Welcome to week eight of Fenrir’s 12 Week Plan. This week we’ll continue to focus on your dog’s health and wellbeing. Along with regular health checks at the vet, there are things you should be paying attention to at home. It’s easy to know when something is wrong with yourself. You’ll notice symptoms and know it’s time to visit the doctor. Your dog can’t tell you when things have changed, so you need to pay some extra attention to them.
Taking your dog to the vet regularly is important, but some things can be caught early at home. Catching a change in health early improves the chance of successful treatment and management. Once a month, you can test some things at home to see if your dog needs an early or extra check up during the year.
The more time you spend with your dog, the better you’ll know them. You’ll get to know their normal behaviour, mannerisms, and quirks. If at any point you feel something is different or not quite right you should contact your vet for an appointment. It’s better safe than sorry. A clean bill of health is priceless and so is the peace of mind that comes with it.
Things that you can monitor at home include eyesight, hearing, mental health, and mobility. We’ll take a look at each below and go over how you can look out for changes to your dog’s health. We’ll even include some checklists and visuals to help you.
Pay Attention to Your Dog’s Eyesight
Dog’s normally go blind gradually as they age. It doesn’t often happen quickly or overnight though it can feel like it. One day your dog seems fine and the next you realise something isn’t right. The gradual transition gives them time to adjust and you may not even notice. That’s why getting to know your dog and watching for changes in behaviour is so important.
Bumping into Objects
You may notice that your dog has started to bump into things in your home such as coffee tables, chairs, and sofas, but even more likely they will bump into or trip over new items. They aren’t used to them being there and if they’re having trouble seeing, they may not notice that something is in their way until they bump into it.
Hesitation with or Avoiding Obstacles
Hesitation on the stairs or when dealing with other obstacles such as doors or getting up on the sofa is another indicator that your dog may be having trouble seeing. Imagine closing your eyes and trying to walk up the stairs, you’re going to be a lot less sure of your footsteps. They may even choose to avoid the stairs or jumping up onto the couch, because it’s so uncomfortable for them.
Anxiety in New Places
New environments can already be extremely stressful, but imagine not being able to see all of those new things. It’s going to be disorienting and scary. If you notice that your dog is more fearful than usual, that could be a sign of their eyesight being worse than usual.
Easily Startled
Your dog uses many ques to know what’s going on around them. They can hear you, but they also see you and others approaching. They can see when they’re about to be pet or handled. If you notice that your dog is started by you touching them despite you being in their field of vision, it’s time for a call to the vet. They should be able to see you if they’re looking in your direction after all.
Not Making Eye Contact
A lot of dogs will make eye contact for a variety of reasons. Whether they’re excited and trying to get you to play, begging for treats, or trying to rush you out the door for a car ride, they’re most likely looking at you as part of communicating. A dog who is losing eyesight is going to have a hard time making eye contact when they don’t know where to look.
Squinting or Pawing at the Face
Just like you, your dog will squint and run their eyes when things are blurry or having trouble seeing. So, if you notice your dog pawing at their face an unusual amount or squinting a lot, it’s worth checking out.
Along with these behavioural changes, there are some physical factors that you can check for as well. A visual inspection will be all you need.
- Cloudy Eyes
- White Spots On The Eyes
- Redness In Or Around The Eyes
- Swelling Around The Eyes
Testing Your Dog’s Eyesight
So, if you’re suspicious, what tests can you perform at home for more definitive evidence? There are a handful of simple yet effective tests you can try at home before booking your vet appointment. They should never be used in place of going to the vet, but the more information you have for them, the better. They’ll be able to help your dog more readily.
Menace Test
You’ll want to conduct this test in a well lit room. You can use either your hand or a toy that will get your dog’s attention for this one. Start with the object about 45cm (18in) away from your dog’s face and quickly move it towards them until it’s about 8cm (3in) away. Your dog should blink or turn their head away just like when a bug or something comes towards your face. Be careful not to touch your dog at all though. They should be using visual cues only and you don’t want to accidentally hit them in the face or eyes.
