actually surprisingly easy to get a sample from him, which came back normal.
Next stage is a blood test, but he wasn't overly up for that so where going to try again on Monday!
However we have had a urine test, actually surprisingly easy to get a sample from him, which came back normal.
Next stage is a blood test, but he wasn't overly up for that so where going to try again on Monday!
Blood test also came back normal.
Very very slightly low white blood count, put down to the process of taking the sample.
Still basically exactly himself.
Current thinking is prehaps anxiety triggered by our 1yo who's now crawling lots. We ensure she gives him the space he needs, but suspect from previous behaviour traits his previous owners who also had small children where not so thoughtful.
Vet has suggested trying herbal or pheromone based treatments before trying prescription anti anxiety tablets.
Thoughts and experiences welcome.
Very very slightly low white blood count, put down to the process of taking the sample.
Still basically exactly himself.
Current thinking is prehaps anxiety triggered by our 1yo who's now crawling lots. We ensure she gives him the space he needs, but suspect from previous behaviour traits his previous owners who also had small children where not so thoughtful.
Vet has suggested trying herbal or pheromone based treatments before trying prescription anti anxiety tablets.
Thoughts and experiences welcome.
Sorry to read this OP. We had an elderly lab that was struggling to get through the night, too. We ended up putting a puppy absorbent pad down by the back door at night, and teaching her it was ok to use it. Only took a week or two of taking her and a pad with us in the garden when we figured she might do a wee. Then rewarding her when she used it outside, and then eventually inside.
Yeah, fortunately he has broadly taken to wee'ing in the same place each night, near the door to the garden.
Unfortunately this is a Edwardian oak tiled floor, but we are getting much better at getting the puppy pads to contain it, and have a XL 'crate tray' coming later in the week to go under them.
Need to look through the 'pet remedy' site and see what looks like it might help.
We have also bought a pen/fence to go around his god bed and rug to create a 'safe space' the baby cant go.
Unfortunately this is a Edwardian oak tiled floor, but we are getting much better at getting the puppy pads to contain it, and have a XL 'crate tray' coming later in the week to go under them.
Need to look through the 'pet remedy' site and see what looks like it might help.
We have also bought a pen/fence to go around his god bed and rug to create a 'safe space' the baby cant go.
hole. I ignored him for a few nights and now he's stopped doing it. The peeing stopped as well.As a bit of an update/feedback we have got to a reasonably stable situation now where we feed him a bit earlier (which now fits with the 18month old toddler) ensure he is let out again last thing, and then he barks to wake up up around around 6am (-/+ 30mins but often fairly bang on) to let him out again.
We have also taken to letting him sleep in the bedroom which he appears to much prefer.
The vomiting on the brand new carpet has fortunately stopped completely, he has once or twice wee'd on the bedroom carpet and or a discarded t-shirt, and once or twice when downstairs has pee'd on the wooden flooring, but at least its now rare rather than daily so at very least the floor dries fully before being hit again so isn't sustaining significant long term damage anymore.
He'll be 13 in November, and I recon he could well have another few years in him yet!
We have also taken to letting him sleep in the bedroom which he appears to much prefer.
The vomiting on the brand new carpet has fortunately stopped completely, he has once or twice wee'd on the bedroom carpet and or a discarded t-shirt, and once or twice when downstairs has pee'd on the wooden flooring, but at least its now rare rather than daily so at very least the floor dries fully before being hit again so isn't sustaining significant long term damage anymore.
He'll be 13 in November, and I recon he could well have another few years in him yet!
The baby pen to give him a safe space is working well, and we have had good success in teaching the toddler to 'just wave' at Toby from a safe distance rather than pet him as she enjoys with our other dog.
Evening walks are still not really happening due to hectic life and us both working 4 days a week, both dogs would like more walks, but also always get a good hour with the dog walker mid-day, plus lots of time in the large garden with us every evening when we make an effort to interact with them as well as the toddler.
Evening walks are still not really happening due to hectic life and us both working 4 days a week, both dogs would like more walks, but also always get a good hour with the dog walker mid-day, plus lots of time in the large garden with us every evening when we make an effort to interact with them as well as the toddler.
Bit of an update.
We settled to one get-up per night for a good while, about 3am ish usually. But then ended up doing two, 1-2am and 5am ish usually.
Pain was mentioned, and we started a trial of Metacam (NSAID) last night and had our first night without interruptions for over a year.
Very early says, but positive start.
We settled to one get-up per night for a good while, about 3am ish usually. But then ended up doing two, 1-2am and 5am ish usually.
Pain was mentioned, and we started a trial of Metacam (NSAID) last night and had our first night without interruptions for over a year.
Very early says, but positive start.
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