Doggie dementia- when to say goodbye?
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Anonymous
| My 16-year-old rescue pup has been showing signs of doggy dementia, aka canine cognitive dysfunction, for about a year now. Signs and symptoms include waking up and pacing to several rooms during the night, getting lost in corners, increased drinking and eating, peeing in the house when she was formerly house trained, and most disturbingly, barking nonstop when she is awake. We took her to the vet again about a month or two ago and they said she’s in good health for a senior, physically speaking. Minus some fatty lumps, severe arthritis, cataracts. However, she’s not herself and the barking is driving us all slowly insane. She barks about once a minute throughout the day and as the evening progresses, her barking gets more constant and more frenetic. Nothing appeases her. We bring her outside to toilet when she barks. We get her extra treats, we bring her water but nothing stops the barking. She’s on medication for her arthritis, gabapentin for her nerves, and trazodone to help her sleep, but nothing works. Because she’s physically healthy and is eating and drinking with gusto, it’s hard to know that it might be time. But the constant unceasing barking is impacting all of our lives. My husband works from home and has to leave the house to take calls. My kids don’t want to have their friends over because she just hangs around them barking. Has anyone ever experienced doggy dementia and how did you know when it was time to let your dear friend go. We are really struggling on several levels.Thanks for any advice. |
Anonymous
| Wow, that sounds untenable, OP. I'm sorry you're going through this. Have you considered a bark collar? I tried it on myself before putting it on my dog, to test the zap, and it doesn't hurt. I realize it might not work for a dog who forgets things, but you can try. Also, have you looked at side-effects of the meds she's taking? Perhaps one of them is exacerbating the barking. |
Anonymous
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I think as soon as you exhaust your options on getting the barking to stop, it’s be time. Sounds like you’re probably there. So sorry OP. You’ve clearly given him a good life.
I would absolutely not get a bark collar for a senior dog with dementia. This isn’t a training issue. The dog is confused and scared, and shocking him is not the answer! |
Anonymous
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Both gabapentin and trazadone can have psychoactive qualities that might be making this worse. If she really needs both, she's not "physically healthy"; healthy dogs don't need daily meds like this. If you stop the meds completely, could your dog survive? If so, try that first. If not, you need to factor that into your decisionmaking. The dog also has cataracts and "severe arthritis", neither of which are categories that are likely to improve much in a dog of that age without significant interventions that may be fruitless anyway. I'm not saying that to upset you, I'm trying to help you recatagorize the nature of your dog's current health and the possible outcomes.
It's always better to let them go too soon vs. too late. It's hard for us, but it's best for them. Dogs don't want to upset their pack, nor do they want to mess up their "den". If the dog's barking, urinating indoors, etc. is stressing you out, the dog is likely aware of that. It can create a really bad feedback loop to have a dog in decline + subsequent owner frustration (however understandable). Really look at what you're willing to tolerate, what you can reasonably wrangle, what costs you're able to afford, and what your realistic options are. It's never easy to say goodbye, and not having your grief complicated by horrible last moments/memories is a fair reason to make "the call" sooner rather than later. Personally? I'd put my dog down at this point, while they're still mostly themselves. Take them out, have a great last day, bring some chocolate for them to try as a last treat, and let them go gently. A good death is the last gift we give our pets, and it doesn't have to be postponed until the animal is in unsolvable pain or distress. |
Anonymous
Agreed. This isn't a training issue, it's a health concern with behavioral symptoms. |
Anonymous
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OP, I'm sorry but it's time. She's not happy. She is distressed and confused, and she likely has pain despite the meds (consistent with all the pacing and waking). This is not a good life for her or for you.
Plan a nice weekend with her, do as many of her favorite things as she can, and feed her all the treats. Have the at-home euthanasia people come on the Monday after. |
Anonymous
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My uncle injured his leg jumping into a lake to save a neighbor's demented Irish Setter that had sort of forgotten how to swim (a neighborhood dog). The dog didn't live long after that.
If your dog gets much more demented, it might do something dangerous to you as well as itself. Like chew on electrical wires. |
Anonymous
| It’s time. |
Anonymous
|
She can't see well. The barking is a sign of distress. She may wonder if there's anyone around, disoriented.
Lost in corners? I am very sorry but this is not a kind end for her. It's time. Your vet may offer end of life care at hime or recommend one in your area. |
Anonymous
It's time to say goodbye OP. |
Anonymous
| It sounds like you’re asking for permission to get rid of the dog because you find the barking annoying. Your vet won’t say no so you can euthanize the dog. |
Anonymous
It sounds like you can't read. No vet is going to refuse euthanasia in a case like this with a 16-year old dog. The arthritis, cataracts and dementia alone would do it. The barking is just another symptom. The list is plenty long already. Too long for you to read and comprehend, apparently. |
Anonymous
| My charlie was the same. Hard to say goodbye but had to. |
Anonymous
| Your dog is miserable. Do the right thing for your dog. |
Anonymous
| I would call Lap of Love a few months ago. Been there…my dog with dementia was a shell of his former self. When his anxiety increased I made the call myself. All these are signs of distress. |