Rule #2: There are no rules

Another day/night with a 13 year old Bulldog with dementia:

Well my trick to getting Bueller settled at night isn’t working so well. That trick was to lay down with him by his mat when he gets restless at night. He would go to his mat and happily cuddle up and go to sleep. Well last night he was dry at least…

We were up on 2am, went out and peed, went back to mat, then up again 3am, drank water went back to his mat, then up at 4:45am I figured he probably had to pee again so got up with him and we stayed up…. So did the routine food, meds, butter bone, biscuit, tummy pill. Then usually he settles back in and goes to sleep but this morning NOPE….

Yesterday he was really tired all day and grumpy. The Dude was leery around him. He was OK with me but then again I don’t force him to do anything he doesn’t want to. Now he is just sitting in the kitchen on the mat grunting at me and I have no idea what his problem is. I try to discipline him he isn’t getting it… mmmmm… now what?

Idea number one: Pick him up and put him on couch and see if that helps. Logic – maybe he has forgotten the routine as he does that a lot more lately… Not easy but I did that. Nope that didn’t work but I picked him up again and put him on the heat blanket… that WORKED. He is now licking his paws but no where close to sleeping, it is 6am now. The Dude is probably going to get up soon.

The Dude and I have noticed he is drinking more water than usual the past few days but then again maybe it is just that we are noticing “his doings” more (if that is possible) so the science data collection has started. So far today he has drank at 3am and at 5:30am…

Let the games begin….I know what you are thinking. The Dude is not ready yet and actually the reality of college for Bueller is starting to freak me out a little.. Sleeping or more correctly not sleeping is clouding my judgement.

I sit here trying to remember when this all started. (This is what one does when they are awake when they really should be sleeping) Bueller’s first dementia (VET calls it Cognitive Canine Behavior Disorder CCBD) started when he was 10 with one episode of pacing, not knowing where he was, then when he was 11 (so that’s 2014) his episodes happened enough to warrant a visit to the VET. The VET was wonderful and suggested we start him with a XANAX routine when they happened. Worked pretty good, he would stop pacing and then turn into this playful puppy, it was kind of cute, then he would settle in and go to sleep. This happened once in the night and it was about a 2 hour wake up experience. But easily managed.

2015 was when things started getting hard. His episodes happened a lot more. First one was in Feb during my sister’s visit. Then a month later with his episodes lasting longer. We had to kick him out of our bed because he wasn’t safe as he didn’t know where the bed ended and fell off with a fright during an mid-night episode. His hearing and eye sight really declined as well. Mid-2015 he randomly started peeing in his sleep but not a lot but enough we had to purchase a replacement couch because we were unprepared without pee pads.

Then the Fall of 2015 is when his dementia really kicked in, his episodes were longer (1 hour of not knowing who he is, eyes dilated, pacing) he wasn’t really sleeping at night and his day time play totally disappeared. Huge decline started around Thanksgiving. He would be up at least twice a night, day time he would mostly just sleep or sit in the kitchen barking for something we could not figure out what…

We made it through the holidays but I was getting extremely sleep deprived and The Dude was also frustrated with the demands our beloved pet was requiring. It was heart breaking and exhausting. OO I already said that didn’t I… about Christmas time He started having episodes weekly, in addition his moods changed. He started getting grumpy, nipped at me a couple of times and at The Dude. No good.

So January came and we decided we better take Bueller to the Vet and have the talk. We explained that his episode behaviors have changed to grumpy instead of happy puppy and the XANAX just put him to sleep instead of the happy relaxed puppy it use to do to him. The Vet suspected that in addition to his dementia that he is probably having pain issues in his mouth after inspection. We decided to started him on Anti-biotics and see if his behavior improved before making any decisions about college. The anti-biotics helped a lot, his was eating easier and we noticed a slightly less grumpy pooch.

I dread going to bed at night because this is when my Bueller suffers the most for some reason. So The Dude and I have a new plan. We are going to give him his pain meds at night when he wakes to Pee usually between 11pm-2am. The Vet said it won’t hurt him just make him more sleepy so that is the plan. He will probably pee more but we have the pads. Then next week we are going to make the call for College but we are going to have one last weekend with him because I just can’t bare it. The Dude is my ROCK…

As I look around the house it has become one huge dog crate, pee pads everywhere, boy when Bueller does go to college the Bulldog Rescue Click to see about Bulldog Haven NW is going to get a ton of Bulldog stuff.

OK folks no crying….. ok a little, no A LOT…..

Rule #1 – Block the Stairs

Well, I thought Bueller was ok…. he woke up at 11pm went pee and to bed with no events.

At 12:30am he was up again, wet the bed but he seemed alright. So we marched down the hall and into the kitchen where I cleaned his cute little belly, then let him outside just incase he needed to go more and he did. He seemed unaltered really.

