Cocker Specific Discussion > Oldies (Over 9s)

My old girl is getting anxious now she's deaf.

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PennyB:
One thing that might help is melatonin as I know it has helped with some dogs - you can't get it in the UK but you can get it via UK websites who send it from abroad

elaine.e:
William, who's 11, has become almost completely deaf over the last few months. He can still hear me if I call his name in a particular high pitch and loudly. He hears Louis if he barks, typically in response to next door's Beagles baying and growling along the fenceline >:(, the doorbell and post coming through the letterbox, and joins in. Louis is away for a few days at the moment while William recovers from surgery and William hasn't heard the Beagles, doorbell or post coming through the letterbox.

I think going deaf has affected William's confidence, which surprised me because he's an outgoing, confident dog normally, and has left him feeling confused and isolated. He already understands hand signals because I taught them as well as verbal signals when he was a puppy. He's sleeping more than he used to and I think that's just because being deaf means he has less mental stimulation because he's aware of less. So I'm making sure I spend some time playing games with him for a few minutes several times a day to help keep him mentally stimulated and less isolated. I also wake him up and include him in things like going in the garden to fill the bird feeder or hang washing out. Before he was deaf he'd be alert and follow me into the garden. Now I have to make sure he knows I'm going out there!

Ben's mum:

--- Quote from: elaine.e on October 08, 2015, 09:12:20 AM ---I think going deaf has affected William's confidence, which surprised me because he's an outgoing, confident dog normally, and has left him feeling confused and isolated.

--- End quote ---

This sums Ben (12) as well.  He hears loud noises but not quieter ones, but whereas he was always bombproof to noise now he is really frightened and panicky, the other night I dropped my ipad and it landed on the floor near to where he was asleep with a huge bang, he got up and started running round the room crying it was just so upsetting to see, his heart was pumping and it took ages for him to calm down   :'(
I also notice Ben has become more needy and follows us round the house for reassurance to see where we are.  Its hard to know if the anxiety is due to age or deafness or possibly both but the plus side for me is he is even more cuddly than ever   :luv:

Helen:
It is really hard this aging dog ownership thing :(

I'm glad we have this support board for us owners of special vintage dogs  :luv:

elaine.e:

--- Quote from: Helen on October 13, 2015, 04:36:38 PM ---It is really hard this aging dog ownership thing :(

I'm glad we have this support board for us owners of special vintage dogs  :luv:

--- End quote ---

So am I :D

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