Contributed by Dr. Diana Drogan, DVM.
Have you noticed that your elderly dog is just not acting right lately? Just as we age and have “senior moments” or “brain farts,” your dog can experience and display similar age-related signs as they get older. Early signs of canine dementia, or Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS), are seen in older dogs and occur earlier in large breed dogs.
Dog Dementia Symptoms:
- Wandering around the house aimlessly.
- Staring into corners.
- Pacing.
- Vocalizing during odd hours of the night.
- Displaying behavioral changes (i.e., a previously happy, outgoing dog now bites or avoids family members).
Like with any disease process, the sooner you recognize it and treat it, the better the prognosis for long-term quality of life for your pet. Your dog’s veterinarian can prescribe some nutritional supplements and/or medications that can help with these aging signs before they get too severe and become daunting to pet parents and the other furry family members in the household.
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