{"id":137245,"date":"2023-09-10T14:48:25","date_gmt":"2023-09-10T14:48:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magdelaine.net\/?p=137245"},"modified":"2023-09-10T14:48:25","modified_gmt":"2023-09-10T14:48:25","slug":"im-a-dog-expert-heres-the-signs-your-dog-might-have-dementia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magdelaine.net\/lifestyle\/im-a-dog-expert-heres-the-signs-your-dog-might-have-dementia\/","title":{"rendered":"I&apos;m a dog expert, here&apos;s the signs your dog might have dementia"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>I&#8217;m a dog whisperer, here are the top signs that will tell you if your pet is suffering from DEMENTIA<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Changes in appetite can be a warning sign, so can struggling to open doors<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: Here are the warning signs your dog isn&#8217;t enjoying a belly rub\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It&#8217;s the cruel disorder people associate with memory issues in elderly people &#8211; but dementia can also strike dogs.<\/p>\n<p>If your pet is more than seven years old and suffered a sudden shift in behavior, it could be a sign of Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD).<\/p>\n<p>Dog whisperer Lorna Winter said:\u00a0\u2018Dementia in dogs is not the same as in humans and there are a variety of dietary changes, medications and behavior therapies that can help. Always seek help from a professional first.<\/p>\n<p>Winter, the co-founder of dog-training app Zigzag, added: &#8216;<span>Being a dog parent isn&#8217;t always friendly cuddles and long walks, as just like humans, dogs go through different stages of life which come with specific challenges, new behaviors and changing moods.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span>These are the warning signs to look out for:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/10\/15\/75118305-12486795-Lorna_Winter_is_a_Winter_co_founder_of_dog_training_app_Zigzag_a-a-1_1694355058511.jpg\" height=\"639\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Lorna Winter is a\u00a0Winter, co-founder of dog training app Zigzag and a director of Britain\u2019s Dog Behaviour Training Charter (Zigzag)<\/p>\n<p><span>Staring into space<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Winter said: \u2018All dogs stare into space at one point or another and you\u2019ve probably thought to yourself, \u201cWhat are they looking at?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Dogs have different vision to us and are highly receptive to scent &#8211; so when they stare into nothing, it might be that they are trying to pay attention to a certain smell, which can look like they\u2019re staring.<\/p>\n<p>But with older dogs, staring into space can be a sign of CCD.<\/p>\n<p>Winter said: \u2018If you have an older dog, prolonged staring at nothing, or staring at the floor, could indicate CCD.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;As dogs get older, they tend to slow down, and cognitive and sensory decline can happen. They\u2019re not trying to be naughty and ignore you &#8211; it\u2019s just part of old age.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><span><span>Struggling with basic tasks they used to do with ease\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>If your senior dog is struggling with simple things that they used to be able to do, this could be a sign of dementia.<\/p>\n<p>Winter said: \u2018Think about a door that is slightly ajar, usually a dog might think to nudge it open with their nose or paw to get inside.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;However, a dog suffering from cognitive decline will likely end up just staring at the door because they are unable to think of the next step to get it open.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018They might have been opening doors for years but cognitive decline means there is a lack of fuel going to your dog&#8217;s brain and they might forget how to complete simple tasks like this.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Another classic is &#8220;forgetting&#8221; how to back out of corners.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><span><span>Suddenly disinterested in food &#8211; or forgetting to eat<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>When dogs experience dementia, they have feelings of anxiety and stress\u00a0because they are less sure of their surroundings and the people around them, said Winter.<\/p>\n<p>This can lead to a loss of interest in food, Winter said,<\/p>\n<p>Winter said: \u2018A dog with CCD might also forget to eat.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018However, there are some examples of dogs with CCD eating more than usual because they have forgotten that they\u2019ve already eaten.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Either way, keeping a close eye on your senior dogs&#8217; eating habits is a good way to spot any signs that something might be wrong.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><span><span>Restlessness and barking at night<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>In young dogs, barking at night can be a sign of anxiety, but in older animals (seven years old or more, depending on breed), being restless and barking at night can be a warning sign of dementia, Winter warned.<\/p>\n<p>Winter said: \u2018In a senior dog, becoming restless and barking at night could be a sign of age-related dementia.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><span><span>Going to the toilet indoors<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Older dogs commonly \u2018have accidents\u2019 indoors if they are suffering from canine dementia, Winter said.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sciencetech\/article-12486795\/Im-dog-whisperer-signs-tell-pet-suffering-DEMENTIA.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;m a dog whisperer, here are the top signs that will tell you if your pet is suffering from DEMENTIA Changes in appetite can be a warning sign, so can struggling to open doors READ MORE: Here are the warning signs your dog isn&#8217;t enjoying a belly rub\u00a0 It&#8217;s the cruel disorder people associate with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - 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