Here’s hoping she pulls out of the restlessness and has another good year! He started being nervous and barking all night so we added Alprazolam .25mg at bedtime and he settled back to sleeping pretty well. I don’t have much to add–you seem to have a great handle on the situation and a good vet. I am modifying her environment and using many of the suggestions from your book. He's on medication for the dementia and, in general, doing great, but I do need to help him learn to use the pee pads at night. Madari, A., Farbakova, J., Katina, S., Smolek, T., Novak, P., Weissova, T., & Zilka, N. (2015). She just stood there and barked. Take care. It sounds bad to say, but our lives with our 14 year old daughter have been put on hold and were considering putting her down. In July he started walking in circles and just standing and crying out. I want to thank you for your informative website. Take care. I have a 17 year old Boston. On March 28, 2019, we gave her the peace I’m sure she would have asked for if she could. I started grinding her hard food and she still wanted to eat! I hope she does better. Hi Marisa, Our Otto will turn 15 the end of Jan. (fingers crossed) and has a great appetite, holding his weight at apx. She will walk in it before I find it and then it’s everywhere. Very interesting article. He was doing fine with the CHF after regulating the dosage of Furosemide & Enalapril to control the symptoms. She had kidney failure that would have led to a painful death and multiple small strokes as well as a lung tumour that would have been symptomatic very soon. Our beautiful, proud, responsible pack leader “Frosty” is a Coton De Tulear with CCD. The pacing up and down, circling round and round, getting trapped in spaces that ordinarily she would have known she would get stuck in; facing into the corner of a room and not realising she could turn round or back up out of it; bladder and bowel control is a little problem now. It is estimated that 68% of dogs will suffer from dementia by the age of 15¹. Our Otto is a Lhasa Poo. Many people do not even realize it exists, including myself before experiencing it with Otto. she loved car rides. Cardiovascular health benefits. He just had a full check up a few months ago and everything was fine, but I think I need to get him back in there because this not only came on so fast, but I feel like it has progressed immensely over the last several weeks. Everyone has opinions on if it’s time or not. He is now 15. He started at 5mg, increased 4 months later to 10 mg, increased another 4 months later to 15 mg which is the highest dose he can get. A: We cannot know the answer to this question, but the earlier intervention is attempted, the greater the likelihood of a longer and happier life. Corneal ulcers: All Shih Tzu eyes are not the same; however, those whose eyes protrude are at a higher risk for these ulcers.Many corneal ulcers are a result of wind blowing foreign substances in their eyes. Like some humans, older dogs can exhibit signs of senior dementia. She drank some water but we had to give it to her. He even sometimes screeches when people pick him up and sometimes they haven’t even touched him yet, and he is screeching as if he is scared or worried, maybe not recognizing who they are. We only want what is best for our beloved Fancy pansy. Good for you for doing the quiz, though. Best of luck with Frosty! It was a painful discovery, but despite those issues he still enjoys going for walks and being petted. “Disruptions” in sleep patterns is one of the symptoms and I don’t know that there is a whole lot you can do about it. Thank you again for your devotion to senior dogs and their owners. The guilt of having to make the decision is more than I can bare. We have no idea if this will feel like the right time or the right thing to do but it’s all we’ve been able to figure out. He has dementia, some arthritis in his hind legs, blind and deaf with gum disease. It is important to understand these issues so that you can look out for symptoms and help keep your pup healthy. Blood tests have all been negative, for Diabetes and Liver & Kidnney function. A group of researchers studied the life expectancy of senior dogs with and without canine cognitive dysfunction (Fast, Schütt, et al, 2013). He seems to have issues in the fall, which may be due to the added darkness and/or time-change. He has been there for me more than me for him and I guess after reading all these entries, I feel like I just don’t want him to not know who I am. Shawn, I’m so sorry you are having to think about these choices. My spouse and friends think its no way to live. He is still doing well, but will say the fall and extra hours of darkness seems to effect him. Our vet has prescribed Xanax, but the symptoms are still there. The symptoms of dog dementia are extensive, … Q: How long will the dog have left if he or she is treated?” I was glad to hear you are able to use Alprazolam (Xanax) with the Segeline should we have that need in the future. But there is help out there for many of those problems. Shih Tzu are friendly and outgoing dogs, and enjoy spending time with children. The last 6-8 months have been extremely difficult on me. I’m sorry for your and your parents’ loss. The quality of life quiz score was a 32….they say 35 or above is quality of life. In the end, none of us knows our dog’s exact life expectancy. Help! Oh gosh, I remember the walking over stuff. My joke with Cricket was that she was “Making left turrrrrnns!” which is a line from a puppeteer who has a puppet who likes NASCAR because they drive in a circle. We would let her walk circles outside to air dry…It definitely made the potting part more bearable. I’m so glad you’ve had a good fall. We have her cremated and she is always with me. do dogs get dementia my 16 year shih Tzu who has cataracts @ deaf stands in middle of room @ just barks for no reason as she has food water so I don't know what to do could she be hurting? This must be really tough on you. We think it’s because he is more confused in the darkness and the sun goes down