Canine Dementia — Signs, Symptoms, Treatments

Our boy Mic’s symptoms were so subtle and their onset so gradual that we didn’t initially see them. In fact, our other dogs noticed them first. Mic, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi then 12, had always embodied good dog manners. He’d never met a dog who didn’t like him. Suddenly, he was enraging his pack-mates. We sympathized: his nighttime barking was fraying our nerves.

Though a number of vet visits and lab tests revealed nothing, Mic continued to decline. When his spatial perception deteriorated, we realized that he was acting like some elderly people we had known, and concluded, almost tongue-in-cheek, that he was senile with “doggy dementia.”

Can dogs have dementia? Turns out we were right. Though many veterinarians and dog owners are unaware of it, canine cognitive dysfunction, or CCD (also known as cognitive dysfunction syndrome), affects a significant portion of the senior dog population. The advances in veterinary medicine and improved owner care that have helped dogs live longer have also increased the incidence of CCD, but as many as 85 percent of cases may go undiagnosed.

“It’s a big issue, and there’s not much awareness of it, even among vets,” says Leticia Fanucchi, DVM, PhD, a veterinary behaviorist and director of Veterinary Medicine Behavioral Services at Washington State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. “I get that question—‘Do dogs get dementia?’— even from colleagues.” But canine dementia is nothing new.

“I first started recognizing symptoms of what we now refer to as ‘cognitive dysfunction’ in dogs over 30 years ago,” says Dennis Thomas, DVM, a holistic practitioner in Spokane, Wash., and author of Whole-Pet Healing. “We didn’t have a catchy term for the disease so I called it ‘pre-senility syndrome.’” What is Dog Dementia?

Dog Dementia or Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD), an umbrella term for four separate cognitive forms, is an age-related neurobehavioral syndrome in dogs leading to a decline in cognitive function that can be devastating to the human/canine relationship. The forms are as follows: Involutive depression.

Depression occurring in the dog’s later years, similar to chronic depression in humans. Several factors may be involved, but untreated anxieties seem to play a key role. Because some of the symptoms of canine dementia— circling, wandering and house soiling—often result in the dog’s confinement, anxiety can increase, which, in turn, worsens the symptoms. Other symptoms of this form of CCD include lethargy, sleep disorders, decreased learning and vocalizing. Dysthymia.

This often involves loss of awareness of body length and size. “Dogs with dysthymia often get stuck,” explains Fanucchi. “Behind furniture, in a corner. All they have to do is walk backwards, but they don’t know that.” Other symptoms include disrupted sleep-wake cycles; constant growling, whining or moaning; and aggressive behavior. “If you interrupt a dog while he’s in a dysthymic state, he can get mad and bite,” cautions Fanucchi. Causes of this form are thought to include hyperadrenocorticism (such as Cushing’s disease) and long-term steroid therapy. Hyper-aggression.

In old dogs, hyper-aggression is associated with the dysfunction of structures related to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Cortical tumors may also be involved. “Dogs with this form of CCD lose their ability to communicate with other animals,” explains Fanucchi. “They neither give appeasing signals to other pets in the house nor understand when others send them. They bite first and warn second.” Confusional syndrome.

This involves a profound decline in cognitive ability. According to Fanucchi, it is the closest thing to Alzheimer’s in humans. “They just don’t seem to learn well in any form anymore. They forget familiar features of their lives, including other pets and people. When it’s more advanced, they forget who their owners are.”

As with human dementia, the causes of dementia in dogs are not well known, but accumulations of sticky proteins called beta-amyloid plaques around neurons and the breakdown of neurons resulting in so-called neurofibrillary tangles are considered to be the leading culprits. As in humans, both phenomena affect the brain by interrupting nerve impulse transmission. Diagnosis: Signs Of Dementia In Dogs

When we recognized the possibility of dementia in Mic, we began researching and quickly discovered Eileen Anderson, whose book, Remember Me?, and website, dogdementia.com, are invaluable CCD resources.

