Dogs and humans have many things in common, and one of them is developing illnesses as they age. Like humans, even dogs have dementia, and they can also have a lot of memory-related issues because of it.

If your dog has dementia, you may have noticed many different changes in your dog’s behavior, and these signs are something to look out for.

Dogs have canine cognitive decline (CCD), just like humans have cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). If a dog has dementia, then usually, their symptoms start around the age of 9. You should immediately take your dog to a vet if they are showing signs of dementia.

The vet will diagnose the CCD by the acronym DISHA, and first, they will rule out all other possibilities of them being disoriented, such as

• High blood pressure
• Loss of hearing
• Loss of vision
• Diabetes
• Urinary tract infection
• Cushing’s disease
• Skin disorder
• Arthritis
• Kidney Disorder

DISHA is an acronym that outlines all the typical symptoms in dogs who have dementia.

• Disorientation – This is one of the most common signs your dog will show during dementia. They can be generally lost in the house and dont know where they are going or are confused with their surroundings. They may even go to the wrong doors and think that will lead them outside. Another sign can be your dog staring at the walls, floors, or outdoors without having any purpose.

• Interaction Changes – You will notice that your dog is not interested in meeting anyone or generally does not want to socialize with anyone if they prefer to spend time away from their family. That’s also a sign.

• Sleeping and Waking Cycle Disruptions – One critical of a dog having dementia is how it affects their sleep cycles. Your dog may have problems sleeping at night and can be seen rushing and barking around the house when everyone else is sleeping. This can also make the dog feel heightened emotions like agitation or fear.

• House Soiling, Learning, and Memory – Your dog will start showing changes from its house training, and they may not be able to express their needs like going outside to relieve themselves. Dogs who have dementia can also stop responding to tricks and commands. It can also become challenging to get your beloved canine’s attention.

• Activity Changes – One of the signs of a dog with dementia is their activity level is slowing down. They can have less interest in exploring their environment. Your dog can show decreased responses to external stimuli such as Sounds, Things, People, Places, etc. They may also show less interest in grooming. Their appetite is also reduced because of dementia. The dog can become more restless because of dementia. Some dogs also get separation anxiety because of dementia.

While there is no cure for dementia, there are certain things you can do to make your dog’s life easier. Some medications help very well, and the vet can give them after a proper diagnosis of dementia.

We have given a lot of information about dementia in dogs, so if you wonder if my dog has dementia, you should play our quiz. Does my dog have a dementia quiz? In this dogs quiz, you will have questions regarding dogs and dementia.

So let’s start with the does my dog have dementia quiz!