Elderly labrador chewing and eating random things like when he was a puppy

[gagamama]

As a bit of background, my parents have a 14-year-old labrador who was trained as a Guide Dog but rejected. He's been a pet now for about 12 years and always been impeccably well-behaved during this time.

He is starting to show lots of signs of old age - deafness, accidents, slowing down etc. But he's become as bad a puppy when it comes to leaving him in a room of things which shouldn't be eaten! In the last few days he has eaten a huge bowl of pot pourri, a box, the contents of the bin and a box of chocolates (which were on a shelf - have no idea how a young, fit dog would get those down so stumped as to how he managed it!)

Is this normal? Does it indicate some kind of deficiency? Is is doggy senile dementia or something? It seems utterly odd.

You used to literally be able to leave a plate of roast dinner under his nose, and he would eye it shiftily but not touch it! Of course, as a puppy he ate the usual lino, chairs, sunglasses, cupboard doors etc (!) but it seems a bit out-of-character for the placid old boy.

If he were mine I'd get him along to the vet for a thorough check (esp teeth). If a medical reason is ruled out, then perhaps they can direct the chewing onto something that he's ok to chew, like chew toys or a frozen kong.

dementia? :( definitely a visit to the vets to check teeth etc.

He had a check-up with the vet during the week so I don't think there's anything obviously wrong. He's on anti-convulsant meds sand they check the dosage every 3 months, but the dosage hasn't changed in 6 months since he started taking them, but the weird chewing and eating has only really come on in the last week or so.

He used to be very anxious but he has chilled out a lot since he stopped hearing so well. But maybe it's a comfort thing? Like sucking your thumb? Or engaging his sense of smell and taste to keep him occupied because his hearing isn't so good any more? I don't know.

I grew up with him and he's gorgeous and I love him so.

My Mum's cat started to eat all sorts of silly things when she got old. She was Siamese and had previously been extremely particular about what she'd eat. When she got like this she's happily munch fruit, even oranges, and peanuts. The vet suggested it was dementia. She died from kidney failure in the end.

Our dog now is fading fast. She's a lab collie cross and is 13.7. She's got heart failure but is plodding on. She's rather deaf and has started to have senior moments too. She likes to go and lie in the middle of our lawn, like she's sunbathing. Only she does it at night and when it's raining! She also forgets what she's doing and goes out for a wee only to stop, look confused, turns around then comes in again. Two minutes later she's asking to go out again for now desperate for a wee.

What a depressing post :(

Oh Becky. :( I've been to visit my boy today and he's a bit like that too - he'll ask for a walk, get really excited and full steam ahead for 5 minutes and then come to a determined stop when he realises he's a bit too stiff for all this. Half an hour later, he'll ask again!

Maybe part of it is that he forgets how long he's actually been left alone for, or can't remember being fed. He's always been left alone for a large portion of the day but perhaps it feels a lot longer because he can't remember actually being left.

It's funny but sad all at once isn't it :)

I found it difficult to walk such a deaf dog at first. I was so used to her coming back as soon as I called, but now she can't hear me! I have to watch her so much more closely as she gets confused and loses me easily and then panics and runs off the wrong way looking for me :(

We had a lovely walk yesterday :) we went blackberry picking and were out for a very slow walk for two hours in the sunshine. Treacle can keep up no problem when we stop every two minutes to pick more berries!

Did you ask the vet about the pica too, Gagamama?