Among Anderson’s many helpful tools is a Dog Dementia (CCD) symptom checklist, which comes with a warning. “The most important thing to understand is that any apparent CCD symptom could also point to a serious, and perhaps treatable, medical condition,” Anderson stresses. The first stop, she says, is the vet.

Pacing back and forth or in circles (often turning consistently in one direction) Getting lost in familiar places Staring into space or walls Walking into corners or other tight spaces and staying there Appearing lost or confused Waiting at the “hinge” side of the door to go out Failing to get out of the way when someone opens a door Failing to remember routines, or starting them and getting only partway through Sundowning Read more at dogdementia.com

When standard tests reveal no medical cause for dementia symptoms, it’s time to consider CCD. While dog owners may find that— given the veterinary community’s limited awareness of the condition —they’re initially on their own, some practitioners are better versed in its treatment. Veterinary behaviorists and holistic veterinarians are particularly good options.

Though ongoing research offers hope for a cure, Dog Dementia is not currently considered reversible. However, certain forms of CCD may be preventable, and for others, the symptoms can be minimized. As with humans, lifelong holistic care is key. At some point in every dog’s life, routine preventive care must be fine-tuned with the specific aim of offsetting a dog’s potential for developing CCD. This involves the addition of anti-aging factors through diet and supplements. Fanucchi says that timing varies depending upon size, as larger dogs tend to live shorter lives. “Begin giant breeds at age five, small breeds at 10, others in between.” Treatment for Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

According to Fanucchi, Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) treatment involves management of behavior and environment, enhanced diet, and medication. Its dual goals are slowing the disease’s progress and improving quality of life for dogs and their people.

“Behavior can be effectively managed by providing daytime activities and opportunities for play, and structured social interaction for physical and mental stimulation,” says Fanucchi. “Exposure to sunlight will help regulate the sleep-wake cycle. [See more on Canine Sundowning] If they can’t walk anymore, use a wagon or a stroller. Managing the environment is also very important. Make it more predictable. Pet-proof the house just as you’d toddler-proof it.” Providing adequate toileting opportunities is essential as well, as old dogs can’t “hold it” as they did when they were younger; diapers, pads, and waterproof bed and furniture covers may be helpful.

Nutrition options fall into two categories, commercial and natural, or home-prepared whole foods. Commercial foods focus on the addition of antioxidants for cellular-level health and to reduce oxidative stress on the brain, and medium-chain triglycerides for cognitive improvement. Only a few commercial pet food manufacturers offer prescription senior dog food.

Holistic veterinarian Thomas acknowledges commercial foods’ benefits but advises a different course. “I don’t recommend heatprocessed food for dogs. I recommend feeding a balanced, wholesome, natural diet with the same beneficial supplements added.”

The pharmacological approach to CCD treatment also focuses on control of oxidation and enhancement of brain function. The antioxidant supplement SAMe has proven effective in both staving off CCD and moderating its symptoms. Antioxidant nutritional supplements such as Denamarin, silybin, vitamin E, Cholodin and omega-3 fatty acids can be added to any diet, as can Solliquin, which contains an amino acid that can reduce CCD-related anxiety. Consult with a veterinarian before adding supplements to your dog’s diet.

The drug primarily used to treat CCD by improving brain function is selegiline (Anipryl). A monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), it is thought to improve brain chemistry by reducing the breakdown of dopamine and other neurotransmitters.

Alternative therapies offer a complement to conventional CCD treatments. For example, Traditional Chinese Medicine is thought to operate consistent with quantum physics, on the molecular and atomic levels, by addressing energy imbalances. “I encourage looking for alternative forms of treatment as well as the conventional,” says Thomas. “I prefer to treat this disease with acupuncture and Chinese herbs, supplements, diet modification and energy medicine.” Endpoint

If nothing else gets a CCD-affected dog first, the dementia will eventually force a very tough decision. “When dogs’ bodily functions become so impaired that they lose quality of life, that’s when the hard call is made,” says Fanucchi.

“It’s just a matter of time until they deteriorate to the point that other systems fail. You don’t want to see your pet in this state—it’s very hard.”

