My senior Pomeranian is confused and slow to respond. What's wrong?

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is not abnormal for there to be some hearing loss in older pets. Hearing loss can happen as an age related change much the same way it happens in people as they age. Not responding to her name when called or not responding to other auditory cues (bag of treats or can of food being opened in another room) or commands (sit, stay, come), can be signs that she has some hearing deficits. There are a few other causes of hearing loss in pets such as chronic ear infections or a perforated ear drum. I would make sure Tazo is checked out with her veterinarian as well to make sure nothing else is going on that may be causing the hearing loss. I hope this helps!

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to hear Sammy has been declining. From your description, I sounds like Sammy may have several medical issues going on. It is hard to get a good idea of what all the issues may be without examining Sammy first and I would encourage that an exam be done on Sammy with his veterinarian soon to fully discuss and evaluate Sammy's conditions. Perhaps he has osteoarthritis, other degenerative joint or neurological dysfunction of his hind limbs making walking difficult and painful for him. It also sounds like he may have some vision loss or visual deficits making navigating around challenging. Lastly, the walking around in circles and defecating in the house may be related to canine cognitive dysfunction (canine dementia). He may also be experiencing some incontinence as well. Aside from the incontinence he may have from older age, there are medications and other holistic treatments that can help with the possible dementia as well as joint pain that may help make him feel a bit better and improve his quality of life. I think a good evaluation and discuss with Sammy's veterinarian would be a very good idea at this point. I hope this helps and I wish you and Sammy the best.

I'm very sorry to hear this! Unfortunately dogs can develop dementia as they age which can make them act in odd ways including pacing and looking into space. This is not a condition that is easily diagnosed in dogs as there are no medical signs aside from.the symptoms. Another thing that could cause behaviour change in a dog would be any condition that effects the brain. Especially diseases such as tumours which will press on and effect different areas. I would be slightly concerned that the behaviour change in your dog may be due to a physical brain condition such as a tumour, the fact that Buddy paws his head makes me wonder if there is a physical source of discomfort. My advice would be to return to your vet for an examination of neurological function and an eye exam. Sometimes these tests will show nothing, but often there are clues to be found regarding tumours. For a definitive diagnosis an MRI scan is often required. In terms of treatment it is very limited for both conditions. Treatment usually involves managing pain and trying to increase blood flow to the brain to help cognitive function. Although if quality of life deteriorates then euthanasia is sometimes the only option. Best of luck.

It sounds like he is experiencing typical geriatric changes. There is not much we can do to restore hearing if caused by aging. The energy definitely slows down as they age. A daily canine multi vitamin may help. If you haven't been getting his blood checked once a year I would consider this and go see your vet to have this done as there certainly are diseases that can cause shadow to feel lethargic and sleepy. In regards to going up stairs, it sounds like arthritis may be slowing him down a bit. I would consult your vet about pain medications that you can give shadow to help with arthritis. Dasuquin for dogs is a great product along with omega 3 fish oils to aid in reducing inflammation. Welactin is a great fish oil product you can get over the counter. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please contact me with any additional concerns you may have!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Seeing that Harry is 9 years of age, what you are seeing could certainly be due to age. He may be suffering from canine cognitive dysfunction. I would recommend that Harry be examined by a veterinarian and having his blood tested to rule out any other possible causes. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Sadly, many of the ailments of human senior citizens can also occur in our canine companions. Impaired vision or blindness can occur in dogs and can be due to things like cataracts, glaucoma, etc. The good news is that these diseases, if caught early enough, can be treated and sometimes even reversed or cured! My best advice is to take Baby to your local veterinarian as soon as possible to have a complete ophthalmic examination performed. Some of the tests you should ask for are as follows: a menace test, intraocular tonopen test, schirmer tear test, and fundic exam. I hope this helps. Have a great day.

This may be due to pain and discomfort or may be due to canine cognitive dysfunction (similar to dementia) both of which can often be supported and reduced with medication. I recommend you schedule a full physical exam by your vets and they may wish to do blood tests to rule out any complicating factors such as kidney or liver issues which may affect the dose rate of medications in a senior pet