Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Dogs

PawTracks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

How to treat dog dementia for a happy pet

Gabrielle LaFrank
By

As pets age, you’re bound to encounter some new experiences, including evolving medical needs like incontinence and dementia. Although one may be familiar with the way dementia works in people, it’s not as straightforward when you can’t communicate with your pet in words. Caring for a dog with dementia might seem overwhelming, but both you and your pet are more than capable of adapting.

Of course, your best resource for dementia-related needs is your dog’s trusted veterinarian. They’ll have the most appropriate guidance based on your dog’s specific experiences, which will make your work much easier. But until then, here’s what you need to know about taking care of a dog with dementia.

Recommended Videos

What is dog dementia?

Dog dementia — also known as canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) — is a degenerative neurological disorder that affects many geriatric pets, including dogs. It can cause confusion, anxiety, and a shift in your pup’s circadian rhythm (what helps her sleep at night and stay awake during daylight hours). These are many of the same symptoms seen in people with dementia.

Here’s the difference — one that often catches owners by surprise: CCD is often fast acting. Veterinarian Cameron Fay explains to ABC Australia, “With dogs and cats, everything is in fast-forward. You’ve got a puppy, then an adult dog … a senior, and finally the geriatric. And that happens in a short space of time. Sometimes it’s a matter of months [where] you can see that mental decline in them.”

a senior black french bulldog lies in a fluffy gray bed
Cavan-Images/Shutterstock

Symptoms of canine dementia

Hill’s Pet provides a helpful list of symptoms and signs to look out for as your dog ages: DISH.

  • Disorientation. This can include wandering, pacing, becoming lost in familiar places, getting stuck in or around furniture, and not responding to name or commands.
  • Interaction. This can include unfamiliarity with people and animals they know, less interested in interaction, and no longer greeting family members.
  • Sleep/Activity. This can include more frequent sleep, sleeping during the daytime, reduced activity, lack of interest in play, barking or howling at night, and increased confusion in the late afternoon and evening (sundowning).
  • House training. This can include accidents in inappropriate places, or wanting to go outside quickly after coming inside.

Some pet parents like to add another A to the end of the acronym to symbolize increased anxiety and changes in daily activities (via Hill’s Pet).

Is dementia stressful for dogs?

Unfortunately, canine cognitive dysfunction can be highly stressful for both pets and owners. It doesn’t help that many of the symptoms are misattributed to normal, age-related decline, which then results in a lack of proper care (unknowingly, of course).

Imagine how you might feel if you were suddenly stuck in an unfamiliar place with no clue of how to get out, where to go, or what to do — this can be the reality for pets with severe forms of dementia. For others, CCD might seem more like inconvenient “senior moments” or anywhere in between.

a senior cocker spaniel lies in the grass outside
Angyalosi Beata/Shutterstock / Shutterstock

Caring for a dog with dementia

Ultimately, there is no cure for dementia in dogs. However, there are many options you can take to keep your pup happy and healthy, though your vet can advise you which is your best route.

  • A drug called selegiline may help ease the progression of the symptoms, while anti-anxiety medications can help pups who are already in distress.
  • To keep your senior fur baby as stress-free as possible, try to stick to a daily schedule as much as you can. Life happens sometimes, so it’s okay if you’re not perfect, but this will help ensure all your dog’s needs are met. This can reduce anxiety greatly — for both of you!
  • Possibly most importantly, make sure your dog has plenty of mental stimulation. Puzzle toys and treat-releasing Kongs are great for this. Nothing can replace interaction, though, so make sure to have some light playtime and training if and when you can. A little can go a long way!
  • Even if you can’t go for long walks anymore, letting your pup wander and take in the smells of the neighborhood can be great for her mental and physical health. It will also help make the bathroom accessible for your pet, whether through a potty pad or doggy door.

