Any DU families with a pet who has dementia?

My 13 year old Lab/Dalmatian mix is beginning to experience symptoms. Last night she began playing the in and out game. She goes through this periodically during the day but only rarely at night. It doesn't have to do with bathroom needs as she doesn't go when she's out. Last night after three outs within a half an hour we tried to settle her in her bed. She just woofed intermittently. One little plaintive woof every few minutes, got up and wandered the house, woofing several times in each room. We called her back to her bed (right next to ours) but she couldn't be persuaded to stay. Finally, SO got up and slept with her on the couch which calmed her down.

I mentioned this to the vet this morning and he suggested we run some tests but that it sounded like onset symptoms that some dogs begin to experience with age. He mentioned medication and nutritional supplements. She already is on a Senior food and gets Arthritis supplements and Omega 3 Oil

Anyone living with older pets? What have you found helpful

It sounds like she might be anxious or have an irritated bladder. Of course I have no idea why a dog would suddenly become anxious.

When she does this during the day, I'll open the door to let her go out and she'll just stand there looking at me like she doesn't even have a clue why I'm opening the door. I've spent some time reading about aging dogs today and it seems like she has many of the "typical" old dog behaviors. She's still very active, enjoys daily ball play, eating well, likes hanging out wih the family...Just developing some odd quirks. The sleeping thing last night was just odd. I had SO walk her around outside to check for intruders...We did have snow last night...maybe that frightened her..:shrug: Not like it's the first time she's seen it though.

She's seeing the Vet on Monday and will get some blood work to test for thyroid functioning....She's always been super healthy.

About two years ago when she was 11, she started showing noticeable signs of forgetfulness and became anxious/aggressive (barking and snapping) with people and animals she used to be very friendly with. She sometimes forgets where her food bowl or water bowl is or will jump up and start barking aggressively at me or another family member when she looks up after, say, sitting on the floor eating (she brings mouthfuls of kibble to whatever room "the pack" is in when she eats - old habit) or snoozing on her "cow chair".
She'll gets this very confused look on her face for up to a minute when she forgets - it's pretty obvious, and the time it takes for her to recognize or remember things is definitely slowing down.
We take her to the vet regularly - she's got mild arthritis, some weight loss (about 5 lbs over 3 years)but no tumors (checked for tumors in head area when we took her in for geriatric dental work last year), sight and hearing are still pretty good, though her peripheral vision has always been poor due to mutated pupils from birth. The vet thinks she's going senile, or as she put it "in her doggie brain, Shari's world is getting much smaller"...

Haele

when he was about 13. My vet prescribed a generic of Anipryl (Selegiline HCl). I didn't see his mental capacities improve, but it may have slowed down the decline. I later learned that the dosage could have been increased. He was a 12 lb Peke and the Rx only cost about $10-$15 /month IIRC.

has developed new habits over the past couple of years. Some of them are rather annoying - biting my fingers while I'm trying to "mouse", thinking she's entitled to OUR food at every meal when we surely didn't raise her this way!! Some mornings, she continues to demand breakfast after it's been served and I have to physically put her in front of the dish.

I try to be patient with the biting - she's been such a wonderful companion for all these years, but sometimes it's crazy!! She bites, I gently put her back on her computer-side stool w/comfy cushion, she comes back and bites harder, repeat gently moving her, on and on. It seems that she's wanting dental treats but I can't give them to her every hour on demand!!

My 14-year old Great Pyreneese/Old English mix is exhibiting some strange behaviors... like your dog - the "in and out thing" at night. Some pacing. Eating less. Standing and staring sometimes. Losing track of where I am and looking for me.

I took him to a new vet a couple weeks ago for accupuncture treatment for his hips (his rear end is soooooo bad :( ) and he paced around and around the exam room, very unsteady on his feet. The vet mentioned that she thought he was showing signs of dementia. I, of course, am reluctant to admit that it might be so... after all, he WAS in a strange place and it hurts him too much to sit or lay down, or stand for long. His hearing is going and his vision is very bad too. Incontinent with his poop sometiimes.

He's been with me since he was so small that I could hold him in the palm of one hand... little did I know he would grow into a 120 lb beauty! I know that he's VERY old for his size/weight, but it's still heartbreaking.

I think the accupuncture has helped him some. He seems to have less shaking in his hind end, and the other day she place a couple needles to treat the diahrhea he's frequently had for the past 6 months (that I think is due to the pain med he's on), and over the past week there has only been 2 instances of loose stool and nothing like the messes I've been seeing lately. We'll go for a few more treatments then evaluate whether to continue or not.

It's really hard, isn't it? I helped my mother go through a stroke and my dad through Alzheimers, and this is SO much harder. My thoughts and prayers are with you both, for the patience and grace you need during this phase of her life.

:hug:

Not sure how much to give a dog of that size. My Peke Buster weighs about 20 lb and I give him about a tablespoon a couple of times a week.

He was around 16 or so when he started wandering, usually at night. I started giving him a vitamin E supplement and while it didn't stop it completely it did reduce his wandering after about a month or so. I would open a capsule and add about a third of it to his dinner - for a larger dog you could probably add a little more.

I'll bet a Lab/Dalmation mix is a beauty.

Has the Dalmation coat and body type- so there is minimal shedding. She has the color and temperment of a chocolate lab. She's been an amazing member of our family and is well loved and appreciated. I don't have any pictures of her on this computer otherwise I'd share and brag somemore about my girl.