Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), also known as doggy dementia, is a progressive brain disorder that affects aging dogs, similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Common symptoms include disorientation, altered sleep patterns, anxiety, loss of housetraining, and changes in interactions with family members. Dogs with CCD may pace, forget familiar routes, or become confused or scared in their own home.

CCD often begins with mild occasional confusion and progresses to constant disorientation as if they are lost and leads to a diminished quality of life. As the disease progresses, dogs often lose interest in playing or engaging with their owners.

There is no cure for CCD, but treatments can help manage the symptoms. Ultimately, the condition worsens over time, and evaluating a dog’s quality of life becomes essential. Owners must consider factors such as physical pain, confusion, and overall happiness to determine when it might be time to consider euthanasia to prevent further suffering.

Treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction
Unfortunately, there are no treatments that have been shown to reverse or slow the progression of canine cognitive dysfunction. We can, however, manage the symptoms to maximize quality of life. Below are some of the things that can help: 

1. General Medications – some medications may help improve your dog’s cognitive function and mental well being: 

• Selegiline (Anipryl): The most common prescription medication for CCD. It works by increasing dopamine levels, which can improve cognitive function and behavior.

• Sam-e (S-adenosylmethionine): A supplement that may help support brain function and reduce cognitive decline

• Anxiety Medications: Drugs like fluoxetine (Prozac) can be used if your dog is showing anxiety related to cognitive changes.

2. Medications to help with circadian rhythms – dogs with cognitive dysfunction often will pant, pace, and sometimes vocalize at night then be exhausted and sleep all day. It is thought to be similar to sundowning in humans where the circadian rhythms become dysregulated. It can lead to a vicious cycle. Helping pets have a good night’s sleep can help them have more energy during the day and improve their quality of life and well being. Some medications we can give at dinnertime or bedtime to help them sleep better include: 

• Melatonin: Helps regulate sleep cycles

• Diphenhydramine (benadryl) – antihistamines can make pets sleepy and are generally safe in most dogs. 

• Sedatives – sedatives such as trazodone and gabapentin can help your pet sleep if lighter sedatives are not working well. 

• CBD – some owners find CBD helpful to help their dogs relax and sleep at night. Make sure you use a brand recommended by your veterinarian. 

3. Dietary Adjustments – there are some dietary changes that may help support canine brain function in aging

• Prescription diets (Hill’s Prescription Diet b/d, Purina NeuroCare): Specially formulated to support brain health with antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and other nutrients.

• Fatty Acid Supplements: Omega-3 supplements (like fish oil) can help reduce inflammation and support brain health.

4. Cognitive Enrichment

• Interactive Toys: Puzzle feeders, snuffle mats, and other brain-stimulating activities help keep your dog’s mind sharp.

• Regular Exercise: Physical activity not only supports the body but also the mind. It can help with mood and reduce anxiety.

5. Environmental Changes

• Consistency and Routine: Dogs experiencing cognitive dysfunction become more heavily reliant on routine for their mental well being. Do your best to maintain a consistent daily routine to reduce confusion.

• Visual and Audible Cues: Dogs with cognitive dysfunction often have some vision and hearing loss. Using visual aids or noise signals to help your dog navigate their environment can reduce anxiety. 

• Safety Proofing: Dogs with cognitive dysfunction often get lost in their own homes and will panic when they get stuck in tight corners or under furniture, and they can even injure themselves or get tangled in wires. Make sure your dog’s environment is safe by removing hazards that might cause accidents due to disorientation. When you are not home, confine them to a safe area free of hazards. 

7. Acupuncture: Some dog owners find that acupuncture can help with general well-being and slow cognitive decline.

8. Hygiene – dogs with cognitive dysfunction can develop grooming challenges and can develop incontinence.  

• Doggie diapers can be helpful. Make sure to pay attention to hygiene around their hind end to prevent diaper rash and infections. 

• Grooming: focus on the practical rather than the cosmetic: keep the fur short to extend the time between grooming appointments. If your pet is having incontinence issues you can have a hygiene clip performed to help prevent diaper rash. It’s probably okay to go longer between nail trims, especially if your pet gets stressed by nail trims, but the nails should not grow so long that they grow around and penetrate into the paw pad, causing pain and infection. Some groomers will stop accepting dogs with cognitive dysfunction and anxiety out of fear of hurting them. You might consider a groomer who comes to the home and giving light sedation before the grooming appointment. If possible, find a groomer with experience working with senior pets. 

Making the decision for euthanasia

Canine cognitive dysfunction can progress to the point where a pet has a very poor quality of life. The decline can be slow – months to years – so sometimes it can be hard to see the decline. I recommend keeping a diary and marking the good days and bad days. When the bad days start outnumbering the good days, it’s probably time to consider euthanasia.

As dementia progresses, dogs often struggle with severe anxiety and fear that becomes increasingly difficult to control. It can get to the point where the only way to control their anxiety is to sedate them so heavily that they are sleeping all the time – and this is no way for them to live. In most cases, I recommend making the decision to euthanize before your dog is at this point. 

Other signs that may contribute to poor quality of life in dogs with CCD include: when they lose interest in interacting with loved ones, when they no longer enjoy their favorite activities (chasing a ball, watching birds, going to the park, snuggling on the couch, etc), and when they are engaging in excessive amounts of repetitive/stereotypic behavior (for example, pacing in circles around the house all day long). 

Notably, dogs with dementia are often eating very well. I suspect it’s because it’s their only pleasure left in life. This can make the decision to euthanize hard for pet parents. 

A final word: I encounter many more clients telling me they wished they had made the decision to euthanize sooner than the other way around. It is often best to say goodbye to our beloved pets while they are still somewhat themselves, before their quality of life is totally gone, so you can remember them the way they were.

Get personalized advice 

If you have a pet experiencing canine cognitive dysfunction and are struggling with what to do, consider scheduling a teleconsult with one of our compassionate and experienced veterinarians. Each pet and each family experience a different set of challenges and our doctors can help you manage your pet’s symptoms to improve their quality of life and help you come up with a set of objective criteria for when it is time to say goodbye and help you plan a beautiful ending for your pet.