My senior dog whines at night. Is it dementia or not recognizing me?

With canine cognitive dysfunction (dimentia) night waking is really common. I have used an anti anxiety medication called alprazolam with varied success. Also melatonin can be helpful. It seems some patients respond nicely, while it doesn’t seem to affect others at all. However, it is worth a try. I would recommend calling your veterinarian and discussing if a prescription for these would be ok for Kimi. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

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. Actually, we do see a type of sundowners in elderly dogs. We call the canine cognitive dysfunction. Some dogs do quite well on a medication called selegemine, others do well on Trazodone, while others need Xanax & melatonin. You will need to visit with your veterinarian who can recommend the best options for Cinnamon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!

Yes, any of those things you mentioned are possible causes for her symptoms. There are other things too. Sounds a bit like cognitive dysfunction to me (aka: dementia). I strongly recommend you get her to your vet for an exam.

Poor girl. I am not sure if this strictly behavioral due to old age and a bit of senility or if she has an underlying issue. It would be worth while getting her examined by your vet to have a health profile done via bloodwork to ensure everything is normal, especially since this behavior is happening in consecutive days. If she is having senility issues, then that can be addressed with medication (i.e. Reconcile) or with a prescription diet (ie Hill’s B/D). Another possible cause for sudden whimpering in older pets is arthritis. This can be helped with joint supplements (ie Dasuquin, Cosequin, Rejuvenate) in mild cases or prescription pain control medication (ie Rimadyl, Galliprant) through your vet in more moderate to severe cases. I hope that things are well for your pet Mimi moving forward! Take care.

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.