Insight on my dog

[LaFleche]

This sounds like senile dementia to me.

 

[RiverOtter]

Scent is a dog's dominant sense. When she barks, try going to her - do make sure she sees or hears you coming as well, and cup your hand just in front of her nose and let her take in your scent, See if that calms her.

Old dogs can get nervous when their vision starts to blur or hearing fades. While they're not deaf or blind, they are still aware that they used to be able to see to the fence, but now they can't, so anything might be there. And is that ringing in their ears really ringing, or is it something else? And so they bark. It's stressful for them. So give them your scent, as a way of showing them you're right there and everything is ok.

 

[Vickischics]

As some dogs get older, they become more attached to their human. Like the saying, " A Velcro dog". She feels very safe and secure next to you. When she can not hear your individualize noices or see you in the vicinity, she becomes anxious and afraid. Therefore, she begins her barking. Her barking allows you to hear where she is so you can come to her side. You are her security, you are the reason she lives. She is no longer independent able to be secure without you in her presence.
She doesn't need to have keen sight or smell. Dogs that have been family members in the pack require them more as they age. Their pack has changed but, you have been her constant.

Can you not take her outside with you? If your afraid of her wondering off, leash her near you.
She has been your companion as long as she's been in your house. You care for her, feed her, water her, rub her, talk to her.
Over the years, she has heard you cry, yell and laugh. She is at a complete lost without you as she ages.
Enjoy her as long as she walks. Unfortunately, the day will come when she goes to the Rainbow Bridge to wait for you.
That is when you will truly miss her bark, her fur, her snorts and slobber.
You can also try CBD oil for dogs. I understand it really helps. You can also try the "Thunder Wrap". I hear success stories about those too.
Good Luck. Her behavior is normal for an old gal.

 

[lomine]

I also think it sounds like dementia,. My old boy has it. It does get worse at night. It wasn't too bad at first but now he really can't deal with any stress. A few weeks back my parents were visiting with their dog. My dog knows them very well and gets along with their dog. But the change in his routine was too much and he sat in the middle of the living room and started barking. Not a typical reaction. He was just too stressed.

The thing that has helped the most is Rescue Remedy. He gets it at night so he can sleep through the night. And I'll give it to him anytime I think he might get stressed. The day my parents came, he got a dose and was sleeping in his bed five minutes later.

 

[DrakeMom]

My gosh, they give gabapentin to dogs? This is way out there, but my husband was on gabapentin after a severe back injury from crashing his motorcycle. He stopped taking it after a month or so cause he was experiencing some very strange mental side effects. I also have a CRAZY neighbor who I know takes the same medication for her back pain and she is a freakin kook. I might be really reaching but could that medication be causing your pup to have abnormal behavior? How long has she been on it?

Idk this may be an old thread but our almost 12 yr old Boxer takes it. My younger sister was in an accident and injured her spine and took it and didn't have any weird side effects. Also one of my coworkers has had 5 surgeries on her spine and takes gabapentin. She acts normal also.