If you’re very lucky, you’ve had the pleasure of caring for a pet so very old that she had a little trouble remembering where she was at times. She might also have had a little trouble discerning daytime hours from those at night, usually sleeping all day and pacing around after the rest of the household had gone to bed.
Confusion, disorientation, dementia: call it what you will. But when it affects dogs, I lovingly refer to it as “dogzheimers,” otherwise known [more clinically] as “canine cognitive dysfunction.”
Although the disease process in dogs may be clinically different than human Alzheimers, its effects appear quite similar to most pet owners: sleep/wake cycle disturbances, anxiety, inappropriate vocalization, repetitive behaviors (like pacing), elimination disorders (what you might call “incontinence”), and generalized disorientation.
This disorder is common in geriatric dogs, while some very old cats experience a less pronounced version. Hearing and vision loss, also far more common in dogs than in cats, seems to accelerate the process by accentuating the disorientation these pets experience.
Most owners don’t appear alarmed at the onset of these symptoms. They seem to take it for granted that old animals should suffer the same changes so many humans undergo in later years. But if humans with dementia are any guide, dog lovers would do well to keep their ear to the ground on these symptoms and take early action upon their manifestation.
Why? Because disorientation often yields to anxiety and, ultimately, to generalized deterioration of every major organ system (as well as a predisposition to a multitude of other diseases). Moreover, dogs with dementia, in spite of their physiological limitations, can live a whole lot longer than most pet owners assume. And that would be fine, but for their perpetual state of anxiety and/or discomfort.
What’s my tack on these cases? For starters, I ask about alertness during physical exams of older pets—especially when people start talking hearing loss and vision loss. Are they bumping into things at night? Are they less likely to look up when you enter a room? For pets with cataracts, even at an early stage, I suggest a trip to the ophthalmologist for an eval and cataract surgery, if possible.
If dogs are just starting to show signs of disorientation, I try to talk people into adhering to a stricter schedule when it comes to feeding, walking, time at home, etc. Why? Because your schedule is their schedule. And a strict routine is excellent therapy for confused pets—it’s orienting.
For more severe cases, I discuss the benefits of Anipryl (selegiline), a drug that seems to reverse some of these symptoms…to a minor extent, I must admit. Anti-anxiety drugs may also be indicated for some dogs. Amazingly, some dogs with advanced dementia are quite relaxed, but most display some degree of stress—especially when lost in a corner of a room or when they find themselves alone and awake in the middle of the night.
The most comprehensive approach to canine cognitive dysfunction includes the services of a veterinary behaviorist. Some of these specialists are miracle workers when it comes to helping owners re-orient their confused geriatrics. I’m often surprised by how just one visit can make a tremendous difference. It’s usually expensive, but far cheaper than drugs or new carpeting, for example
So many of these dogs are euthanized before their time, simply because the incontinence or vocalization became far too much for the family to handle—and because no one took the time to explain that there is comfortable, productive life after the loss of normal brain function. Some cases are exceptional and can’t be satisfactorily helped, but you’ll never know until you try.
For my part, I find that I euthanize way too many old dogs whose happiest days could still be ahead of them. It’s my firm belief that if owners could be brought to accept that an old dog requires as much attention and special care as a puppy, then perhaps they wouldn’t throw up their hands in disgust over a little stool on the floor. After all, we’re all going there ourselves—with a little luck.
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i've had two dogs now with cognitive dysfunction issues. the first was a mini poodle with a whole slew of other issues (chf was the big one) who i got when she was 15. i eventually had to euthanize her because her senility issues just got that bad and her quality of life was so lousy. it was heartbreaking, especially given that all her other maladies were under control. in retrospect, i wish we had tried anti-anxiety meds.
now i've got a (newly adopted) 10ish year old pit bull with the beginnings of it. we started him on an antioxidant supplement (vetriscience's cell advance) and i do see an improvement.
elegy May 11th, 2007 12:57:00 PM
I've had 2 cats that had dementia as they aged. They would both go off walking down the street if they got outside. I don't know how far they'd have gone if not stopped-probably until exhaustion or a car stoped them. Very nerve-wracking.
heather May 11th, 2007 02:12:00 PM
We had an elderly cat who went into a sudden decline when we moved -- before that, although she was blind, she knew her way around. But after the move, she couldn't cope and couldn't learn where the food was, or the litterbox. It was heartbreaking, and meds didn't help.