Then the journey back to the bedroom something changed. We proceeded down the hall as Bueller’s altered state kicked in and I was totally unaware.  He usually follows right behind me especially if he knows I have chicken bits for him… But when I got to the bedroom I heard this crash, the Dude bolted up, we both ran into the hall and yep, he fell down the stairs. He was fine, I rushed down there before the Dude could get out of bed and picked him up with adrenaline strength and carried him up the stairs.

The Dude yelled at me but I know he was just scared as I was too so I just ignored it but trust me I won’t let that happen again. Our stairs are not scary steep and covered with carpet so his landing wasn’t bad but still he could have broken something. I am not going to obsess about it or beat myself up but I so want too….

So new routine for his down the hall adventures, block the stairs….The Dude won’t let me put up a baby gate because it will mark the walls so I need to figure something else out… Today will be engineer day for me as I don’t want this to happen when we are away from the house.

We were all up for about an hour, I had to Xanax Bueller, his eyes were all dilated a little episode that just clicked in before I could tell- I hate to pill him! Why it’s just reminds me he is super old I guess. Need to explore that with my shrink some day. hehehe

So we played in the TV room for about 40 minutes, Bueller chewed his bone with The Dude I tried to sleep on the couch. Then Bueller went to his Mat to inspect it – confirmed it was all clean and I lied down with him to make sure he didn’t move the pee pad in his digging nesting fit he always does before going to sleep…

The Dude went back to bed, about 20 minutes later both my boys were snoring so off to bed I went. I climbed back into bed about 1:30.

 

 

Last day of Antibiotics

Well Bueller is doing so much better. No grumpy, no nipping, just the normal elderly thing. He did pee last night but I was gone all day yesterday and didn’t come home to a frustrated pooch and Dude so that was progress…

So all is good in Doggie Dementia world for now.. We are on the good days streak… Hope it last for a long time!

Well no Hot Head but Happy Wake

Well Bueller woke up on level 15 (0 being mean unhappy altered Bueller – 10 being Happy YAPPY Altered Bueller) at 3am this morning… So I got my Xanax out, The Dude and I tried not stressing him out this time and letting him basically do what he wanted making sure he was safe from falling down the stairs.

This worked great in keeping Bueller from getting anxious and stressed. He paced a little, we put his harness on and he went outside and peed. OO yeah he was dry doing the happy dance about that….

Then he went into the TV room and played like a puppy, chewing, wrestling with his bear. Haven’t seen this behavior in a long long long time but is definitely not normal but better than the Altered Bueller where he is crabby. The Dude and I laughed while we watched him assuming the Xanax would put him to sleep shortly.

WRONG… I told the Dude to go back to sleep about 4:30… Bueller finally settled in about 5:45 on the couch with me, we slept until my darn phone rang at 7:10 this AM stupid robot calls rrrrr… Bueller continued to sleep though, so I got up made coffee and then both Bueller and Dude got up shortly afterwards..

Strange Bueller was so awake.. Even after the morning routine of food, meds, pee, water, biscuit, butter bone, tummy pill…. but alas he is fighting his MAT right now (meaning he is digging at it like he HATES all the pee pads I have on it) so maybe he will go to sleep soon. I checked on him a couple of times he was just laying there growling he was frustrated not sure about what really as he was in the sleeping position maybe he was dreaming.

The Dude and Bueller are not the least bit stressed though so what’s a Mom to do other than be thankful and keep the faith….

Life with a Dementia Dog

Well I have to say, last night’s adventures weren’t too bad. He didn’t pee the mat, he woke up at 2am, then I coaxed him into the bedroom, the Dude shut the door, and I set up my pillows around his Mat, he ran into a couple of walls, stood and snorted for a bit, then discovered me over by his mat, snuggled in and went to sleep after about a half hour. He laid there breathing heavy (I call this his anxious breath) but after playing copy his breathing he started copying mine and we both started to relax and feel fast a sleep. I woke and climbed back in bed with The Dude about an hour later.

Now that’s a new trick!!! We repeated this two more times in the night but we all were able to sleep in way past 5am.. It was great!!!! Marking this as a good dry night for the most part. This I can live with!

The Dude and I talked about our next steps, last week was really tough so we are going to give him until his mouth infection clears up before making any life changing decisions. I’m good with that.

Denial Was Working…Maybe it’s Hot Head?

Well I was wet this AM. Darn it, broke my 9 day streak. I had a very rough night too so I am not reporting today, Mom is going to.

The Dude and I thought this mouth infection was the cause for all the episodes, WRONG. Denial is a beautiful thing for a small amount of time then it becomes very distructive. One thing that I have noticed that might be a tell of a forthcoming episode, Bueller’s head gets really hot. Noticeably hot. Hotter than any other part of his body. I have noticed this in the past but never put the two together so let the science project begin.

Bueller’s altered state can be described as “the not so friendly dog”, refusing to go back to sleep starting at 2am. His original altered state use to be dilated eyes and totally checked out but this new altered state he knows where he is and hates it.

