Older dog

[Poodlepompom]

Hi,

Just looking for advice/reassurance. My old girl is 12 years old, she will be 13 next June.
There are a few things that are concerning me about her at the moment, shes shaking a lot - I've mentioned this to the vets and anyone else who will listen but no one seems concerned. People just think shes cold or maybe hungry but shes doing it all the time, even when shes laid down her legs will be shaking and more recently its looked like her head is shaking a little, it's like a trembling.
I've noticed over the last few weeks that sometimes on her walks she doesn't seem to know she is having poo, sometimes she will stop and squat but others she just walks along.
The third and most concerning is shes starting to snap a little, she hasnt hurt anyone as yet but if we walk past her quickly she might go for our feet.

Is this really all just 'old age' or could there be something else going on?

Thanks in advance for any help and support.

Shaking and trembling is often a sign of pain in dogs. So I would get a vet check and see what they say. It may be worth trying pain meds to see how she goes. If she hasn't had one recently I would also want a blood test.

Shaking and trembling may also be a neurological issue so does need more investigating. If you can take a video of her trembling that may help the vet.

Snapping again could be because she is in pain and worried that people will touch her or knock her which she knows will make her feel worse.

She does need a vet check asap

Shes been...had blood tests which only indicated Pancreatitis, which we have sorted and have control over.
I sent video and have seen them since but they do not seem concerned.

I agree, these things point to a pain/neurological issue. Get a second opinion if your vets aren't taking you seriously.

Have you done a pain med trial?

which only indicated Pancreatitis which is incredibly painful and also reflux which causes pain to dogs .

Go back to your vet your dog is obviously not comfortable

Yes she had a while on paracetamol, to help with the pain of the pancreatitis.
The pancreatitis is under control, no flare ups recently.
They said it old age - it maybe is, I know I can be very protective of her. I should add, she still gets excited when people come in, enjoys her walks/food, will get up on the sofa etc

I'm going to go back and make sure I see another vet.

Sometimes you have to accept that old age has set in and it's kinder to let them go in peace. Please don't let her suffer

@Poodlepompom > Sorry that I can't give you any advice, but we have a greyhound coming up to 12 next March (we adopted him when he was eight) and to me he seems to be showing signs of dementia. Not been to the vet about it, but we had a female greyhound who was showing similar signs around that age several years ago. At the time I had no idea dogs could suffer from dementia. In his case, as with her, as long as he's still enjoying his food and his walks we'll keep him with us. If he starts showing real signs of suffering we'll let him go, hard as it is. At least we'll know he had that time with us at an age when there was a good chance he wouldn't be adopted, but it'll be bloody hard.

I'm not saying in any way that your dog may be having that problem; I'm just mentioning it because, as I said, I had no idea dogs could suffer from this like humans do.

Poor thing 🥲
mid go to a completely different practice, not just a different vet at the same place. I hope you get some answers.