What we did was buy a HUGE dog crate, tuck a small litter box into one end and her food and water into the other end, and position it so that she had both a patch of sun and patch of shade all day long. She lived another year in there. Of course we took her out to pet her and cuddle and so on, but the crate was "home". She could find everything in just a few steps, the other pets couldn't bother her, and she seemed so much happier.
I'll never know if it was the right thing to do, but it seemed to work for her.
Laura May 11th, 2007 04:09:00 PM
Wow- I hope I never have to face this..... but I can't imagine keeping a disoriented, frightened pet alive. My mom had a severe stroke, and the last two days of her life were horrible for everyone. She had no idea who anyone was. She didn't know who SHE was, or where she was. The only thing she seemed to know was that something was wrong, and that she was scared. She was like that until she died two days later. It broke my heart to see her like that, and it was hard to watch her die. But I thank god she at least wasn't left alive in that state of confusion. To this day I don't know which was harder, her not knowing who we were, or her being scared. I wouldn't put my pet through that .
Agadore's momma May 11th, 2007 07:14:00 PM
Yikes. We think about this a lot in our household - AKA Home for Spoiled Geriatric Animals. We have 3 large dogs, ages 11, 11, and 13, and a cat about to turn 14. Physically they're solidly healthy, but we do see cognitive changes already - just a slight silliness, in some instances, but sometimes more worrying than that. The 13-year-old dog will occasionally go out the doggy door to the backyard and get stranded out there, staring in the French doors, unable to recall how to get back in. It's become routine to do a head count at bedtime and to make sure everyone is under lock and key and tucked into their various beds.
I'd love to hear more about the aging process in pets - our greyhound is beginning to lose some strength in the hind end, our Border Collie mix has the eyesight issues starting (these are the 11-year-olds). The cat tends to spend nights galloping through the house howling, but she's done that for years. Maybe she needs a friend; maybe she needs sedation :)
Thank you, as always, for your wonderful, informative blog!
Stacey V May 11th, 2007 08:54:00 PM
Our dogs do depend on their routine. We're home pretty much *all* of the time, and it's rare when we both leave the house for a couple of hours. The basset is 12+ and Kenya is about 16. Even the cats aren't spring chickens, but they don't show their distress like the dogs do. My sweetie and I both went out for 3 hours last night, and we came home to a wet floor in the entry, and a basset that was inconsolable for at least half an hour. He needed some serious lap time to calm back down. Kenya is farsighted and does shy away from strange objects. And we can't put her in an E-collar because she can't see the edges and doesn't know where they are. She becomes too terrified to move. That's why we put her in doggie pajamas when she needs any sort of surgery. It hampers her leg movements and covers the wound so she can't lick it.
Georg May 12th, 2007 07:24:00 AM
I have a very sad story that I am currently dealing with. My husband and I bought our beatuiful little girl when my oldest son was 7 and youngest was 5. My oldest is now 18. Our dog, Hootie, is an engligh bulldog/boxer mix. The most beatiful dog (in my eyes) that you would ever see. Hootie has cognitive disorder and it has been so difficult to see her this way. She wanders in circles constantly, gets stuck in corners, and needs help up and down stairs. She walks in circles so much that she totally exhaustes herself and we have to make her lay down for a nap.
Hootie is the best dog I have ever owned. She is the most gentle, loving, adorble dog. She would never hurt a fly. She always greeted everyone that came to the door with kisses and love.
We just started giving Hootie Anipryl yesterday. I am so hoping that this medication will prolong Hootie's life to the point where she is enjoying it again. I will not keep her alive for me, if she is suffering, I will put her down, but right now, she is not suffering. It is just so difficult to see her this way when her entire life she has always been so happy and loving.
I just wanted to share my story and if anyone has any advice, please let me know and email me. My email is jodi.ostrander@esc.edu. Thank you.
