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Every positive has a negative, and sadly, the privilege of living a long life comes with the downsides of getting old, and as age increases, so too do the chances of suffering some form of degenerative disease like dementia. Sometimes referred to as “Sundowners”, this sad and often debilitating condition affects 1 in 15 humans over the age of 75 years, and it is one of the most common reasons for euthanasia in elderly dogs.
So, what exactly is Sundowners? Can it be prevented? And, how do we look after dogs that are affected by it? Keep on reading for the answers and advice you seek.
What Is Sundowners?
For those unfamiliar with the term, Sundowners is a deceptively cheerful term to describe the deterioration and degeneration of brain function known as dementia. The word comes from the tendency for the clinical signs of this condition to get worse in the evenings, as the sun goes down.
Senile dementia, more accurately called cognitive dysfunction (CCD), is seen in dogs as well as humans, but diagnosis is not entirely straightforward, as there are a number of health conditions that may mimic the signs. And because our dogs can’t tell us if they are feeling confused, disoriented, or forgetful, it is up to us to monitor their habits and behavior to look for signs that things are not quite right.
Another factor that makes canine dementia difficult to recognize is that the signs tend to appear quite gradually, and each dog will be affected, cope, and adjust differently. Most of the clinical signs of canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) are behavioral, and people who are not familiar with your dog’s habits or personality may not even be aware that there is a problem, so it’s important to pay attention to any changes in your dog’s behavior and seek veterinary advice if things don’t seem right.
Is Sundowners the Same As Alzheimer’s?
No. Alzheimer’s Disease is fatal in humans, involving the accumulation of certain substances within the brain cells. It is one cause of dementia, but it also has other clinical signs and effects.1
One way of looking at it is that all Alzheimer’s patients have dementia, but not all dementia patients have Alzheimer’s. At present, there is no evidence that dogs can be affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
What Are Signs of Sundowners?
The nature of dementia is very unpredictable, and different dogs will have different experiences. For some, the disease may be severe and progress rapidly, while for others, the signs will barely be noticeable. Most importantly, many of the signs of CCD can coincide with signs of other health conditions, so do not dismiss any changes in your dog’s habits or behavior as just ‘old age’.
Some of the more common changes and signs associated with CCD include:
- pacing, panting, or seeming generally unsettled, particularly at night
- soiling indoors
- asking for food when they have recently been fed (of course, this can simply be the sign of a greedy dog, but if this is unusual for your dog, it can be a sign of confusion)
- lethargy
- hyperactivity
- wanting to go out more/less often
- irritability or aggression
- changed interactions with other dogs or people
- changes in sleeping patterns
- disorientation, standing and staring into space
How Is Sundowners Diagnosed
There is no specific test for CCD, and diagnosis is based on a combination of taking a detailed owner history, physical examination, and laboratory tests to rule out other health conditions. If you think your dog could be suffering from dementia, it may be useful to start keeping a diary of the changes and signs that are concerning you. Additionally, there is a helpful assessment tool created by Dr Gary Landsberg, a leading authority in canine and feline cognitive dysfunction. It uses the acronym ‘DISHAA’ to help navigate the areas affected:
D – Disorientation
I – Social Interactions
S – Sleep/Awake Cycles
H – Housesoiling, Learning & Memory
A – Activity
A – Anxiety
It is important to schedule an appointment with your vet to talk about any of the changes you have noticed. If your dog’s signs are due to CCD, there are some things that can be done to help, and the earlier we start, the better.
How Is Sundowners Treated?
Sadly, there is no cure for dementia, and it is likely that your dog’s condition will progress over time. There are a few medications and supplements that have been found to help slow the progression of deterioration, and even alleviate some of the current clinical signs.
Medication
Selegiline: Commonly used to help control the clinical signs of Parkinson’s Disease in humans, this drug has three main benefits for dogs with cognitive dysfunction.
- Increases dopamine levels in the brain, improving brain function and mood
- Reduces the amount of free radicals in the brain that can cause nerve damage
- Promotes the synthesis of new nerve growth factors, aiding repair
Propentofylline: Improves blood flow and circulation to and around the brain, leading to increased alertness and energy levels for dogs suffering cognitive dysfunction.
Nutritional Management
Studies have found that dogs fed a high-quality diet designed for their size and life stage are significantly less likely to suffer from CCD as they get older, indicating that getting the right balance of nutrients, as well as enhanced fatty acid and antioxidant levels, are essential for good health throughout your dog’s whole life.
Some ingredients to look out for in both your dog’s food and supplements include:
- Arginine
- Antioxidants, including vitamins C, E, and selenium
- B vitamins
- Fish oil containing DHA and EPA Omega-3 fatty acids
Known collectively as the
“brain protection blend”
(BPB)
- Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs)
- Phosphatidylserine
- Ginkgo biloba
- Resveratrol,
- L-carnitine
- Alpha-lipoic acid
- Coenzyme Q
- Selenium
How Can I Help a Dog With Sundowners?
Apart from using the treatments discussed above, there are a few things you can do to help your dog get the most enjoyment out of their twilight years.
- Stick to a routine as much as possible
- Take them for regular vet checks to ensure they are receiving appropriate treatment for this, and any concurrent medical conditions—diseases like cancer, kidney disease, and arthritis become much more common as dogs get older, so it’s important to stay on top of their health care.
- Avoid moving furniture around – rearranging the house can cause stress and confusion, and dogs with failing vision will rely on their memory to navigate the layout of your home.
- Leave some lights on at night – most dogs over the age of 8 or 9 years develop nuclear sclerosis (aka lenticular sclerosis), a normal aging condition that increases the opacity of the lens, gradually reducing the amount of light that can reach the back of the eye. This can have a significant impact on your dog’s night vision, which can be very stressful for a dog that is used to being able to see well in the dark.
- Check in with your dog regularly so they know where you are in the house
- Be patient with them, and don’t get angry about toileting accidents—Let them out later in the evening, earlier in the morning, and possibly during the night if needed.
- “Use it or lose it” as the saying goes, and keeping your dog’s mind active can help them stay mentally sharp. Dogs that aren’t able to be as physically active as they once were can still be challenged with puzzles, trips to new locations, and scent training/retrieving.
- Perform ‘quality of life’ checks with your dog, and make sure that they are still getting plenty of enjoyment out of life. Sometimes the stress and anxiety caused by dementia can become overwhelming for our pets, and we need to be able to recognize if that happens. Dogs with advanced cognitive dysfunction will often ‘go through the motions’ of eating, drinking, etc, but are unable to manage anything beyond that, particularly if they are struggling with other health issues like arthritis. Dementia is a progressive condition, but not a fatal one. You may need to consider euthanasia for your canine companion if their quality of life becomes poor.
Final Thoughts
We all want our dogs to live a long and happy life, but unfortunately, old age brings with it some unavoidable downsides. Canine cognitive dysfunction, also known as dementia or ‘Sundowners’ is one of the conditions we see in dogs as they get older, and it can be distressing to witness. There are a number of ways that the progress of this cruel disease can be slowed down, and things we can do to make our dog’s final years as happy, comfortable, and enjoyable as possible.
The earlier we start intervention for geriatric health conditions like dementia, the greater our chances of improving our dog’s quality of life, for as long as we can. If you have an older dog, talk to your vet about having a full health assessment so that you can make sure you are doing everything you can to make their retirement years great.
Featured Image Credit: Przemek Iciak, Shutterstock
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