Dementia in Dogs

As our dog’s age, they can develop similar cognitive dysfunctions to what we see in humans. This can be difficult to diagnose and difficult to treat. It’s a confusing time for both the pet and the pet parent. Some common symptoms of dementia in dogs are as follows:

• Going to the wrong side of doors that they never had issues with before
• Standing in unusual places, such as corners, and staring
• Anxiety
• Pacing or repeating actions. (i.e. going to the back door over and over again after being let out each time, jumping up and down off of the couch, etc.)
• Inappropriate elimination (i.e. urinating on the floor without asking to go out)
• “Sun-downing” (When confusion or disorientation becomes worse later in the day)
• Sleep cycle changes

If you see more than one of these symptoms in your dog, you should contact your vet right away. The sooner we diagnose it, the sooner we can treat it which can mean a prolonged life for your pet.

So, what do you do if your dog is diagnosed with dementia? There are some options to help slow the progression of dementia. Some of these steps are:

1. Have a set schedule – Dogs are naturally habitual, and dogs with dementia benefit from sticking to a strict schedule. This helps to keep them generally oriented.
2. Keep anxiety levels low – It’s easy for dogs with dementia to become disoriented which can cause anxiety. Keep your home as anxiety free as possible, loud noises to a minimum, have a quiet “safe space” for your pet. Some pets like their kennels and will freely sleep or relax in them when stressed.
3. Diet change- There are diets now that concentrate on cognitive function in our beloved pets. It’s the first step in helping to slow the progression of dementia, and also the least stressful way to manage treatment.
4. Medications – There are medications that we can use in conjunction with these diets that will also help with cognitive dysfunction. This is a step that we try to avoid if at all possible as pilling can be stressful for them, and ideally, we do not want to medicate until we absolutely have to.

Though there is no cure for dementia, it does not mean the end for our furry friends. With your help to diagnose dementia early, we can help to prolong life for as long as they are happy and healthy.

Written by Blair Lutes