Diagnosing Doggy Dementia: A Checklist

by Gallant Staff
dementia

Dog Dementia is a real, diagnosable disease. It’s more proper name, Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD), is used by veterinarians to refer to the pathological changes in the brain related to aging.

CCD presents in dogs a lot like Alzheimer’s or general dementia in humans. Over time, the protein beta-amyloid accumulates in the brain creating plaque deposits. Nerve cells inevitably die off as dogs age as well. Dogs over 10 years of age are increasingly likely to exhibit the symptoms of dog dementia.

The good news is, there are some things that can help slow the effects of CCD including supplements, dietary changes, and even prescription medications. How do you know when it’s time to talk to your veterinarian? Take a look at our canine cognitive dysfunction DISHA checklist.

Your Doggy Dementia Checklist

DISORIENTATION

 My dog gets stuck often
 My dog sometimes gets lost or confused inside the house
 My dog walks into doors or walls
 My dog stares blankly into space or “zones out”
 My dog drops food and has trouble finding it

 

INTERACTION

 My dog sometimes can’t recognize familiar people
 My dog no longer enjoys petting or interacting with family members
 My dog is very clingy and over-attached
 My dog is far less playful than they used to be

 

SLEEPING

 My dog is restless during the night and/or can’t seem to sleep
 My dog sleeps a lot more during the day than ever

 

HOUSETRAINING

My dog has been defecating indoors
 My dog has been urinating indoors
 My dog no longer reliably indicates when they need to go outside

ACTIVITY & ANXIETY

 My dog is more fearful and unsettled than usual
 My dog is showing more signs of separation anxiety
 My dog is more afraid than in times past of new things and places
 My dog is more vocal than usual
 My dog has lost interest in exercise and/or walks
 My dog does more aimless wandering than usual
 My dog is doing a lot of repetitive behaviors (licking, circling, etc.)

There is no magic number of “checks” that indicates your dog is suffering from cognitive dysfunction. Obviously, the more items you check off, the more likely it is your pet is experiencing mental decline. 

Save your results to share with your veterinarian. The more information they have about your senior dog’s symptoms, the better able they’ll be to rule out any medical or physiological issues.

 

Need a CCD evaluation for your dog?