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sylvsdogbooma · Jun 3, 2011, 01:32 AM

My dog is nearly 14 and has always been obedient. He has a doggy door from the garage and then another doggy door to the outdoor concrete area. He aways had no trouble getting through. In January we had the outside concrete area enclosed but put a security door off this with a doggy door in it too.
All was well and he didn't seem to mind the new door and continued on his merry way. Then in April he started doing the unthinkable and doing his poo in the concrete area. Then as the weeks past he didn't want to go for a walk or do any of his usual things although he was happy to eat his usual meals. He has always slept inside in his basket but now he is also urinating on the conrete in the garage. He goes through doggy door one and wee's then through doggy door two and poos and doesn't reach doggy door three which leads outside.
Probably at this age he is just fed up going through so many doggy doors, which I could understand but he lacks interest in going for his usual little walk down the street as well.
The vet gave him some cartophen in case he has arthritis and doesn't want to jump anymore but said otherwise he looked fine? I am very worried about our little maltese. If he is getting dementia would it come on so fast?

Lucky098 · Jun 4, 2011, 09:15 AM

Well you pretty much diagnosed everything yourself. He is getting old and is getting very forgetful. With older dogs you're just going to have to make sure that he is making it outside. He's not aware of doing anything wrong, so try your best to not get mad at him. If you see him head towards the doggy doors, follow him and make sure he ends up in the area you want him to potty in.

As for his walks.. Maybe just take him to a park where he can wonder around on his own. Don't do any more forced walks.. It may hurt

He could also be depressed which is why he doesn't want to walk. Any recent changes in your home? Older dogs are more sensitive to pack upset.

Just treat him kindly.. 14 is very old for a dog.. You should proud that you raised a dog to be that old!

sylvsdogbooma · Jun 5, 2011, 12:27 AM

Thanks, I have looked up this site and used some of the info. I contain my dog in his doggy bed in a large plastic container so he can't get out and he seems very content to sleep in it all night (in our bedroom) then in the morning I now feed him outside and give him time to do some business.
I later take him outside a few times. The problem seems to be in his feet, there is a very dark hard amount of (I don't know what) between his pads. I have soaked them with fungal/disinfectant wash and also cream them at night. This seems tobe the reason he doesn't want to walk
I will take him back to the vet but I have been twice and the 5 second look at his feet they have done isn't going to fix anything

Lucky098 · Jun 5, 2011, 09:59 AM

Maybe take him back to your groomer and ask them what it is? It could be tar, rocks and dirt getting stuck in his hair. Old dogs don't have the pace they once had, he might be picking up stuff he typically didn't when he was younger. Swing by the groomer before the vet and let them look at it. If they think it is something medical, then you can talk to the vet about it when you arrive.. The only other thing I can think of would be melanomas... If callused from being on a foot, they might be hard to the touch.