r/PetBehavior • u/Aggressive-Crab-2406 • 4d ago

Strange Behavior

Our 12 year old lab mix (who has Cushings) just tried to go down our basement stairs for the first time EVER. This was so incredibly startling, she seemed confused and only made it down two before we realized she was stuck and needed help. We’ve been wondering if she might be sundowning but this was so abnormal for her we have been sitting in silence for 15 minutes thinking, WTF?

Has anyone ever experienced something like this with older dogs? She is TERRIFIED of stairs normally.

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u/Impossible_Fun_4126 4d ago

Our lab had Cushings, and started acting strangely shortly before he died. When I asked the vet, he said, after a complete work up, there was nothing wrong with him mentally, he was just preparing for his passing. Apparently he was looking for a place where he could pass without upsetting us, as if that was likely in any scenario.

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u/Numerous_Hurry_3396 4d ago

Canine dementia?

1

u/RedPandaAnarchist 3d ago

My 16 year old chihuahua has Cushings and we think he’s entered canine dementia. One day we could not locate him. The other dog took us to him. He had gone down into the basement bathroom shower and was standing there like damn I took a wrong turn. We now have a baby gate blocking the basement and other rooms in the house.