Signs of dementia in dogs can be distressing to notice. After all, we want our grey-muzzled companions to be mentally sharp and happy for as long as possible in their golden years. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby takes an in-depth look at the five common signs of doggie dementia and explains how to help your dog with dementia keep living the good life.
Recently, a longtime friend and client brought in his 10-year-old black Labrador Retriever, Dixie. I had known her since she was about three months old. Dixie pranced into the vet clinic with the same happy attitude that she is known for.
However, Dixie’s dad looked very concerned. As I asked what was going on, my client started describing some changes he had noticed at home recently. His dear Labrador Retriever was no longer sleeping through the night. She was also barking more than normal and had started to show some aggression towards her “brother,” a small Terrier mix. It was very obvious that something was changing with his beloved dog.
Finally, he looked up at me and said, “My dog is doing things I never would have expected from her. Can dogs become senile?” I looked back at him and told him, “Yes, unfortunately, dogs can develop dementia.”
I went on to explain to my client that our canine companions are living longer than they used to because of the wonderful care they receive at home and from their veterinarian. This is great news because it means we get more time with our dogs. However, it also means that an increasing number of dogs are living long enough to develop dog dementia—also called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction in Dogs (CCD) or Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS).
What is dementia in dogs?
Dementia occurs in senior dogs as they age. Their brain undergoes changes that are very similar to what doctors see in human Alzheimer’s disease or dementia patients. In fact, a 2019 article published in Frontiers in Neuroscience compared canine cognitive dysfunction and Alzheimer’s disease in detail. These brain changes can affect a dog’s memory, behavior, sleep patterns, activity, and appetite.
In recent studies, it has been estimated that approximately 28% of senior dogs develop CCD by 11 to 12 years old. When dogs reach the ages of 15 to 16 years, it is estimated that approximately 68% have doggie dementia.
What are the signs of dementia in dogs?
The first signs of canine dementia may be difficult for you to recognize. Early signs of cognitive decline are sometimes very subtle. That’s why it is important that dog parents know what to look for.
Dog dementia symptoms are grouped into three stages—mild, moderate, and severe. There are typical patterns that appear within each stage. However, it’s important to note that not every dog follows these exact patterns or stages.
So any of the signs described below could be seen at any time once dementia sets in.
3 stages of dog dementia
Stage one: Mild
In the early stage of dementia in dogs, signs tend to be more mild and easier to miss. You may notice changes in your dog’s sleep patterns and maybe mild changes in how your senior dog socializes with you or other pets.
Stage two: Moderate
The moderate stage is when signs may become more apparent to you. The most frequent sign of dog dementia at this stage is house soiling—even though your dog was previously house-trained.
Stage three: Severe
The last stage is severe symptoms. In this stage, the signs mentioned above tend to increase. Also, you may notice your dog starting to wander around the house throughout the night instead of sleeping. Your dog may begin to bark more at things that aren’t really there.
5 signs of dementia in dogs
Let’s explore the five signs of dog dementia in depth.
1. Disorientation
Some dogs with dementia seem to lose their sense of direction or may walk around appearing confused. Disorientation can be seen in a variety of ways in our senior dogs. Some dogs may walk up to furniture and appear unsure of how to go around it.
If you have ever seen the movie A Bug’s Life, the scene at the very beginning of the movie when the leaf falls and blocks the line of ants carrying food is similar to disorientation. That leaf falling blocks the path that the ants always take, and they become disoriented and need the other ants to lead them around the leaf back to the correct path.
Sometimes, as our senior dogs become disoriented, they might need help just like this to re-learn how to go around the couch or table to get where they want to go.
As our beloved companions age, they may also experience vision changes or cloudy eyes in dogs. Impaired vision can combine with mild dog senility to create more significant confusion and disorientation.
Other signs of disorientation include:
- Forgetting where the water bowl or doggy door are located even though they have always been in the same spot.
- Walking in circles as if stuck in that motion and don’t know how to stop.
- Getting stuck in a corner or standing with the head leaning on the wall like he or she doesn’t know what to do (head pressing).
- Standing at the wrong side of the door when it is opened.
If you begin to see your dog exhibiting any of these signs, but you are not sure if your dog is truly disoriented, take a video to show your vet. This will help you explain what you are seeing so your vet can figure out the best way to help your pup.
2. Changes in social behavior
One of the most common reasons dog parents bring their dog to the vet is social behavior changes at home. These changes may occur with the people living in the house or with other pets. As mentioned, doggie dementia affects our dogs’ memories. This means they may forget those that they live with or forget how they normally play with other dogs or cats.
