Aging Cocker Spaniel Eating Behavior

Question
I have a 14+ year old cocker spaniel female Cady. She has only slightly slowed down as she has aged but the last few days I have been alarmed. All these years she has had an excellent appetite although more finicky than most dogs - she refuses all treats and people food and over the years has eaten only good quality dry dog food although sometimes I make a thick gravy of cooked meat and rice (I call it mash) if it is available and mix it with her dry. That she is happy to chow that down.  

The last few days Cady circles her bowl with the dry food like it is prey then rubs her nose on the carpet beneath the bowl, sniffs the dry food then repeats the nose rub on the carpet. It goes on for 10-15 minutes then she leaves the food untouched. Toward the end she seems to be trying to knock the bowl over. She absolutely never did this before.

A friend said maybe she has been bitten on the mouth or nose and can't eat. Another friend thought that although she is a house dog and rarely outside maybe she got her nose sunburned as it has been very hot these last days.  

Recently I got about 10# of very good quality of venison and have been cooking it up and mixing it with the rice and adding 1/2 - 1 cup of that to her food. Cady eats the venison mash if not mixed with the dry food.  A friend said since she never had venison before that some spaniels are allergic to venison - is this an allergic reaction? Recall she only does the prey/nose rubbing with the dry food.

Over the last months her body shape is changing with a ridge at her shoulders and one at her back. She has always been quite a thin dog although she has as much dog food as she wants. I do not believe she is losing weight.

To clarify this story Cady exposure to venison has been about 10 days, and the nose rubbing been the last 3-5 days.  Is the dog treating the dry food like it is venison prey? Any ideas?    

The last few days she has also been urinating in the house one time it seemed spontaneous the other time she did it deliberately. Normally she would 'signal me' to take her outside. Cady also had a stool in the house when in the past she has been very very good about that. I am more concerned about the eating than the elimination so have made no effort to correct her.

Any ideas?

Any idea what I am dealing with?

Answer
At 14 years, she has had a very long life. The average life span for a Cocker Spaniel is only 10-15 years. If you feel the venison is causing issues, use ground beef, chicken or liver mixed with rice and see if she will eat that. It is easy to digest and good for her. The physical changes you are seeing are simply the changes that they go through as they age. Many dogs have urinary incontinence at her age. There is a medication that your vet can give her to help with it if it is not too advanced. Have your vet give her a check up. Also remember that dogs, as well as people, can go through a senile dementia. If the venison is not working try something else, but remember she is a ripe old age and needs special care as she ages. Please leave feedback, nominations, and follow-up with any questions you may have. As volunteers we really like to know that we are making a difference in the lives of our online friends and their canine companions. It is easy to see the results at our school, but more difficult online. So please keep me informed about your darling. I wish that I could point this to a behavior issue, but I believe the behavior is a symptom of some physical changes she is going through due to her age. Keep me posted, please. Thanks. Warm Regards, Susan