My 8-year-old dog wanders at night. Is it dementia or something else?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sadie. Older dogs can develop a senile like disorder known as canine cognitive dysfunction. It is somewhat similar to Alzheimer's disease in people. The dogs will forget their house training. They tend to mix up their days and nights, pace, pant and some will get stuck in corners or under furniture. It is worth having her evaluated by her veterinarian to determine if this is the case or if something else is causing her inappropriate elimination. I hope this information helps!

As long as she is behaving normally otherwise, you can monitor her at home. If the behavior persists or worsens, consider an exam with your veterinarian. The symptoms described could be due to old age changes. Your veterinarian may recommend blood work and a neurological exam to rule out medical causes. https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-signs-of-cognitive-dysfunction-in-dogs/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/aging-gracefully-6-things-to-know-about-canine-cognitive-dysfunct/

Hello, I am so sorry for your concerns about Dylan. It sounds like he has developed some issues concerning canine cognitive dysfunction, a type of dementia often seen in dogs this age. There are several options for trying to help Dylan & you rest easier at night. Some are prescription medications, some may be available over the counter. Please talk to your veterinarian about what would be most appropriate for helping Dylan. I am sure something can be found to settle his night wanderings. Take care & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Yes, that could be possible. Dogs can develop canine cognitive dysfunction, which is essentially dementia in dogs. This can cause behavior changes. Being sick can also lead Nelson to act aggressively because he feels so badly. I'd have him seen by a vet first thing in the morning for a health check. If he does have canine cognitive dysfunction, it can be managed with diet and medication. I hope this helps!

If only Kimmy could talk! It's hard to know if Kimmy is not recognizing you or if this is simply her night time routine. Dogs can develop dementia (cognitive dysfunction) and the symptoms tend to be worse at night time: https://www.petcoach.co/article/cognitive-dysfunction-senility-in-dogs/ See if you notice any other symptoms and have Kimmy examined by the veterinarian to discuss the options. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It is great that Penny has lived to be 15 years old! It does however sound like she is having some major aging issues going on. I always recommend having geriatric dogs examined by your veterinarian to make sure there are no medical issues that need to be addressed. It may just be that Penny is getting older and slowing down but there may be something else underlying going on. Dogs can also develop canine cognitive dysfunction, which is a lot like Alzheimer’s in older people, where they become confused and restless especially at night. There are medications that can help with this as well. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck with Penny!

Hi there. So sorry to here that Willy is having this issue. The short answer to your question is yes. He could have dementia. That being said, he could also have a problem with his liver, his kidneys or other organs that may be causing him to have accidents in the house. Another thing to keep in mind is that he may have arthritis that could be causing him to not want to walk to go outside to use the bathroom. It is good that you are taking him for a vet exam. Keep an open mind and be prepared that the vet will likely do a thorough exam and then recommend at least some lab work to check Willy's kidney/liver function and they may even recommend x-rays and/or an abdominal ultrasound. I sure hope they can figure out the root cause of Willy;s issue. Best wishes to you both. Dr. Amber