You probably go strolling down the street and see that some older people can be quite bitter and grumpy. Even in your family there may be people who seem less flexible and have a hard time accepting certain things.
But the most curious of all, is that your pet over the years, seems to have had the same radical change in mood, since pets, just like us, age and with them their personality does. Your dog may appear more mature, calm, and sleepy than before, but it also seems that gets upset easily with things that I did not do before.
For example, it may bother him that you scold him for certain things, when before he was submissive to your words. Also while walking you have probably noticed that he is always on guard, that it bothers him that you pull him by the leash or that he does not like to approach other people or dogs.
Even when sleeping, it may bother him when you approach him or touch his food plate when he is eating. This will most likely seem strange to you, since are behaviors that previously did not present. Similarly, when he does play, he may drastically quit the game or just have moments when he doesn't want to play with you.
Is my dog sick?
This is normal, since over the years, dogs just like people, they become more sensitive to certain things and seek greater tranquility.
That is why when a young dog interrupts their rest, plays with them when they do not want to and even approaches their food when they are feeding, they are things that make your dog quite upset.
The same happens when you are on the street, since probably, in your search for tranquility, are bothered by certain things such as people trying to touch them when they don't want to or when leashes are pulled.
However and even though it's a normal attitudeYou should be aware if your dog is very aggressive when in a bad mood. This is due to that your dog may be showing symptoms of a disease, more than a simple change of mood, like anger for example.
Is aggressiveness a symptom of illness?
Aggressiveness too can be symptoms of diseases such as Alzheimer's, which affects people as well as animals.
If you notice that your dog is not only bitter and in a bad mood, but that he is aggressive towards other members of your family, people, animals and you, you need to seek the help of a veterinary professional, as this can be dangerous even for him.
Remember that he may have certain attitudes that show that he is upset, but if he tries to bite, attack and even growl frequently when someone approaches, it is necessary to seek medical help. Older dogs are more sensitive, so be patient with them, as you normally do with older people. Equally, dogs will always show their best face and they will bring love to your family whenever they can, no matter how many years pass.
The aging process affects dogs in the same way that it affects humans and as they get older, your body will start to let you downThese are some of the most common dog behavior changes that are caused by physical problems:
Loss of appetite
Some dogs never stop eating, but others lose interest in their plate of food as they age. This is normal and usually happens for a lot of different reasons.
However, a sudden change in eating habits can be a sign of a serious problem such as kidney infection, liver problems or more.
Other physical problems are:
- Loss of the senses of taste and smell
- Slowing down of metabolism
- Dental problems such as cavities or abscesses
- Difficulty sleeping and restlessness
- Pain or discomfort
- Anxiety
- Incontinence
- Lack of exercise
- Canine cognitive impairment