My senior dog is afraid of going outside. Should I still take him out?

Shat a handsome boy! Usually lipomas do not cause pain so they should not be the reason he doesn't want to go outside. He may be painful or was scared by something outside. I recommend putting him on a short leash and having a treat to lure him outside. Take him for a short walk in the backyard only to start, come in and praise him and reward him again. That should help build his confidence and see if its due to anxiety or pain. Some dogs who hurt don't want to walk like they used to due to discomfort. Often they will be stiff rising, want to go, but only go for a short way before stopping. What you are describing does sound like more like anxiety than pain. You can add the supplement Solliquin which is for anxiety or there are other brands of calming supplements sold at PetCo. You may also want to try having a dog he likes come along when you are taking him out since he may want to walk again if he has a relaxed companion going along with him. I haven't found deafness alone to cause these symptoms. I veterinary exam is always a good idea also, and they may want to do a trial of pain medication to see if that helps the situation. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Danny.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sometimes dogs can get scared even when there does not appear to be anything scary in sight. Remember that they can hear and sense much better than us so he may be perceiving something that is near which you may not. This can improve but it can certainly become a bit difficult at times. I recommend that you start taking him out for longer periods but very slowly over the next several weeks. Encourage him to stay out with treats and positive words. Also, in the beginning just take him out without walking initially just to get him used to his surroundings. Eventually little by little he will learn that going outside equals getting treats and attention and will improve with time but it does require time and patience. You can consider using the Thunder shirt for him which you may find online and can help a lot in these cases. Good luck and have a great day!

I'm glad to hear Jill is doing so well. Dog's preferences can change with the weather or just due to their own reasons. As long as she doesn't;t seem anxious or fearful outside, I think it's probably fine. Many dogs, especially older ones, do sleep a lot! Make sure she is going outside to potty at least 4-5 times a day and watch her for any signs of illness. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

In addition to hearing loss and arthritis, Jabba may also have some cognitive dysfunction. I would recommend that you talk to your vet about this new change. It could be that the concrete is closer or easier to walk on. Maybe the grass is wet or the ground is uneven or Jabba has difficulty posturing in the yard. He may simply be confused and need some guidance on where to go potty. While inconvenient, at least he is still going outside rather than inside! You may also want to talk to your vet about medications or adjustment in medications for arthritis, and consider a medication like selegiline or special diets like ProPlan Bright Minds for cognitive dysfunction.

Yes I would bring him in for an exam sooner. He may be in pain causing him not to want to move. There could be other problems also that could cause this so getting a veterinary diagnosis and the proper treatment is the recommended plan. Then hopefully he’ll get back to his normal behavior quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Tank.

It's possible there is a scent that he's picking up on, or he may be hearing a strange sound. Critters under the ground such as rodents that are more nocturnal may also be startling him, especially if this is during a nighttime potty break. Bringing him out on a leash so he doesn't chase or get hurt by anything, and bringing a high-value treat out with you may help get him more used to going out and being less afraid. Otherwise, checking for any signs of wildlife may be a good idea (and seeing if you can get the wildlife to move off elsewhere), or fencing an area for him to go in safely may help as well.

Hello there! In dogs, reclusive behavior and pacing are signs of pain. I would recommend taking Spud into a vet to be seen as soon as possible to investigate what could be bothering him. The vet will likely recommend bloodwork and x-rays to initially start and then guide treatment off of those findings. I hope this helps! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!