Canine Dementia?

R

RetiredProf

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I'm starting to get a little concerned about Big Dee, my 11-year-old Dobie. She has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and I was told her time is limited even on meds.

Lately I'm noticing some changes in personality/behavior that I can't attribute to the heart condition. Some symptoms seem to point to canine dementia or Canine Dysfunctional Syndrome: excessive sleeping, intermittent confusion, failure to recognize familiar people/places.

Yesterday, my friend and I took Dee and Gus for walk. Bill took Dee first and I followed a few minutes later with Gus. When I caught up, Dee suddenly yanked and snapped at BOTH Gus and me like we were complete strangers! It was the first time I ever felt any fear being around her.

When we got back home I immediately crated Gus for safety reasons. Dee seemed OK, but then a few hours later seemed very agitated again--snappy.

This is characterized as being like Alzheimer's and affects all breeds. Does anyone have any experience with this? I've never had a dog live long enough to experience mental decline.
 
Poor baby!

:(
the last family sheltie had a decline before we put him down. I thought it might have been this, but turns out he went both deaf and blind around the same time; I wasn't living at home so I couldn't tell you if it was sudden or gradual. poor guy kept getting lost in corners and such. he slept all the time, too. Poor little guy. He also lost his sense of balance and couldn't lift his leg without falling over. He was only 12, so my best guess was a progressive neurological disease.

I would definitely go to the vet and have her checked out. Since she has shown potential aggression towards you and your other dog the wait and see attitude might not be safe :(
 
Are you sure she's not in pain?

Some dogs and cats get confused about where the pain is coming from and will lash out at you or anyone near them. I had a cat who was other wise very sweet and gentle but who also tried to bite or claw anyone near him when he was ill and hurting (He had problems with UTI's and urinary crystals).

Either way, I'd get her to a vet asap since this behavior isn't normal.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that its nothing serious! Please keep us posted!
 
Awwwh !! Poor muffin ... Yeah best bet is to go to the vet, especially if she got snappy... It would be dangerous to wait it out becuase next time it might not just be a snap but she may actually bite you or gus or a friend... Although some people could definitly use a dobie bite:rolleyes2:..haha its better not to run the chance
 
I experienced this with my cat, Spud. She was getting on in years - about 17 years old.

At this point, I had been seeing David for a couple of years and he was a regular fixture around the household. One day, David come to the house and Spud just snapped! She ran down to the basement, howling blue murder. I went to check on her and she had self-mutilated herself - literally tearing her front legs apart. There was blood everywhere.

After that, David could never come to the house without my first containing Spud in a safe and far away place.

And yes, the vet confirmed dementia, brought on my advanced hyperthyroidism. I had to put her to sleep shortly after.

I don't know if this helps, but I guess, the thing to keep in the mind is that if the quality of life for the pet is no longer there and the life-expectancy is short anyway, that's when you have to ask yourself the tough, soul-wrenching question...how long do I drag this out? What is gained?

I hope this doesn't sound harsh. It's the biggest and hardest decision a loving person ever has to face - whether its a pet or a human.

Best wishes to you. My heart is with you.
 
Dow got senile. He only snapped at me once (and he was small with no sharpness left in his teeth) but would be walking across the room and stop and just stand there because he forgot what he was doing. He also slept more (thought that was just old). Once in a while also he would get a panicked look because he did not know where he was but I could calm him down pretty easy. Largely it was not a problem except he was not allowed around strangers (non-family) or small kids at the end. Sorry about your buddy but the end was under a year for Dow (Cocker Spaniel/Spitz mix)
 
My sweet Lassie sometimes became confused about where in the house she was. I agree -- time for a vet check. Dementia can bring on anxiety, and that can be treated. :yes:
 
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