Struggling to manage elderly dog

[Frazzled57]

My rescue JRT cross is about 12-13 years old. He was previously fully housetrained but in recent months he’s started peeing in certain spots in the house even when I let him out regularly. He never does it when I’m with him but I can leave him downstairs for half an hour and come back down and he’s had an accident. The vet has done tests and can’t find anything wrong and I'm wondering if he has doggie dementia.

He’s also become very aggressive and will snarl and try and bite anyone who sits too close to him on the sofa and makes even the slightest movement. Luckily he hasn’t hurt anyone yet. He’s also not responding to simple commands, although he still enjoys his walks and is running and sniffing like he always did. His appetite is fine. I live on my own and am finding this very hard to manage. I love him unconditionally and would only consider putting him to sleep if he hurt someone. Does anyone have experience of managing incontinence in an elderly dog? And what do you think about the aggression?

Firstly get belly bands for him; on amazon, great for elderly boys.
Sadly it does sound like dementia, if you live alone it’s far easy to manage than in a busy house, if you have visitors pop him in another room? You will know when he’s had enough, if he’s eating and still going a wee walk I’d take each day as it comes.

Thank you JK, I was thinking about belly bands and really pleased to hear that they seem to work. Is it OK to leave him in a belly band for say 4 hours when I'm at work? I'm just concerned about irritation but would obviously give him a good wash as soon as I got home.

I lost my old JRT last year. He was nearly 14. My heart was broken but helping him take the final, peaceful journey was the least I owed him. It sounds as if your ddog is losing quality of life and perhaps it is time to say goodbye. Please don't let him go through the stress of actually biting someone. Let alone the effects of being bitten on whoever he bites. There are medications your vet can give for incontinence but it also sounds as if he may have dementia. Again, there are medications but ultimately, you keep having to come back to the quality of life question. There are far worse things for an old dog than quietly going to sleep and not waking up.

Sorry for your loss Enid. Can I ask if you've got another dog? Yes, I can deal with the incontinence but the aggression is another thing. Luckily he has very wobbly teeth....

OP in the kindest possible way, you say yourself that he hasn't bitten anyone yet. If he has dementia and an increasingly poor quality of life why are you risking someone being bitten when you know that's a possibility?

I suppose I just can’t bear the thought of saying goodbye to him - selfish I know under the circumstances. Will think long and hard...

My dsis has a 17/18 yo JRT x border , her brother was pts last Feb . She is pretty much completely incontinent now but otherwise eats , runs about etc . Dsis has puppy pads strategically placed and also has pads under sofa throws so if she pees in her sleep ( which she does ) it’s easy enough to clean up . Amazingly if you went into her house you wouldn’t even know that she had a dog let alone an incontinent one , however she does get through hundreds of pads .

@Frazzled57
I have several dogs and have worked with dogs for years and the advice I always give is that it’s the last thing you will do for him, he’s trusted you all these years and trusts you to know when he’s had enough, it’s him that has to come first despite how hard it is for you, it’s better to let him go a day early than leave it too late.
Go to the vets and discuss if there’s a way of helping him and if not decide on his quality of life.

Thank you JK. I didn’t mention that over the last couple of nights his behaviour has changed. He sleeps in my bed and has always just curled up and been still most of the night. Last two nights he’s been constantly shaking (so the bed vibrates) and is very unsettled. I fear the worst but will go to the vet and take it from there.

Hi Frazzled57, how’s the boy?

I was coming on to ask the same thing. Xxxxx