The Shar-Pei Forums-Health Behavior Diet & Rescue Info and Discussion Group

I've had him since Saturday (he is a foster), and he has been mostly good except he's not eating.
There are a few things I worry about, but my husband is losing his patience with his barking.

They say he's anywhere from 6-8 years old, but I think he's older. He supposedly has sight and hearing, but I think both are very close to gone. He doesn't realize I'm home until I put my hand in front of his nose, but when he already knows I'm home, he seems more responsive and aware of me. Sometimes he'll just pace around looking unsure and confused (dementia?) He hasn't soiled inside and is great on a leash, loves to go out for walks. The day he came to me he fell down a flight of stairs while I was talking with the rescue worker. He didn't hesitate and just fell down. He's a nice, quiet boy (other than the barking) and I really hope I can work with him long enough to find him a home. I just don't know how to get through to him, because he seems unresponsive to voice commands. Does not respond to praise or "come."

He has no interest in treats, toys, chewables, or comfy beds. All he is doing right now is lying down, getting up, pacing around, and lying down again.

I crated him during the day for a bit and during the night on Saturday. It's a hard time trying to get him in, but he is very gentle and sweet. He barked the entire time. Last night (Sunday night) I left him loose in the house, but he barked all night again. It seems if you're not up and about, he gets anxious and starts barking. Since he's senile, I'm lost as to how to get through to him. The rescue is dropping off a citronella collar today in hopes it helps. My main concern right now is my husband's and neighbors' patience.

This Saturday we are going to see Dr. Vidt and hopefully we'll get a clue whether he's almost deaf, almost blind, or old age is really confusing him.

He has also not eaten since Saturday. He has kennel cough right now and is on clindamycin. He drinks constantly, but drinks very delicately and doesn't get much water in at each sitting. His urine is low in volume and very yellow.

Maybe I'm too worried..has anyone had experience with a (possibly) senile rescue dog? I'm really hoping this citronella candle works..my husband is not happy as he works a hard job outdoors and needs some sleep.

I don't know about the collar, the barking may subside when he gets over intial changes. See they bark non stop in the dang shelter so it can become attention , or satisfying in some way.
What if you were to give him a benadryl ?
Are you feeding kibble ? Put a little broth in it (I measure 1/2 cup for Dee's) then I know how much water she has drank and make sure she is getting plenty.
How is he with the other dogs?
Maybe one of those Thundershirts?
As far as confused he is - He was used to living one life and now has gone through so many changes and has become anxious because of all.
Dr. Tintle has some medication she likes to use for shelter /trauma rehome dogs why don't you call her office and ask and Dr. V can get you some .
Try a stuffed kong in the crate, big bone - Make sure you reward him when he is quiet and ignore (I know it's hard) when he is not. I kept chicken on me quiet dogs get chicken. Say good boy and drop it .
Does he need entropion?

maybe he doesnt like to be alone. when he was in the crate, at anytime was he alone in the room? idk but i no if i ever left lola in a room alone she would flip out. she is always with some one. not to long ago my son closed his bed room door, not knowing lola was under his bed, and she was bugging out, scratching at the door and barking. she has access to every room in the house, and she sure did not like being locked behind that door where she couldnt see anyone. as long as the door is open and she can get to you, shes fine. i felt so bad that day, when i opened the door she cuddled her head into my chest, (thats what she does when she wants me to baby her). and i dont mind cuddeling her, not one bit, but i have to admitt i felt terrible when she ran to me looking for comfort.
maybe he's afraid to be alone because his hearing and sight arent as good as they use to be. i cant imagine what he must be going threw, i sure hope he finds comfort some where. he sounds like such a sweet guy. good luck i will be thinking of leo and pray that he find a loving forever home. good luck

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Lola and Jenuine

Hi sassy, how might the benadryl help?

I am feeding him kibble, and have not tried broth yet. Will try tonight. i've tried a variety of canned foods and treats, and he has no interest in any of it.

He is fine with the other dogs. He displays mild interest (sniffs them) but doesn't seem to be too interested in much.

