senior dog waking up at 2 a.m. nightly > The Best Rat Terrier Site on the Web

Unanswered Active Topics

Forums Search

Subject: senior dog waking up at 2 a.m. nightly

You are not authorized to post a reply.

Author

Messages

corkysmom2

Newbie

02/23/2008 5:05 PM
Hi! my 12 yr. old rattie is waking up every night at 2 or 3 a.m. and he never used to do this before, but it has been going on for a week. I walk him at 10p.m. and he sleeps in his own room. any thoughts? maybe he is getting up because he doesn't get as much exercise now in the winter. any thoughts fellow rat moms and dads? i am at the end of my leash........thanks, cheryl

treble02

Alpha Feist

02/23/2008 5:13 PM
he is waking up and not going back to bed or just waking up to go potty?

~ Mary, Trixi and Toa's Mommy, Ratbone Rescues Database Manager and Applications Coordinator

tiggarat

Bratty Ratty

02/23/2008 5:33 PM
If it's that he has to go potty, you may need to consider changing his diet. My dobie mix would go through phases where he needed out in the middle of the night...but then he'd get over whatever tummy problem he had and get back on a normal schedule.

Lisabeth furbabies: Lucy and Molly (1 1/2 yr old decker ratties), and Rosie (3 yr old dobie) Buddy - gone but never forgotten. "I don't think he has any idea he's a dog, really. Of course, he thinks he has a rather odd figure for a man" - Dodie Smith

corkysmom2

Newbie

02/23/2008 5:41 PM
he does go back to sleep eventually, after I let him out he will come into our room and sleep on the comforter on the floor. I just had him at the vet last monday and they did a urine culture because i thought he might have an infection (cause for waking up?) but the tests showed he is fine. he has always peed indoors since we got him 6 yrs. ago from Ratbone rescue. i have been researching Cognitive Dysfunction syndrome. have you guys heard of it? thanks again, cheryl

horneffer

Newbie

02/23/2008 11:32 PM
Under this syndrome, in the index, I found in "Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Small Animals" (p. 204) "older dogs may experience leakage of urine when asleep or relaxed. . ." and goes on to mention some drugs which are used to "effectively increase urinary cphincter tone without other excessive anticholinergic side effects." The book says that if he has this syndrome, behavior modification will not work. But if he has been doing this for only a week, I would consider that a smart Ratty might have discovered how to get your attention at night. I would sleep with him (in his room) and see if this stops the night urination. If it does, I would implement the behavior modification protocols in the book I reference above (there are several basic ones which may apply, and one for treating and preventing attention-seeking behavior). In any case, if your dog has been urinating indors for 6 yrs you may want to address this issue through behavior modification. On the other hand, with an elder dog, you may just want to let him be, wake up a few more nights, and maybe this will all blow over!

SuzieRedhead

Rat-A-Tat-Tat

02/25/2008 12:40 PM
I just lost my 19 year old Rattie, Sasha - she too got up in the middle of the night, but I think a lot of this is age related (same with humans!!) How old is your dog? Perphaps you'll just have to deal with the fact that your dog is older and cannot hold it all night like he used to. When Sasha got up at night, I used to let her outside, but instead, I started putting down pee pee pads in a confined area and let her pee there. Once she was done, I put her back in bed with me and she was down for the rest of the night. Sasha was also on supplements/meds for doggy dementia, but I don't think her going to the bathroom in the middle of the night had anything to do with it. I think she just had to go. Perhaps your old boy just has to go, it's as simple as that. Getting him tested for a urinary tract infection is also a good idea, or perhaps kidney stones, but I'm guessing this is mostly age related.

Sue Carello, Scotia, NY (near Albany) Ratbone Rescues Fostermom, etc... www.ratbonerescues.com Fostermom to Oh Mickey and Prince Ratbone Who do YOU GoodSearch/GoodShop for? Go to www.goodsearch.com and type in Ratbone Rescues!

You are not authorized to post a reply.