before 5pm. In the U.S., board-certified veterinary behaviorists are vets who undergo years of structured training in animal behavior after veterinary school and must pass a rigorous examination before being certified. The sliding glass door to the outside porch is generally closed. She seems to think that she needs to pee every other step she takes. If your vet is not open to prescribing something (unless there is a reason having to do with your dog’s health, of course), try another vet or a vet behaviorist. She began showing common symptoms of deteration in her hearing as well as having little energy and having accidents in her bed. Hearing and vision loss must be ruled out. Our almost 16 yr old aussie, Fancy, first started showing signs of CCD in 2016 at the age of 13 with sleeplessness, pacing, wandering out of the yard, and no longer going to door to be let out. My husband refuses to consider euthanasia unless the vet feels Jack is experiencing pain. They are the specialists best qualified to diagnose and treat canine cognitive dysfunction. This can even be done as a preventative measure as Dr. Christensen describes. I love chihuahuas. Early stage:the early stage of dementia is often overlooked, because the onset is gradual. My vet says as long as she isn’t in pain, she can just live like that. It sounds like it told you what you already know: on the fence. He sleeps quite a bit but I put him outside regularly to just walk around and he perks up but he also seems to wander around lost, it’s harder for him to find the steps to get in so most times I have to go pick him up and carry him in. We have a 16 year old yorkie with CCD. we took her on family trips etc. Bless you for your love and care for your dear dog. This is generally a slow, progressive disorder that is similar to dementia in people. It is heartbreaking to watch her go through this. 17 years and 7 months is a decent lifespan for a bichon shih tzu. Sadie was so lucky to be loved and understood by you. Why Has Veterinary Care Become so Expensive? So i have a lot to learn. Is canine cognitive dysfunction a fatal disease like Alzheimer’s? I have an appointment with his vet this Wednesday. Good luck and I hope you and Dixie have many more good days. Does anyone know of something to calm her down in the evening – drugs???? She is doing pretty much everything I read in most of the stories here. Nothing is more important to us than the welfare and perpetuation of these remarkable companions. March a few days earlier than her birthday. It’s smart to be cautious about anesthesia. Cleo is a Bichon Shih Tzu. In fact, is terrified when seperated from me. And with not eating she didn’t poop. You may find they sleep a lot more and need to get up to go out in the middle of the night. Learn how your comment data is processed. He was diagnosed a year ago and we’ve been thru it all, up all night, pacing, defecating in the house, etc. A lot of people here know something of what you are going through. All of the medications we’ve tried, and have tried them all, either have no effect on her mental capacity or anxiety and generally keep her drugged to the point of her being a zonbie. That’s the only thing I can think of. Photo of Hazel copyright 2014 Blanche Axton. Now that it is dark at 4:30 pm he gets agitated some evenings and we will give him an earlier extra dose at supper time of the Alprazolam which settles him down but also makes his balance worse so we only do it sparingly. These small cuddly companions are hypoallergenic and inherited some of the best qualities from the parent breeds. She now has accidents in the house even after she was just taken outdoors. I’m sorry you, your dog, and your family are going through this. Bless You All. It is our goal to continue this legacy by providing as much information and education as possible to ensure that purebred Shih Tzu and their owners will always be held in the highest esteem by all who encounter them. She was thought to have doggie Dementia. Hi Angie, our Frosty was that bad when first dx and he responded well to segeline and we’ve had a good year with him. It took another two months, but he seemed to suddenly snap out of it. My dog was just standing in the middle of the floor a lot last year , & we all agreed he is getting dementia . The signs and symptoms linked to dementia can be understood in three stages. He has also been losing his vision so I guess I took it as that for a while when he’d trip over things but it appears to be more severe, he also has arthritis so it’s a balance of not over working his legs but trying to keep him mobile and moving as I read that is key. At the minute she seems slightly confused and hasnt moved from her bed sinfe. Just like everyone mentioned our pets are like our kids or family member. © 2021 Dog Dementia Help and Support. She had excellent blood work results, ate so well and walked for literally 2-4 hours a day! We have had a good Fall with him- he’s sleeping a lot these days but he’s had some really good days and been very curious on his walks and good on his lead. That’s interesting! But it can affect your dog’s quality of life. Yes each additional month Molly as is so precious. She tries to eat her poo/pee every time she goes. She consistently licks her private part for a long time. Did your vet rule out other conditions that can cause these symptoms? Have a 15-year old shih tzu with CCD and ruptured disk (this is a reinjury of the disc) who has just started peeing indoors at night only. In the study of 98 dogs, they found no negative effect on the longevity of the dogs who had the disease. All products mentioned on this web site are registered trademarks of their respective owners. He was also sometimes restless at bedtime. I adopted Jack 3 years ago when his owner died. A year or less. Dear Catherine, An observational study with long‐term follow‐up of canine cognitive dysfunction: Clinical characteristics, survival, and risk factors. I got about 3-4 hours sleep last night. Wishing you comfort and peace . This is one of the first questions we usually ask when