Dog keeping me awake all night. Help!

[KenDodd]

The dog's 14, we've had her for about three years with no problems. She's fit, with no health problems at all, nothing new or different is going on with the family. The dog sleeps just the other side of the stair gate from us at night, always has and normally just settles down and goes to sleep. She does have a dog bed in the livingroom as well but only uses this during the day. Over the last week she's been perfectly fine all day but then when the last of us goes to bed she gets into position on her side of the stair gate but won't settle down and go to sleep as normal. She wimpers, pants, runs up and down the stairs, and tries to get over the stair gate, this goes on for hours and hours. I've taken to closing her in the livingroom (which she doesn't like) so we're away from the noise and can try to get some sleep. She's perfectly fine again the next day again.

Any idea what's going on and what we can do?

[Booboostwo]

I don’t want to scare you but this was the first symptom of dementia for my dog when he was 14. Things deteriorated very quickly within a couple of weeks. I’d take her to the vets to rule out a physical problem first.

[KenDodd]

Oh dear! The dog will be 15 in the summer. She's absolutely fine and normal all day though. Can a vet do anything about dementia in dogs? How do they even diagnose it?

Thank you for replying.

[KenDodd]

What happened with your dog?

[Booboostwo]

It is diagnosed by the symptoms. Sometimes they come on quite suddenly and deteriorate quite quickly, my dog was unmanageable within two weeks, but other times they come on very gradually. There is a drug that can help some dogs, especially those with milder symptoms but our vet didn’t think it was suitable for our boy given the speed of his deterioration.

He started barking and being very unsettled at night. He was confused about spaces, e.g. trying to walk through small openings and banging his head on furniture and walls. He became extremely aggressive with no provocation against the cat and the other dogs he had lived with for 14 years.

[Booboostwo]

Sorry, I meant to add that sadly we had him PTS, but hopefully it is something different with your girl or the drugs can help.

[JKScot4]

Why can’t you let her in your room? maybe being with you would help settle her. Personally couldn’t leave my dog away from me upset, put her bed next to yours.

[KenDodd]

@Booboostwo

So sad about your dog. I know they don't live forever but it's still awful.

I did get up and try to sleep on the couch in the livingroom but she just wouldn't settle even with me there. She was pacing around and panting for hours. As I said, absolutely fine the next day. I don't want her upstairs at night.

[KenDodd]

I'll watch out for any other symptoms described, I haven't seen anything like that so far.

[Veterinari]

It sounds like senile cognitive dysfunction.
The medication selgian can be very useful at managing symptoms but you may need to request it - not all vets stock behavioural meds'

[JKScot4]

Although you say dont want her upstairs maybe it’s time to accommodate her and her needs if she is becoming ill.
One of mine had cancer last year and I carried her up and onto the bed as she likes to be near me.

[KenDodd]

Thank you all. I think the dog had a slightly better night last night. I went to bed first , my husband followed about 30 minutes later and the dog did then start with the panting and whimpering at the top of the stairs. She managed to get through the stair gate (don't think it was closed properly though) and got onto our daughter's bed. My husband removed her and took her downstairs and shut her in the livingroom, after that all seemed quiet. If the stair gate is left open it is normal behaviour for the dog to go and get on one of the children's beds. She then goes all Extinction Rebellion tries her very best to stay on the bed and has to be physically picked up to be removed instead of just coming when called. So last night wasn't too out of the ordinary apart from panting/whimpering and getting through the stair gate.

Again this morning she seems absolutely fine. I have to do a lot of driving for work so need to sleep well, I couldn't do this with the dog in the room. The children would love the dog on their bed at night, we've never let them do this though because the dog was already 11 when we got her, we knew we wouldn't have her for very long and thought it'd be even more painful for the children when she died if she had slept on their bed with them. She wouldn't stay in her basket on the floor.

[JKScot4]

Again I’m mystified by your attitude to her on the beds, she obviously loves it, does it matter at 14 if she doesn’t want to get up, whether she sleeps on their bed or not doesn’t make losing a pet any easier, you have rather odd ideas about your dog and seem pretty selfish to her needs and comfort. I couldn’t be that cold hearted to any of my dogs never mind an elderly dog seeking some comfort.

[KenDodd]

I've booked the dog in to see the vet tomorrow. Still seems absolutely fine today but we'll see what she's like at bedtime.

[adaline]

At fourteen, if she wants to sleep on DC's beds and they're happy to have her there, then why is it a problem?

Losing a pet doesn't become easier just because they've always slept downstairs!

[Whynosnowyet]

Our ddogs have progressed from the utility room to the dc's sofa!! Ddog is 10 and a cancer survivor. Deserves a couch imo.
Maybe your ddog is craving company in her old age? Surely that's fine op??

[KenDodd]

The dog has a urine infection! I've never been so happy to hear that, very glad it's not dementia. She's got antibiotics and painkillers and should be better soon. The vet reckoned the reason she was so unsettled during the night was just because she didn't have any distractions then.

[heatseeker14]

That’s good news @KenDodd. I hope she feels better soon.

[Booboostwo]

That's great news, hopefully she will feel better soon.