Could my dog have dementia?!

[signet2012]

Is acting rather oddly, almost as if he is going back to his puppy years.

He is a collie springer cross and when he was a puppy he used to routinely make a jump for passing diesel cars/vans & buses. Lots of training and sitting at every kerbside before crossing eliminated the problem, until the day before yesterday!

Usual routine is we walk him on the lead until we are on a green area very close to our house, he gets off the lead for a good run, only coming back on the lead if we see a cyclist (loves a bit of a cyclist or three) or another dog off the lead. Then he stays off his lead to cross one minor road with rarely any cars on (although he still sits until he is allowed to cross) and then walks the length of about 6 houses alongside a main road (30mph) to our drive and in he comes. He is normally very obedient and we generally walk him 11pm or after simply because it fits in nicely and its generally quiet so he can have a good run off his lead which he really loves.

On Friday night DP took him because I am pg and normally tired by 11pm having some issues with my back. On the way back to the house a bus was coming up the street on the opposite side of the road and he ran full pelt (something he has not been able to do for some time) and then jumped at the bus as it passed him. How he did not go under the bus I do not know. DP was shouting him to come back and ran to try stop him but was not in time. He came limping in with his front paw bleeding. Would not let DP look and was grumbling at him when he tried but let me look. I could see it was bleeding and it looked as though he had pulled his claw which was a bit ragged. A hour later back to normal self not bothered by foot, had licked it for a while and was walking normally, playing etc. It really disturbed me though that he did this I guess a stark reminder of even the most obedient dog can think screw you sometimes!!

Anyway I spent yesterday watching him carefully and he was eating, toiletting, sleeping, playing all as usual.

Then this morning he has had a poo which was not loose right near the front door and then Walked into the living room to continue it!! Now he knows he goes outside but he seemed almost confused.

When DP and I have been talking we remembered the other week he was crying near where we used to keep his food and water so I pointed to his water bowl where it has been now for about 8 months and said "there" and he ran over and happily started drinking it, tail wagging.

Any ideas?

[Scuttlebutter]

Think a visit to the vet is needed. You don't actually say how old he is?

If dog is has suddenly started pooing in the house this is usually a sign that something is very wrong, and definitely time to see vet to get checked out. Could be many, many causes, including senility, but also other reasons too.

[signet2012]

He is 8 but not a healthy 8 if that makes sense. He was a product of not very good breeding as lovely as he is. I phones the vet on Saturday morning for advice regarding him jumping at the bus and his injury and I'm quite satisified he was not injured other than pulling his nail but when you start looking at all of these oddities over previous weeks it's very out of character which is the worrying part especially when 8 is not really that old. Think I shall have to have him a mot

[EdgarAllenPimms]

dogs do get dementia, though often they can behave oddly if in pain (is his paw properly healed?) or if they are losing their sight/ hearing too...

do his eyes look milky?

[signet2012]

No he eyes look fine. Thats the strange thing - he appears much healthier than he has done for a long time... he has started to jump up at people which he hadn't done for a while as he has bad hips, he has pinched off the kitchen work tops - something I have not had to worry about for years! He is running about more on his walks, more sociable, eating better - has lost weight but because he is eating regular portions as opposed to being over fed, his colitis has cleared up and is not on medication. He has been like a different dog - just every now and again he seems lost in the house and chasing a bus is something he has not done since he was 1!

I think his paw is ok, I told the vet in great detail what happened he never rolled or fell he literally jumped up at the side of the bus and landed on all fours so I'm certain he did not get a head injury or anything. The vet said not to worry if he seems himself and to put him on the lead from now on as once he has done it he may try it again

[higgle]

Our previous dog, a PBGV had doggie dementia for the last 2 to 3 year of his life ( he lived to be 16) He lost track of time and would bark for his breakfast in the middle of the night, even covering up the windows and making him sleep in crate with blanket over it didn't work. He ceaselessly wandered up and down the hall and was generally confused. There was some medication that worked for a short while but it was quite expensive - I think it was supposed to improve the blood flow to the brain.