Dogs with Canine Dementia and Canine Dysfunction

13/06/2024

An excellent introduction to CCD or Doggie Dementia.
If you feel that your dog may be suffering from this heartbreaking condition it covers symptoms and some lifestyle management.
Please join our friendly group for lots more support and information

12/06/2024

Around the world, near and wide,
With love, we stand, side by side,
To honour dogs who brought us light,
In their memory, our hearts unite.
❤️💞🥰

08/09/2023

This is a plea to vets everywhere in the world.

Please take a few minutes to watch Dr Amber discuss Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. Sadly for owners of the millions of dogs worldwide affected by this devastating condition many vets are either unaware of this condition or of the medications and lifestyle options that can improve quality of life significantly.

I was fortunate enough when Amber was afflicted how ready and willing my own vet was to gain a full insight into what is an all too common (yet ignored) condition.

For any Vets who want to understand what CCD really means to families, or indeed anyone else who fees that their own dog may be experiencing these symptoms please join our amazingly friendly and supportive Facebook group Dogs with Canine Dementia or Canine Cognitive Dysfunction where there is lots of information and camaraderie.

These beautiful boys and girls have dedicated their lives to helping us, let’s try and do a little more for them ❤️

, ,

15/09/2022

A bridge of memories from Earth to Heaven above.
It keeps these beautiful loved ones near to us.
It's the bridge that we call LOVE.

11/07/2022

Temperatures are soaring in the northern hemisphere. We all know how important it is to keep dogs cool in the heat, even more so for older dogs who often find getting comfortable difficult anyway.
Here are some handy tips to keep your companion comfortable 🥰🥰🥰

When it’s hot outside, it’s especially important to protect senior pets from soaring temperatures. Older dogs have special needs, and as they age, they become more susceptible to heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

22/06/2022

Let’s talk about….mental health.

I don’t mean that of our little warriors, I’m talking about ours. I’m sure that every single member has had the difficulties that nursing this condition brings to our state of mind.

I wanted to go through some of the emotions that we experience, and to reassure you all that you aren’t alone on this journey.

ISOLATION/LONELINESS

Personally I found this illness to be an extremely isolating experience. Amber couldn’t be left for any length of time without becoming anxious and agitated, often resulting in incontinence. Her frequent accidents made our house a bit of a no go zone for visitors. Try as we might it always had a pretty grotty smell. We didn’t take her out much. Her complete blindness and deafness made it something she enjoyed less and less (although she adored pottering around our garden looking for sunny spots to crash out in). Friends just didn’t understand, the usual response was something like; Have you thought about putting her to sleep?

Over the months and years the combination of these factors can leave you feeling very isolated. We found little advice or support at our vet, so did our own research, landing in this group, where I suddenly felt that Amber and I were noticed and amongst people that understood.

GUILT

Welcome to a whole world of guilt that you had no idea existed.

Every decision that you make you’re double thinking. Is it time yet? Am I being selfish keeping them going? Am I being selfish wishing they would simply fall asleep one evening and not wake up? Am I being selfish to the rest of my family forcing them to live with this? I could go on, there are literally 100s of questions we plague ourselves with. This is completely natural, for most of us this isn’t a situation we have any familiarity with. There isn’t a ‘rulebook’ other than to suggest that the well-being of your dog is a priority, but so also is the mental health of everyone in the home. This condition is very often exacerbated by anxiety and they pick up on our emotions. If your situation has got to this point then it’s worth reassessing how you are managing. Possibly confining your dog to certain areas, or maybe even having a single ‘dog free zone’. Every situation is different, and you may need to use trial and error, but it’s worth a try.

EXHAUSTION

Aside from broken sleep patterns there is much about caring for a CCD patient that is utterly exhausting. The relentlessness of considering their needs and unpredictability, worry about their safety and future, as well as all of the anxiety stirred up by the isolation and guilt. It isn’t any surprise that we feel like zombies a great deal of the time. There isn’t an easy fix to all of this, other than to be kind to yourself and make time for yourself. If you share your home with someone else it would be great if you could all take ‘days off’ occasionally, leaving cares and worries to another care giver. That way you’re all able to make the most of enjoying these sunset days.

