If you are a dog parent, you should be concerned about every slight change in your dog’s behavior. Some behaviors such as lack of sleep at night, increased anxiety, getting stuck behind the door, forgetfulness, etc., in your dog could signify the possibility of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) or dementia.
Dementia in dogs is a disorder that interferes with the effective functioning of the dog’s brain, causing behavioral changes such as loss of memory, changes in sleeping patterns, and increased anxiety, among other symptoms.
The effects of dementia on dogs are similar to Alzheimer’s in humans. And it is common in aging and elderly dogs.
Though almost not fatal on its own, the physical and cognitive issues that result from dementia are debilitating. That is why most dog owners are torn between managing dementia in their dogs and putting the animal down.
In this article, you will learn different aspects of dog dementia, including its symptoms, causes, management, and when to put a dog down due to dementia.
Signs of Dementia in Dogs
Dog dementia is an insidious and terminal condition whose management is only possible if the condition is identified in its early stages.
That is why you must familiarize yourself with the signs of dementia in dogs so that you can help your canine friend when the need arises.
Knowing the signs will also help you understand when to say goodbye to your furry friend comes — this is hurting, though.
The various signs of dementia in dogs include:
Disorientation
Dogs with dementia suffer from the general loss of direction. For instance, the dog may:
- Remain confused most of the time, to the extent of getting lost in a familiar location
- Fail to recognize its caregiver, other family members, other pets, and its offspring
- Fail to recall previously learned tasks
- Get stuck in corners, behind doors, or other confined places in a house or any other closet
- Stare blankly at walls, objects, or even space most of the time
- Fail to respond to instructions. However, you should not suspect dementia until you have confirmed that the dog is not suffering from hearing loss
Poor Social Interaction
Another symptom of dementia in dogs is the change in the way the dog interacts with people, other dogs, and animals. For instance, the dog may:
- Portray high withdrawal effects. For example, the dog may fail to welcome you when you
come home from your job or walk away during training or exercise
- Show increased irritability and aggression like lunging, biting, and snapping
- Tolerate lonely life
- Show reduced affection and interaction with its canine counterparts or their caregivers
Changes in Sleep Patterns
The dog may:
- Remain asleep most of the time during the day and stay awake at night
- Show uncommon nighttime behaviors like wandering, motor restlessness, and vocalization
Changes in Activity
Dementia may cause changes in the dog’s activity like changes in appetite, playfulness, wandering, and repetitive behaviors like defecating in the house or uncommon locations in the compound.
In a nutshell, dementia may as well mean an unsound mind in a dog, meaning that it is out of control. That said, you should expect all sorts of abnormal behaviors from the animal.
Once you spot any of the above signs, you should call a vet to assess the animal and advise you on how to cool a dog with dementia.
How to Diagnose Dementia in Dogs
If your four-legged friend is exhibiting any of the above symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible to examine the animal.
Note: The symptoms may be triggered by another condition in the dog’s body other than dementia.
As part of diagnosis, the vet may ask you various questions about the animal’s character, including feeding habits, the onset of the symptoms, and the various abnormal changes you might have noticed in your furry friend.
So, it would help if you kept a diary of events and the behavioral changes in your dog to allow the vet to rule out the other possible causes of the symptoms.
Besides the interview, your vet would carry out some blood, stool, and urine tests to test for the presence of any infection in the dog’s bloodstream, digestive tract, and urinary tract system.
Suppose the vet does not find any infection after testing the blood, fecal and urinary specimens.
In that case, they may proceed to advanced diagnostic examinations using X-rays, ultrasounds, and even Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to test for the presence of any tumors, blockage, and injury of your dog’s internal organs.
Remember, infections like diabetes may trigger symptoms like reduced activity, change of appetite, and confusion in dogs. Also, the symptoms of dementia may be similar to those exhibited by growth or injury in the dog’s brain.
Ruling out the other possible causes of the symptoms makes it easier for your veterinarian to determine dementia in dogs when to euthanize.
Once your vet diagnoses your pet with a brain disorder, they may enlighten you about a dog with dementia lifespan and suggest various ways of treating dogs with dementia.
Dog Dementia Life Expectancy Stages
Generally, it may be hard to predict the life expectancy of a dog with Canine Cognitive Disorder. This is because different specific factors influence lifespan in dogs with dementia in every dog. Examples of these factors include diet, exercise level, the severity of the condition at diagnosis, etc.
