Q: Our sweet 13- to 14-year-old mixed breed rescue has some hearing loss, osteoarthritis, and early kidney disease. She is, however, active and happy, and her kidney disease is so far managed with a special kidney diet. But formerly a dog who rarely barked, she has begun to bark at me impatiently when I am preparing her special treats (kidney kibble in a dog toy) and in general has begun to vocalize more often. We are amused by this change rather than annoyed, but wonder about the cause. Is she barking because of hearing loss, needing to be sure she’s heard? Is she less patient because of her age? Or could this be an early sign of dementia?
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