Jodi May 31st, 2007 11:29:00 AM
Well, its Jodi again and my little girl Hootie has gotten pretty bad and I have to face a terrible decision. We are going to have to put our baby to sleep. This is the most heartbreaking thing that I have ever had to do in my lifetime. I will miss her to death. I love my Hootie!
Jodi June 4th, 2007 12:47:00 PM
"For my part, I find that I euthanize way too many old dogs whose happiest days could still be ahead of them. It’s my firm belief that if owners could be brought to accept that an old dog requires as much attention and special care as a puppy, then perhaps they wouldn’t throw up their hands in disgust over a little stool on the floor. After all, we’re all going there ourselves—with a little luck. "
I have been watching my beloved Bear suffer with anxiety and doggy-dementia for almost two years now. The meds aren't working. He lives in constant fear. Strict schedules haven't worked. It is not acceptable to watch a devoted companion, protector and family member suffer in this manner. If you want to compare his suffering to a human's, my father suffered with stroke-induced dementia for two years and on his "good days" would remember his behaviour and anxiety on his "bad days" and beg to die. I am also an RN and have cared for countless human sufferers of Alzheimer's and advanced dementia - in their rare lucid moments, each and every one has said they want to go to heaven. Is it really and different for dogs? Aside from the fact that medications haven't worked, Bear is nearly a hundred pounds. While he used to be our first defender, my son is now having nightmares about "demon dogs" and my daughter openly admits that she is sometimes afraid of him. My husband died suddenly a year and a half ago... the last thing I want to do is euthanize my devoted friend, the last thing I want is for my children to endure another death but, there does come a point when the suffering is too much and the risk too great.
Realistic June 11th, 2007 04:46:00 PM
My dog Alyx is a 15 1/2 year old Jack Russel/Lab mix. She has been a huge part of my life since she was 6 weeks old. She is about 30 pounds but has lost a few pounds lately with all of her walking in circles and pacing.
I have just started her on Anapryl 2 days ago. The vet says it takes over 3 weeks to see any imrovement. I want to give the medicine a chance but I am worried that her quality of life is so bad that I am being selfish by trying to let the medicine kick in.
I have restricted the area in my home where she can wander and get stuck in and the carpets are covered in sheets. The sheets help since if I am away for a couple of hours and she gets confused and stuck somewhere, the mess is easier to clean up. She knows there is a doggy door and most times she finds it but if she gets stuck in a corner, she panics and then messes there. That I could deal with better than when she then paces through the mess, back and forth and in circles.
She has a great appetite but because she is mostly blind and deaf, I have to keep showing her the bowl. She still seems to know the routines; bedtime, treat time, dinnertime etc. She knows where the water bowls and her bed are located.
I have been trying Rescue Remedy as well to try and calm her down from the constant need to pace and go in circles. I think it helps a little.
It is so frustrating that she has made it through physical problems in her life but then a mental illness is taking her away. It is important to me to let her go when it's the right time but I also am curious and hopeful about the Anapryl. So many conflicting reports on whether it works.
I am actually setting up an appointment with an Animal Communicator who comes highly recommended to see if she can find out if Alyx is willing to continue. Hey, I love my dog. I will do whatever I can to do the right thing for her.
I guess I am just looking for input on whether the Anapryl is worth waiting for to work.
Paula June 29th, 2007 10:01:00 AM
I currently have a 15-year-old, 17-lb. female mix (maybe beagle/doxie/chihuahua?) who lost her vision last year (although it was gradual, tried surgery, nothing worked) and, over the last 40 days, has begun to show signs of cognitive dysfunction. We have fully padded the master bedroom for her and keep her together with our 12-year-old rat terrier now (they used to be separated for his anxiety, but dementia trumps anxiety). I've noticed an improvement since we put them back together -- for about a week, we came home to her walking in tight, counterclockwise circles (always counterclockwise, I assume because of a geriatric vestibular incident 4 years ago which left her with a left head tilt). We are going to the vet Wednesday to discuss meds. This girl was always the best dog and, if she can still "be a dog", I won't think about euthanizing her. Her older "sister" was a 19-year-old Pekingese who was euthanized when it was clear she had no life quality -- we will make whatever accomodations we can to ensure that.
