Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,788 
Location: Kentucky
|
Post by Kerri W on Apr 4, 2016 23:34:58 GMT
Our Jack Russell is 13. Over the past few months she seems to not be quite as sharp as she normally is and we chalked that up to her aging. She doesn't have "Jack Attacks" anymore. She isn't interested in chasing a ball very often. But really...she's 13, you know?!
She used to love to chase a fly if it came in the house. We had one in the house the other day and she completely ignored it. I told DH I thought she couldn't hear it. Then later DGS kept saying the magic word "treat" talking about rice krispie treats and she had no reaction at all. Now a few months ago she would have turned herself inside OUT at the mention of the word "treat." She was absolutely ridiculous about hearing that word.
I've also noticed her bark is much louder than normal. And when she has barked recently and we tell her to stop she ignores us. She has never barked often and has always been well behaved about stopping when we tell her to. Again...I don't think she's hearing us. If I call her name in a normal voice she sometimes reacts and sometimes doesn't.
Her yearly vet check is coming up so we'll ask then but I'm not really sure what to expect from an aging dog. Any advice about the hearing loss? Or other signs of aging? Tips on making her golden years the best?
|
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Apr 4, 2016 23:43:26 GMT
My sheltie it almost eleven and I can tell her hearing is getting worse, but she can certainly hear the important things. My last sheltie started losing his hearing around 12. You have to retrain yourself to give her physical cues. When it was time for dinner, I would bring a piece of the meal to the dog and he knew to go to his bowl if he wasn't watching me. They also sleep a lot. I would suggest that holding her when she barks and putting your finger on her nose (or whatever cue for stop) will help. I liken a dog with old age to living with a favorite old comedian. Even though they need you more and can be more work, just seeing them makes you smile.
Ha. My girl just came to my side and gave me the "it's dinnertime" look. Yes, I think I am the one who is trained.
|
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 4, 2016 23:48:13 GMT
My JRT does all those same crazy things and more, he's 15. We're pretty sure he's mostly deaf now. It used to be you could drop a piece of popcorn or something on the floor three rooms away and he was right there on it in seconds. Now I can drop it right next to his nose and he won't hear it and half the time won't see it or smell it either. He barks at blank walls and is super loud. He can't see very well in the dark and needs a light on to go up the stairs or jump off the bed. He sleeps a lot these days. Sometimes he pees in the house if we're not reading his mind that he needs to go out, and other times I let him out and he's not sure why he's out there.  But, he still seems to like being around us (well, ME), still enjoys stealing the other dog's food and getting treats, and overall seems pretty content so we carry on for now. |
|
scrapngranny
Pearl Clutcher
Only slightly senile
Posts: 4,822
|
Post by scrapngranny on Apr 4, 2016 23:59:38 GMT
My 14 year old border collie lost her hearing a couple of years ago. She almost stone deaf, at times she can hear certain pitches or vibrations. It has changed her personality quite a bit, because she misses verbal cues. I still talk to her all day long out of habit, but she has no idea what I'm saying. I laugh when my DH calls and calls her and she doesn't even turn her head, he forgets she can't hear him. It's part of geriatric dogs. She doesn't play anymore, but she loves to eat and her treat time.
|
|
|
|
Post by cmpeter on Apr 5, 2016 0:41:45 GMT
Our Dalmatian is the same age and almost completely deaf. She actually stopped barking as she lost her hearing. She can hear some very loud noises, like a loud clap, sneeze or cough. She also seems to forget why she went outside sometimes. We have transitioned to hand signals for stay and go. I flash the porch light to remind her to come in at night.
|
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Apr 5, 2016 0:49:10 GMT
Our Dalmatian is the same age and almost completely deaf. She actually stopped barking as she lost her hearing. She can hear some very loud noises, like a loud clap, sneeze or cough. She also seems to forget why she went outside sometimes. We have transitioned to hand signals for stay and go. I flash the porch light to remind her to come in at night. My dad did that for me in the summer when I was growing up.  |
|
|
|
Post by cmpeter on Apr 5, 2016 2:04:16 GMT
LOL! We have a wooded acre lot and she just gets lost wandering around and sniffing things on the trails in our back yard. I let her out right before I go to bed and don't want to be hanging around for 20 minutes while she explores. :-). She has plenty of daytime explore time.
|
|
