1) Disorientation or Confusion Wandering aimlessly, getting stuck in corners, walking without his usual confidence and purpose — is your dog navigating his surroundings differently? Does he seem lost? These are common signs of canine cognitive disorder in older dogs.
If your dog is hiding in the corner, it may be because she truly feels safest in the corner. If she is reaching an older age, the corner will support her in feeling safe around a chaotic environment where interactions may be a bit harder.
Does my dog have dementia? Dogs with dementia can often get lost in their own backyard or home. They can get stuck behind furniture or in corners of the room because they forget they have a reverse gear.
As dementia starts in our beloved senior dogs, initially it may be difficult for you to recognize. The early signs are sometimes very subtle. That's why it is important that dog parents know what to look for. Dementia in dogs has three stages of symptoms—mild, moderate, and severe.
How long can a dog live with dementia? On average, a dog can live for around two years after an official diagnosis. That said, it depends on the dog's overall physical and mental health, how fast the disease progresses, and how early the signs of dementia were picked up.
About a quarter of the dogs who had initially been diagnosed with mild cognitive dysfunction had progressed to moderate dysfunction in six months. This portion rose to half the dogs at the one-year mark. This is roughly five times faster than the progression of human Alzheimer's.
Pain and Mobility
Signs of pain in dogs tend to be very subtle. It usually starts as reluctance to do what they have done easily in the past, like jumping up on furniture or in the car, that then progresses to inability to do these things at all. Walks become shorter, or their gait changes during the walks.
Dogs with dementia may suddenly bark, howl, or whine for no apparent reason. Separation Anxiety. Some dogs become less interested in spending time with family members, while others can't bear to be away from you for a minute. Staring.
The last few days before your dog passes you may notice: extreme weight loss, a distant look in their eyes, a lack of interest in anything, restlessness or unusual stillness, a change in the way that your dog smells, and a changed temperament.
He is experiencing chronic pain that cannot be controlled with medication (your veterinarian can help you determine if your pet is in pain). He has frequent vomiting or diarrhea that is causing dehydration and/or significant weight loss. He has stopped eating or will only eat if you force feed him.
If he is losing his hearing or sight, which is common in older dogs, this could be making him feel much more dependent on you and anxious when you leave him. Also, anxiety in older dogs can be indicative of Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS), a disease which functions much like Alzheimer's in humans.
It's often a Compulsive Behavior for a dog when they are in severe discomfort. If your dog is leaning against the wall with its head pressed to it and exhibiting other concerning signs like a sudden change in behavior, lethargy, accidents in the house, getting stuck in corners, reach out to a veterinarian.
Staring at the wall or into space, wandering aimlessly, pacing, and general disorientation are all common in senior dogs with declining cognitive function.
Once other health issues have been ruled out, your vet might determine that your dog has canine cognitive dysfunction. While a diagnosis of dementia can be difficult to handle, many dogs go on to live happy, healthy lives when given proper care and attention.
There are no specific dog breeds prone to dementia—any dog could develop it.
Your dog will hardly know what happened and will simply start to feel pleasantly drowsy. You will notice that I said “Your vet will hopefully prepare an anaesthetic or sedative injection for your dog”. Some do not. Having seen it done both ways, the “two injection” method is definitely my preference.
Signs Your Dog May Be Ready to Say Goodbye
Labored breathing. Lack of appetite. Lack of Mobility or Extreme Lethargy. Crying or intense whining.
When there are too many bad days in a row, or if the dog seems to be turned off to life, quality of life is compromised. Bad days may mean nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, frustration, unrelenting pain/discomfort, or inability to breathe.
Instead, he'll just feel more scared and anxious. Dogs with dementia may become confused or unsettled more easily. This is particularly common on walks, where the combination of new smells, other dogs and physical exercise can be overwhelming. It's important to still walk your dog though.
Vocalization Without Reason. Vocalizations, including barking, whining, and crying for no apparent reason, are also common in dogs with senior dementia.
Old dogs can experience senile change just like in people. This is one of the causes of pacing in older dogs, however, other conditions can affect the brain and may also cause these symptoms, so it is worth arranging a check-up with a veterinarian to find out the cause and possible treatments.
5. Not Recognizing Familiar People. This is often the most heartbreaking sign of canine dementia. No longer recognizing owners is likely due to the changes in brain function that happen with this condition.