Some dogs become less interested in playing with or receiving attention from their people. This may mean they no longer care when company comes over. They used to get excited or bark to greet guests, but now they don’t. Other dogs may become more needy and want extra attention.
Finally, the change that is usually the most concerning to owners, is sudden aggression toward people or animals. This was one of the big problems my client was seeing because Dixie was attacking her terrier “brother.”
If you begin to see changes in behavior at home, especially more aggressive behavior, please discuss it with your veterinarian immediately. While these changes may be related to dementia in dogs, it is important to make sure that there are no other health problems going on.
Arthritis in dogs or other causes of pain in dogs could also cause your senior dog to act differently. A painful dog is often more likely to growl or snap when painful parts (such as hips or back) are touched.
3. Changes in sleep patterns
In some cases, altered sleep patterns may be the first sign that you recognize in your furry friend because this interrupts your own sleep. Dogs with dementia often start waking up more in the middle of the night than they previously did. Dementia can be one of many causes of senior dog anxiety at night.
Your dog may do different things when he or she wakes up. Some may pace back and forth all night as if they are anxious about something. Other dogs may wake up barking as if someone knocked on the door or they saw a ghost. And others may wake up and decide they are starving and need to eat right then!
Some dog parents describe this stage as being similar to having a newborn baby at home. Or others may compare it to sundowning in humans with Alzheimer’s (which is why CCD is sometimes called sundowners in dogs). It is okay to be frustrated when this happens because it is exhausting for both you and your dog!
4. Accidents in the house
As canine cognitive dysfunction progresses, some senior dogs may forget the commands and tricks you previously taught them. When you say “sit,” “come,” or “stay” they may just look puzzled. Senile dogs may also forget all that hard work you put into house training. Inappropriate urination or defecation in the house may occur due to:
- Increased anxiety that occurs with dementia.
- Going outside and forgetting what they were supposed to be doing.
- Forgetting where the doggy door is or how to use it.
- Forgetting their body cues and not realizing they have to go until it’s an emergency or too late.
- Forgetting how to signal to you that they need to go out.
However, accidents in the house can happen for other reasons in senior dogs. Urinary incontinence in older dogs, Cushing’s disease in dogs, diabetes in dogs, administration of medications like prednisone for dogs, or urinary tract infections in dogs may also cause urinary accidents. It is important to discuss accidents and other signs with your veterinarian to ensure he or she has the needed information to make the right diagnostic and treatment plan.
5. Increased anxiety and changes in activity or appetite
As mentioned, doggie dementia may cause increases or decreases in activity. Increased activity usually presents as pacing or restless nights. On the other hand, dog parents may easily mistake decreased activity during the day for age-related slowing down. Dementia patients commonly want to sleep more during the day (more than the number of hours an old dog should sleep) or may not be as excited to play as they used to be.
Activity may also change because anxiety can become worse once dementia sets in. Sometimes, dogs can sense the changes happening. They are scared and confused because they don’t remember how to follow commands or they keep getting lost around the house.
In addition to confusion-based anxiety, some senior dogs with dementia may develop noise-based anxiety. This may include reacting to fireworks, thunder, or even small noises like car alarms or the stove beeping. Another common sign some owners notice is that their four-legged friend is more attached to them. This can be a result of separation anxiety.
Since activity can decrease and anxiety can increase, another sign is decreased eating and drinking. If your old dog is not eating well, CCD may be the cause. This may occur because dogs feel too tired or confused to get up and go to the bowl. Also, they could forget where the bowl is located or forget that they were hungry or thirsty.
How is doggie dementia diagnosed?
The most important diagnostic step is for dog parents to notice the signs at home. You spend the most time with your furry friend and you know him or her best. Dogs often tend to behave differently at the vet than they do at home, so your vet may not be able to see what you see.
It is important that you let your veterinarian know when your dog’s behavior is changing and you think something is wrong. If you are confused about what your senior dog is doing or don’t know how to describe it, pull out your smartphone. Pictures and videos can help your vet “see” what is happening.
Additionally, you could consider filling out a canine cognitive dysfunction checklist and bringing it to the vet appointment. This sort of tool can provide an overview of the symptoms your dog is exhibiting, which also helps with the diagnostic process.
Once you bring your dog to the vet, he or she will ask you to describe what is going on. Typically, your vet will also ask a variety of follow-up questions. Sometimes he or she may recommend different tests such as blood tests for dogs, X-rays, ultrasound, CT, or MRI. These tests can help rule out other health issues that could have similar signs.