Thomas agrees. “That is the toughest thing a dog caretaker has to address. It usually comes down to what the caretaker defines as ‘quality of life.’ Veterinarians can often help because they are not emotionally involved and can explain how the situation is affecting everyone.”

Making this decision can be especially hard when the animal is otherwise healthy. “It can be extremely difficult to consider euthanasia for a dog that is at a healthy weight, not necessarily in pain and occasionally coherent,” says Eileen Anderson. She points to a tool that can help: the Villalobos Quality of Life Scale. Designed by veterinarian Alice Villalobos, it offers an objective means of inventorying quality-of-life details. “Even those hesitant to do the numbers will benefit from the Villalobos scale, considering its unbiased presentation of the facts.” Research Offers Hope

Alzheimer’s has never been reversed in human beings, but it may have been in two Australian dogs. Recently, a team of veterinary and human medical researchers at the University of Sydney Brain and Mind Centre appear to have restored cognition in these CCD-suffering dogs using the animals’ own stem cells.

The procedure involved growing neural cells from skin cells and inserting them into the dogs’ brains. The dogs have been rated as CCD-free based on independent application of the University of Sydney–developed CCD Rating Scale, and their owners report a significant return of the animals’ original personalities.

While at a very early stage and with a minuscule sample, the process appears to offer hope for humans as well as dogs. Although human and canine brains are different, their similarities are striking, with dementia symptoms and their practical impact and response to treatment being almost identical in both.

“The procedure is not to be undertaken lightly since it involves anesthetizing the dog twice and, well, brain surgery,” Anderson points out. “The good news is that two dogs with dementia have successfully undergone the procedure. This fascinating research offers some hope.”

Judging by Mic, the approaches described here can work. A natural diet augmented with SAMe and other supplements improved his cognition. Thanks largely to acupuncture and Chinese herbs, his formerly debilitating physical deficits were controlled. Treatment eliminated his nighttime barking and, under supervision, his packmates tolerated him. He lived nearly two mostly happy and relaxed years after the onset of CCD. Had Mic’s symptoms not improved, we would simply have followed Eileen Anderson’s golden rule.

“All that matters,” she says to anyone who will listen, “is to love the dog in front of you.”

I can empathize with your wife. We think of pets as family and it hurts to part with a loved one. Our Collie gradually slowed down, walking any distance was hard for her and we had to lift her into the van and out. Various other physical evidence of her just aging. Sometimes had to turn her around and other times needed to help her stand. At the last, sixteen yrs old, we reluctantly said goodbye and still miss her and feel her presence when driving on trips. She loved to travel with us but the last years we did kennel her as it was just too much for her.

...have her put to sleep, but my wife will not hear of it.................
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Our beloved Akita, Bo had all these symptoms. At age 12, likely deaf, with a failing rear end, he mauled me when I tried to help him up. Since he couldn’t move easily, I rolled out of the way, but he did a number on one arm. (Never approach one of these guys from the front! My fault.)

He had to be put down and it was because we were just too selfish to let him go sooner.

Sometimes it is not kind to keep them after their best days are gone.

We still miss him, after 8 years.

My little Lucy was twenty when she died almost two months ago.

She displayed your list of symptoms for about two years before she died. (She was never aggressive in any way.)

She had become blind because of cataracts but wasn’t a candidate for cataract surgery because of a long-term heart condition.

Sometime in late February or early March I came across Can-C eye drops for dogs. There was nothing to lose so we tried them and I will always be thankful that I found them when I did.

Once we began treatment Lucy’s cataracts slowly diminished and for the last few weeks of her life she began to look around when I held her, much like a newborn baby gazes around at his surroundings.

She also began to gaze into the face of whoever was holding her, as if she could see us. She had long before stopped doing this.

We began to see the outside of her pupils, especially on the side in one eye where the cleared away part was bigger.

Also, she stopped walking in circles. We think that maybe the last direction she could see well was to her right so she got into the habit of turning right when she walked.

