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Dementia & night-time restlessness

Signs of Dementia in Dogs: A Dog Dementia (Cognitive Dysfunction) Checklist for Senior Dogs

By The Old Dog Products team · Published

Not veterinary advice. This article is general information to help you care for your dog at home. It isn’t veterinary advice and can’t replace an exam. If you’re worried about your dog, call your vet.

Is your old dog just slowing down, or is something else going on? It’s hard to watch a dog you’ve known for years seem a little lost in their own home. You’re not imagining it, and you’re right to pay attention.

Vets have a framework for the changes linked to canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), often called dog dementia. This checklist helps you notice and record those changes so you can talk them through with your veterinarian. It can’t tell you whether your dog has CCD. Only a vet can.

If you only have a minute

  • Dementia in dogs is real. It’s a common condition of the ageing brain, and Cornell compares it to Alzheimer’s disease in people (Cornell).
  • Signs usually creep in slowly, so they’re easy to put down to “just old age.”
  • Pain, hearing or vision loss and other illnesses can look like dementia. A vet check comes first.
  • Use the checklist below, add dates and short videos, and book an appointment.

🚩 Call your vet promptly if…

Changes come on suddenly (over hours or days), or your dog has a seizure, head tilt, circling, falls, or collapse. These need prompt attention. AAHA notes that CCD signs can resemble other brain conditions (AAHA).

Emergency: if your dog can’t stand, collapses, has trouble breathing, or seems in severe pain, call your vet or an emergency vet now.

Can dogs really get dementia? (Cognitive dysfunction syndrome)

Yes. According to Cornell, nerve cells in the ageing brain (neurons) slowly waste away while a protein called beta-amyloid collects around them. The brain gets worse at handling information, and that shows up as the behavior changes you notice at home (Cornell).

You may see it called cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), canine dementia, or “doggy dementia.” They all describe the same kind of cognitive decline: a gradual change in memory, learning and awareness that affects how a dog copes with familiar places and people. Many older dogs show a few mild signs; your veterinarian can help you tell what’s normal ageing and what isn’t.

Signs and symptoms of dementia in dogs: the clinical signs vets look for

Vets use the letters DISHAA to group the clinical signs (AAHA). Cornell adds learning changes too (Cornell). Tick what you’ve noticed in the last month:

D: Disorientation

  • Ends up wedged in a corner or behind the sofa and can’t work out how to back out
  • Stares at walls or into space
  • Looks confused in rooms or on walks they’ve known for years

I: Interactions

  • Clingier, or more withdrawn, than before
  • Doesn’t seem to recognize familiar people

S: Sleep-wake

  • Sleeps more in the day; wanders or is restless at night

H: House-soiling and learned behaviors

  • Accidents indoors after years of reliable house training
  • Ignores cues they’ve known for years, or can’t pick up new ones

A: Activity

  • Plays less, or wanders and paces with no obvious purpose

A: Anxiety

  • New fears, irritability, or distress when alone

A dog may show just one sign at first, with more appearing over time, or several at once (Cornell).

Other changes worth writing down. Alongside the checklist, note any change in appetite, new night-time restlessness, or new growling or snapping. Cornell includes irritability and aggression among the anxiety-type changes in CDS (Cornell), and VCA notes that a dog in pain may lash out when handled (VCA). If your dog has started growling or snapping, give them space, don’t punish it, keep children and other pets at a distance, and tell your vet soon.

These changes can have other causes too, such as pain, hearing or vision loss, or other illness. Your vet can check.

Disorientation and getting stuck

Disorientation is one of the signs owners often notice: a senior dog waiting at the wrong side of a door, the side that doesn’t open, or stuck behind furniture. Write down where and when it happens. For night-time safety, clear clutter from the routes your dog uses and cover slippery patches; see how to stop an old dog slipping on floors. If the confusion seems to upset your dog during the day, our guide to dog dementia confusion at home has ideas for a quieter setup.

Why is my older dog suddenly hungry all the time?

A big change in appetite, up or down, is worth noting for your vet. It can have several possible causes, not just cognitive changes, and VCA lists a significant increase or decrease in appetite among the signs that mean a senior dog should see the vet (VCA). Note how much your dog eats and drinks and bring it along.

How do I stop a dog with dementia from barking?

Some dogs with dementia bark or vocalise more, especially in the evening. Shouting won’t help and can make a confused dog more unsettled. Things owners commonly try: a steady daily routine, a dim night light, a quiet spot away from household bustle, and a last potty trip before bed. If barking is new, frequent or happens at night, tell your vet; they can check for pain or other causes, and may suggest a behaviour vet. Don’t give any sleep aid, including human ones like melatonin, without asking your vet.

Dogs with dementia at night: pacing and sleep changes

My old dog is pacing at night. Should I be worried? Night pacing is one of the signs owners notice most, and it’s worth mentioning to your vet. It doesn’t always mean dementia. VCA lists pacing and restlessness as possible signs of pain, when a dog can’t get comfortable lying down (VCA). Needing to pee, poor eyesight and other health problems can cause it too.

Keep a simple night log for a week or two. Our dog dementia night routine has a template and ideas for evenings.

Senior dog or dog dementia? Why “just old age” isn’t the whole answer

AAHA’s guidelines cite estimates that about 14–22.5% of dogs over 8 have age-related cognitive impairment. They stress that early recognition matters, because management works best when started early (AAHA guidelines PDF).

Cornell says changes can begin from about age nine. They build so gradually that many cases are missed: it’s easy to put them down to getting old (Cornell).

Dementia diagnosis: how veterinary teams diagnose dog dementia

There’s no single test. Cornell explains that vets reach a CDS diagnosis by looking at the signs and ruling other things out. Expect a full exam, and possibly blood and urine tests, to check for problems that can look similar: pain, arthritis, seizures, other illness, or failing sight or hearing. Some dogs need an MRI scan to check for a brain tumor (Cornell).

That’s why your notes and videos help so much, and why early diagnosis is worth asking about. Your vet only sees your senior dog for a few minutes. You see them every day.

Treatment options your vet may discuss

There’s no cure, and research in veterinary medicine is ongoing. Cornell’s advice is that starting early, with a mix of enrichment, diet and medical care from your vet, can make day-to-day life better for dogs with CDS (Cornell). If your vet thinks it’s cognitive decline, they can talk you through options, including medicines. They will also look at other conditions such as arthritis or weight, and at your dog’s quality of life day to day, which is a good thing to talk over with your vet at every visit.

At home, many owners keep things simple: a predictable routine, gentle play, short sniffy walks and easy access to food and water. Ask your vet what suits your dog. Please don’t start any supplement or diet change without checking with your vet first.

What to bring to your vet

  • This checklist, with dates
  • Short phone videos of the behavior
  • A 1–2 week night log (see Dog dementia night routine)
  • Notes on any change in appetite, thirst, toileting or mobility

Questions to ask your vet

  • Could these changes be pain, sensory loss, or another illness?
  • Do you think this could be cognitive dysfunction? What tests do you recommend?
  • What diet, enrichment, or medical options would you consider?
  • How will we know if things are changing, and when should I call you?
  • Please check before I start any supplement.

Sources