It’s important to note that our little warriors pick up on our mental health. The more we can decrease their anxiety, the less severe their symptoms very often. Therefore, it’s super important to make the time to care for our own mental health and well-being.

Remember be kind to you too!!!

01/06/2022

In loving memory of best friends still loved, still missed, so very dear. In our hearts so always near.

Sharing our most recent tribute video to our public page for those members who would like to share to their own personal pages.

With love the admin team.

21/02/2022

Forever in loving memory of beautiful best friends, now guardian angels.
Loved. Adored. Cherished. In our hearts.
Always.

20/02/2022

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1273930059288831/?ref=share

Model, Glory B poem, Beth Lambert

08/02/2022

A really good article on Canine Dementia.


If you feel your dog may be affected this group is super helpful and supportive

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1273930059288831/?ref=share

Learn the common signs of dog dementia & canine cognitive dysfunction, how it is diagnosed and possible treatments that can be taken to manage the disease.

30/12/2021

We're truly honored to share, with so much love, our December tribute to best friends, now guardian angels.

16/12/2021

Could my dog have Canine Dementia?

Canine cognitive dysfunction is a little-known medical condition. Here is the information you need if your dog has dementia or you suspect he does.

14/12/2021

Useful for anyone with an older dog 🧡

Dogs, like humans, can suffer from degenerative brain conditions in their senior years. These conditions are called canine dementia or Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD).There are many symptoms of canine dementia. The warning signs can be slow to develop, which is why dementia is often undiagnosed.

26/11/2021

“He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before there was ignorance” Gene Hill

19/11/2021

What is Canine Dementia? What symptoms can I expect? And many other questions answered by the PDSA. An excellent read for all pet owners.

We all know that dementia affects so many people, but it can also affect our pets, too

19/11/2021

If you suspect your senior dog is suffering from Sundowner Syndrome, here are some things you can do to help:

Have your dog checked out by a veterinarian to address any untreated medical conditions that could be making the sundowning behavior worse.

Increase the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants in your dog’s diet. Your veterinarian can make recommendations for dietary changes or supplementation.
Start your dog on melatonin, a hormonal supplement that can help reset your dog’s internal clock and help regulate sleep patterns.

Consider starting your dog on Anipryl® (selegiline), a medication that increases dopamine levels in the brain and has been shown to reverse brain changes caused by canine cognitive dysfunction.

If appropriate, consider anti-anxiety medication to help alleviate more severe symptoms.

Keep the lights on where your dog sleeps to eliminate frightening shadows or dark, scary corners.

Create an evening routine for your dog and stick with it so he knows exactly what to expect each night.

Help burn off nervous energy with an afternoon walk or other form of exercise that your dog enjoys.

Incorporate massage into your evening ritual to help your dog feel more relaxed and less anxious.

Leave music playing overnight to mask any frightening sounds that may make your dog feel nervous or afraid.

Most importantly, be patient and compassionate. Dogs quickly pick up on our frustrations, and you want to reassure your dog that although he may not be the same as he used to be, he’s still very much a loved and respected member of your family.

Sundowner Syndrome, a disorder that can affect older dogs with dementia, causes anxiety and other behavioral issues that get worse toward the end of the day.

17/11/2021

Excellent video from Dr Karen Becker on end of life care. This is the first of a two part series

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2016/08/03/anniversary-pet-webinar-2016.aspx?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=conten...

17/11/2021

An excellent article discussing dementia and life quality

  Note: I’ve had so many conversations with people about dementia in senior dogs in the past couple of months I thought perhaps it might be good to re-visit the topic with the hope that my words might be of some help to those of you who are dealing with the issue. When I talk

15/11/2021

Welcome to Dogs with Canine Dementia and Canine Cognitive Dysfunction 😊

15/11/2021

Are you wondering if your dog is suffering from Dementia? This questionnaire may help answer your question.

If you believe this is the case please join our group (link in the comments) for further advice and support.

The dog personality questionnaire gives an idea about the type of dog your dog is! Answer these quick questions and find out your dog's personality today!

15/11/2021

15/11/2021

15/11/2021