I think Opus might be going a little senile and I wondered if any of you guys with elderly bassets might be able to offer some advice.
He will be 15 in October, and apart from being blind he has very little problems physically- unless it's getting up from pancake basset pose, that takes a little longer, and I put that down to muscle degeneration.
But of late he's taken to wandering about the house and appears a little confused at times. He's eating well and as obsessed with food as ever, but these episodes are increasing.
Yesterday I found him standing in the bathroom just staring at nothing. When I patted him he seemed happy enough and followed me back to my office, but it was a little unsettling.
He's starting to lose control over his bladder and bowel regularly, which is again I think a matter of degeneration. The mind though is a worry. I have taken to playing tricks and games with him again, getting him to give the paw, sit, stay and so on, to keep him mentally sharp. We take a stroll around the block every evening, but he's not enjoying them as much as he used to do and seems a little fearful at times, something he never was.
He is better in the morning than the evening.
Anyone experienced this? And is there anything I can do to help him?
He will be 15 in October, and apart from being blind he has very little problems physically- unless it's getting up from pancake basset pose, that takes a little longer, and I put that down to muscle degeneration.
But of late he's taken to wandering about the house and appears a little confused at times. He's eating well and as obsessed with food as ever, but these episodes are increasing.
Yesterday I found him standing in the bathroom just staring at nothing. When I patted him he seemed happy enough and followed me back to my office, but it was a little unsettling.
He's starting to lose control over his bladder and bowel regularly, which is again I think a matter of degeneration. The mind though is a worry. I have taken to playing tricks and games with him again, getting him to give the paw, sit, stay and so on, to keep him mentally sharp. We take a stroll around the block every evening, but he's not enjoying them as much as he used to do and seems a little fearful at times, something he never was.
He is better in the morning than the evening.
Anyone experienced this? And is there anything I can do to help him?