By that we mean she will sometimes bark at the closet door instead of the front door when the doorbell rings, and she is having more accidents in the house. The condition is not senility, but rather an Alzheimer-like disease of geriatric dogs and cats. In addition to the behaviors which you described, other signs may also include decreased activity and interaction with the family, aimless wandering, barking without reason, getting stuck in a corner, and increased daytime sleeping. It is important to note that other diseases must be considered with this list of symptoms. Arthritis, for example, causes reduced activity.
Dental disease can be painful, and cause reduced appetite and energy levels.
Hypothyroidism may be the cause of decreased activity. Hyperadrenocorticism causes increased thirst and urination, which may lead to urination in the house. Therefor, a thorough diagnostic evaluation, including a physical exam, neurologic evaluation, complete blood screen, and urinalysis is required in order to make the proper diagnosis. It would be worth consulting your veterinarian about Maddie s behavior. Buster has been biting at his tail and dragging his rear-end across the floor.