Dog Community

Do dogs get Dementia

Posted : 7/31/2012 4:22:04 PM

Pella is 13 years old, she has cushings (and in the last 6 months it has really surfaced), and she had a large surface cancerous growth removed about 3 months ago. The vet has told us, she probably has more of them internally. At this point, we are not treating her cushings, by choice and our own research (which we are comfortable with). She has muscule weakness and her hunger is all over the place, sometimes none and sometimes alot. As long as I can get her to eat something, I have settled for that.

She doesn't seem in pain(but do we really know, but I do watch her and give her something if I think she needs it) , she is slow and spends most of her time sleeping and is lazy, doesn't want to go outside if she doesn't need to do her job, she would rather stay in. But the one thing I have noticed is she seems to have a foggy brain, she can look right at me - but yet go looking for me in every room of the house, and then all of sudden she sees me again and is fine (her eyes have been checked, no real problems there). She also does things and acts like she knows nothing. Tears things up, but when I go to clean it up, she watches me like I am in danger, and if I ask her if she did this, there is no shame or guilt n her face. It is like she doesn't remember doing it. Somedays she plays with toys and can be goofy but most of the time she is just here. Most of the time you can tell she is not happy, but sometimes you do get a tail wagging from her.

So, I am thinking my girl may have dementia, is that possible? I know even though she is 13, she is older in dog years, so I respect that.

I will help her as much as I can during this time, but I know that when it is time I will have to let go . I refuse to be the dog owner who holds on longer than they should, and I will not give her meds to get her through a day when it is everyday. If I can get a tail wag from her or a dry nose in my face I will take that anyday.

So, could she be suffering from a form of dementia?

Freedom

Posted : 7/31/2012 5:00:03 PM

Yes doggie dementia, aka cognitive disorder, is common as they reach the old ages. And as with humans, it can be a stand alone condition, or it can be caused by another condition. I don't know if Cushings is one of them, sorry.

My RB Marlin had it, we struggled with it for almost a year. He would get stuck behind doors, and in the kitchen corner. He would get panicky if he couldn't find me. Lots of other things, too.

calliecritturs

Posted : 7/31/2012 10:22:38 PM

Sandie is absolutely right -- it can take on ALL different forms. It is amazingly similar sometimes to what humans go thru -- when we had little Kee Shu (look in my photos -- she was a little red & white peke) .... in her last couple of years she'd get her nights and mornings mixed up. About 2-3 a.m. (usually just after my husband would come to bed) suddenly Kee would decide it was MORNING and where the heck was the FOOD!!!

She'd go out in the hall and suddenly bark in this peke-almost-rottweiller voice that would have woken the dead .... FOOD .. NOW!!

After a while that just stopped (but after about 6 months of interrupted nights)

She'd be on her way moving "forward" and suddenly she'd stop and give you this "Um ... I know I wanted to come over here but I'll be darned if I remember why ... but that's ok -- I'll just keep moving forward and I'll at least be going somewhere!!"

In fairness -- I need to point out to you that since there was another tumour she could potentially have a tumor pressing on something in the brain. her little mini-blackouts could be a bit of seizure type activity. This is an odd question but what time of day are they happening? Late at night or all day long?

It's tough to hang in when this kind of stuff happens. She may get a bit panicked when she sees you clean up a mess -- she CAN smell her own scent on there and that may actually kinda wig her out if she can't **remember** doing it -- so either she's not cognizant of her own scent (and thinks there's an intruder that got by here and DID this) OR it may bother her to be confronted with what to her mind is a mystery but one she thinks she oughta be able to figure out.

Like with humans -- frustration can be a big part of this. If you can re-assure her like "Hey that's ok -- you just forgot you left this here!"

But the answer to your question is a resounding "YES they can".

Co--Q-10 can be helpful (it helps get oxygen to the cells which can help brain frunction) and it's also a good anti-oxidant. Give her twice her weight in mg if you can twice a day.

I've also used ginseng -- it can really nelp cognitive function. It can be pricey but whatever you can may help.

Good luck!

lakalakadaka16

Posted : 7/31/2012 11:54:33 PM

I'm sorry to hear that Pella has these problems... Yes, dogs can get dementia, just like humans. I hope that you can find something to help her. :)

meimei071625

Posted : 8/1/2012 3:09:58 AM

Sad to hear that. Timely veterinary treatment plus love and patience, can give an aging dog extra quality time and a fuller, happier life.

shamrockmommy

Posted : 8/1/2012 12:42:49 PM

Yes, they can.

I think my 13 yr old, Lexi, is starting to have the occasional forgetfullness from time to time. She is on CoQ10 which helps her out a lot as far as forgetfullness as well as her grade 6 heart murmur. Used to be she didn't tolerate exercise at all, would get a blue tongue and just lay down after half a block's walk. Now she's back up to 1-2 mile walks a few times a week with the rest of us, which is great!

I don't have any advice to add, just love your sweetie and she will let you know when it's time.

oranges81

Posted : 8/1/2012 1:58:54 PM

Dipstick at the ripe age of 17 will get lost in shadows in the backyard. He'll enter a room and start barking for no reason, forget that he ate and start looking at his food dish for more. We call it Doggie Alzheimer.

JackieG

Posted : 8/1/2012 2:45:56 PM

http://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/canine-cognitive-dysfunction/

This may help you decide if she's got canine cognitive dysfunction. There are some things you can do to help her so I'd talk to your vet about what you've observed. The article above may be helpful.

goatman68

Posted : 8/1/2012 3:32:14 PM

Just wanted to thank everyone for their comments, it feels good to just have this forum for this kind of thing, actually putting down in words what is going on, because sometimes I don't acknowledge what I see. And hearing other stories of this same kind of situation really helps.

I always read the forum posts, I find I learn alot. And I love the pictures too.

Again thanks.

rubythepup123

Posted : 8/1/2012 4:35:20 PM

Yes. :( as said before it is called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. this seems to be more short-term than long term. its pretty normal for an old dog to not want to go outside, i was baby sitting this dog for a month, and she never wanted to go outside., and she had generally good memory. She could very well have it, but it is certainly not textbook.

ChuckDee

Posted : 8/7/2012 3:28:24 PM

Our old golden lab, Knuckles had it. He would bark at the wall, walk around a little bit and then lay down and bark some more.
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"I've had many problems in my life, most of which were imagined." - Mark Twain
Chuck Dee - AKA Chris