Aggression And Dementia: Old Dog Problems

As your pet ages, there will be many changes that's bound to happen in its behavior and its relationshep between you and your family. We all know that they age a lot faster than us humans and live a shorter lifespan. As they draw closer to the point of their doom, problems will arise and gradually get worse as time passes. This is a fact that all pet owners are aware of and should accept – but that doesn't mean they should be put to rest in peace courtesy of their veterinarian. There are other alternatives which could be implemented, which could be better for the both of you.

Like a dying old man, we do everything we can to sustain his life and help make things more comfortable for him before it's his time to go. Putting him to sleep to meet thy Maker would be out of the question, even if he wanted it that way. You should take the same perspective of the morality of this for your pet. Dementia is a disorder that occurs in people, and can happen to your pet too. Dementia is characterized by sudden changes in behavior, and the ability to think properly. It'll become more forgetful, eventually forgetting its own name.

If you were to call it, it would be wondering who the hell you were calling for awhile before responding. This is because of the damage done to the neurons in the brain, which leads to slower reactions and intellectual responses. Dogs with dementia will be walking without a sense of direction – it'll appear that it didn't know what it was doing or where it was going. Your old pooch could also become aggressive. As a pup it would be wagging its tail or jumping up on visitors to greet them, but when it gets old its hair and tail would be standing while showing its teeth before jumping up on them.

It could become very hostile towards other dogs as well; seeing it fight with other pets trying to take their heads off should be expected. Being a threat to you and your family is also a distinct possibility. Hard to believe but a fact that has proven to be very true and common amongst many old dogs – according to statistics. There is also a possibility that it could become apprehensive, thinking that something bad is gonna happen - they would shiver in fear at the sight of other animals and humans. When your pet has reached this point, things will be tough for the both of you but there are still ways to help it deal with its condition.

Luckily there are medicines that can help with some cognitive disorders that it may be experiencing. This would improve its overall intellectual capacity, resulting to a less confused pooch with better memory. A veterinarian could offer lots of advice and prescribe proper treatment of your dog. You should also consult a behaviorist with this as his field of expertise – doing so will be great for the other behavioral problems it may have.