Why has your older dog suddenly become clingy? Experts explain when it's a normal part of aging—and when it could signal something more

One day your older dog is happily napping on their own. A few weeks later, they won't let you out of their sight. They follow you from room to room, wait outside the bathroom door, and seem uneasy whenever you're gone. While it's easy to see this as a sign of growing affection, veterinarians say a sudden change in clingy behavior can sometimes point to age-related vision or hearing loss, chronic pain, anxiety, or cognitive decline. Here's what experts say this common behavior could really mean.