Have you ever wondered if a dog can get dementia? Some dogs can and will get dementia, also known as Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS), but not all dogs will get it.
Symptoms of Dementia in Dogs
Symptoms can be varied amongst breeds and dogs. The most common symptoms are:
- Confusion
- Bursts of aggression
- Unexplained aggression
- Forgetfulness
- Constant whining
- Sniffing around
- Fatigue
- Weight Loss
- Slower movement
- Changes in personality
- Disorientation
- Changes in their interactions with people and other animals
- Anxiety
If your dog shows any of these signs combined with any others, you can call your vet and ask them to take a look.
Diagnosing Dementia in Dogs
The key to diagnosing dementia is monitoring your dog. There is no set test to determine if dementia is affecting your dog.
Keep a list or chart of your dog’s symptoms and the frequency. It might help to create an excel sheet or a table where you can list a symptom and then mark the frequency. Here is an example of a table you can use.
|
Symptom |
Frequency |
|
Anxiety |
IIIII IIIII IIIII |
Notice how there are tick marks. You can also put in dates if you want to keep track of exacts. Such as in the following table.
|
Symptom: Confusion and/or Disorientation |
|||
|
Time of Day |
Morning |
Mid-day |
Afternoon/Evening |
|
Monday 11/14 |
8 am |
|
4 pm |
|
Tuesday 11/15 |
9 am |
1 pm |
5 pm, 9pm |
|
Wednesday 11/16 |
7 am, 10 am |
11 am, 2 pm |
6 pm, 10 pm |
You can also just use tick marks for each time period such as in the following table.
|
Symptom: Confusion and/or Disorientation |
|||||||||
|
Time of Day |
6 am – |
8 am – 10 am |
10 am – 12 noon |
12 noon – 2 pm |
2 pm – |
4 pm – |
6 pm – |
8 pm – 10 pm |
Total |
|
Monday 11/14 |
I |
II |
|
I |
II |
I |
I |
II |
IIIII IIIII |
|
Tuesday 11/15 |
II |
III |
I |
I |
III |
I |
II |
III |
IIIII IIIII IIIII I |
|
Wednesday 11/16 |
II |
II |
I |
II |
I |
II |
III |
II |
IIIII IIIII IIIII II |
The more information you can give to your veterinarian, the easier it will be for them to diagnose your dog’s dementia. It will also be helpful to take notes on the severity of each symptom as well as how long it lasts.
Preventing Dementia in Dogs
Dog dementia is partly genetic and also partly environmental. However, you can control environmental factors. A healthy, well-balanced diet is the first step. After that you need to make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. From the time you get them, train your dog to do tricks. Play with them, and keep their mind stimulated.
Supplements are also helpful. You can use them as a preventive as well as use them if your dog is diagnosed with dementia. Dogs benefit from antioxidants, fish oil, and vitamins. Choose dog treats with plenty of these.
Treating Dementia in Dogs
Since dementia has no cure, the best you and your vet can do is try and make your dog’s decline as comfortable as possible.
A key step is to make sure to keep things in specific places. Always put toys away and keep to a schedule. As your dog is struggling to remember things, help them by making sure things are easy to find.
It is important to also remove anything from your home that causes your dog distress. For things like fireworks, you can ask your vet for meds that will help keep your dog calm.
You can also create a safe place for your dog to go when they need space. A kennel works great for this. While they still have memory, help them by giving them treats whenever they go to their kennel.
Another good idea is to set up a blanket or dog bed in the corner of each room that you spend a significant amount of time in. That way your dog has somewhere to go when they need a safe space.
Playing with your dog and working on training, can help counteract the memory loss. Dopamine from happiness when they are playing also counteracts brain loss.
There are a few medicines that your vet can prescribe to help deal with the symptoms of dementia. They can also help you set up a special diet for your dog.
Reach Out to Our Veterinary Team if You Need More Information About Dog Dementia
Dogs can get dementia, and because they do not talk like humans, it can be hard to catch it early. Prevention is the first step.
If you have additional questions about dementia in dogs, be sure to ask our veterinarians during your next visit. To schedule your dog’s next visit with us, give our animal hospital a call at (301) 994-9919.