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Dog A-Z > S > Senility

Senility

Around half of dogs over the age of 10 will show signs of senility. This disease gets worse over time and if left untreated may lead to owners considering putting their dog to sleep. Senility is not a part of ‘normal ageing’ and is a condition that can be treated with medication and/or a special diet.

Changes in the brain resulting from senility can lead to one or more of the following symptoms; loss of housetraining, lack of interest in food and attention, circling and compulsive behaviours such as paw licking, inappropriate barking and whining, weakness, tremors, changes in sleep patterns and pacing at night, ‘forgetfulness’ and a decrease in awareness of surroundings.

Although these symptoms could be due to senility, they could also be caused by a number of other medical conditions such as cancer, infection or organ failure, so seek advice from your vet at the first sign of behavioural changes.

If your dog has been diagnosed with senility (CDS or Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome), the following tips may help him cope on a day-to-day basis:

  • Make it clear to your dog where he eats and don’t change this.
  • Stick with the same routine for food preparation, using verbal cues (e.g. “food time!”), so that it is clear to the dog what is going on.
  • Your dog may forget where his water bowl is, so add more around the house. Make sure you lead your dog to water after eating and then to the garden for the toilet.
  • He may forget his toilet training occasionally – so be forgiving and certainly do not punish him or tell him off. Take him outside after waking, eating and drinking, and often throughout the day. 
  • Dogs with senility need a lot of social contact and actual physical contact – especially at night-time. They will often need stroking and comforting to calm their anxiety to allow them to settle to sleep.
  • When out walking, be careful not to lose your dog! Stick to one or two familiar routes.
  • Simple games, reward-based training and puzzle-solving will give your dog a sense of achievement and a real feel-good factor. 

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