What I'm glad I did / What didn't go well / What I would do now | Canine Dementia #3

This time, we'll look at canine dementia starting from when mid-stage symptoms begin to appear.
I will summarize this based on my own experience.

“Waking up and wandering at night”
“Circling around in the same spot”
“Becoming prone to falling”
“Increased accidents with the toilet”
“Developing picky eating habits”

I feel that the “mid-stage” of canine dementia (Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome: CCDS) is a period when these changes overlap and begin to affect the owner's life as well.

For me personally, one of the most painful moments was
perhaps due to the disorientation caused by dementia,
seeing them panting, unable to stand, and crying.
I wanted to help, but I didn't know what to do.
And it was very sad to see our communication gradually become a one-way street.

In this article, I will summarize the caregiving I experienced during the mid-stage from an owner's perspective, focusing on

• what I'm glad I did

• what didn't go well

• what I would do now
  .

*Even with similar symptoms,pain (such as joint pain) or internal medical conditionsmay be hidden. It is safest to first consult with a veterinary clinic.

Mid-stage symptoms

Mid-stage (moderate) symptoms are complicated not only by brain function decline but also by
muscle weakness, joint issues, and decline in vision or hearing—in other words, “physical decline” also overlaps.
That is why measures are not a matter of “finding one solution to fix everything,” but rather

it is important to look at and consider the entire lifestyle.

Changes likely to occur in the mid-stage

• Loss of sense of direction: Getting lost in the house, getting their head stuck in furniture gaps and being unable to get out, not knowing which side a door opens on

• Changes in perception: Staring fixedly at a single point on a wall or floor

• Disruption of sleep-wake rhythm: Day-night reversal, night crying, nighttime wandering

• Decline in excretion and learning: Toilet accidents, loss of cues, difficulty following commands

• Stereotypical behavior and increased anxiety: Circling, wandering, constant licking, sensitivity to sound, worsening of separation anxiety

• Changes in sociality: Weak reactions / irritability, aggression such as growling or biting

From here on, based on my experience, I will write specifically about “what I did” for each item.

1) When wandering/circling / falling increased

In the middle stage, it becomes easy for "spatial disorientation" to occur even inside the house.
They cannot recognize the side where the door opens,
and they keep pressing their nose against the side that doesn't open (the hinge side),
or they get stuck with their head poked into a gap in the furniture, unable to back out.
The explanation that visual information processing becomes unstable,
leading to a mismatch with how the body moves (motor memory), made a lot of sense.

And when wandering and circling increase, the risk of accidents like falling, bumping into things, and getting stuck rises all at once.
Actually, once the wandering started, there was a time when they injured their eye by bumping into something.
(I noticed it immediately, had eye drops prescribed at the hospital, and it got better.)

Things I'm glad I did

■ Circular playpen (eliminating corners)

With a square playpen, they can sometimes get their head stuck in a corner and be unable to move.
So, by switching to a circular playpen without corners, it became easier to prevent them from getting stuck and unable to move.

Points for a circular playpen

• Shape: Prioritize circular (or polygonal). Reduce corners

• Inside: Shock-absorbing mats or cushioning materials (to reduce injuries and noise when bumping into things)

• Floor: Thorough anti-slip measures (adhesive mats + securing sheets, etc.)

• Air: Circulation with a circulator (to prevent odors and heat from building up)

■ Supporting the body with a walking assistance harness

Rather than waiting until they can't walk, a walking assistance harness was a support during the stage where they were "unsteady" or "falling."
Just by supporting those

“moments when they are prone to collapsing” during standing up, turning, or navigating steps, falls can be reduced.

Things that didn't work (in our case)

■ Support cushion didn't fit and caused restlessness

We tried a Rela-Cushion as a support cushion for the body.
However, it didn't suit my dog, and there were times when they were restless.

The sensation of it touching them might have been stressful.
Even with the same product, whether it fits or not varies greatly by individual.

(Adjustment ideas when it doesn't fit)

• Change the height or firmness

• Reduce the surface area in contact

• Get them used to it starting with short periods

• Switching to a different method for a while

I think the Rela-Cushion is a wonderful product.
However, since it can get expensive to try various things,
this is an honest report as one reference.

2) Sunbathing and ways to go outside ("short and safe")

In the middle stage, going outside itself becomes difficult.
But if possible, "walking outside even a little" provides stimulation and
is also a change of pace.

Things I'm glad I did

■ Using a walking support harness to walk outside for short periods

The point was not "distance," but "safety" and "successful experiences."