I decided to try a different tactic thinking I am just a BAD mom and spoil him so The Dude took over the shift. Normally when Bueller wakes up like this, I just let him go where he wants and he usually ends up on the couch with me for the rest of the night which isn’t boding well with the Dude and I totally agree with him hence why we decided to give his method a try… Which was a disaster, Bueller was more agitated, the Dude got frustrated and we ended up having to Xanax Bueller.

My heart goes out to The DUDE as he wants so badly to discover a solution to Doggie Dementia (CCBD) but there isn’t one. When he is in the altered state you are along for the ride. The Dude finally agrees with me on this one… This is so hard on him, I have totally under estimated the pain this is causing him.

So it’s 5:40am, Bueller slept from about 3am to then. We (Bueller and I) got up, I did his routine food, meds, butter bone, tummy pill but he was still very unsettled and would just sit in the kitchen grunting. So Gas-Xed him and lured him to the front room where he just stood there staring at me, no wag, grumpy. I got him to settle in on the couch about 6:30am where he is sleeping currently….

Oh were is the road leading us? Only the Dude can decide as I have chosen the path and the Dude isn’t ready yet…Feeling sick right now.. sorry for the bummer post!

 

Welcome to the Bueller Circus

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the World of Bueller Show. My name is Bueller and today I present to you my human pets Mom and Dad. I have mastered the art of training them to do tricks beyond your imagination…. All is great today….

Progress report: Dry, no twitching, got a major doggy down yoga stretch this am and Bueller slept through the night all by himself!!!! YEAH….. 9 days dry now!!!! Yesterday afternoon he was playful some. He even played with his Big Bear which reminds me that beast needs to be washed it smells awful….

So short and sweet, all is good! We all lived another day of happy!!!!! Which is starting to become the norm again…

I’m Growly but Dry and I don’t know Why

Well Mom and I were up last night. I just couldn’t sleep. Actually I was secretly tricking her so she would sleep with me. It was about 10:30pm, I just woke up, WIDE AWAKE… had to go outside, Mom made me… Then wandered around trying to find something but can’t remember what it was.. So frustrating, so I just stood there a growled… Mom came and petted me though… Then she tried to lure me onto the MAT in the bedroom but I am so on to her…. I may be loosing my scruples but I am still smart enough NOT TO FALL for her Tricks, even with Treats….

So I went into what my Mom calls the bathroom, I have no idea what it is, I just don’t really know where anything is for sure… Mom wants me to wag for her but I refuse… mmm I see a wall, lets stand against it and growl maybe I will feel better….

Wait I smell something tasty on the couch… Mom helps me up, crap I feel for her treat trick, next thing I know we are cuddling, then Dad shows up, he is brisket rubbing me, I SO LOVE THAT. Dad looks tired. MMM it’s only 11. Mom looks at Dad and says “Dude, get some rest I think it’s going to be another long night”… So after a bit, he went back to Bed and Mom and I just sat there, staring on the couch, then the next thing I remember it’s 5am and Mom and I have been snoozing on the couch all night. Phew….. Didn’t wet, didn’t upset anyone… Up I go…

Out and Peed, Mom fed me, pilled me, butter bone game chew then back to sleep about an hour later but got up forgot who I was, went in the kitchen laundry room, rested my face against the door frame and growled… I have no idea why I was doing it, Mom gave me all my treats, I don’t think I hurt, I just am clueless…. …… Sad Face….

7 Days Dry and first Night of full Sleep

Well bark bark bark, this is Bueller speaking. I can’t believe it, I actually slept through the night and didn’t pee the bed…. Bounced out off the couch all by myself too. Good start to the morning. My human Mom was awake to greet me as she checked my tummy and couch I felt pride running through my bones.

My walk down the hall to the kitchen wasn’t eventful, check.

Mom opened the kitchen door and I went outside to do my business. Then BAM something jabbed me, I think I jumped two feet up in the air. Looked all over no one there. What the heck? I quickly looked to see if Mom saw anything, she didn’t but she had this sad face on so I knew that it was probably my old mouth as the culprit…. I moped into the house, ate my grub, took my meds, played butter bone with Mom, then we played hide the Stink bone, kind of failed at that, I was able to put it in my mouth and take it back to the play room but couldn’t do much else with it. So off I went to my mat.

My silly Mom has so many layers of pee pads I couldn’t dig them all up, so I was so freaking frustrated about it I started barking. My Mom comes rushing, what’s wrong Bueller? I go, nothing it’s these darn pee pads, I HATE THEM… So she reorganized them for me as I completely messed them up. Well that’s no good I thought to myself. Once she got them all settled she went back to her computer. Well I will show her, so I messed them up again and Barked… We did this a couple of rounds, then DAD showed up. So I decided I better just go to sleep…. The end…