These steps are important because there isn’t an easy “yes” or “no” test that can definitively say if your dog has dementia. Ultimately, your vet makes the diagnosis based on your observations after ruling out other conditions.
How are signs of dementia in dogs treated?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for doggy dementia. But we can treat some of the symptoms to improve quality of life. Your veterinarian may prescribe medications or supplements to help keep your dog comfortable and manage anxiety or disrupted sleep patterns.
Some of the more common may include:
- Melatonin for dogs, which may help restore normal sleep-wake cycles—As a word of caution, some formulations of melatonin, especially melatonin gummies, may contain the sugar substitute xylitol, which is toxic for dogs. Always check the label for xylitol (sometimes called birch sugar) before giving melatonin supplements to your dog.
- Anti-anxiety medications such as trazodone for dogs
- Anipryl® (Selegiline for dogs), a medication that affects signaling chemicals in the brain to manage the signs of dementia
- Omega-3 fatty acids for dogs
- S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe)
- Medium chain triglycerides (MCT oil for dogs), which provide easy-to-use energy for the dog’s brain and may help support and improve cognitive function in dogs with CCD. A great source of high quality MCT oil formulated for dogs is Dr. Buzby’s Brain Boost™ organic MCT oil for dogs.
There are a variety of medications, supplements, and diets that may help with dog dementia beyond the short list shown above. Your vet is the best person to decide which of these options are right for your dog, which is why they are not covered in more detail here.
Please keep in mind that senior dog supplements are not regulated by the FDA and some are more effective than others. I always advise talking to your veterinarian before beginning any OTC supplements for your dog.
Things you can do at home to help your dog’s memory
There are also activities you can do at home to help your dog’s memory. You may have heard human doctors recommend puzzles to Alzheimer’s patients. Puzzles can be good for dogs too! You can try different “thinking games” at home such as food puzzles (found online and at most pet stores).
Some owners play “watch the food” where they put a piece of food under a cup and leave two cups empty. Then they move the cups in a circle on the floor and the dog has to find the food. This is a great way to keep your senior dog mentally stimulated, and can also be a way to encourage them to eat.
For dogs with severe dementia symptoms, a consultation with a veterinary behaviorist may be helpful to develop strategies to help keep them comfortable and calm.
Back to my client, the lovable Labrador with dog dementia
Dixie’s relationships with her dad and “fur sibling” improved after starting anxiety medication and learning “thinking games.” She loves to play hide-and-seek with her dad. He told me that once he taught her this game, their relationship grew back to where it was and her activity level seemed to improve.
She still has some hard days, but she continues to love food and going on her walks. Her dad understands that just like with human Alzheimer’s or dementia, it can progress over time. And he knows that eventually he will have to face that dreaded decision of when to euthanize a dog with dementia. However, he is making the most of her golden years and plays an important role in helping her improve!
Hope for dogs who are showing signs of dementia
If your senior dog is showing some signs of dementia in dogs or if he or she has recently been diagnosed with CCD, it can be normal to feel scared or unsure of what is next. However, there are so many ways you can improve your dog’s quality of life.
Dementia doesn’t have to define the last chapters of your dog’s life. Be sure to ask your veterinarian any questions that you have and work with him or her to develop a plan for your dog. Together, you can help your senior dog have comfortable, happy golden years in spite of his or her doggie dementia diagnosis!
Does your dog have dementia?
Please comment below to share his or her story.
My 6.5 year old border collie seems to be confused occasionally. She has always loved everyone and has never shown aggression previously, but has now shown aggression twice in the last month. Once with the vet and once at home with me holding her foot. She had something stuck to her paw pad and snapped at me when I held her foot up to get it. It was only a price sticker from something that had fallen in the floor – not anything painful. Her blood work was fine. She seems normal most days and I convince myself she’s fine, and then seems off others. Isn’t this too young to have dementia? She also seems to be confused or having a hard time hearing occasionally when she’s more than 20 feet away.
Hi Shanna,
I understand your concern with these new behavioral changes in your Border Collie. It does seem odd that your pup would be showing signs of dementia at 6.5 years old, but I guess anything is possible. Without examining your dog, myself, I can’t make specific conclusions regarding her current issues. I do think it may be a good idea to investigate a bit further. You could talk to your vet about additional testing, x-rays (to check for a tumor or other brain changes) or scheduling a consultation with a specialist. I hope you can find some answers and ensure your sweet girl is happy and healthy. Wishing you both the best of luck and feel free to leave an update if you have new information!
