- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Canine dementia, or canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), is a type of mental decline that happens to ageing dogs. Your dog may act anxious at night, have trouble remembering commands, or have regular accidents indoors. While CCD probably won’t shorten your dog’s lifespan, their “quality of life can definitely be compromised by this disease,” says Tracey Taylor, canine dementia researcher at the University of Adelaide and dog trainer at the Delta Institute.
It can be hard to watch your dog struggle with everyday activities. While there is no cure for canine dementia, treatment can ease your dog’s symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
Below, we’ll discuss canine dementia and how pet parents can treat and manage the disease at home.
What Is Canine Dementia?
Canine dementia is common, affecting 60% of dogs aged 11 and over. Similar to human dementia, it’s caused by a variety of changes in your dog’s ageing brain.
Amyloid plaques are a significant cause of dementia in dogs and humans. These plaques are bundles of proteins that damage nearby neurons, preventing them from communicating. The more these amyloid plaques grow, the more mental functions are disrupted.
CCD progresses through three stages:
- Mild: In the beginning, your dog might act extra groggy during the day and restless around bedtime.
- Moderate: A year or so after the mild stage, your dog may lose interest in playing or start relieving themselves in inappropriate locations.
- Severe: The last stage of canine dementia causes intense changes in your dog’s sleep-wake cycle, bathroom habits, social behaviour, and navigation abilities. They may get “lost” behind furniture or act aggressively toward family members they formerly trusted.
What are the Symptoms of Canine Dementia?
Our dogs can’t talk, so veterinarians diagnose CCD instead by observing their behaviour and body language. The Canine Dementia Scale (CADES) divides canine dementia symptoms into four categories.
Disruptive sleep-wake cycles
Many dogs with dementia develop insomnia. They may wander around at night, barking at shadows on the wall, disrupting everyone else’s sleep in the home. Other dogs may develop hypersomnia and spend most of their time asleep.
Abnormal bathroom habits
CCD makes it hard for dogs to stick with their house training. They may start having frequent accidents indoors, relieving themselves without warning. Soiling their bedding is a particular cause for concern.
Out-of-character behavior
Cognitive decline can make your dog anxious and irritable. It may cause your dog to hide from playmates or guard their food. In the later stages of CCD, dogs can easily become confused, so they may snap and growl at loved ones who catch them off guard.
Reduced navigational abilities
Dogs with dementia easily get lost in familiar areas. “Often their disorientation results in them getting ‘stuck’ in corners, under dining tables, or behind sofas,” Taylor explains.
What are the Risk Factors For Dog Dementia?
The older your dog is, the higher their chance of developing CCD. A 2022 study looked at the proportion of dogs in each age group who had symptoms of advanced cognitive dysfunction:
- 8-11 years: 8.1%
- 11-13 years: 18.8%
- 13-15 years: 45.3%
- 15-17 years: 67.3%
- 17+ years: 80.0%
The same study found that thin dogs were more likely to have CCD symptoms. However, the authors said the dogs’ lean body composition could be due to other age-related health issues.
Small dogs tend to have longer lifespans than large dogs, so they are more likely to live long enough to develop dementia. However, a dog’s breed isn’t a risk factor for CCD.
How Do Vets Diagnose Dementia in Dogs?
Unlike other medical conditions, Taylor says it’s difficult for vets to diagnose dog dementia because it closely mimics normal ageing. She adds that “veterinarians will often make a diagnosis by elimination – that is, eliminating all those other age-related diseases that can mimic some of the signs of canine dementia.”
Your vet will run several tests to rule out other diseases, like glaucoma and arthritis, including vision and hearing tests, blood tests, MRI scans, and a physical exam.
Then, you and your vet may complete a dementia scale, such as the CADES, to assess your dog’s cognitive function. You’ll likely repeat this questionnaire on multiple visits so your vet can catch signs of further mental decline.
Can You Treat Dog Dementia?
Remember: there’s no cure for dog dementia. However, some treatments can help manage your dog’s symptoms and slow the progression of dementia.
A range of medications can help pet parents in the UK manage cognitive dysfunction in their dogs. Propentofylline – the most commonly prescribed medication for UK dogs over 12 years of age – can help to reduce lethargy and other symptoms of cognitive dysfunction in older dogs. Ask your vet which medications are available and suitable for dogs with dementia.
Your vet may also recommend medications for specific dementia symptoms like pain, insomnia, and anxiety.
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How to Manage Your Dog’s Dementia
Even with medication, canine dementia can still have a significant impact on your dog’s life. Here are some strategies to help manage the disease:
1. Diet and supplements
A diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to improve cognitive function in older dogs. Always check with your veterinarian before giving your dog supplements ⸺ not all human products are safe for pets.
2. Enrichment
Some dogs with dementia may benefit from enrichment, like puzzle toys and training sessions. Even if their problem-solving skills aren’t quite as sharp as before, mental stimulation can help stave off cognitive decline.
3. Environmental changes
“Keeping to a routine is really important for dogs with CCD,” Taylor says. Routines offer structure and predictability in an otherwise confusing world.
If your dog often gets disoriented, you may also want to limit which parts of your home they can access. Taylor recommends stair gates, dog playpens, and potted plants to block trickier spots and reduce the risk of disorientation.
4. Self-care
“Caring for a dog with CCD can be physically and emotionally exhausting,” Taylor says. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help!”
Hiring a trusted sitter to watch your dog can give you a temporary break. Additionally, your vet can recommend treatments to lessen some of your dog’s more disruptive symptoms. Some veterinary clinics also have a support professional or counsellor who can offer guidance during this transition period.
While navigating canine dementia can be a challenge, remember you and your dog don’t have to do it alone.
When Is It the Right Time to Say Goodbye?
Many dogs with dementia can live comfortable lives well into their senior years. However, dementia in dogs is a progressive disease. Dog parents will need to assess their dog’s quality of life, as well as their own and other dogs in the home, from time to time.
Amber Christensen, Rover’s social media lead, discusses her decision about the timeline for saying goodbye to her dog, Shirley.
“The lack of sleep led to her being more agitated and irritable, which led to her not wanting to sleep. It really turned into a cycle that repeated day in and day out,” Christensen says. “There were very few things we could do to make her comfortable, and that really helped me feel at ease with the decision to let her go comfortably in our own home.”
Ultimately, knowing when a dog is ready to go is a tough, multi-faceted decision. Another factor to consider euthanasia is if their progressive dementia poses a safety risk to you, other pets, or themselves. Progressive dementia can cause signs of extreme irritability or aggression. A vet or behaviourist professional can help you decide on the best course of action.