Light Response Test
We’ve all done this at the doctor’s office before. In a dimly lit or dark room, hold a flashlight about 8cm (3in) away from your dog’s face. Their pupils should respond by contracting. If their pupils stay dilated, it’s definitely time to make that vet appointment.
Dazzle Reflex Test
This test combines the previous two. Have you ever turned your phone flashlight on in the middle of the night or had a camera flash go off in your face? You blink in response to the sudden light. This is the dazzle reflex. If you suddenly shine a light in your dog’s face, they should blink. This test works best in a dimly lit room, but you can also see how your dog reacts to the sunlight in their face when they leave the house.
Cotton Ball Test
You’ll want a well-lit room for this test as it’s meant to test how reactive your dog’s eyes are to stimuli. Take a cotton ball and hold it about 15cm (6in) away from your dog’s face. Now you can either drop it or quickly toss it off to the side. Your dog should be pretty quick to see where it goes. A dog should be curious about an unusual yet harmless object that they don’t see all that often.
If your dog fails any of these tests or you have other cause for concern, you should make an appointment with your vet to have their eyes checked.
Pay Attention to Your Dog’s Hearing
Hearing is another important sense for your dog. They rely on it for so many things from communication to knowing when someone is home from work. When they start to become hard of hearing, it can have a big impact on the way you interact with them. You’ll have to make adjustments to training routines and how you communicate. So, catching hearing loss early is important.
There are some behavioural changes you can be on the lookout for in your dog that may point to hearing loss. Let’s take a look at what you need to keep an eye out for.
Doesn’t Greet You
Whether you have dogs, cats, birds, or some other exotic pet; we’re all used to being greeted after being out of the house. Some of us don’t even make it in the door before our animals are coming to greet us. If you have a dog that usually greets you, but they suddenly stop or do it less often, they may not hear you entering your home as well as they used to.
Doesn’t Respond to Their Name
We’ve all had that dog who has “selective hearing.” They ignore you when you call for them, but you know they heard you. They might give you the side eye or their ears perk up before they go back to ignoring you. You’ll need to know your dog really well to know if they’re just ignoring you or if they’re actually having trouble hearing you. If you aren’t sure which it is, you should check in with your vet just in case.
Isn’t Aware of Those Around Them
Most of us don’t have just one dog. We usually have at least two or we have cats and dogs. The important part of this is that there are multiple animals in the household. If you notice that your dog is more startled than usual by the others in the house, they may not hear them nearby. This can cause them to panic or startle when bumped into or when someone suddenly passes by.
This may also be the case with you. If your dog doesn’t notice you until you’re close enough that they can feel the vibration from your footsteps, they probably can’t hear you coming and they’re using other cues to detect you.
Testing Your Dog’s Hearing
There aren’t as many tests for hearing as eyesight, but it’s easy enough and the results are pretty definitive. If they don’t pass the test, it’s time for a check up. Stand in a location where your dog can’t see you, but you can still see them, or have another person in the room with your dog for the test so they can watch for results. Then make a loud, sharp sound such as a whistle, clap, dropping an object. Make it loud and quick. Your dog should look towards the sound, their ears should perk up, or they may even come to investigate. They should have some sort of reaction.
Pay Attention to Your Dog’s Mental Health
As your dog ages, they may begin to mentally deteriorate. Cognitive dysfunction is a pretty common ailment as dog’s age. You’ll need to talk to your vet in order to help manage it and see how you can help keep quality of life high. While there is no at home test for this, there are some signs you can look out for. If you find yourself more frustrated than usual with your older dog’s behaviour, take a look at the list below and see if any of it looks familiar to you. It could be a sign of this disorder.
Anxiety
If you notice a change in your dog’s level of anxiety, it’s worth checking into. Especially if they seem restless. They should be comfortable in their own home and around family, but if they’re having trouble recognizing things, they may become anxious and uncomfortable. It can cause them to pant or pace. They may also become distressed with loud or certain noises, and it can also manifest as new separation anxiety.
