Shiba Inu's prone to Dimensia?

[Sush]

I know there are a few Shiba enthusiasts on the forum and I was just wondering if this breed is prone to dimensia as they age. My first dog was a shiba and years before he passed he seemed to be pretty out of it mentally. He was get himself stuck in corners, have sorta of a blank stare, and most of the time didn't seem to know what was going on even though his eyes were perfectly fine and his hearing was so-so.

Now I live with my cousins and the dog they inherited from there parents...a shiba as well. As he's gotten older he seems to be going through the same thing! He does have cataracts so his eyesight isn't great and hearing is going but he has no clue what's going on most of the time. The vet seemed to think he had alzheimers (can dogs have that?)

I was wondering if the breed is prone to mental degredation or dimensia?

 

[Zoom]

I actually just read an article the other day about dementia in dogs. It wasn't breed specific at all, but it did speak about how the occurances are on the rise due to more pets living much longer than they used to.

 

[squirtsmom]

Interesting. Had not thought about that before. Thanks for posting.

 

[Sush]

Any Shiba breeders or lovers out there?

 

[codexsmom]

The second dog I ever owned was a Shiba Inu, and she was rather corkey until she turned about 8 or 9. Shibas have a VERY stubborn and dominant nature, but I doubt the dog is just ignoring you to feel superior as my first doberman did to me.

Shiba Inus are not prone to dimentia, but it does happen a lot nowadays because they live so much longer than expected. However, I ended up having to put my doggie down when she had too much arthritis to even stand. So, I would say it happens from time to time, but it doesn't happen all the time.

It doesn't matter on breed, either. My shiba was very smart, but only for her benefit. She wouldn't do anything for me, and then I discovered she had Obsessive Compulsive Disorder with lights and shadows, and she stared at lights and shadows and shiny things for hours, frothing at the mouth. It's just something that happens or it doesn't.

 

[Sush]

Yeah I agree, they have a very "selective" acting/doing/hearing nature about them. When my cousin's shiba (Diogi...the one I live with and am referring to) was younger he would dart out the door and then taunt you until you chased him and then run away...he'd always come back that night.

Now he will just stare at the door when it's wide open with kind of a blank stare (probably because he's partially blind). He's also started pooping and peeing in the house and it's like he doesn't even know he's doing it. He'll just be walking and poop will start comming out. With peeing...he will be standing like normal and then all of a suddent, waterfall! It's not just a dribble and he doesn't even get into a peeing position like he used to. Vet ruled out any kind of urinary tract problem. I've just seen two of these dogs do the same exact thing as they age so I wondered...maybe it's something this breed is prone too. He's 12 (I think), is their average lifespan shorter than that?

 

[Rosefern]

Poor old guy...

Actually, Shiba Inus are a very hardy and healthy breed, with a small number prone to hip displaysia, PRA, and patellar luxation.

He's also started pooping and peeing in the house and it's like he doesn't even know he's doing it. He'll just be walking and poop will start comming out. With peeing...he will be standing like normal and then all of a suddent, waterfall! It's not just a dribble and he doesn't even get into a peeing position like he used to. Vet ruled out any kind of urinary tract problem.

That's really odd. Shibas are the most fastidious dogs on the planet - they'll practically housebreak themselves. (I've found many Asian breeds to be like that)

He's 12 (I think), is their average lifespan shorter than that?

Average lifespan is around 12-15 years, actually...

-Rosefern

 

[Sush]

That's really odd. Shibas are the most fastidious dogs on the planet - they'll practically housebreak themselves. (I've found many Asian breeds to be like that)

Well that's the thing, he used to be great about it. Never a mistake in the house up until a year ago or so. That's when they started wondering what was going on because he would just start going and not think twice. The vet said his urinary tract and bowels are fine and healthy and that all he found physically wrong with him was some arthritis. That's when he diagnosed it as dog alzheimers and had us buy these really expensive pills that did nothing except give him diarrhea.

MY shiba exhibited alot of the same symptoms as he got older...weird.

Could this be caused because of his degenerated eye sight? He has cataracts in one eye and the other is almost completely blind due to a dog fight that ended up tearing his retina. Masybe he doesn't know where he is so he just goes? You'd think he'd feel the carpet under his feet and know he wasn't outside.