As most of us know, Dementia is a relatively common condition that occurs in the elderly. It presents itself through trouble remembering, focusing, and communicating. What most of us do not know, is that Dementia is a condition that can affect dogs too.
It is more difficult to detect, as our canine companions do not verbally communicate with us. Regardless, there a few signs you can be on the lookout for in your senior dog:
- Disorientation: if your dog cannot seem to find his way home, this may be a subtle sign of the disease. Sometimes these senior dogs get stuck in a space or cannot seem to locate their food bowls. Spatial disorientation is a common sign to be on the lookout for.
- Sleep-wake cycle changes: sometimes dementia presents itself through the mixing up of day and night. Dogs may suddenly become anxious and active throughout the night and sleep all day. Vets recommend that if this happens to try a night light to help to sleep or certain medications
- Interaction: at often times, Dementia sufferers seem to not recognize certain people or other four-legged friends they once knew well. They may also lose interest in things that usually gets them excited. Behavioral changes are a subtle sign of deeper change.
- Accidents: accidents in the house may also be a sign to watch out for. This is because of a loss of control over bodily functions and is not the fault of the dog, or bad behavior!
- Lost energy or repetitive behavior: some dogs display a loss of energy with a lack of interest. This is normal as dogs age, but if it happens drastically, it could indicate Dementia. In addition to this, your dog might start displaying obsessive and repeated actions with a decline in cognitive function
There are activities you can do with your dog to slow the deterioration, but sometimes the condition is a natural part of your dog’s senior years to be accepted.
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