11 year old dog starts snapping

Question
My 11 year old Lab/Foxhound/Pointer mix snapped at me the other day.  Thank goodness I had a heavy sweat shirt on or she would have broken the skin on my wrist.  She was laying on at blanket and I told her to move.  She ignored me so I went to grab her collar and help her along when she snapped.  We have been through a lot with her and I am concerned that she is getting old.  She had both ACL's replaced when she was about 3.  She has mellowed after going through the hyper puppy stage and has finally stopped chewing stuff up.  But she pesters my children who are 8 and 2 and will take food right out of the baby's hand.  I think she has lost her sense of smell since I have left food on the floor for days to see if she finds them.  Any advice you can give us would be helpful.  She has slowed down a lot this winter and spends most of the day in such a deep sleep that I have to check to see if she is breathing.  I can't picture my life with out her but if she is in pain I don't want to drag it out.  Thank you!

Answer

Hi Heather,

Many times when an elderly dog suddenly acts aggressively, it's because they're in pain, or because they don't see or hear as well as they used to. This may well be the case for your dog, as she snapped at you after you grabbed her collar.  You may have caught her off guard if she didn't see or hear you approaching, or she might have some arthritis which makes moving painful. Have your dog examined by your veterinarian to rule out a medical problem, and to get pain relief medication if necessary. This isn't "dragging" out your dog's life, it's providing care if it's needed. Needing arthritis medication for dogs is a normal part of living with an elderly dog.

It's normal for elderly dogs to sleep very soundly. This goes back to your dog not not hearing as well as she used to. When approaching your sleeping dog, walk heavily on the floor, so she can feel you approaching and not be surprised if she's touched. Make sure your children leave your dog alone while your dog is sleeping,  or they may get bitten.

If your dog takes food from your children, it's because she knows she can get away with it. This behavior isn't going to stop without you taking steps to prevent opportunities for her to take food. Don't let your children walk around with food, instead have they remain seated while eating. Confine your dog to a different room during meal times.

Best of luck,

Patti