we start to recover from the shock that our dog has something akin to Alzheimer’s. We know this will wear off as the disease is progressive but it has given us time to adjust to the dx. Assessment of severity and progression of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome using the CAnine DEmentia Scale (CADES). This is normal. Photo of Zani copyright 2017 Eileen Anderson. Owner Handlers: Why Do We Go to Nationals? Shih Tzu live for 13 years on average. I haven’t read it all but will probably write about it here. He would keep us up jumping off the bed and scratching at the door to get out until you opened it and then just stood there in a confused state. Board certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. E’Lise Christensen, DVM DACVB was kind enough to answer some questions about the life expectancy of dogs with CCD in her practice and experience. Dementia is a excessive neurodegenerative situation. Sorry for the late response. She’s not a zombie or zoned out. I didn’t think much of it when he got stuck behind furniture at first. Does her good physical health indicate she will live another year or two? She is on medication but I don’t think it is working like it should. The Bichon Frise parent has a very similar temperament – friendly, social, and great with children. He has a little arthritis in his back and a narrow trachea that causes some issues, and I am afraid all of this combined is stressing him out beyond anything. Frosty is 14 pounds (going down slowly from 15-16 pounds that was his usual weight) and he is on 15 mg of Segeline. He started with sundowners as well. He responded really well to the Segeline and the dosage increases – they always took a couple of weeks to really work. Dementia — Senior dogs with dementia can experience memory problems, changes in mood and activity level, and incontinence. He is over 15 now and on the highest dose of segeline possible as well as a bedtime tranquilizer. The name “Shih Tzu” means little lion, but there’s nothing fierce about this dog breed.This pooch is a lover, not a hunter. Feb 13, 2020 - Explore Maura Fashjian's board "SHIH TZU SENIOR INFO", followed by 397 people on Pinterest. When I think about it, it makes me sad, but I know we did all that we could to keep her with us, I know I was selfish, but she was so loved and cared for so I’m okay with that. Our 13year old(estimated) rescue seems to have all of these symptoms. It sounds terribly hard on everybody. Catherine. Rescue/Hoarding: When is Enough, Enough? She was spoiled. Otto also has Congestive Heart Disease (CHD), which was diagnosed just over three years ago, but it has been controlled very well with meds. Sadie was experiencing phantom leg pain, she was dragging her leg in a circle, because she only seemed to walk in circle after 3 years with dementia. Lovely that Molly is 15! At that point my Golden Retriever stopped barking and followed the cat outside. If a Shih Tzu has certain health issues, the veterinarian may make this declaration a year or two early, at the 8 to 9-year mark. Hi Calvin, Hugs. He and I bonded really quickly when he came to us. CDS is hard to diagnose since symptoms of dog dementia can also be symptoms of other diseases like arthritis, cancer, diabetes, incontinence, kidney disease or vision or hearing loss. In some ways I just don’t feel like she is the dog she once was. Old, wise Moira--photo credit Jared Tarbell; see license below, “What’s the prognosis? That’s got to be distressing. (Again, I don’t know if your dog is still with you or if my comments are relevant.). He walks like a “raccoon” head down & back end up. Mal-Shi’s coat is soft, long and silky. What have you done, what would you do? Much like human dementia, the process of aging causes similar physiological changes in the brain chemistry of our Shih Tzu. He has gone to the groomer his whole life. Good luck with Otto, sounds like he’s a lovely little Lhasa Poo! For instance, some dogs with symptoms of cognitive dysfunction will improve markedly with great dental work and pain medication. 7.5 mg toward the end of Sept., when he was starting to exhibit symptoms again. And he’s gentle and sweet and I think may be a bit like Cricket e.g. He has been on this dose for 5 months now. Watching him walk into things, including me, looking lost and confused is very difficult. Hi Madison, Photo of Moira Copyright 2009 Jared Tarbell and used according to this license. Eileen. My 18 year old Maltepoo is advanced stage 3 and is truly just a shell of who she was. Approximately two years, but since it’s a diagnosis of exclusion, it’s always possible that cognitive dysfunction is both under-diagnosed and over-diagnosed. She’ll turn 17 in January. Though he has an aristocratic demeanor, a stubborn streak, and definite likes and dislikes, the Shih Tzu doesn't tend to get into much trouble, and even when he doesn't obey very quickly, he's easy to forgive. It sounds like it was a good day and so hope it continues. ASTC Charitable Trust donated to Hurricane Harvey relief. His behaviors have deteriorated a lot in 2 months. Shih Tzus are also peaceful with other pets. Cleo certainly got worse in the fall also but didn’t get worse daily near sunset as a human would. But the results aren’t really contradictory. I am concerned we are reaching the limit since we have increased his dosage twice since starting him on it. Journal of veterinary internal medicine, 27(4), 822-829. What are the symptoms and signs of dog dementia? An observational study with long‐term follow‐up of canine cognitive dysfunction: Clinical characteristics, survival, and risk factors. My dog has that and he pees all the time. Hi Dervla, Bless your heart. Inappropriate” because he does so many things he would never have done before – like walk over our youngest Coton as if she’s not there, standing on end tables, trying to eat food right out of peoples hands etc. How early do you recommend medical or other interventions for a senior dog? I’m sorry you are facing the hard, hard discussions.
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