Milly has just turned 9 years. A lovely cavalier, if somewhat anxious. She has always happily slept downstairs in the kitchen/living room, either on the sofa or in her bed. She's never been crated. She has never been much of a barker, but suddenly about 6 weeks ago she started barking at night. At first I went down and either put her out or settled her her and it lasted about 1-2 hours and she'd start up again. I have tried everything, from visiting her, to ignoring her. I have bought a heat pad, in case she's cold. I've wrapped a Thunder jacket around her. I've tried Dap infusers. I've left lights on, I've put lights off. I've been giving her extra walks to tire her, extra food, in case she's hungry.
I've been to the Vet, who says she's fit and healthy, slim with no heart murmur and no signs of SM. Her only problem is she's quite, but not completely, deaf, so no point leaving a radio on.
I am desperately tired due to broken nights, so reluctantly I have put her bed out into the Utility room, which, although perfectly secure, is colder and not cosy. She has a jacket on and a heat pad and fleecy blanket. I can't hear her barking there. On the first two mornings she was sound asleep in her bed, so I felt she must have eventually settled. The past two mornings however, I found she had wee'd on her bed, which she has never done previously.
When I go away, she stays with a lovely lady who has a cavalier too. She says Milly never barks there and seems very happy.
We agreed she is probably lonely and I think wetting her bed is a sign of stress. I know you may think I'm heartless, but I just cannot let her upstairs to sleep with us, although I know that is what she wants. I know she would probably sleep better there, but we certainly wouldn't.
I'm so sad that she is distressed, to the extent I am seriously considering rehoming her to someone who has another gentle cavalier, as I think she would be much happier there. Sadly my holiday lady, says she can't have her full time.
Can anyone suggest anything that I might have missed?
I've been to the Vet, who says she's fit and healthy, slim with no heart murmur and no signs of SM. Her only problem is she's quite, but not completely, deaf, so no point leaving a radio on.
I am desperately tired due to broken nights, so reluctantly I have put her bed out into the Utility room, which, although perfectly secure, is colder and not cosy. She has a jacket on and a heat pad and fleecy blanket. I can't hear her barking there. On the first two mornings she was sound asleep in her bed, so I felt she must have eventually settled. The past two mornings however, I found she had wee'd on her bed, which she has never done previously.
When I go away, she stays with a lovely lady who has a cavalier too. She says Milly never barks there and seems very happy.
We agreed she is probably lonely and I think wetting her bed is a sign of stress. I know you may think I'm heartless, but I just cannot let her upstairs to sleep with us, although I know that is what she wants. I know she would probably sleep better there, but we certainly wouldn't.
I'm so sad that she is distressed, to the extent I am seriously considering rehoming her to someone who has another gentle cavalier, as I think she would be much happier there. Sadly my holiday lady, says she can't have her full time.
Can anyone suggest anything that I might have missed?