Suggestions anyone? Elderly poodle

**Pam** · 06-17-2008, 07:46 PM

What a sweetie. She looks as I imagine my Ripley might look when he is an "old man."

I am so happy she has loving people who are looking after her. I had a toy poodle who lived to be 17. He was deaf and almost blind from dense cataracts when he went to the RB.

**Rachel** · 06-17-2008, 08:36 PM

Oh my, that second picture reminds me so much of my RB dog, Tizzie, and in fact Tizzie too was afflicted with doggie Alzheimers in the last year or more of her life. Tizzie was never distructive but her other behavior changed considerably. She paced and paced and would end up in strange places like under furniture, in corners, under chairs from which she needed to be rescued. She too had a very difficult time riding in the car and wanted to *pace* there as well. There seemed to be no way to comfort her. She no longer wanted to sit on a lap or be petted. Fortunately she slept well and that was the only time she was at peace. She had always been a dog who uninated immediately when she went outside, however, with this condition she seemed to forget what she was outside for. Her last winter had to be the coldest one I can remember, or maybe it just seemed like that because I had to take her out and stand there in subzero temperatures trying to get her to *go*. She was no longer able to be outside by herself and would fall into the window wells or wander off. Her hearing must have been going too although for a while we could get her attention by clapping our hands together instead of calling.

I can't honestly say that I found any thing to be helpful for Tizzie. Her apparent distress got so bad that eventually I made the decision that it was time to help her to the RB. It was a horrendous decision and one I second guessed a hundred times, yet to think of her having to live in the state of constant anxiety was more than I could bare either.

Reading this thread and *going back in time* has been difficult. Emmelou's parents have my understanding and empathy. The journey they are on is a painful one indeed.

**Moesha** · 06-17-2008, 09:05 PM

Thank you for the replies and I apologize for sad memories that it has brought back. We too often have to clap to get Emme's attention. I wonder if the being alone has something to do with her change in behavior. Her favorite spot in the house is at the top of the stairs by herself though. But since reading that I have noticed that today she is either at the top of the stairs or in the room that I am in. I might try leaving her in the crate tonight in the same room that I am in. I know there must have been a reason that they put her in the bathroom because she used to sleep in the room with them. I am going to take the towel out of there though any time I leave her in it. I came home today and not only did she have threads twisted around her bottom teeth, but around her top teeth too. I didn't notice that immediately and was nervous when I did see it. It is funny that other than those things, during the day when someone is here with her, she is very much like her normal self, just a little slower. Thanks again for the responses.

**Rachel** · 06-19-2008, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by Moesha

I might try leaving her in the crate tonight in the same room that I am in.

That is an excellent idea.

Originally Posted by Moesha

It is funny that other than those things, during the day when someone is here with her, she is very much like her normal self, just a little slower.

This is good and I hope that she will continue without further complications. Maybe it is a severe case of separation anxiety along with some of the other aspects of aging. How kind of you to take such good care of this special little gir.

**rustysheba1** · 06-24-2008, 03:20 PM

Rusty will be 16 August 13th. his eyes are clouded over, his hearing is going too. I too have an issue, with him waking me up between 4:00 - 5:00 a.mEVERY SINGLE DAY! I unfortunlatey work for a living and my wakeup call should be 5:40 a.m. so this is killing me. Sounds like I'm in store for more fun. I only hope that I am not faced with making the decision have bringing him over to Rainbow bridge. Crap, i'm now crying just thinking of it.

Thanks for such an amazing site, that I found by chance today! I'm so happy to meet everyone!

**lizbud** · 06-24-2008, 05:50 PM

Just wondering if moving the crate into your room worked? I hope the
couple can get some meds from the Vet that might calm her fears.

**Moesha** · 06-24-2008, 06:02 PM

It didn't. We did away with towels completely. But the second she got in the crate, even before I could turn around almost, the shredding of newspapers began. She didn't like being in there knowing someone was close by. I haven't talked with them since they came back about how she has done at night lately. I'm sure they will do anything at all to help her. She's their baby.

Funny story about when they got home. Her dad walked over to the crate where she was sleeping so soundly she never heard him. When he opened the door she flew out, flew through the kitchen past her mom, out the door and down the driveway. She just kept going. They live on the lake in a very secluded area. Their driveway alone is probably at least half a mile long, so she wasn't in danger of cars or the road. But she ran to the end of the parking area of the driveway anyway and did her business and then came back. She hadn't been out off the leash in quite awhile because she was getting into the water from the garbage disposal and getting sick. Her mom thought she was going to have to start running after her.