Post by ReggieK on Apr 27, 2021 5:54:47 GMT -5
Not sure how to describe this, so this maybe a bit long as I try.
My Layla seems to have had a bit of a personality change. It started, or at least I first noticed it, last October. She would have been just over 9 years of age at that time, she's nearly 10 now.
We would go out for a walk and get to a point, where taking a certain direction would take us back home, and she would be very stubborn about going that way. I thought nothing of it initially, just perhaps she was cold. But it got worse and now walks are very short. There are people we would meet that she would adore, but now she ignores them and just points/pulls towards home constantly.
Since then her behaviour has deteriorated further. Now we get to an earlier point on the walk (is same no matter what direction we walk in) and she is on her toes, gets a little skittish and is constantly looking behind her. She can even try to dart across me to go, what I think, is a quicker way home. It can be quite disconcerting at times and I really have to be on the ball else I could end up on the floor. I should say that she does not seem scared at all, just keen to go back home. When we get near the house I let her off her lead and she sprints home and does the spinning around in an excited fashion thing. I let her in and she runs to kitchen waiting for her post walk treat. She does not seem scared or in any pain.
At the same time as this I have noticed she reacts less at home. I can tap on window and she will not move, I have stood behind her and shouted, clapped and whistled and not even an ear twitch. I am beginning to think she may be going deaf. Perhaps it is the "going" deaf part that is causing the behaviour when out walking? By that I mean perhaps she can partially hear noises she cannot identify which has her on edge, but not scared.
I have been to the vets and had a full blood test done, which revealed nothing. Vet reports she has cataracts beginning, but they do not seem to be impacting her that much as she weaves in and out of part open doors and furniture in strange places with ease. They did also say that she has some wax build up in one ear. I have been using some drops for this but if it was just one ear I would still not expect the reaction I am getting. The only other thing the vet mentioned as a possible option was dementia, but she shows no other typical signs of that.
I have to say, apart for the walks being no fun now, I probably would not worry too much about it but I am moving house in a months time and am seriously worried the new surroundings will make matters much worse. She has only known the house and area we live in now the whole time she has been with me (7-8 years)
If she is going deaf so be it, we can live with and work around it, but the not knowing or understanding has me on edge. Anyone experienced similar?
Thanks
K
My Layla seems to have had a bit of a personality change. It started, or at least I first noticed it, last October. She would have been just over 9 years of age at that time, she's nearly 10 now.
We would go out for a walk and get to a point, where taking a certain direction would take us back home, and she would be very stubborn about going that way. I thought nothing of it initially, just perhaps she was cold. But it got worse and now walks are very short. There are people we would meet that she would adore, but now she ignores them and just points/pulls towards home constantly.
Since then her behaviour has deteriorated further. Now we get to an earlier point on the walk (is same no matter what direction we walk in) and she is on her toes, gets a little skittish and is constantly looking behind her. She can even try to dart across me to go, what I think, is a quicker way home. It can be quite disconcerting at times and I really have to be on the ball else I could end up on the floor. I should say that she does not seem scared at all, just keen to go back home. When we get near the house I let her off her lead and she sprints home and does the spinning around in an excited fashion thing. I let her in and she runs to kitchen waiting for her post walk treat. She does not seem scared or in any pain.
At the same time as this I have noticed she reacts less at home. I can tap on window and she will not move, I have stood behind her and shouted, clapped and whistled and not even an ear twitch. I am beginning to think she may be going deaf. Perhaps it is the "going" deaf part that is causing the behaviour when out walking? By that I mean perhaps she can partially hear noises she cannot identify which has her on edge, but not scared.
I have been to the vets and had a full blood test done, which revealed nothing. Vet reports she has cataracts beginning, but they do not seem to be impacting her that much as she weaves in and out of part open doors and furniture in strange places with ease. They did also say that she has some wax build up in one ear. I have been using some drops for this but if it was just one ear I would still not expect the reaction I am getting. The only other thing the vet mentioned as a possible option was dementia, but she shows no other typical signs of that.
I have to say, apart for the walks being no fun now, I probably would not worry too much about it but I am moving house in a months time and am seriously worried the new surroundings will make matters much worse. She has only known the house and area we live in now the whole time she has been with me (7-8 years)
If she is going deaf so be it, we can live with and work around it, but the not knowing or understanding has me on edge. Anyone experienced similar?
Thanks
K