That said, life expectancy in dogs with dementia may be unique in every dog, with expectancy ranging from months to years after diagnosis. It would help if you worked with your vet to assess your dog’s quality of life and the dog’s dementia lifespan.
However, it is believed that all dogs with dementia undergo three life expectancy stages including:
The Mild Stage
Here, the dog exhibits changes in sleep patterns and slight changes in social bonding with its owners.
The Moderate Stage
At this stage, the dog starts to forget the house training and becomes hyperactive at night. It needs some special care at this stage lest you will be collecting the dog’s poop everywhere, including your sitting room.
The Final/Severe Stage
This is the most advanced stage of CCD. The dog features behavioral problems like barking throughout the night, wandering, lack of response to commands, increased house urination, soiling, etc.
What Causes Dementia in Dogs?
Unfortunately, the primary cause of dementia in dogs remains unknown. However, the condition may result from chemical and physical changes in the brain as the dog ages. That is why Dementia is common in adult dogs of nine and above.
The other causes of dementia in dogs may include genetic factors, brain tumors, brain injury, and other brain complications.
Treatment for Dogs With Dementia
While there is no treatment for dementia in dogs, there are various management options that can help you slow the advancement of the cognitive dysfunction, boost longevity and the overall quality of the dog’s life. These options include:
Giving Nutritional Supplements to Your Dog
Some dog supplements can help revert or slow the signs of brain aging. An excellent example of clinically proven dog supplements is the New Hill’s Prescription Diet® Canine b/d.
According to studies, the New Hill’s Prescription Diet® Canine b/d contains various nutrients and minerals that slow the signs of brain aging and encourage learning in old dogs. These nutrients include:
- Vitamin C and E
- Antioxidants like selenium, alpha-lipoic acid, and beta carotene inhibit the damage of the
brain cells
- Carotenoids and flavonoids from vegetables and fruits
- Omega 3 fatty acids to enhance the cell membrane
- L-Carnitine for enhancing their mitochondria function
Administering Nutritional Supplements to Your Dog
Giving specialized nutritional supplements to your dog can help to correct the cognitive brain disorder and improve its overall brain functioning. Examples of these miraculous food supplements include:
- Senilife: Counters some behavioral changes associated with the brain aging process
- Denosyl®/Denamarin® (SAMe): Maintains the dog’s brain health
- Proneurozone: Protects the dog’s brain cells from oxidative damage
You don’t have to worry if you don’t know which supplement can work effectively with your dog. Your vet should examine your dog and recommend the most effective supplement.
Mental Exercises
Most dog keepers believe that keeping your dog mentally active can help slow their brain degeneration and hold as many commands and tricks as possible. You can achieve this by supplying your dog with mentally stimulating toys, playing with them, allowing them to socialize with other dogs, etc.
Administering the Prescribed Medications
After diagnosing your four-legged friend with dementia, your vet would recommend various ways and medications for managing the condition. An excellent example of the medicines that your veterinarian may prescribe for your dog is Anipryl.
It would be best if you stuck to the vet’s instructions to help your canine friend recover quickly.
Senile Dog: When to Put to Sleep
As earlier mentioned, dementia interferes with the dog’s quality of life gradually. If your dog is suffering from the condition and you don’t know what stage of dementia your animal is undergoing, it may be hard for you to know when the time to say goodbye comes.
Though the situation may vary from one dog to another, common signs imply that the dog’s state of mind has almost completely deteriorated. These may include:
- Confusion
- Getting lost in the typical environment
- Signs of distress like pacing, appearing restless, circling, and staring at walls, among
others
- House soiling
- Frequent and abnormal vocalizations, etc
Observing the above symptoms in your dog could mean that the dog is ultimately out of its mind. Your vet should help you determine whether your senile dog should be put to sleep.
If the vet realizes that the animal’s brain is completely damaged, they may use anesthetics and other medication to put the dog to sleep.
Tips for Caring for a Dog With Canine Dementia
If your dog is diagnosed with dementia, you should do everything possible to help your canine friend live positively. Here is how to calm down a dog with dementia:
- Offer the animal some physical comfort and reassurance that you are there for their welfare
- Always be optimistic with the animal to encourage it to live a positive life
Conclusion for When to Put a Dog Down Due To Dementia
Dementia is a severe condition that a dog cannot handle on its own. Once you notice the symptoms discussed in the article, you should call your vet to diagnose the condition.
If the animal is positive for dementia, the vet will advise you on whether to manage the condition or put down the dog to relieve it from suffering.
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