Do You Think Your Dog May Have Dementia?

Dogs and Dementia: What You Need to Know

Charmaine was doing some research into  Dementia and found this article written by an owner which I think gives good insight into the condition. However, if you do think your own dog may be showing signs of Dementia, your first action is a visit to the vet.

Do You Think Your Dog May Have Dementia? -  Mine does. That's why I'm writing this lens.

I'm not a vet and I can't diagnose your dog, but I can tell you the signs of dog dementia, or canine cognitive dysfunction. I can tell you about what's available to help. I can show you what it can look like. I can tell you quite a bit about what it's like to live with a dog with dementia, and give you some tips about that.

Most of all I can assure you that your dog's life is not necessarily over. My dog has had dementia for two years and still enjoys life.

My Experience with Dog Dementia Cricket, my 16 year old rat terrier, is diagnosed with Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, or dog dementia. It's also called Old Dog Syndrome.

I was confused about her symptoms for almost a year. The first thing that happened is that she rather suddenly stopped being friendly to her best human friend. We were mystified. She got standoffish and acted almost fearful.

A few months passed and we decided that was just the way it was going to be. Along around that time she started getting weird about doors. She would stand at the wrong side of a door wanting to go out. The hinge side. Then she couldn't seem to move out of the way correctly when I tried to open the door.

Pretty soon after that she started getting stuck in corners and I finally realized something was going on. She has, and had at that time, three other health problems: she was almost completely deaf, her vision was deteriorating, and she had neurological weakness in her back legs. So these problems had masked the dementia for a while, but it finally became obvious. Now, two years later, she has every symptom on the list below, except that she still seeks me out and wants to be close to me.

Symptoms of Dementia Only a vet can diagnose your dog. But here are some of the commonly agreed upon symptoms of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction.

• ·         Gets lost in familiar places
  
• ·         Stands in corners
  
• ·         Paces back and forth, in circles, or wanders aimlessly
  
• ·         Appears lost or confused much of the time
  
• ·         Barks for no reason
  
• ·         Gets confused about doors; stands at the "hinge" side
  
• ·         Performs repetitive behaviors
  
• ·         Doesn't remember routines
  
• ·         Has trouble drinking or eating (the mechanics of it)
  
• ·         Stares into space or at walls
  
• ·         Seeks your attention less
  
• ·         Has trouble getting on her bed
  
• ·         Stops responding to her name
  
• ·         Is withdrawn
  
• ·         Startles easily
  
• ·         Trembles for seemingly no reason
  
• ·         Gets trapped behind or under furniture
  
• ·         Sleeps less during the night (instead, wanders around)
  
• ·         Sleeps more during the day
  
• ·         Gets confused about house training
  
• ·         Has difficulty learning anything new
  
• ·         Gets frightened of or withdraws from people she once loved
  

  Table of Contents To read more as below, click here



1.     The Look of Dementia

2.     My Experience with Dog Dementia

3.     Symptoms of Dementia

4.     Medical Treatment

5.     Real Life Glimpses: A Video

6.     7 Hints for Living with a Dog with Dementia

7.     Other Examples Showing the Life of a Dog with Dementia

8.     My Dog's Life Is Not Over

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