My baby Peanut will be 16 years old in a couple of months and she has had dementia now for 1.5-2 years and the last few months she has gotten a lot worse. To add to it she is almost deaf and blind so communicating with her is very difficult. We pen her up at night for her own safety and so she stops pacing and can actually get some sleep. She used to be glued to me and I could never go anywhere with out her and over the past year or so she wants nothing to do with me. I don’t even think she knows who I am most of the time. We had to take her stairs away from the bed because she seemed to forget how to climb stairs and she was falling off of them all the time. It broke my heart to do that because she always loved to sleep with me, but I had to take them away for her own safety. She still eats great but all she does is pace and spin in circles for hours at a time. I know she has lost weight because all she does is move and she burns so many calories. I watch her on a camera all day while I am at work too, she spends hours and hours just pacing. Last night I heard her whimper a couple of times while we were watching tv and noticed she was kind of stuck in a spin and I don’t think she knew how to stop. She almost walked into a wall because I am thinking she was dizzy. I had to pick her up and she kinda freaked out on me, I put her in her pen and she fell asleep within a few minutes. I stress all day, when my parents watch her when we are away and when the dog sitter takes care of her for us. When we are away from her I am always watching her on a camera and worry all the time I am away. I lover her more than words. I have no kids so she is my baby. I hate watching her aimlessly pace non stop. I try to pick her up to comfort her and sometimes she will let me hold her for a minute but then she wants nothing to do with me she fights to get out of my arms. My heart is breaking from all of this and I am not sure when or if it is the right time to let her go. I don’t want to make the wrong decision ya know. I don’t want to think that I am killing her because she is still eating and moving around fine. I don’t want to feel guilty for letting her go because she is a handful and I stress over her 24/7……. I am so lost on when the right time is. I can’t imaging my life without her, we have been through so much together. She is my baby and I don’t know what to do.
Dear Kari,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation with your senior girl. I know you don’t want to let go too soon or make a decision out of convenience. It is hard to evaluate a dog’s quality of life when all of their struggles seem to be mental instead of physical. But I firmly believe mental disease can cause just as much harm (if not more) than physical disease. You have to take an honest look at your girl and decide if she is truly living or just merely existing. I believe it is better to say goodbye one day too early rather than one day too late and allow unnecessary suffering. Saying goodbye may be the most loving option and your quality of life matters too. I will attach links to other articles with more information and great advice from other readers. I hope you find the answers you need to make the best choice for you and Peanut. Praying for your peace and comfort.
1. Dementia in Dogs: When to Euthanize Your Beloved Senior Dog
2. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
3. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
It’s good to see someone asks the same questions I have. I am goi g through the exact same situation with my 17 year old mini poodle. I have cried so much the last week trying to examine his quality of life versus me not knowing when to let go or know how ro decide whether he is having a good day or a bad day. My heart truly goes out to you my fellow dog mommy ❤️.
Hi TikkiD,
Thanks for your sweet words of encouragement and love to Kari! My heart goes out to you as you try to make the same difficult decisions for your poodle. I hope you were able to find clarity and peace in whatever the outcome ended up being.❤️
Wow 😢 Same dilemma here. It’s good to know that I am not alone. My Beloved Ringo is 18 years old.
My 15 year old minpin Lady is starting to show signs of ccd. I work from home and she is always with me. She has always been active and full of life. Recently she started acting like she is terrible of my husband. she is fine with him when he comes home in the afternoon. Then when night time falls she is like a different dog. If I leave during the day she will be fine with him but if I leave at night she was hide and wait for me too come home. she has her good days and bad days. That is all I can do.
Hi Kristina,
I am sorry Lady is struggling with the effects of CCD. Make sure you discuss these issues with your vet. There may be a supplement or medication that could greatly improve your senior girl’s quality of life. My heart goes out to you as you navigate this difficult path.
Brandi is 14yr old Chiweenie. The other day she was in the yard and she couldn’t fine the steps. And I find her in the hall staring at the wall or door facing. last night I went out on the front porch h and when I came back in she started barking at me and wouldn’t stop. I kept saying her name and it’s momma, finally she stopped. She started walking around at night. And she and my other dog get into it for no reason.
Hi Debra,
I am sorry Brandi is experiencing these worrisome symptoms of dementia. It sounds like she is really struggling and may need to be evaluated by your vet. There are medications you can try to see if it helps improve her quality of life. I will attach links to other articles with more information. Praying you can find the best way to give her some relief. Best wishes.
1. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, Solutions
2. Selegiline for Dogs: A Helpful Medication for Canine Cognitive Dysfunction
3. Dementia in Dogs: When to Euthanize Your Beloved Senior Dog
4. Sundowners in Dogs: A Veterinarian’s Guide
My 13 yr old Lurcher who we had only 3 Years(9rescue ) has started to wander off away from us when on her usual walks, and once ran ti the main busy road for no reason with me running after her – that was scary! She seemed as if she didn’t know were she was —- this is happening a few times but we keep well away from the main road but now we don’t let her off the lead at all also – she barks at us in the evening to go out a lot to pee — drinks a lot of water — she has seen her vet recently has water samples taken for diabetes and infection which has now cleared up She has become very demanding and wants to eat all the
Time — is this dementia??
Hi Linda,
I am sorry Lurcher is experiencing these worrisome symptoms. This could definitely be cognitive dysfunction/dementia related, but without examining your dog myself, there is no way for me to be certain. Dementia is a diagnosis that can only be made once everything else has been ruled out. Here is a link to another article with more information: Canine Cognitive Dysfunction in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, Solutions
Please make sure your vet is aware of these ongoing issues. There are several medications and supplements that could be helpful. I am hopeful that you will be able to partner with your vet and find the best way to maintain Lurcher’s quality of life. Wishing you both the best of luck!
I think my dog this, he wanders constantly is blind and hearing is going. He just pees on the floor, walks into everything and is more on edge when you try to pick him up maybe a bit aggressive for his normal temperament . I don’t know what to do, is he suffering even with all the love he gets? please anyone with advice would be appreciated.
Hi Jody,
I am sorry your dog is struggling, and his quality of life has declined. I will attach links to other articles with more information and advice on how to decide if it is time to say goodbye. Don’t forget you can always reach out to your vet for guidance. They can do a quality-of-life evaluation and let you know if letting go is the most loving option. Hoping you find the answers you need to make the best choice for everyone involved. Bless you and your senior pup.
1. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
2. Dementia in Dogs: When to Euthanize Your Beloved Senior Dog
3. How Will You Know When It’s Time to Euthanize Your Dog? 5 Caring, Heartfelt Messages
My senior dog is showing signs of ccd
He is going circles and hitting wall and furniture and not able to sleep
And haven’t ate in 3 days and only drinks water .
He potty in the house . He was very well potty trained.
Doesn’t respond to his name anymore and stairs at the walls and he doesn’t recognize me anymore
Dear Lisa,
I am so sorry your senior guy is suffering from CCD. The symptoms you describe are all too common in dogs with dementia. At some point, saying goodbye may be the only way to give your sweet boy relief from his struggles. Here is a link to another article with more information: Dementia in Dogs: When to Euthanize Your Beloved Senior Dog
Wishing you strength and comfort as you face difficult decisions ahead. Bless you both.
I just wanted to send some love and prayers to you all through such a horribly difficult time. Although my Luke has been showing signs of changing behaviors over the last year I thought he was becoming a grumpy old guy. He had started whining excessively and barking at me. Things he had never done before. Fortunately I had worked with Alzheimer’s patients in the past and was able to recognize that he was sundowning. When I realized that Luke had doggy dementia I was devastated and of course still am. He is now in a constant state of agitation, not sleeping and wanting to be outside 24/7. He is also started obsessively licking his forearm and if I’m not there to watch him he will just continue to frantically lick until it bleeds. I think this may be an OCD type Behavior. He was also never a big drinker and
now is constantly in that toilet bowl. LOL He’s not showing any signs of any other illnesses like diabetes as he is strong as an ox and hasn’t had a appetite like he has now since he was a puppy. What’s unfortunate is Luke was always a very well-behaved puppy and he is now as I can best describe acting like a spoiled, demanding 3-year-old with no ability to self sooth. I know that sounds harsh and I love him dearly but I want to share exactly what I’m experiencing so that if others are going through this they’ll know they’re not alone. We haven’t reached toileting problems or confusion. Saddly the one medication that I find very effective is acepromazine and the doctor says that she wants to keep that for extremely high anxiety episodes but every day is a high anxiety episode. On this medication Luke is his old self actually even calmer than he ever was as he’s always been a bit hyper-reactive. This medication gives us hours to snuggle and spend quality time and enjoy however much time we may have left together. The doctor is trying to help but she’s prescribing the supplements that you can buy over the counter that have absolutely no effect he might as well be given a doggie treat. I feel everyday is precious and every minute that he is snuggled and relaxed by my side is an absolute treasure. My biggest fear is the day that he no longer knows who I am I can’t imagine a world without Luke . I’m sorry I just really need to get this off my chest. anyway for anyone who made it through this thank you. Please know you are not alone I understand exactly how you are feeling. Feel free to contact via this comment. I’ve searched everywhere for a support group on the internet but haven’t been able to find anything. Great big hugs to you and your fur babies. wishing you as much peace and comfort as you are able to find at this time.