Less Engaged
Most dogs want to be part of the family and activities. If you notice that your dog just isn’t as interested, this could be due to cognitive dysfunction. You may also notice them sleeping more or that they have become less interested in play time.
Repetitive Behaviours
These behaviours are brought on by the stress that cognitive dysfunction causes. You want to keep an eye out for excessive amounts of pacing, licking, and chewing. Tail chasing can also be an anxious behaviour to keep an eye out for.
Disorientation
This is one of the most noticeable behavioural changes, because it looks so odd. You may find that your dog has forgotten how to navigate furniture. They’re not sure how to get around the coffee table or the dining room chairs anymore. You may find them “stuck” in a corner or staring at a wall. They could possibly be having trouble finding their food and water bowls. Crying at night while pacing, because they’ve forgotten where they are is also a common symptom of being disoriented as well.
House Soiling
Most dogs are so good about going out to do their business. They’ll go to the door or lead you along to be let out. If your once perfectly house trained dog has started soiling indoors, it could be an indication of a bigger problem. They may not be able to find you or the back door to be let out like they should be.
Change in Sleep Patterns
Stress and anxiety can cause trouble sleeping and being on the mental decline is certainly very stressful for your dog. If you notice that they’re sleeping more often during the day or not sleeping through the night anymore, it’s worth checking out.
Irritability
Changes in personality can also be a sign of cognitive problems. Your dog may be more grouchy or defensive than usual. This can be due to anxiety or not recognizing family members and their surroundings.
Pay Attention To Your Dog's Mobility
This is one of the biggest factors when it comes to quality of life. How easily does your dog get around and are their joints causing them pain as they age? There are a couple of physical signs to watch out for to help assess your dog's mobility.
Slow Walking or Limping
This can be a sign of pain in the joints. If your dog is older, they may be experiencing inflammation of the joints. That can hurt and cause them to try and find relief through limping or they may walk more slowly to try and reduce the pain they’re experiencing.
Trouble Sitting or Standing
Older humans can sympathise with this one. When joints aren’t working properly, it can be a lot more difficult to get yourself up and down whether it’s from your favourite chair or your bed.
Slipping While Walking
Pain and loss of mobility in the wrist can cause your dog to slide on tile and hardwood flooring. This is because they won’t want to put as much weight on their paw and they may not be able to lay it flat and use their paw pads correctly. For dogs struggling with this, try adding some rugs to the home to give them extra traction.
Stiffness
Have you noticed that your dog stretches every time they get up from a nap or that they shake out? They may even do both. If you notice these movements look less fluid than usual, this could be a sign of joint stiffness. We’ve all had those mornings where it takes us a little longer to get out of bed than usual because of a stiff or painful joint.
Favouring a Limb
You might notice your dog favouring one leg over the other to reduce pressure on an inflamed joint. This can cause limping or an uneven gait. It’s not always just one limb though. Sometimes you’ll notice your dog walking oddly, but you aren’t sure why. They may be shifting their weight to their front or rear legs instead of to the left or right.
Hesitation During Play
Your dog may become less willing to pounce, run, and jump during play due to joint pain. Just like you’d be hesitant to run or walk with an ankle injury, inflammation and pain will deter your dog from exercise as well.
Trouble Jumping or Climbing
Most dogs are happy to hop up on the couch for cuddles or follow you up the stairs to bed. Your dog may start to avoid these things if their joints are causing them pain or their range of motion has become limited.
Conclusion
We know your dog’s health is important to you and it’s important to us too. We want to arm you with all of the knowledge we can. It’ll make monitoring your dog’s health and vet visits so much less stressful for the both of you.
We know these last few weeks have been pretty dense, but all of your hard work will pay off, so don’t give up!
Do you have any helpful tips on keeping an eye on your dog’s well being at home? Make sure you share with us over social media! We always want to hear from you all.