I have a 15 years old Spitz. Since last one month, she is exhibiting a worrisome behaviour. She suddenly gets excited (over nothing), runs around barking in a shrill way till she gets tired and goes to sleep later. When she gets up she is normal. Is there any clinical explanation for this behaviour and a cure?

Your pet may require complete physical, neuro and behavioural examination to understand and find the underlying cause of this behaviour. Being a senior pet, this behaviour may be attributed to age-related degenerative changes within the brain, known as Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) or arise from changes in home or environment which she may find difficult to adapt. Such senior pets may show this repetitive pacing, new fears, anxieties, walking in night, disorientation or poor response to stimuli. The list of other causes are many that may include an acutely stressful situation, pain or insecurity to medical causes—partial seizures, brain diseases, sensory neuropathies, toxin exposure, trauma, etc. You may capture this behaviour on your smart phone that may assist your vet to find the underlying cause. Please take her to specialist vet who can recommend

Question by – Sujaya Rao, Bangalore