Deb September 8th, 2007 09:23:00 AM
I don’t know when it happened, but about 6 months ago I noticed more pacing around the house and unusual behavior. My 14 year old (rescued) large breed Pomeranian (he’s 11 lbs), Bandit, is noticeably different. He has now deteriorated to the point where we are both in pain from this disease. I never heard of CCD until last week at the vet’s office, where I was contemplating putting him down. Not because of the pacing, but the pain he appears to be in. This is a dog, that had a terrible life before me. Some guy had him locked in a crate, in a garage, in Florida with no A/C, and in that crate was another dog, Smokey. They were in a crate together for years, no medical care, no attention, just food and water. I had just lost my 9 year old toy Pom to heart failure, so when I saw these two kids; needless to say, I took them both home - in a heart beat. They both came home with me. "Smokey and the Bandit" came home with me 7 years ago and we were all the happiest kids in town. Smokey was 11 when I rescued them, and I put him down a few years ago; he was 15 with a number of medical issues. Now it is just Bandit and me. He is my buddy, my baby, the reason I love coming home. So happy to be with me, loved car rides, loved greeting me at the door, cuddling up to me on the couch, and sleeping in my bed. He is such the sweetie pie and the sparkle in my life and I was the sparkle in his eyes. He’s my baby. But he's not there.
Now the painful part: he is constantly pacing in a figure eight or in a circle, can’t see, can’t hear, doesn’t want attention, walks away from me, walks into the slider door in a circle until I pull him away from the door, loses his balance, stands in the corner, stands in the yard staring into space, and fortunately, my entire house is tile for his incontinence and vomiting. I come home every day for lunch, to check on him. Bandit doesn’t have some of the symptoms described. He stopped barking about 6 months ago, and this is a dog who used to bark if an ant farted. He doesn’t have an increased appetite, actually, severally the opposite. He rarely eats, but when he does, the painful episodes of vomiting and diarrhea ensues. I am used to the episodes of his loss of appetite over the years and also his hypoglycemia. I have been hand feeding him, but he won’t even take that now. Now, the hypoglycemia shock sets in, because his blood sugar is so low. Did he forget how to eat? He’s only been on the medications for his gastro problems and for CCD for one week. Getting him to take the medication is about as frustrating for both of us as when I have to put him in the tub to clean off the fesses or vomit. So I crush the pills and hide it in anything he will take from my hand. Needless to say, he now doesn’t like cheese, treats, or anything from my hand. Last week, I thought he had a brain tumor, this week, I really know he has lost his mind. I can handle the pacing, I can handle the attention loss, but I can’t handle seeing him so confused and sick all the time. Was I too late for the meds? Will he really improve? He’s my Baby, but this is so incredibly painful – for both of us. This will be 3 kids in 7 years that have passed if I make the decision.
Susan September 15th, 2007 08:52:00 AM
My twelve year old Westie was diagonosed with CCD almost a year ago and has been on Anapryl (Selegilene) ever since. Iinitially she showed some improvement, but her pacing and nighttime wandering have recently increased. Chrissie was a sweet, well-trained dog but her manners and disposiiton have undergone a tremendous change. She is anxious and fearful, and other ailments also contribute to her not wanting to go for her once-loved walks. Chrissie's eyesight and hearing are diminishing; she stopped barking a year ago, and her teeth chatter relentlessly when in a stressful situation. It is heartbreaking to witness these manifestations of such an incidious disease.
I try to maintain a rigid schedule for meals, bedtime, and "bathroom breaks". In addiiton to the Selegilene, I changed Chrissie's diet to Hill's Presecription B/D (brain diet) food and that has helped control her previous loss of housebreaking. I can fully empathize with other writers - this CCD is a dreadful disease that leaves you feeling frustrated and helpless as you try to make the right decisions for your beloved pet. If anyone has met with even short-term success doing something I may not have tried, please let me know.
Catherine Clark October 1st, 2007 02:06:00 PM
If it is possible, have an MRI done on your animal to be certain they do not have a brain tumor have had a stroke.
