Dog With Dementia Driving Me Crazy Finding Balance In Chaos
Having a dog is awesome. Until they start going bonkers from doggy dementia. As pups get on in years, some get canine cognitive dysfunction – basically doggy Alzheimer’s. Your once-perfect pooch morphs into a new nutty animal hell-bent on making you lose your mind. The barking at blank walls for no reason. The peeing and pooping wherever, whenever – despite being house-trained for ages. The aimless wandering around in a total daze like they’re trippin’. Dealing with a demented dog tests your patience to the max. You still love your old buddy, of course. But it’s maddening when their fading brain turns your home into an asylum for cracked canines. One minute they’re chilling, the next they’re frantically pacing and whining up a storm in the middle of the night. You can’t leave them alone for fear of what fresh hell they’ll wreak in their confused state. It’s equal parts heartbreaking and headache-inducing to witness your faithful friend’s mental decline. You desperately want to help but have no clue how to rationalize with an irrational mind. All you can do is try to stay sane while their world of reality crumbles. All information will be available on our website at bra-news.com.
I. Dog With Dementia Driving Me Crazy
Dog With Dementia Driving Me Crazy, The routines we once had are gone. My well-trained pup acts like a totally different dog now.
In the morning, no more excited tail wags. Instead, my dog just paces around looking confused. Or stares blankly into space. Taking walks is hard when he can’t remember the way home. Normal sounds make him panic.
At night, he barks and howls nonstop for no reason. I’m exhausted trying to calm him down. It’s impossible.
It’s heartbreaking watching my friend’s mental decline. He can’t learn new tricks anymore. He struggles remembering basic commands like “sit.” Sometimes he doesn’t even recognize me.
He’s not being bad on purpose. His brain is failing him. It’s a constant battle providing love, structure and safety. As he loses his grip on reality, dementia is stripping away who he once was.
My daily life is an endurance test. The dog I knew is slipping away. I still love my furry companion. But his unpredictable dementia behaviors are incredibly frustrating. They’re driving me crazy.
II. Understanding Dog Dementia
Dog dementia is brain degeneration. It makes dogs lose cognitive abilities like memory and learning. Brain lesions and neuron death are similar to Alzheimer’s in humans.
As dogs age, protein buildup damages the brain. It disrupts important neurotransmitters for cognition. Areas like the hippocampus for memory are impacted.
Other risk factors include poor blood flow, head injuries, genetics, obesity, and lack of mental/physical activity. Some breeds like Poodles may be more prone.
Signs typically start in the senior years. Around 28% of 11-12 year old dogs have mild impairment. Over 68% of 15-16 year olds show dementia signs.
Symptoms can vary. Dogs may get disoriented and confused. They forget routines and potty training. Sleep cycles are disrupted with nighttime restlessness. They lose interest in favorite activities. Some become anxious or depressed.
Not all elderly dogs get dementia. But the risk increases substantially with advanced age. Early detection helps manage the condition. Patience is required as the beloved companion slowly declines. Owners struggle balancing safety and quality of life. Dementia robs the essence of who the dog once was. It’s an endurance test for the owner.
III. Stages of the Disease
Dog dementia progresses gradually in three stages – mild, moderate and severe.
In the mild early stage, signs are subtle. You may notice sleep changes like restlessness at night. Communication gets impaired – your dog doesn’t respond to commands as well.
As it progresses to the moderate stage, symptoms become much more disruptive. House soiling is common even for previously house-trained dogs. You’ll see increased anxiety and confusion, especially in the evenings.
In the severe late stage, the decline is impossible to ignore. Your dog may wander aimlessly all night while you try to sleep. Excessive barking and vocalization happens as they react to things not actually there. Basic commands and skills they knew get forgotten. Appetite may decrease as they lose understanding of why to eat.
Heartbreakingly, they frequently don’t recognize familiar people or environments anymore. A dog who loved greeting you may now react with fear, aggression or indifference because they don’t know who you are. The confusion and anxiety can trap them in repetitive behaviors like pacing for hours.
While physically present, the dog you knew slowly slips away as severe dementia takes hold. The mental decline makes this stage extremely difficult to manage without assistance.
IV. Warning Signs of Memory Loss in Dogs
As dogs get older, you gotta watch out for signs they’re losing their marbles. Getting lost and confused in familiar places is a big red flag. Your pup might struggle to get around furniture they’ve squeezed past a million times. Finding their water bowl or the doggy door becomes a total brain teaser.
Repetitive weird behaviors are another warning sign. Pacing in circles for no reason. Getting stuck in corners pressing their head against the wall. Or standing in the wrong spot when you open the door, instead of excitedly waiting to go out.
Sudden changes in habits and personality are also signals something’s off upstairs. A house-trained dog having lots of accidents indoors. Eating way more or way less than normal. Seeming depressed and anxious for no reason.
Sleep cycles getting all messed up is another dementia clue. Your night-silent pup might start pacing and yapping all night long. Or a dog who used to be well-rested now seems exhausted 24/7. Losing interest in beloved activities like walks and fetching.
Any one of these things alone might not mean much. But if your senior dog is showing multiple wacky new behaviors, it’s time for a vet visit. Catching doggy dementia early gives you more options to manage it. Don’t ignore the signs your old buddy’s mind is slipping.