My old dog paces at night and can't sleep. Is it cognitive decline?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mugsy. As they age, some pets can experience something known as canine cognitive dysfunction. It is characterized by pacing, accidents in the home, vocalizing more, mixing up their days and nights as well as becoming disoriented. Some pets will get stuck under chairs, in corners or in small rooms such as bathrooms and closets. The disorder becomes increasingly common the older the pet gets. It is somewhat comparable to Alzheimer's disease in people. I recommend that Mugsy sees his veterinarian to see if this is the cause of his recent symptoms or if something else is bothering him. I hope this information helps!

This could be anxiety as you suggest, or it could be canine cognitive dysfunction (doggy dementia). CCG often includes restless/wakeful behavior at night and sleeping during the day. It can also include loss of house-training, failure to recognize family members and confused or wandering behavior. Melatonin and/or Benadryl are considered generally safe medications to give before bed to help promote sleep. There are also medications and prescription diets made especially for CCD if that is what’s happening to Sherwood. Talk with your vet to see if s/he agrees and to discuss options and doses.

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.

I see that Stella is an old girl, and she could be suffering from canine cognitive dysfunction. This is related to aging in the dog's brain. It causes changes in their sleep cycle, where they are awake at night, and sleep the most during the day. I would take Stella into the vet for an exam, who can diagnose canine cognitive dysfunction, and discuss treatment options with you. There is no cure for it, but there are medications and behavioral things you can do to help improve her cognitive functioning.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. The pacing could be due to his age. Older dogs can develop canine cognitive dysfunction and pacing can be one of the main symptoms. Pacing, confusion, staring off into space or at a wall, mood change, behavioral changes, etc. can all be symptoms of cognitive dysfunction. My own dog went through the the last 2 years of his life. He was 20 years old when he passed away but I had him on a variety of drugs to help with his cognition and sleeping pattern. I had him on Selegiline, which is a drug used to treat cognitive dysfunction and I also had him on Melatonin (NaturVet Quiet Moments Calm Chews with Melatonin from Petco is what I used specifically). I felt that he slept better at night and paced less. I would discuss this with a veterinarian as a prescription is needed for the Selegiline. I would also make sure he has had his blood and urine tested within the last 12 months due to his age to help catch any systemic changes that may be occurring. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

You will need to take puma to a veterinarian for an exam. He may not want to lie down due to arthritis pain. So this needs to be assessed and treated with pain medication. As for the dementia: Once dementia (canine cognitive disorder) is diagnosed, there are several possibilities to make him happier (and you too...): 1) leave a night light or small lamp on in the room where he spends most of the night. 2) Unless Puma is deaf, you can leave a radio on (quietly playing) 3) Ask your veterinarian about prescribing Selegiline, a drug which helps dogs, cats and humans with dementia. It does work very well relieving the signs of dementia (pacing, crying, not lying down, confusion, etc.)

Pacing and panting could be a sign of discomfort/pain but it may also just be a sign of old age. Dogs often get a type of dementia that can cause this type of behavior. I suggest you take Mali to your vet for an exam. There are medications available to treat for both things if needed. Best wishes.