Your dog is ignoring you and staring at nothing? It could be dementia
The small white dog is physically very fit, but he suffers from dementia.
Sometimes he seems not to recognise family members and growls at them. Or he goes from the house into the garden, immediately returns and shortly afterwards stands at the door again, wanting to go out.
"And this happens 15 times in a row. As if he has forgotten that he was just outside."
Pets are living longer in many parts of the world, and dementia is no longer uncommon among them. According to one study, 68% of dogs at Jackie's age are affected.
"It can start from the age of eight," said Julia Hauer, senior neurologist at a veterinary clinic in western Germany.
The disease develops gradually over months. Initially, the symptoms are so non-specific that owners often do not realise something is wrong with their pet. Moreover, these symptoms could also be signs of a normal ageing process.
Affected animals may wander around a lot, especially at night. They no longer interact with their humans as they used to; some become incontinent, and they fail to understand common commands like "sit" or "stay."
They may no longer be able to find food on the floor, get scared in familiar situations, bark or whine without any apparent reason, or repeatedly stare at nothing.
"When animals suspected of having dementia come to the consultation, I often ask their owners if they try to enter through the wrong side of a familiar door," the veterinarian explained as another possible symptom.
Additionally, there are questionnaires for owners to fill out, covering topics such as anxiety, sleep patterns and house training.
Diagnosing dementia is not easy, as there are numerous possible causes for behavioural changes. "Ultimately, it is a diagnosis of exclusion," says veterinarian Klaus Kutschmann.
Initially, the vet will discuss the symptoms and their progression with the owner, followed by physical examinations — general, neurological and orthopaedic. The eyes and teeth are also checked.
"The decisive examinations are MRI and cerebrospinal fluid analysis," Kutschmann says. However, these require the animal to be put under general anaesthesia, which is not always advisable given their age.
What happens if the diagnosis is dementia? "There is no pill you can give to make everything better," says Hauer. However, there are many ways to make life easier for the dog.
The first question is how the dog is doing apart from the dementia. Does it perhaps have toothache or chronic pain from arthritis? Pain exacerbates dementia symptoms. Addressing this improves its quality of life.
Or could the dog maybe have impaired vision or hearing? In such cases, the owner can adapt their communication, for example, by speaking louder or using visual commands.
To help the dog sleep through the night again, melatonin can be given, but only in consultation with a vet. But melatonin approved for humans is not suitable for dogs, vets say.
Treats containing this sleep hormone are also not recommended, as the dosage is too low.
Studies have also shown that supplements like Aktivait or Senilife improve brain activity, Hauer says. The same goes for MCT oil. Additionally, there are medications like selegiline, although not all animals respond to them.
A stable daily routine is essential for four-legged dementia patients. Everything should happen at the same time each day: waking up, walks, feeding and sleeping.
However, some variety should also be included, says Hauer, suggesting taking walks in different places or hiding treats. New toys, like a sniffing mat, can also provide mental stimulation. Kutschmann also advised "lots of attention and activity."
"Interestingly, there are many parallels between dogs with dementia and human Alzheimer's patients," says Hauer. As with humans, dementia progresses very differently in animals. It's entirely possible for a dog to live well with the condition until its death.
In some cases, however, the disease progresses rapidly, causing the dog to suffer from confusion, sleep deprivation or constant wandering. In these cases, some vets may give you the choice to euthanize the animal to end its suffering.
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