Dear Lori,
I am so sorry you are facing this difficult situation with Luke. He is very lucky to have you by his side advocating for his well-being. Please know you are not alone, and you both are in my thoughts. I pray you can continue to find the best ways to keep Luke comfortable for the time he has left. Wishing you strength and peace for your heart. Bless you both.
Hi… Our big dog, a mix breed of some sort, is starting to show signs of doggie dimentia… He walks in one way and moans if he can’t find a way out… It’s breaking my heart and I’m in tears as I’m telling you guys this… He looks at the other two dogs and I can tell he doesn’t quite know who they are…. He has been messing (Nr 2) on the deck and not on the grass. Looking back, that might of been the beginning… I don’t know if I can handle an animal going through this… It’s so heartbreaking for me.
Judy
Dear Judy,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation with your big guy. I will attach links to other articles with more information and great advice from other readers. Hoping you can find the best way to maintain your sweet boy’s quality of life. Wishing you both the best as you navigate this hard road ahead.
1. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, Solutions
2. Selegiline for Dogs: A Helpful Medication for Canine Cognitive Dysfunction
3. Dementia in Dogs: When to Euthanize Your Beloved Senior Dog
Hello; I have a 14 year old chihuahua Jack. he’s my wife and I’s everything. We have lost. A few dogs over the past couple years and he’s the last of the bunch. We have noticed that he sleeps an aweful lot during the day and some nights he is super restless. Panting and trying to find a place to hide or climb on everything as if he is trying to prove he is a puppy again. It doesn’t happen every night but I would say every two nights. It’s as if something just clicks on and he is restless. He is usually just fine. He does have some other health issues but nothing that would cause this behavior. I fear our fur baby has CCD. We are gonna take him to the vet and see what we can do.
From reading everyone’s stories I believe it’s CCD. I was of course thinking oh he’s just getting old until my mom reminded me of my grandfather who had dementia. She was telling me how at night he would always become restless. And now I’m seeing more of that in my baby boy. He’s eating and drinking water. I hope we can find a solution to make him more comfy at night
Hi Shawn,
I am sorry Jack is struggling with these behavioral changes. You are right, this does sound like cognitive dysfunction/dementia. Specifically, Jack seems like he is dealing with a condition called Sundowners. I think your plan to have your vet evaluate him is a very good idea. There may be medications or supplements that could make a big difference in his quality of life. I will attach links to other articles with more information and great advice from other readers. Hoping you can find the right combination of treatments to give Jack the best quality of life. Wishing you both all the luck. Keep up the good work!
1. Sundowners in Dogs: A Veterinarian’s Guide
2. Senior Dog Anxiety at Night? 9 Solutions for Better Sleep
3. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, Solutions
I started my 20y/o Italian Greyhound on Melatonin and Selegiline,and it has worked wonders! before i would walk in the house and it would take her a good 30 min to finally realize it was me, I dont want to do any miracles for her, she is 20 i just want to make her as comfortable as possible I just turned 40 she has been my little sidekick for half my life, if your dog needs it please talk to your Veterinarian
Hi Jace,
This is great advice. I couldn’t have said it better myself. I am so glad your sweet girl has had such a dramatic improvement to her quality of life since starting the melatonin and Selegiline. I am sure your knowledge of internal medicine has been quite helpful as you navigate these senior years with your beloved pup. Thank you for sharing your experience! I appreciate you and all the hard work you put in each day as an RVT. There is no way I could do my job without people like you by my side. Bless you.
My 14 yro Maltese, “Bentley”, has mid-stage CCD. Every day is different, and it’s day to day, always monitoring his QOL.
I made a list of all the things he loved, there are 20 things listed. When I notice he no longer does a behavior or activity, I put an X by it.
I told myself, when there are only two things left, get ready. When there is one thing left, it’s time. I won’t let him exist if he isn’t living.
Example:
Bentley loves to:
Bark at crows X
Bark at UPS trucks X
Treats X
Walks
Baths
Car rides X
and so on.