■ Choosing a safe place (where falling doesn't hurt)

• Your own garden

• Riverbeds (places with soft ground and few steps), etc. Choosing places where
  the impact of falling is minimal reduces anxiety.

*This doesn't mean forcing them to walk,
but rather the idea of fulfilling their desire to "walk or sniff" for a short time.

3) Meals: When they become picky eaters

In the middle stage, some dogs have unstable appetites.
If they go days without eating, their physical strength drops,
which can sometimes lead to more intense nighttime restlessness,
so I prioritized "forms they could eat."

*If they continue to have no appetite,
or if they have diarrhea or vomiting, I recommend seeing a vet early.

Things I'm glad I did

• Mixing in wet food (the aroma is stronger and it's easier to get them to eat)

• Soaking the food (to reduce the burden when hard food is difficult to eat)

• Giving dry food one piece at a time (sometimes this acts as a switch to start eating)

In our case, their mood changed depending on the day,
and I tried various states even within a single day.
(Days of trial and error to match their mood.
When they start becoming picky, it becomes a "common occurrence"** right?)

4) Night crying: When it reached the limit of continuing to accompany their nighttime wandering

The most serious issue that tends to occur in the middle stage is sleep disturbance.
Due to the decrease in serotonin associated with aging and the shift in the timing of melatonin secretion,
day-night reversal becomes more likely.
If they wake up at night, they may bark continuously due to anxiety about the darkness or loneliness,
or they may pace around.

This barking is often said to be not just a demand for attention, but a "cry of confusion"
resulting from brain dysfunction.

What I did

There were many times when I would wake up at night to accompany my dog while they paced.
However, I felt that if this continued, the owner could end up with health problems
or reach their mental limit.

■ Consulted with a veterinarian and had sleep medication prescribed

Once they were no longer able to walk well,
the nighttime restlessness became more intense, so I consulted with an animal hospital.
Thanks to the sleep medication,there were days when they would sleep.

*The effectiveness of medication varies greatly, and there may be cases where it is not very effective. Even so, rather than bottling it up and reaching your limit, I think it is worth consulting a professional at least once.

*Behind the nighttime crying, there may be pain hidden in addition to dementia.
It is recommended to consult about symptoms like "crying while unable to stand" or "panting" as a set.

5) Toilet accidents: Living with diapers

In the middle stage,
"not knowing where the toilet is" and "forgetting the signals"
combine to make accidents more likely to increase.

What I did well

■ Dealing with it using diapers

Rather than "making accidents zero,"
it is also important to reduce the cleanup and stress.

*As I wrote last time,
please do not force it on dogs that are bothered by them and won't let you put them on,
or dogs that try to eat the diapers.
Also, be careful if your dog has sensitive skin or is prone to diaper rash.

6) Cannot leave them alone: "Short outings" with a pet camera

In the middle stage, it can become difficult to leave them alone because you are worried.

What I would like to recommend to owners from now on

■ If it can be introduced in your home environment, a pet camera

• Going out for only a short time while checking with the camera

• Accumulating experiences of "everything was okay"

• Keep the distance short enough to return home immediately if a problem occurs

And recently, I think rentals being available is also a good point. For those who are
"worried if it will work in my environment" or "don't want to buy it if I don't end up using it,"
trying a rental is one option.

7) What I would do now: Handmade wheelchair (safety first)

If I were doing it now, I would like to try making a handmade wheelchair.
The goal is to fulfill their desire to "walk" or "stand" even just a little bit.

However, from the perspective of animal nursing, there are some points to be careful about here.

• No injuries or accidents occurring

• No breakage (parts coming off, sharp edges, chafing)

• Burden on the body while wearing it (pressure, chafing). If you make one yourself, I want to keep
  safety as the top priority while also making sure to be nearby when it is in use.

8) Ways to touch: Reducing "surprises"

In the middle stages, vision and hearing may also decline.
Some dogs get especially startled if you touch them suddenly.

I found that when I became conscious of
touching them slowly and gently from the side of their body, then gradually moving to their back or head to pet them
, they calmed down more often.

If the time spent suffering from dementia increases,
I want you to cherish the time spent slowly petting them while they are calm when they are settled.

In conclusion

As the dementia progressed, there were difficult times, but
looking back now, it was a precious time of trial and error while thinking of my beloved dog with all my heart.

However, the thought that "maybe things would have been different if I had known more?" or "could I have done other things?"
is not zero.

I hope this article lightens the hearts of those who are currently struggling in the same way,
even just a little.

Next time, I plan to summarize
mental care for owners (feelings of loss, guilt, loneliness).