Increased anxiety in Beau

[lizzthrasher]

Beau, who has always been a little neurotic has developed a new problem.

He doesn't want to be in his bed.

He is fine all day, I can leave him alone to go shopping or to work, but as soon as the lights go out at bedtime, the whining starts.

Things we have ruled out:

Its not just crumbing for snax.  He woke up at 4 am to start whining and calling again.

Its not bathroom breaks.  He's been empty, only to resume resume the noise once he was back in bed.

There have been no real changes to routine.  He will relax and go to sleep.

Last night, one of four, we decided to try to wait him out.  He cried for quite a while, eventually fell asleep, and then woke up at four to start all over again.  i took him downstairs and he went to sleep with me on the couch almost immediately.

********


So:  fear of the dark? Separation anxiety doesn't seem all that likely. 

I should also add that he is really quite healthy, has no other cognitive issues, and is quite relieved and happy once he is out of his playpen.

So I am open to all ideas.  Change his bed?  Sleeping in the big bed is not the first option we'd like to try.  Maybe a night light?


I'd love nay and all suggestions, the two-leggers all need some sleep.

[lmcpug]

have you had Beau to the Vets to rule out health issues??
As with humans, sometimes pain doesnt show up till well into the night??

I was reading this thinking maybe a pain reaction??

It would be quite weird to all of a sudden at 4 in the morning to take exception to your sleeping quarterS??

Just my the thoughts........

[Jane aka 71337]

Poor guy, this is one of those times when you wish they could talk and tell you what's wrong.

I think the night light is a good idea to try if he's okay in his bed during the day. If he's older maybe he's developing cataracts and things look scary in the dark now.

[blanche]

How old is he, Lizz?  This could be the beginning of canine alzheimers--doing what is called Sundowning.  Night fears and roaming are really common in alzheimers patients with 2 or 4 legs.

Might be worth trying some melatonin with him.

[lizzthrasher]

Age is unknown.  Figure 10+ :  he's pretty white around the muzzle, but he's only now starting to show some signs of arthritis.

He's actually quite active and alert, and he shows no sign of wanting to roam, he just really doesn't want to be in his bed in the dark.  He's not shaking with fear, more just agitated and worried.  The noise she makes are the ones he uses when he really, really wants something right now.  It's his multipurpose I have to pee/I want a cookie/I want up on the couch noise.

Which is part of the reasons why I wonder if he's just jerkin' my chain.

WE have a vets appt on the fourteenth for our yearly, so I'll discuss it with Dr. M, but maybe a night light will help. 

What kind of melatonin dosage?

[lizzthrasher]

Forgive my crappy typing.  I am beat.

I just thought too, that we are just coming off a bunch of Maxitrol drops for that corneal ulcer.  Any bets on this being steroid related?

He's still one one drop in each eye daily.

[blanche]

I wouldn't rule out early alzheimer's. 

And it could be steroid related, it could also be that he just isn't seeing as well and that gets worse at night or in low light which makes him more anxious.

One of the early signs of CCD (canine cognitive dysfunction) is the anxiety at night or in low light/end of the day.  So it could be that or it could be just related to his recent eye issues.

[lizzthrasher]

Night light worked a treat. 

I accidentally turned it off, and he woke a few minute later and started in again, but he settled after a trip for a poo, a kibble, and leaving the light back on.

We're going to set up something a little less like my bedside lamp on all night, and see what happens from there.

[blanche]

If it works--great!  My pom was afraid of the dark.  Never did figure out why, but I have had a bedside for years now

[lizzthrasher]

Just arranged to borrow my nieces twenty-year old "bedtime bear"  -- I wonder how Beau feels about Brahm's lullaby.

From time to time, Beau has something like a night terror/apnea so I am  willing to bet this is related to that and maybe some vision loss/distortion.  After the two ulcers, he has scarring on both eyes, plus PK,  so, the eyes have it as it were.

[lmcpug]

Started thinking about Beau's anxiety and realized that Pugman was the same
way! Pugsley had sleep apnea and with loss of sight ........... was restless.
Only reason I did not really think of it at the time of your posting, Liz,
was that Beau is so much younger; than when Pugman started getting
"restless" at night

Pugman started his restlessness around 17 yrs old!
Bubs hasn't started yet to get restless, even though his sight is going down BUT Bubs
doesn't have sleep apnea!  (thank goodness)

I used to, during nights when I was on shift, leave the TV on for Pugsley!
I do it now still for Bubs, who also is running out of eyesight!
It gave enough light and the "sounds" from the TV helped calm him.
He wasn't overtly anxious, but having a maintained routine helped a lot!
When I was home, if he got anxious at night, I would just hold him for a bit and
that calmed him down. As long as he knew I was around he was okay.
During the day, I kept up a constant verbal repertoire with him, so he knew I
was around. The other thing, if I left a radio on or the TV, I always left it, where it was
the same programming!

Pugsley recognized shows and songs, which also helped keep him calm.

[Sandy and Debbie]

That is very good news that the night light worked.  This is an interesting post.

I hope you all are able to get more sleep now.

[lizzthrasher]

Low level LED camping lantern on the floor next to Beau.  Worked great.  He slept all through the night.

We are pretty vigilant about routine.  Most animals like it, and when all your animals have unknown back stories, I think it saves on a lot of problems.

[keep on pugging]

Hope that helps him sleep better.

[lizzthrasher]

Night and fan mean sleep for the ol' man!

Little weirdo.

He back to his old self.

And i have gotten some sleep, too.