Harlan has become a clingy, velcro dog over the past couple months. Why?

[Ultralight]

Over the past couple months Harlan has been acting so clingy. If he cannot snuggle me he'll start acting anxious, pacing back and forth, racing back and forth. Then when I sit down and he can snuggle me he'll velcro himself to me. Sometimes he sleeps. Sometimes he just stares at me.

Any idea why he is doing this?

[iris lilies]

I’m sure you’ve analyzed if this is related to his illness.

[Teacher Terry]

Some dogs get clingy as they age.

[LDAHL]

My dog’s like that today. Just got back from ten days sleeping in my kids hospital room. I figure it’s some sort of separation anxiety.

[Ultralight]

My dog’s like that today. Just got back from ten days sleeping in my kids hospital room. I figure it’s some sort of separation anxiety.

I didn't know your kid was in hospital. I am sorry. I hope there is a speedy recovery.

[LDAHL]

I didn't know your kid was in hospital. I am sorry. I hope there is a speedy recovery.

Thanks. It was pretty bad for awhile, but he’s recovering at home now.

[Chicken lady]

If Harlan was a toddler I’d say he’s picking up on your covid anxiety.

any changes to your routine?

[bae]

- Covid isolation
- Diet issues (mine got quite anxious when he was having a food allergy problem)
- Health issues
- Picking up on any anxiety you are experiencing
- Afraid of dwarves

[pinkytoe]

Weird but my Siamese cats personality has changed too recently. He follows us around howling to be fed or petted. I guess it's either aging or picking up on our own continual anxieties.

[Tybee]

Pinkytoe, my cat was like that and it was a thyroid issue.

[pinkytoe]

Old cats do seem to get a lot of thyroid issues - keeping an eye on him.

[iris lilies]

And kidney disease. Their kidneys go bad.

[mschrisgo2]

Any one of my dogs or even all 3 at once can become really clingy if I interrupt or change our routines. Or if I come home with another animal’s scent on my clothes. If I’m online, they want me on my tablet on the couch with them, lol. Though they have learned to settle when I’m tutoring online and at my desk.

[boss mare]

As someone who just had three elderly dogs that I lost in one years' time, All of them with ailments. We had this too. Ours were diagnosed with Sundowners Syndrome. The vet prescribed Trazadone. It was pretty good at taking the edge off from them