A diagnosis of CCD is by no means an end-of-life sentence, especially with top-notch care like yours, but you also should never dismiss any of your dog’s symptoms or sudden behavior changes. By keeping a close eye and making some mindful changes, you can keep your dog feeling confident, calm, and like herself for much longer. It’s the least you would do for your best friend, after all.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Gabrielle LaFrank
Gabrielle LaFrank
Contributor
Gabrielle LaFrank has written for sites such as Psych2Go, Elite Daily, and, currently, PawTracks. When she's not writing, you…
Can dogs see in the dark? Your guide to your dog’s vision
The answer to this question matters and here's why
Golden retriever on the patio at sunset

Dogs and humans are best friends. Part of the reason? Dogs have superior senses. For instance, pups' noses are 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than people's, making them worthy hunting companions and search-and-rescue team members.

Eyesight is one area where people generally have the upper hand (or paw) — or so we've thought throughout the years. To some extent, that's true. Dogs see fewer colors, and their vision isn't as sharp as ours. Can dogs see in the dark? What is "normal" vision for a dog?

Read more
Can dogs eat strawberries? Everything you need to know
Yes, you can feed strawberries to Fido. Here's how
A brown and white dog eats a strawberry off a fork

Sharing food with our dogs is one of the most fun parts of pet ownership. But animals can't always eat the same stuff as humans (and we certainly don't want to chew on their chow, either). It's important to keep a restriction list in mind when you go to get your buddy a snack from the kitchen. Pups shouldn't eat everything in our pantry, but can dogs eat strawberries? The answer is: Yes, they can and will enjoy them. We'll walk you through how to feed strawberries to dogs and what other fruits they can gnaw on.
Are strawberries toxic for dogs?
No, not at all, and in fact, many dogs love strawberries. Like so many other fruits, strawberries have a lot of nutrients and tons of water, making them a good and reasonably low-calorie snack. However, the drawback is that they're very sweet. That's probably half the reason that Fido likes them!

Because of their high sugar content, though, you should limit how many strawberries — or any berries — you give your pooch per day. The exact number you give depends on the size of your pup pup, with the littlest breeds only needing one per day. A large beastie can have as many as four, and you should scale up or down for all sizes in between.
How should I prepare strawberries for my dog?
Before passing this treat to your animal, make sure to remove the green bits, though a tiny bit of leftover leaf won't hurt. The biggest issue with this fruit is the size — strawberries are a choking hazard. If you have a little guy that takes big bites, you'll want to chop these up small first before doling them out. Lastly, remember that we're talking about fresh strawberries, not canned or jammed or anything like that.
What fruits are not good for dogs?
You should certainly make your buddy avoid all the fruits you don't eat either like red berries he might find growing in the wild. However, the biggest fruits your dog can never eat are grapes and raisins. Science hasn't quite figured out why, but these delectables don't do well for our hounds, and even just one grape can turn deadly. Lastly, stay away from the following just to be safe: green tomatoes, cherries, limes, lemons, and avocado (technically a fruit and bad for dogs in large quantities).

Read more
The best medium-sized dog breeds for your family
These dogs are the perfect size — and temperament — for families with kids
An English springer spaniel's side profile standing next to tall grass

Whether you're a veteran dog owner or are new to the canine world, it can be immensely helpful to do your research before adopting the dog of your dreams. After all, step one is to figure out what your ideal four-legged friend might be like.
Will they cuddle up with you at the end of the day, or will they sleep in a dog bed all their own? Would you like a high-energy friend or a canine buddy that can binge-watch your favorite Netflix show at all hours of the day with you? Perhaps even more importantly, what size dog can you handle in your home?
Medium-sized dogs are a perfect fit for those who may want the activity of a larger dog without the massive size. Many families prefer mid-sized canines because they're large enough to play with children without getting hurt, but they're not too large to spook or knock over a child (most of the time, anyway). There can be many reasons why a medium-sized dog breed is your perfect fit, but how do you know what breed to look into? Let us help you decide.

Medium-sized dogs for families with children

Read more