Frank's driving us mad!

Emuchops

Frank is a 12 yr old whippet who has spondylitis that flares up from time to time. For the last few weeks he has been whining a lot. He has been to the vets twice and has some more of his spondylitis medication. He has had tests and nothing else is apparent. The meds are (unusually) making no difference. He has also had Metacam.

Im starting to think it may be behavioural as the only thing that shuts him up is food-he has always had a great appetite but I think he would happily eat all day now if we let him.

He plays occasionally with the younger dogs and seems to be moving without difficulty (when he had his last flare up he couldnt get off his beanbag). He appears in good health for his age.

I suppose Im asking if anyone else has come across this in older dogs-I think he's getting obsessed with food. He is wormed regularly.

Thanks.

zaksmum

Emuchops wrote: »

Frank is a 12 yr old whippet who has spondylitis that flares up from time to time. For the last few weeks he has been whining a lot. He has been to the vets twice and has some more of his spondylitis medication. He has had tests and nothing else is apparent. The meds are (unusually) making no difference. He has also had Metacam.

Im starting to think it may be behavioural as the only thing that shuts him up is food-he has always had a great appetite but I think he would happily eat all day now if we let him.

He plays occasionally with the younger dogs and seems to be moving without difficulty (when he had his last flare up he couldnt get off his beanbag). He appears in good health for his age.

I suppose Im asking if anyone else has come across this in older dogs-I think he's getting obsessed with food. He is wormed regularly.

Thanks.

When my last dog got to 12, he started to go a bit senile. He used to whine a lot too. He wasn't food orientated at all, so that wouldn't keep him quiet.

Once he whined for two hours, then "gave his paw" to a blank wall.

The vet said it was just old age mental deterioration.

Hope your Frank's ok though, poor little guy.

Tropez

Whippets do not tolerate discomfort well and will whine constantly to let everyone know they're upset. You'll often find this in older whippets as typical "old age" conditions begin to set in. Most whippet owners won't experience it in a younger one (except in a young puppy who is testing its limits) because whippets are generally very healthy dogs and not that susceptible to disease.

Food probably acts more as a placebo than the cause. Most whippets will shut up whining at the chance of a meal but resume whining after it. One of the few things they're born knowing is not to turn down a free meal for any reason.

Your best bet is another trip to the vets, explaining in detail what you're experiencing and most importantly telling them that the medication no longer seems to be having an effect - this could be very telling as the problem is likely not behavioural, but that your whippet is in constant discomfort for some reason.