What Does Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Look Like?

This video and the photos of my dog with canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) have prompted thanks from hundreds of dog owners who thought something was little “off” with their dog but didn’t know about the disease.

If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, you should take him or her to the vet right away. CCD is treatable, but there are also other diseases that can cause similar symptoms. You need to know what you and your dog are dealing with.

Video: What Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Can Look Like

This video shows different behaviors that are typical of canine cognitive dysfunction. They include the dog getting stuck behind things; forgetting what she is doing and (poignantly) repeatedly greeting her human after she forgets where she was; getting confused about the door; and circling.

Video Transcript: What Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Can Look Like

>>EILEEN NARRATING:
The following behaviors of 16 year old Cricket are probably a result of canine cognitive dysfunction (Doggie Dementia)

Number 1. Getting stuck. Cricket gets stuck behind some furniture and needs help to get out.

Number 2. Forgetting what she is doing. Cricket has always kept track of my location through all our years together. Now she keeps forgetting where I am, and re-finding me. Finding me
>>EILEEN IN THE VIDEO:
“Hi there!”
>>EILEEN NARRATING:
Forgetting where I am. Looking for me again. Looking for me in the kitchen, when she just left me in the hall.
>>EILEEN IN THE VIDEO:
“Yay, hi there baby!”
>>EILEEN NARRATING:
Finding and greeting me again.

Number 3. Getting confused about the door. Cricket has been going to my office with me for years. She always waits by the door when I go to another room. One of her first signs of dementia was that she shifted to the “hinge” side of the door and waited there instead. Nowadays she drifts away and seems to forget what she was doing.

Number 4. Circling. Here she is walking in circles.

Cricket is still quite capable and has plenty of pleasure in her life. Suppertime!

Thanks for watching!

For a more extensive video of circling behavior, see this blog post.

Photos: Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Gallery

My little Cricket lived for a long time with dog dementia. Besides the classic standing in corners and staring at walls, she often just stopped in strange positions and zoned out. She especially couldn’t get in dog beds correctly and would stop and rest in very strange positions sometimes.

Terrier with dementia standing with head under chair — Standing with her head under a chair

Cricket, dog with canine cognitive dysfunction, lying halfway on her bed and halfway off — Lying awkwardly on the bed

Dog with canine cognitive dysfunction sleeping awkwardly with her head jammed upwards — Lying with her head awkward on a pillow

Dog with canine cognitive dysfunction lying halfway on her mat and halfway off — Lying on the very edge of a mat

Dog with canine cognitive dysfunction, lying with her back wedged against the base of a chair — Lying down jammed up against the chair leg

Dog with canine cognitive dysfunction with her head in a corner — Standing with head in the corner

Cricket, dog with canine cognitive dysfunction, sitting with her head in a corner — Sitting in a corner

terrier with dementia sitting uncomfortably on a chair leg

Dog with dementia stuck under table — Stuck under a typewriter table

Terrier with dementia sitting with her rear hanging out of a crate — Sitting backwards in a crate with her rear end hanging out

If your senior dog has started doing some of the things shown in these images, see your veterinarian right away. You can fill out this checklist to take to your vet.

Video: What Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Can Look Like

Video Transcript: What Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Can Look Like

Photos: Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Gallery

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