Age issues or behavioral issues

[Sousa]

Ok I am going to be totally honest on here. Please do not attack me for what I say it has been a very hard road and I need helpful advice, answers, and ideas.

We have a Basenji (Sousa) that is 14 turning 15 at Christmas. We have had her since she was 3. She has been a handful as a pet for years but we managed. However in the last few years it has gotten way worse. She is getting very aggressive, food stealing wise. To the point we have to put her in a crate when we eat or she will get at the food off our plates.

She is loosing her sight and hearing as well as control over her bladder and bowel. I am cleaning up accidents 2-4 times a day. My house is being trashed. We put her in a crate in the garage during the day cause we can't leave her in the house alone for any length of time or she messes on the floor (sometimes right in front of us, literally in front of us). We can't block her in one part of the house (cage or door closed) cause she is very destructive. She shreds anything we put in her crate with her, beds, blanket, towel, etc. she will turn it to dust. She hates the crate but I don't have a choice, my home is getting wrecked.

She is developing lumps on her body (vet says they are fluid filled and not cancer), she had cancer on her eye twice and we had it removed.

She is also gagging all the time (kind of like a cat when coughing up a hair ball) but not always produces something. she has puked on our bed, on the floor, and also in our bed (not a pleasant find with feet in the night).

Again I am looking for information concerning other Basenjis that have gone through this, or suggestions to get through this. I am getting angry now, it is so hard to deal with all the messes with kids, job, and the dog. I am getting very tired of it…....being completely honest I am thinking we should have her put down, as she isn't' having much of a quality of life in the crate during the day or with me being angry at her.

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated!!

[Patty]

Personally I would take her to the vet to get her checked out for bowel or urinary infections. If she is losing sight and hearing she may be frightened. It sounds as though you need to step back a pace to calm your reactions. I can appreciate that you are getting fed up with all the work but she is an old dog.

My present oldie (15) has taken to peeing (and pooing) indoors at times but I know I need to put her outside more often as she doesn't have the control she once had. She has also become blind and is certainly more aggressive with the others because of that.

Any way first things first and do take her to the vet, please. Let us know how you get on.

[tanza]

I would agree… when they reach elder age... many things can contribute to behaviors... have you had her Thyroid "full" panel checked?

[agilebasenji]

@Patty:

Personally I would take her to the vet to get her checked out for bowel or urinary infections. If she is losing sight and hearing she may be frightened. It sounds as though you need to step back a pace to calm your reactions. I can appreciate that you are getting fed up with all the work but she is an old dog.

My present oldie (15) has taken to peeing (and pooing) indoors at times but I know I need to put her outside more often as she doesn't have the control she once had. She has also become blind and is certainly more aggressive with the others because of that.

Any way first things first and do take her to the vet, please. Let us know how you get on.

I have to agree with everything Patty wrote. Changing behavior ALWAYS needs a vet check. Increase aggresssion can be due to thyroid issues, pain, tick-born diseases, constant hunger (due to other things), etc. You didn't say in your post if you'd recently seen a vet and discussed her new issues.

My oldest (16 in December) has failing kidneys (nonFanconi) and does need to pee more often. So, I put pee pads down in the house in his favorite pee spots. He's usually pretty good about that, but he does still pee in other spots if I'm not watching him carefully or if he gets a bit aggitated about the sitting arrangements. Would your pup stay in an exercise pen? That would give her a little more room than a crate.