He does all the standard CCD stuff, he goes to wrong side of the door, paces at night, wants a meal at 3:00am, wants a walk afterwards (I do both because I’m crazy lol).
He whines if I am not nearby, he can’t remember how to use his dog dish, he gets stuck in corners and behind furniture, he gets zoomies for a few minutes, then passes out in a hallway.
He doesn’t remember how to use stairs, or any commands, or his name, but he knows my voice. He still demands two walks a day and starts banging into the closet doors, rattling them loudly, until I get his leash.
No meds or supplements have helped. So I just monitor and prepare myself,
I believe too early is better than too late. I won’t let him suffer. For now, he has more good days than bad.
It can be exhausting, but I will face the end with him, both of us knowing that I did everything I could, to make the last of his time, a good time.
One thing I can say, his housebreaking has never been better!
He was notorious for sneaking in accidents, now he insists on going outside, and won’t let me rest, until we go outside, on a walk, not in the yard, even if it is 3:00am, to do his business.
For that I am grateful. I think it’s his final way of saying “Thanks for a pretty awesome life!”
Bottom line, I won’t put him through anything that I wouldn’t want to go through, myself. ♥️ To me, that’s love.
Dear Lynn,
Thank you for sharing your experience. I think your list is a great idea. Bentley is a very lucky boy to have you taking such good care of him. What a blessing you have had 14 years together to make wonderful memories. I hope he can continue to maintain his quality of life for as long as possible. Wishing you both nothing but the best. Keep up the good work!
This is heart-wrenching. My 14.5 yo adopted border collie (adopted at 14 yo!) is exhibiting what I realize are signs of dementia, not just age. She is already essentially deaf, so I can’t reassure her verbally. She has IVDD and arthritis and urinary incontinence, so she takes Proin and carprofen. Gabapentin, which I tried for her IVDD, did nothing but make her more moody and wobbly. But additionally, she gets stuck and can’t get up from odd places, like when she’s up against the couch. Frankly, she barks for help to get up about 75% of the time now. I sleep downstairs since she can’t climb stairs so that I can be closer to help her in the middle of the night. She barks for no reason mid-day and she has become more aggressive to my other dog, even biting her a few times. As a herding dog, she wants others to do her bidding, but she didn’t used to do that to my other dog. She sleeps a lot more than before. I think I will let her go sooner rather than later since the writing is on the wall that it won’t improve, and I would rather she had joy for the 8 months with me than decline in confusion. When I got her, she was overweight and her mobility was horrible, plus she had open sores on her elbows and even on one of her feet. I got all that healed, helped her lose weight, and with that, her mobility improved, but now these other symptoms are ones I can’t resolve. The vet will tell me, “let’s try this or that,” but that starts to be nothing more than a financial drain with no real gain for her.
Dear Stacy,
I am sorry you are facing this difficult decision for your senior pup. It does sound like her dementia is causing suffering and saying goodbye may be the most loving option. What a blessing she was able to find you and have joy in her last days. Thank you for allowing a sweet senior girl to truly know love and pass with dignity. Wishing you strength and comfort for the days ahead. Bless you both.
I have a 15 year Male Maltese be 16 in May 2023. He sure has changed he always wanted to snuggle and hold him when I sit down. Always wanted to sleep with me. Last 7 months he doesn’t sleep with me, he doesn’t want me to hold him, love on him, been hard to give him a bath. Doesn’t play fetch any more, walks the floors, walks around furniture and trips over it or gets caught, I find him in the corner of a room just standing there like he is lost. He has taken over a love seat in the living room, sleeps there Day and night, he howls sometimes at night, I try to sit next to him to love on him, he gets down, he was my protector and shadow. I miss him so much. Eats good and drinks water, I give him joint and hip soft chewable and a multi soft vitamin, I crumble them up in my hand he eats them out of my hand every night.
Hi Judy,
I am sorry your senior guy is struggling with the symptoms of dementia. I understand how difficult it can be to watch a beloved dog slowly decline mentally while they still seem to be physically normal. I will attach links to other articles with more information. Should you start to question if your sweet boy’s quality of life has diminished, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your veterinarian. Best wishes and bless you both.
1. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, Solutions
2. Sundowners in Dogs: A Veterinarian’s Guide
3. Senior Dog Anxiety at Night? 9 Solutions for Better Sleep
4. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
5. Dementia in Dogs: When to Euthanize Your Beloved Senior Dog
I have a 16 year old Maltipoo who I love dearly. She has been showing decline for a while now. She is deaf and blind which I know is a part of her issues but there’s more to it than that. She has been having accidents in the house for at least the last 6 months. She will maybe go potty outside once a day if we’re lucky. The rest of the time she goes in the house even where she sleeps. She paces constantly and stares at the walls. She can’t jump up anymore and has obvious trouble walking and standing but can do it with some assistance. Most recently her behavior has changed and she has started growling and snapping when anyone tries to pick her up to take her outside or pick her up in general. It’s hard to even pet her anymore. She has never ever growled at me in 16 years until the other day. I have been mulling over putting her down. I know it is ultimately my decision as our vet reminded me but it is so hard. She hasn’t been wimpering or whining in pain and eats/drinks well; but it also breaks my heart to see her like this.
Dear Kari,
I am sorry your senior girl is struggling with the symptoms of dementia. I understand it can be hard to assess the severity of her condition when physically things seem to be ok. I do think mental disease can cause just as much suffering as physical disease, if not worse. From what you describe, letting go may be the only way to give your pup peace and rest from her troubles. I would rather say goodbye one day too early than one day too late and allow unnecessary suffering. I will attach links to other articles with more information. I am hopeful you will find the answers and advice you need to make the best choice for your sweet girl. Praying for your strength to face these difficult decisions. Bless you both.
1. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
2. Dementia in Dogs: When to Euthanize Your Beloved Senior Dog
3. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
Hello all! I have a 15.8 year old yellow Labrador Retriever. She and her sister (a 13.7 year old chocolate Labrador Retriever) are the loves of my life. In January of 2022, we started to notice behavioral changes… withdrawing from activities she loves like snuggling on the couch, playing ball, and not coming when called. She is a very vocal dog (as most labs are) and always responded to our voices, especially specific words like “walk” “car ride”, etc. We then determined that she either lost her hearing or had selective hearing. She also stopped eating dry dog food, so I began making her fresh chicken and beef each day. That she eats no problem!
Also around this time, her back legs started giving out even though she’s swam, ran and walked daily her whole life. It was confirmed as arthritis and not hip dysplasia or a spinal/nerve issue. We begun giving her shots of Adequan every few weeks in the booty which helped tremendously so she now runs around like a 3 year old pup. The only thing I have to be careful of is not to let her hurt herself running around like that!
In June of 2022, we started noticing her pacing after the sun went down each night. She’d stare off into corners, trap herself under tables/chairs, and walk in and out of our shower at night while we were sleeping. There was also a lot of panting. She’d also go outside and forget to do her business, then come inside and have accidents. We took her to the vet and determined she has CCD (dementia). They wanted to put her on meds, but I decided against that because that’s what they did to my grandmother when she was diagnosed with dementia and she became a vegetable – sleeping all the time. I did not want that to happen to my pup in the last few years of her life.
She had one “neurological event” in January of 2023 where she was refusing to eat anything, lethargic, trembling & withdrawn. I took her to the emergency vet where all her test results came back normal. They gave her a shot of gabapentin and anti-nausea and sent us home saying it may be some kind of event and we hoped she’d come around in the morning. She did! I read online that fish oil is good for CCD dogs, so I have fresh skin on fish 3x a week for dinner and then she gets the skin as a snack at night. On the days after she eats the fish skin, she’s at her best. I know you can purchase fish oil supplements, but I wanted her to have the raw stuff instead of risk something chemically treated – plus I just throw the skin away anyway. I continue the cooked beef & chicken diet with either sweet potatoes/carrots/pumpkin daily. I also take her for walks every day or every other day depending on how she’s feeling. In addition, I purchased a supplement on Chewy: “Zesty Paws Advanced Cognition Bites” & she’s been getting them for 6 months twice a day with food.
It’s now February of 2023 and she’s doing amazing. She’s eating so well, she’s alert, happy & as much of her old self as she can be given her age. She continues to pace at night and have accidents in the house, but far less than before and that’s a small price to pay. I know she won’t be around forever, but I want her remaining time with me to be the best it possibly can & I hope this post is helpful to someone 🙂
Hi Britney,
This is such wonderful information and advice! Thank you for being willing to share your experience with our readers. I am so glad your girl is thriving and living her best life. Your pup is very lucky to have you advocating for her health and wellbeing. Wishing you both the best for many happy days ahead. Keep up the good work!
Britney, your post is very helpful to me. My mini schnauzer Suzy is turning 13 soon and showing signs of cognitive decline. like your fur babies, she is also the love of my life, my soul mate. I wish you many more happy years with your girls.