During the last few weeks of her life when we took her outdoors we had to run after her several times because we had gotten used to her walking round and round in the same area instead of going straight up the sidewalk!

No doubt, these drops helped her to see us before she died.

I’m not endorsing, just sharing. But I do know that these drops worked on Lucy.

We have an elderly terrier breed that has doggy dementia and is deaf as well. She is perfectly fine in her own world.

We sometimes look at her and wander if she even realizes she is a dog.

As she is not in any pain or suffering, we see know reason for her to go to the vet.

Back in the 70's dad had an elderly German Shepherd that was loved by the entire family but had developed severe hip dysplasia.

Just prior to the annual 4th of July weekend get together at their cabin in northern Michigan, dad had me take Zarek to the vet to have him put down.

Dad was afraid that the young grandkids would pat him on his hind quarters and feared that Zarek would turn on them and bite them.......

That was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and today I still can't get out of my mind the look he gave me as I turned him over to the vet............

As much as I love Shepherds and would love to own one, I can't bring myself to owning one knowing that eventually I would have to put them down...........

Casey had dementia for almost a year. He had to be tied out...the Casey who ran free and with such joy.

He was disoriented evenings and nights. My son didn’t think I was telling the truth about his failing. I had to send the dog home with him for the weekend. They came back the next morning. Son realized his responsibility. Tough ride to the vets that afternoon.

Soiling outside of a litter box in of itself can be many things. We believe our 12 year old cat has been slowly exhibiting issues for over 2 years despite completely normal blood and urine tests.

Beside urinating over the side of the litter box, he was initially howling in the middle of the night somewhere in the house as if disoriented. Our vet questioned whether there were vision issues, but that doesn't appear to be the case. The howling now can take place at any time of day, and that's been the case since the beginning of 2020.

He's been getting into some pretty nasty altercations with our 13 year-old. Usually, the "fights" would end quickly, but the 12 year-old now just leaps out of nowhere and makes these interactions rather ugly.

Also, his sleeping patterns have changed. Whereas he could sleep for several hours at a time, he doesn't seem to be able to remain at rest for extended periods of time.

The weird one involves the guest bedroom. We normally do not have guests often, so the bedspread is left in the closet to keep it clean. What the 12 year-old does to the blanket on top of the bed is odd. He we straddle the blanket at one of the edges of the mattress (either side or the end). His belly in on the edge, with one side of his body on the top of the mattress, and the other side of his body on the side of the mattress. It is almost like he is clawing the blanket, but it also involves going after his tail and other parts of his body.

When he leaves, there are tuffs of his hair on the area he was straddling. The even stranger part is neither the vet nor us can figure out where the hair "loss" is coming from. He has no bald spots or signs of infections, bacteria, or fungi.

It is really tough watching him slowly loss his ability to live a comfortable life.

Our Welsh Terrier went full Biden at fourteen. He remained loving and never got grouchy. He slept all day and in the evening he was a “sundowner.” He was confused, we would find him just standing in a dark walk in closet. The sad part was most of his personality was gone. One day he squatted in front of me gave me a pitiful look that said “sorry I don’t know what I’m doing” and peed on the living room carpet. I took him to be euthanized an hour later.

Causes of this form are thought to include hyperadrenocorticism (such as Cushing’s disease) and long-term steroid therapy. Hyper-aggression.

Thanks for posting. I had to put down my 10-year old shih-tzu last week and it was quite traumatic. He had Cushing's Disease and was on long-term steroid treatment for torn CCLs. I swore he was getting dementia - staring off into space, barking at things that weren't there.

A few days before the end, my husband tried to get his meds in him the usual way by opening his mouth and tossing in the pill. He bit my husband's finger hard, through the glove. Little bit had never, ever shown that kind of aggressive behavior before.

Dog dementia explains a lot of what went on at the end. Finally, all his little systems crashed and the vet could no longer save him. Very sad! But we had 10 wonderful years together. And today, I've got a rescue dog ready to go home from the shelter and a new pup that will be ready in mid-August.

Can't imagine my life w/o dogs.

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