A big hurdle is that he doesn't respond to treats, praise, reprimands, or any commands at all. No reaction at all. Sometimes it seems like he can't hear, and sometimes he will stand there and look in your general direction. The only thing that seems to get a reaction out of him is a hand in his face (he will sniff and give a few kisses) and a leash being clipped onto his collar. He likes to go for walks.

His eyes are open, but he has a cloudy cast. It was said it wasn't cataracts, that they weren't sure what it was from.

I feel terrible because he's a very gentle, sweet dog, and I had approval from the husband before taking him in..I guess he just assumed the dog would be silent like our two. I really want him to stay. I enjoy his company. I just can't leave or go to sleep or he will bark nonstop. Sigh. He is a sweet natured boy but I just don't know how I can help him.

Hopefully my husband can keep his frustration at bay until Saturday and i can go go Dr. Vidt and hopefully understand him more.

Sounds like separation anxiety....on this I would shoot Dr Tintle an email as she may have some suggestions on this....she has done alot of research on this (and many other Pei issues) over the years. There may be some kind of medication or supplement that will help. The Thunder Shirt may also help him....it does seem to help some with separation anxiety issues.

Im wondering though on the "senility". Could be that or a combination of other factors. The way you describe him (and the falling incident) makes me wonder about possible vestibular syndrome, perhaps due to chronic inner ear infection or something. Another thing with him not seeming to be aware...I wonder if he may be hearing impaired as well as sight impaired?

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Blessing's CSP
http://blessingssharpei.com

Hi Jan, I wondered about the ears too, especially since they were very dirty. The vet who checked him out with the rescue didn't find any infections. He doesn't appear to be off balance or be bothered by his ears. I just figured his joints were worn down and stiff. When you get him outside for his walk, he sets into a very handsome bounce and seems just fine. When he's not bouncing along, he looks stiff. He managed to jump a pet gate, knocking it down to get out of the kitchen to the living room.

I wasn't expecting him to be so old and unresponsive before he got to me. He just seems like he's in his own little world. Hoping i can learn how to best integrate him so my husband will let him stay and when potential adopters come to see him, they will get a greeting and not just a blank stare.

sorry he is having these issues, try to tackle one thing at a time,
you can buy a special collar that stops dogs from barking. it sounds like he's basically blind and deaf, if you bang 2 pots/pans above his head, see if he reacts, that's what we did at the animal hospital years ago if we thought a dog might be deaf, if he shows no response, then he's deaf. it will be very difficult to find a home for a dog who is blind and deaf, put a baby gate up so he cant fall down any more stairs, block off areas where he could get hurt, i've had deaf and blind dogs, they can adapt if given time, he is probably so lost right now trying to figure out his situation yes he needs a full exam from the vet to see where things stand. i hope he is not deaf and blind

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After the vet assesses him you will be able to understand how to calm him.
In the meantime, if he is deaf/blind. You can create a way for him to 'find' you and know
where you are.
We use scent --a unique smell only worn by me....cedar oil. I dab it on myself. Let our dog sniff it.
That way she can find me with her nose when. For Leo--it may help if he panics because you walked out of the room.
If Noodle is awake I touch her and tap her and put her in her bed, so she knows, im going to bed. The routine
calmed her down. Same time, same routine, click on a light, put my shoes near her bed. Tap her twice
and lead her to her bed (now she gets in her bed with just a tap tap). Kiss on gently on the head. And she knows that we are all going to sleep.
Worth a try.
Works well for blind dogs also.

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A good exam will tell you a lot!
Here is something that has worked for dogs anxiety, if he isn't deaf.
If he is visually impaired he may be barking to hear the sound bounce off to tell him where he is in relation to things around him
Benadryl will sedate him in a temporary ways and help him relax . It is safe under most conditions.

Forgot this important link!
http://throughadogsear.com/music-to-calm-canine-1/

Im sure Dr Vidt will be able to help and tell you what medical problems he may have...
He can give advice on how to help him....It takes several weeks for most rescue pei to adjust some take longer then that with some things.The thunder shirt may be a good investment...If hes blind he will figure out the house in time..Im against scents as it can confuse him...Plus you do not want him looking for you 24/7..I think time will fix a lot of it when he learns your home and the people/dogs.

