Older dog has lost his hearing and barking

[Mumtothelittlefella]

Our vet has recently confirmed that one of our Westies has lost his hearing. He no longer hears us calling to him, the door bell etc. It’s a shame but he’s coming up 13 and in otherwise brilliant health. He can still run along the beach or potter around the park.

We have two other dogs - his litter brother and a 12 year old collie x - and so he tends to figure out it’s breakfast time, walks etc by taking cues from them.

The issue we have is his constant barking. Generally, they aren’t really barky dogs so this is new. It doesn’t even seem to be in context. He’s started barking throughout the night now and we can’t stop him. They tend to sleep in the boot room due to their ages and the amount of steroids they are each on (westie skin) they have accidents and it’s easier to contain in there. It’s a lovely and warm, large and light room so I don’t think they are unhappy in there. They have always had that room as their ‘space’ if they need to retreat from noisy children etc.

We started to let him sleep in the kitchen the last few nights which helped but then last night the poor chap was barking again all night and moving rooms didn’t help.

They are walked three times a day and are on the same diet/food they have been on for years (again, westie skin).

Can anyone offer any insight as to what might be causing the random barking? Especially at night? I need to speak to the vets again but wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience.

It's good that you're going to speak to your vet. It could be any number of things, including dementia. Is his eyesight OK?

Last night's barking could be because he was separated from the other dogs. What else have you tried?

Thanks, happy. He’s been with the other dogs when the barking starts. He just barks at the wall or into space. It’s very odd.

Today he’s been sort of lost, following me around but not settled. Not in pain or any discomfort so I do wonder if this is the start of something else. He has treatment for his eyes (low tear production) but sight is otherwise fine.

It does sound like it may be dementia, which there are medications for. I wouldn't completely rule out him being in pain because dogs are great at masking it.

If it is dementia, are your children old enough to understand that he may need to be handled more carefully and given more space because he may be confused?

Can he sleep in your bedroom so that he is near you?

He just barks at the wall or into space.

This was dementia in my late dog. He had never barked in the house, ever. This was one of the first signs.

He had always slept in the kitchen but I moved him into my room and that settled him and he slept through the night.

Medication took the edge off it for a bit.

Oh wow, ok thank you, I’ll specifically ask about dementia. Can I ask what medication is given for this?

Our children are brilliant with the dogs. They know to give him space and not to approach him when he’s sleeping or from behind where he can’t see them. They are desperate for the dogs to sleep upstairs but I don’t feel comfortable with it as the kids still come into us in the night and I’d hate anything to happen should he been suddenly startled at night in the dark.

Vets booked for tomorrow afternoon but reading through dementia in dogs symptoms, he does display some of them.

If you don't want him in your room, try wrapping an old fashioned ticking clock in a blanket under him, the vibration he'll feel and find reassuring.

Almost certainly dementia. It’s very common. My older dog has got more barky (he’s 13). He gets us up every morning barking for breakfast, barks at every random thing and often for no reason. He also won’t settle in the evening, roaming from room to room. Sadly my friend’s mum also has dementia and some of the behaviour my friend describes I can see in my dog. It’s a very sad condition.

So update for anyone that it might help. We took him back to the vet and it turns out his sight has also deteriorated. He’s not completely blind but it’s cloudy for him - it makes sense now as little things he does like walk along the kerb could well be due to him using the outline of the kerb as a guide.
She also ran some blood tests. All is ok there given the length of time he’s been on steroids so she’s suggested we try him on a low dose of diazepam at night to see if it helps him settle. She also advised keeping the house as familiar to him as possible and not to bring him upstairs as it could confuse the poor boy (also not a great idea with his sight). So hopefully it’ll help. Otherwise he’s fine In himself- just a bit confused but still loving his cuddles.