Doggie Dementia

[Mel]

I am beginning to wonder if our 13 year old Border Collie is starting to become confused. She is asking to go outside every 10 minutes; goes out and within 5 minutes is knocking the door to come in again. Sometimes she just turns around on the patio and comes straight in. Yesterday both me and her were in the same room and she suddenly turned around and barked at me. Just one bark as if she was startled even though I had been with her for some time. She almost never barks: not at anything.
She does have cataracts and I wonder if she is going deaf as she has always been super obedient; but now we have to shout her a few times before she even looks around.
Besides stiff joints ( she is on meds for this) she is otherwise fine in herself.
Wondered if anyone else had a dog with Dementia? What did you notice?
Obviously I will take her to the vet if she becomes distressed or deteriorated.
Mel

 

[otherclive]

I am beginning to wonder if our 13 year old Border Collie is starting to become confused. She is asking to go outside every 10 minutes; goes out and within 5 minutes is knocking the door to come in again. Sometimes she just turns around on the patio and comes straight in. Yesterday both me and her were in the same room and she suddenly turned around and barked at me. Just one bark as if she was startled even though I had been with her for some time. She almost never barks: not at anything.
She does have cataracts and I wonder if she is going deaf as she has always been super obedient; but now we have to shout her a few times before she even looks around.
Besides stiff joints ( she is on meds for this) she is otherwise fine in herself.
Wondered if anyone else had a dog with Dementia? What did you notice?
Obviously I will take her to the vet if she becomes distressed or deteriorated.
Mel

Sorry to hear of your dog's condition. One of our Springers started to go a bit "dotty" around 13 years old. Seemed to have loss of confidence and awareness of familiar surroundings and situations. But she didn't have some many symptoms has your dog is exhibiting. She stayed with us until she was 15.5 when we decided the time was right as her bowels were not good and she was distressed. It's never easy when your animal companions age, but we just have to give them our best, like they have given us.

 

[Hutch]

We had very similar with a previous dog, she would get up look around as if totally lost, go to the back door, and just stand on the patio, then come back in. She was deaf, so we introduced sign language for her , it didn't take long,. Then we got Rex, the black Labradoodle, and she followed him. Unfortunately she developed A brain tumour and had fits, so sadly we put her to sleep for her health. A very sad day.

 

[Beachball]

I am beginning to wonder if our 13 year old Border Collie is starting to become confused. She is asking to go outside every 10 minutes; goes out and within 5 minutes is knocking the door to come in again. Sometimes she just turns around on the patio and comes straight in. Yesterday both me and her were in the same room and she suddenly turned around and barked at me. Just one bark as if she was startled even though I had been with her for some time. She almost never barks: not at anything.
She does have cataracts and I wonder if she is going deaf as she has always been super obedient; but now we have to shout her a few times before she even looks around.
Besides stiff joints ( she is on meds for this) she is otherwise fine in herself.
Wondered if anyone else had a dog with Dementia? What did you notice?
Obviously I will take her to the vet if she becomes distressed or deteriorated.
Mel

We experienced the same before our own dog Sadie passed away [from other health issues aged 15years], They are unable to tell us what is wrong which is the frustrating thing. but it sounds that you are doing everything you can [including going to the vets], sounds like you care for her a great deal and have her best interest at heart for you for family member, thats all you can do and make good memories with her.

 

[Beardy]

Yes, I had a Cocker Spaniel that I'm sure suffered with it towards the end. He went blind at around 10 years old, then gradually lost his hearing over the next couple of years. We developed a way of communicating through the lead when I walked him. He would walk out in front and could feel me hold the lead out to the right or left and would drift that way. If I gently pulled the lead in he knew there was a step or kerb and felt for it. At around 13 he started getting what I can only describe as panic attacks. He would whine and run round the house bouncing off the walls and furniture. If we held him and stroked him he would calm down quite quickly. He would also wonder out into the garden and stand stationary in the middle of the lawn as though he didn't know where he was, we'd have to go out and guide him back inside. The turning point for me was when he began refusing to go for a walk. He would stand at the door shaking (I assume in fear), at that point I knew his quality of life was zero and made the decision to let him go, he made it to 14 years old.