– continued
We had decided that during the festive season, a break would be taken from the science of geriatrics (the treatment and care of the elderly dog) and instead we would speak about matters pertaining to resolutions for the New Year. So, over the previous few weeks our focus was on the adoption of pets from the Animal Clinic and Shelter of the GSPCA. Now, let us return to discussions on the elderly dog.
On December 7, 2014, we mentioned that with the decline of cellular/organ functions in the old dog, several changes follow. Let us look today at some behavioural changes that can also occur and which may be linked to old age.
Behavioural changes
I suppose, just like with us humans (after all, dogs and humans are both mammals), a dog’s deterioration, based on old age, may reflect itself also in an attitude change. For one thing, the animal often becomes irascible. Crankiness and a heightened irritability are pronounced, especially relative to changes in his environment. Old dogs just can’t stand change. In other words, if Rover likes to
