Older dogs noise at night

[Pinkea]

Hi, posting on behalf of a friend. She has two elderly dogs aged 14. The dogs are up several times during a night, particularly one, howling and wanting to go out for a wee. They use sedation tablets, cages (not closed) and put noise on all night. This is now affecting both themselves and the relationships with neighbours as they can hear them (semi detached house). Does anyone have any other suggestions on how to deal with this and settle the dogs?

Worth a vet check to rule out uti’s or anything other cause of pain. But really they just need to get on with it and get up and let the dogs out for a wee during the night, they’re old, they can’t hold it in for long and it’s not fair to expect them too, it’s just sort of tough.
oh and just try to keep on the neighbours good side and apologise.
They may be able to teach them to use puppy pads again although not the most clean.
Why are they sedating the dogs? Just so they don’t have to let them out in the night?

They have been to the vets several times but after a complaint from next door, I’ve suggested going to the vets again too. That’s basically what the vet said, but neighbour is asking what can be done.
They put down puppy pads but they don’t like to wee on them!
Not 100% sure re sedation, given by the vets though. The dogs are anxious dogs.

They get up 3-4 times a night to let the dogs out, they don’t leave them.

Honestly? It sounds like they may have to make a difficult decision. Not because of neighbours but because their dog is clearly distressed each and every night. And they can’t make this better.

Could they try taking it in turns to sleep downstairs with the dogs or have the dogs in the bedroom . It may not eliminate the frequent toilet trips but it should stop the noise

@Wolfiefan i thought the same tbh as it’s now not only affecting their quality of life but also the neighbours. They cannot go anywhere (holidays etc) as cannot leave the dogs with anyone, they are up multiple times per night. The vet has basically said it’s older dogs getting dementia and nothing can be done. But I wanted to come on here and check to see if anyone had any ideas.

Sleeping downstairs could be an option, the dogs are in the kitchen so no space but could sleep in adjacent living room if they buy a pull out bed.

Neighbour (man) is angry and it’s affecting relationship with neighbour (woman) as clearly they are arguing. Apparently he knocked on at 3am one night but friends DH didn’t hear - friends DH is going deaf and she was away. So it’s not a great situation really. Friend is really upset and trying to figure out what to do.

Old dogs often get very confused and therefore become incredibly distressed when left alone.

A temporary solution would be to have someone sleeping downstairs with the dogs so that they have some company, but I agree with PP who says they need to start looking at overall quality of life here.

A dog who has canine dementia and who toilets in the house everyday is probably not particularly happy. I would be asking what they're getting out of life now - do they still love food and walks, for example? Are they incontinent or can they just no longer hold it for as long? Is it poo or just wee they mess inside with?

It's the hardest decision but it sounds like your friend has some tough thinking to do - not because of the neighbours but because her dogs are clearly not happy as they are, and there's sadly no cure for old age.

That sounds very tricky if Dfriend's dh might not actually hear the dogs in the night due to his hearing loss.
I'm in a similar situation, my dog is older and needs to go out some nights, my h is too ill to get up for her, so I have to be there. I guess your df no longer has the option of being away while they have the dogs.