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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shar-peifsf

I think my first post was just my first time foster jitters. After the first two nights, Leo isn't barking at night anymore. He hasn't made a single accident in the house and is a good boy, though I wish I could find a way to connect with him when his hearing and sight are impaired. He is very mellow and doesn't seek attention - pretty much just does his own thing. He perks up when we're about to go for walks, though. He doesn't seem to much enjoy when I give him attention, but he doesn't seem uncomfortable with, either. I got him a dog bed and he doesn't use it, prefers to just find a spot on the hardwood. Looks like his joints aren't that great, so I wish he would enjoy some comfort.

I wonder if he has a goofy or affectionate side that will come out, or if he'll always be kind of a loner. He'll make a great companion for someone who wants a well-behaved, easy to care for friend, and he's a great walking companion - I barely remember he's there, he just glides along next to me.

I hope he opens up and starts to enjoy life more here.

i'm glad he is settling in, i would just sit next to him and that will let him know you are there and he is safe, does he like being brushed ? ears scratched? tummy rubs ? i would not bombard him with too much affection at once. sounds like walks are his favorite thing is he eating ok ? you've done so much for him already, just by giving him a safe place to relax, hopefully in time he will come out of his shell a bit

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Glad things are improving! I have been thinking about you and Leo. It is so hard not knowing much about these guys previous life.
Looking forward to hearing about your visit with the vet. Thanks for taking such good care of Leo. He deserves some kindness in his life.
Kim

I was thinking about you too! Actually It took Dee almost 6 weeks to smile and start being happy - she was indifferent . Not bad , sometimes uncomfortable as things were a little overwhelming for her, but slowly she came around.

It can be very traumatic for these rescue dogs, especially the seniors. Being uprooted or abandoned by their pack then often further traumatized by the stress and fear of being in a shelter. Some can take awhile to get past that trauma....to grieve for their lost pack, recover from the stress/fear, learn to trust and feel safe again and then to be able to bond with a new person. It requires patience with these cases but when their trust and love is finally granted, it is all the sweeter. Read a beautiful story of this at the topic links below.

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8108&hilit=+hope

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8114&p=103125#p103125

It also may benefit him to be given some EsterC (500 to 1000mg daily) and some glucosamine & chondrotin for the joint issues. Bromelain (a supplement) can help with joint inflamation too (250-500mg daily).

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Blessing's CSP
http://blessingssharpei.com

Thanks for your thoughts and input. I really appreciate the support. It's a lot easier now, though. It's hard to imagine how someoen would dump such a well-mannered dog. Other than the barking the first 2 nights, he respects my home and hasn't shown a bit of aggression..he is welcome to stay here as long as he wants.

As of now, my husband doesn't care much for him ( know this will change in time). I almost don't want to let him go, but I would like him to stay with me as long as it takes for him to find a good home with someone who will feed him good food and take him for long walks every day. Last night I fell asleep on the couch and he woke me up by sniffing my face, and his tail was wagging fast. Earlier when husband was cleaning his fish tank, Leo was watching him with curiosity..he's coming around

Go Leo Go.
I am so happy you are fostering him.
Its one of the most healing times and you are part of
his journey.
I really do think he will blossom even more!

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Healing is such a perfect description of what is happening with these dogs. I can't stress how rewarding it is to see the improvement in behavior and health on almost a daily basis.
I know we will never know the pain and mistreatment these dogs have gone through prior to the shelter but we defintely can make an impact on their future.
Jan I loved the posts. I have to admit I shed a few tears. How can you abandon your dog especially your senior dog?
I am sure you all will see lots of pics of Leo and Albert.
Kim

We are thinking about Leo. Keep us posted! Oh we love to see smily pictures
too.

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So glad to hear all is well

I don't have a lot of photos since Leo's still recovering from kennel cough and has a crusty nose. It's getting a lot better so will have more soon. Here are a few I took of the two hanging around.

He's such a cutie ! So glad to see he is safe!

Nice pictures. Thanks for update.

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