You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

As animals get older a variety of behavioural changes may develop

Whilst behavioural changes in old dogs may be similar to those in younger dogs, and have similar causes,  there is a different incidence. The most common behavioural changes are :

• Separation anxiety - the most common problem in dogs over 10 years old
  • manifests as vocalisation, sometimes urinating or defaecating in the house.
  • often precipitated by something - death of a member of the family, fear due to a storm, change in routine
• Loss of housetraining - the most common behavioural problem in old cats
  • Often due to separation anxiety
  • May be due to CNS degeneration - senility
• Destructive behaviour
  • Most often due to separation anxiety
• Aggression - dominance aggression is the most common form, but reduced sensory input and painful conditions may also make the individual more irritable and likely to be aggressive. Aggression is also a feature of hyperthyroidism in older cats, and liver disease due to hyperammonaemia.
• Sleep disturbances - Restlessness may be due to altered toilet behaviour, pain or discomfort, separation anxiety. Excessive sleeping may be due to reduced sensory stimulation due to loss of normal sense - hearing, sight.
• Loss of obedience - due to loss of senses.

Problems are most likely to occur when :

• A new, younger puppy or kitten is introduced into the household which challenges the older pet for dominance.
• When there are major changes in established routines - daily schedules, people interactions
• Boredom
• There are medical problems - including painful disease, loss of sensory perception, loss of mobility or the onset of senility

Treatment involves desensitisation or counter-conditioning and drug therapy alone is unlikely to be successful.

Avoiding separation anxiety is the simplest strategy for these problems:

• Allow the dog to accompany the owner to work
• Introduce a companion into the household - another pet
• Use of "dog sitters" during the times when the owner is away

Treatment for elimination problems can be more difficult :

• Re-house training
• Castration is sometimes successful for male urination problems
• Discourage intruding dominant cats if the problem is territory related

Other treatments include :

• Castration for male dominance aggression
• Analgesics for painful conditions
• Specific therapy for diseases
• Toys to relieve boredom

Updated January 2016