senior dog and whining


  • My girl is 13 1/2 years and in very good physical condition according to my vet. This year she has become quite the whiner - whines to go outside, whines because I didn't go outside with her, whines to go to bed, whines because I didn't go to bed with her, whines for treats, whines because I didn't give her enough treats. Is this typcial of older basenjis ? She seems to want to be near/under me all the time - when younger it was just the opposite.


  • @wizard
    Mine is 15.7 years old and she is my shadow - sticks to me like glue. She only started doing this in the past year. I don’t know if it’s common w/ elderly dogs.


  • @wizard
    Could be early sign of CCD (Canine Cognitive Dysfunction; also known as doggie alzheimer’s. My ol guy is 16.5 and has CCD. Thankfully he doesn't whine, or bark! Dogs that bark, just keep barking, and barking for no reason. Have you had her checked out by a vet just to make that there is nothing truly wrong? There is a Facebook group for CCD and you just ask to join. Lots of truly compassionate people as everybody is going through the samething. Some are in the early stages, some, some where in the middle, and other's that the end is near and not sure how to handle it. I AM NOT saying that this is what is wrong your gal, so please don't get mad at me. Yes, dogs will whine and it is all part of the aging process for older dogs. Its heartbreaking to watch. Supplements can help, but no cure. It needs to run its course. I just pray that this is not the case for you and your pup. She sounds like she's getting clingy, and that's ok.


  • @basenjimom2
    Yes, my B has been diagnosed with Cognitive Canine Disorder (doggie dementia) this past February. She was put on Senilife and 2 Chinese Herbal medications (my vet also practices Eastern medicine) - which have provided some improvement (reduced the pacing and she is much more alert). She constantly follows me but luckily I don’t experience the whining. Her eyesight and her hearing are also failing (which also might be a reason she wants to be near me). Overall, she is cognitively better now than she was 7-8 months ago.


  • @basenjimom2 Yes I wondered if that (CCD) mght be happening.


  • CARA has begun whining a lot and very vocal but it happened within a week after cutting her prozac dose. So we are pretty certain that's why. However she is so much happier and so much more active so being vocal is a good thing. I do believe that she has some visual issues and she's only 11 1⁄2 . So we were going to have them checked. She has super high lipids so switching to low fat and fish oil. But you might want to get the eyes checked. Cara has some small fatty deposits that I can see.


  • @wizard Cara has always been clingy so I can't speak to that. But she certainly has become more vocal the older she gets even before we cut the prozac, though after oh my god she never shuts up. I am very sorry your girl is going through some changes. Hopefully you can sort things out.


  • @wizard - My elders have never become clinging.. but then I had more than one... at the one time that only one senior was at home she was not clinging... but she was also at the beginning stages of renal failure.... I brought to the home two new puppies and that cheered her up and she loved to snuggle with them and they with her.... until she looked at me one day and "said" I am ready to cross the bridge with your help".....


  • I have never had a clingy or a whining elder statesman either - but they certainly loved puppies and came back to almost puppyhood in their company. And almost all of them have come to me and told me their time had come and to please help them cross the bridge. They know when it is time and it is up to us to recognise the signs.


  • @zande
    Sally - I just hope I recognize the sign.🐾❤️


  • @kembe you will

Suggested Topics

  • Dog went blind

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    10k Views
    BarklessdogB
    We never did much with her at night just go out after dinner and before bed. Now we walk her after dinner and before bed and give her the tornado puzzle ever night. We are engaging her mind., enriching her life with things she still likes to do.
  • Dog Lice

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    dmeyD
    Thanks for the advice. We are now lice free, thankfully. I did some research and it turns out that. Dog lice are a specific species, different from human lice and we cant get them, neither can my cats.(I have two cats) I guess the bird lice are different. I had already given them the frontlin( not actually frontline brand, its called Fipronex, so that they wouldnt catch it. So I was extra worried for no reason. I am not a big fan of chemicals either. Thats why I didnt have Ayo on the regular dosis of frontline but the thing is that we have such a big stray dog problem that , almost every patch of grass in town is flea and tick infested and we end up having to deal with it a lot, so most people use frontline or similar products regularly. I didnt really have that problem with my last dog ( my great dane CHelo). I used to find a couple of ticks on him like once a year and usually they would dissapear with one application instead of having to regularly do preventive treatment with it. I will read up on the natural remedies, maybe I can use them next time without having to use the chemicals. I also read that these lice are very very uncommon in countries like United States or European countries,.. again, its the conditions of all the stray dogs that we have here. Its a shame, and there are a lot of organizations that try to help, but in the end, you know, when you have a lot of people that need aid, its really hard to get aid for animals. Thanks for the help….
  • Dogs & warts

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    4k Views
    BARTB
    Yes, it was. Being on the bottom of the foot, it was quite annoying, I guess. He still licks the spot occassionally but I suspect that may be 'cause its still a somewhat fresh wound more than anything else. Amazing that such a small thing could affect his behavior the way it seems to have. I just wish I could have seen something sooner. It was obviously bothering him for quite a while b4 there were any visual (to me) signs. Gosh, makes me want one of those dog tranlsater collars from the movie "UP"…..'sqirrell' :)
  • YOU Are Your Dog?s Advocate!

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    2k Views
    S
    After the first few years of shots, I do the titers…no more shots except rabies by law Otherwise, they don't get them.
  • Bumpy dogs?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    2k Views
    S
    Thanks everyone! Now I'm wracking my brain trying to remember where exactly her vaccines were. She got two in one day, and I preoccupied with holding her and giving her cookies! I keep rubbing it, and if anything, it seems a bit smaller, but I will absolutely let everyone know what happens next. Cheers
  • My dog had a Spinal injury!!!!

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    33
    0 Votes
    33 Posts
    18k Views
    BarklessdogB
    My wife's hand is worse where she can't bend her finger or lift objects. I finally got her to go to the doctor, they X rayed her hand and asked her how long she has had arthritis! So this is how she found out she has arthritis at age 48. It seems that her knuckle where she was bit has an inner infection, no broken bones, they put her hand & finger in a splint. The dog bite did not break the skin, but as any body who has been "really" bitten by a basenji knows they have bone crushing jaws. They leave horrible bruises even if they don't draw blood. The dog seems all better still, no more pain attacks. While petting him we noticed a scab on his ear after the fight. It goes all the way through his ear. The other dog bit a hole in his ear, when she tried to finish him!