Older dog wanting to walk more and more

[Kerri]

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Hi, I'm at my wits end and would welcome some advice.

A few months ago my older dog (almost 12) hurt his leg and wouldn't walk very far. I got a physio out, but he didn't like her (very fearful of vets), but she recommended CBD oil, which I started. Over the course of the last couple of months he has improved and can walk normally again, fab news! Except over the last couple of weeks (ever since the clocks changed) he has started wanting to walk further and further and whines until I take him out, then he pulls on the lead, like he needs to get to his destination as soon as possible. He wants to go out for about an hour at a time, three times a day, which is very unusual for him; he never wanted to walk that far when he was younger. No other change except wanting to be out walking all the time, but the issue is starting to affect my work; I'm having to take him out in the middle of the day or finish early because it's getting dark and he's whining to go out.

He does suffer from separation anxiety, but I work from home and if I do have to go any where he goes to my parents who he adores.

I wonder if it's his anxiety?

Has anyone experienced anything similar and can offer some advice? I just want my boy back to his usual self.

Thank you for taking the time to read x

 

[JoanneF]

This is a stab in the dark, but some cognitive disorders cause compulsive repetitive behaviour - and walking is one of these (you occasionally see people doing this).

 

[Kerri]

This is a stab in the dark, but some cognitive disorders cause compulsive repetitive behaviour - and walking is one of these (you occasionally see people doing this).

Thank you Joanne, this is really helpful. I'll look into it a bit further

 

[JudyN]

Is he still having the CBD oil? If so you could reduce that and see if it makes a difference.

I would also consider canine cognitive dysfunction, i.e. dementia. When my dog developed this, he would be anxious in the house but OK on walks - I can't say that he wanted to walk further than previously, but dogs will all respond differently. And this also ties in with JoanneF's suggestion - he also liked me to throw him balls in the garden, again, and again, and again, but he'd just stand in one position and miss half of them - then when I tried to go back indoors he'd bark at me to throw some more...

 

[Kerri]

Is he still having the CBD oil? If so you could reduce that and see if it makes a difference.

I would also consider canine cognitive dysfunction, i.e. dementia. When my dog developed this, he would be anxious in the house but OK on walks - I can't say that he wanted to walk further than previously, but dogs will all respond differently. And this also ties in with JoanneF's suggestion - he also liked me to throw him balls in the garden, again, and again, and again, but he'd just stand in one position and miss half of them - then when I tried to go back indoors he'd bark at me to throw some more...

Hi Judy, I've halved the CBD oil, but only for the last couple of days so no change yet.

Thank you for sharing your experience; it's really helpful to hear what others have gone through. It is sounding more and more like CCD; almost like repetitive behaviour soothes them. I think I might try and treat the anxiety side of things to see if that settles him. It's not the walking so much that bothers me, but more that it is out of character and I want him to feel happy and settled.

Thank you so much for your help

 

[JudyN]

We do have a couple of threads on CCD on the forum, so let me know if you'd like me to dig them out. There are a lot of medications, supplements and adaptations that can help.

 

[Kerri]

Yes please, that would be really helpful, thank you

 

[JudyN]

This has a summary of the information I found along the way: Canine cognitive dysfunction (dementia in dogs)

And another forum member's experiences: Please help

Do, please, bear in mind that your dog's behaviour might not be CCD, and that even if it is, he may have several more happy years with his symptoms being managed. Please don't read about the later stages and feel despondent. My dog had, overall, an excellent quality of life for a long time after his first symptoms, and it was only in the last couple of days that his anxiety became too much for us to control.

 

[Kerri]

Thank you so much Judy, this is really helpful