Julie February 28th, 2008 02:33:00 PM
I woke up one day and my 14 year old dog was pacing in circles over and over. As the morning went on, she couldn't stand up - kept falling down, leaned to the side when she walked, got stuck in corners and knocked into and knocked over furniture. I thought maybe it was an inner ear infection, but her ear seemed fine and had no odor. She became distant, always had her head down and a day or two later would not eat. We began feeding her Ensure with a syringe every day, twice a day while I researched her condition and freted over making "the decision." Through tears, I was able to find Anipryl online and seemed like it might help. Couldn't hurt to try. I called my vet who hadn't heard of it, but said he'd call it in for me. I gave it to her and expected it to take a month for it to work - as I had read. I HOPED I had a month left with her. After about 2 days, I began to notice that she was walking straighter and falling less frequently. She still was not eating. We figured this was her way of nearing the end. When I had made up my mind to have "the talk" with my husband, I tried AGAIN to feed her anything. I stuck a piece of bread in front of her nose and she almost bit off my fingers. I got so excited! I pulled everything out of the fridge and cabinets to see what she would eat. She suddenly was eating again.
I am happy to report that on this, week 4, of being on Anipryl, we have our dog back to normal. She's completely fine and even wags her tail again and has a ferocious appetite! I recommend this medication (tho expensive) to everyone who thinks their doggie has Dogzheimers.
Susan June 17th, 2008 03:25:00 PM
I have an 11.5 year old dog (old for the breed) who has experienced personality changes in the last few months. He's pretty healthy over all, other than a bit of a limp and some begining cataracts. He doesn't pace, but he has stopped playing for the most part.
My biggest concern is that recently he bit me, and worse, bit a friend of mine. He bit me when I picked him up, but with my friend it was totally out of the blue. He walked right up and bit her in the foot/ankle. I was mortified, and of course now I don't have him around anyone but me. It's too big of a risk and I'd never want it to happen again. This is completely out of character for him. Maybe he got scarred because he doesn't see very well any more?
I don't know if anyone else has had this kind of problem with aging pets. I keep wondering at what point his quality of life crosses the line. I also wonder at what point he's too much of a danger. Thanks so much.
~Januce
januce August 13th, 2008 02:16:00 AM
I have a 15 year old lab mix named Alex. For the past month, Alex paces the floors at night whining from one side of our bed to the other. If we get up and turn the t.v. on for her in the other room, she'll lay down and go to sleep, but we have to stay in the room also. When she finally falls asleep, if we tip toe back to bed, she is right there, whining again, pacing the floors. We have her on Xanax 2mg at night before bed and it knocks her out for several hours, but toward morning --- 3:30 a.m. on, she is constantly whining in our ears and following us all over the house. If you close a bedroom door, she'll stand at the door and whine, but if you open it, she just stares blankly into the room and won't enter. I love her to death, but a month with interrupted sleep is about killing me and my husband. We go to work like zombies every day. She is now limping on 3 legs. there is something wrong with her right front leg and she is falling down also having a hard time getting up. We have an appointment this Saturday with our vet to see what is wrong with the leg, but the cognitive dysfunction is getting worse. We have 2 other dogs that she just ignores now. She use to play with them all the time. She eats like a pig twice a day, but is losing weight. All her blood work has come back fine. The vet says there is nothing wrong with her physically. It very hard to see your pet of 15 years get like this. I would hate to put her down, but what is her real quality of life like? She sleeps all day, whines all night and has anxiety like no you wouldn't believe.
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ghj June 26th, 2009 11:56:41 AM
My 13 year old Westie, Charlie, came home from our vacation on a Sunday and on Tuesday started having seizures as well as all the other symtoms of CCD menioned above. It has been a month now and the seizure meds made him so listless he couldn't move so after the intake 5 days he came off it. He had no quality of life at all. The seizures are gone for now, but all the other CCD systoms are serverely affecting his quality of life. I just can't euthanize him but he can't live like this either. His heart and liver are enlarged on the xray but his blood and urine were good - it is his mind that is gone. His howling when he gets lost in the corner is so sad - I wonder what he goes through when I have to go to work? Charlie isn't the same dog he used to be - so happy if anyone came through the door - sniffing every blade of grass - chasing bees & anything in the yard - watching the geese fly over heard - now he paces, pants, gets lost in the corner, gets frightened and usually has no idea who I am.
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