Just like us humans, as our four-legged friends grow older, they may experience health issues ranging from arthritis<\/a> to cancer<\/a>. But what many pet owners aren\u2019t prepared for are the behavioral changes that often arise in their elderly dogs. A component of canine cognitive dysfunction or dog dementia<\/a>, sundowning (or sundowner\u2019s syndrome) is one such condition that impacts many dogs as they age. And sundowning in dogs presents itself much like Alzheimer\u2019s disease in humans.<\/p>\n \u201cJust like with humans, sundowning in dogs is believed to be caused by age-related issues such as the breakdown of the central nervous system, oxidative stress and brain cell death,\u201d explains Dr. Stephen Katz, a veterinarian practicing more than 30 years and founder of the Bronx Veterinary Center<\/a> in New York. \u201cUnfortunately, it\u2019s often all just a part of the aging process for both dogs and people.\u201d<\/p>\n Is your dog getting lost in the yard? Could it be sundowning? Photography \u00a9CatLane | Getty Images.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n According to Dr. Adrienne Pincetl, associate veterinarian at University Veterinary Hospital and Diagnostic Center<\/a> in Salt Lake City, Utah, recent studies have shown that both dogs and cats experience physiologic changes to their brains and central nervous systems as they age, which may account for behavioral changes and symptoms of cognitive dysfunction.<\/p>\n \u201cThese symptoms can include wandering, getting lost in the house or yard, or getting stuck places, such as behind furniture. They may also exhibit pacing, restlessness or other repetitive behavior \u2026 and there can also be a regression in learned behaviors, including house training<\/a>, so more accidents may be observed,\u201d she adds. \u201cAnecdotally, many people report that there\u2019s an increase in this type of behavior in the evening and night-time hours, similar to the \u2018sundowner\u2019s syndrome\u2019 observed in humans.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Katz adds that sundowning in dogs may also exhibit as barking<\/a> for seemingly no reason, becoming clingy to owners or demonstrating anxiety-related behaviors like panting. \u201cQuite often, there\u2019s also an increase in irritability, and some dogs may even become aggressive,\u201d he warns.<\/p>\n However, another common side effect of getting older \u2014 loss of vision and\/or hearing \u2014 can also cause similar symptoms. \u201cIt can be difficult to determine whether an animal is scared and confused at night because of cognitive dysfunction, or because their limited vision is impacted by the lack of light \u2026 or they may just be acting differently because they are arthritic and uncomfortable,\u201d Dr. Pincetl adds.<\/p>\n According to Dr. Katz, while there\u2019s no known cure for the symptoms of sundowning in dogs, there are strategies to help your dog manage these changes in behavior, including medications like Selegiline to help increase dopamine levels in the brain, a change in diet to improve digestive health<\/a> and limit accidents, or anything that might help improve your dog\u2019s cognitive performance, such as puzzle toys or even certain brands of dog food. \u201cIt has been shown that dogs that get regular mental stimulation as they age<\/a>, like new toys or learning new tricks, maintain a better ability to learn \u2014 and may even experience a delay in mental decline,\u201d Dr. Pincetl agrees.<\/p>\n Scott R. Sheaffer, a certified canine behavior consultant and owner of USA Dog Behavior, LLC<\/a> in Texas, notes that one of the best things you can do for your dog during this stage of life is reduce the number of triggers that might cause anxiety to keep your pet as comfortable and relaxed as possible. \u201cFor starters, you\u2019ll want to provide plenty of structure in your dog\u2019s day and keep his daily routine predictable for him \u2026 so he should be fed or walked or go to bed in the same order and around the same time every single day,\u201d he advises.<\/p>\n One thing you shouldn\u2019t do when it comes to sundowning in dogs, however, is attempt to discipline or punish your dog for undesirable behaviors like suddenly having accidents in the house.<\/p>\n \u201cCanine cognitive dysfunction is under-diagnosed and misdiagnosed in a lot of dogs \u2026 and while we\u2019ve made great strides in understanding how Alzheimer\u2019s affects humans, we\u2019re just now starting to understand how dogs are impacted by similar issues as they age,\u201d Scott notes. \u201cAs a result, sometimes people think their dog needs to start a new obedience training regimen in order to improve his behavior \u2014 but the only thing that\u2019s going to do is make your dog even more anxious.\u201d<\/p>\n When it comes to sundowning in dogs, experts agree the best thing to do for your dog in his later years is to continue to provide him with a healthy diet<\/a> and ample exercise<\/a>, a predictable routine and mental stimulation, and medication when appropriate to keep him as comfortable as possible \u2014 particularly in the evening hours. \u201cAlthough it\u2019s not possible to completely reverse the clinical signs associated with this condition, it is possible to maintain a good quality of life \u2014 for both the animal and the owner \u2014 as your pet experiences his \u201cgolden years,\u2019\u201d Dr. Pincetl concludes.<\/p>\n Thumbnail: Photography \u00a9Akchamczuk | Thinkstock. Jennifer Lesser is a New Jersey-based freelance writer. A marathoner, triathlete, and Taekwondo black belt, she specializes in health and wellness \u2014 for people and canines \u2014 and has written for magazines and websites including\u00a0Whole Dog Journal,\u00a0Health,\u00a0The Spruce Pets,\u00a0Weight Watchers\u00a0and\u00a0Animal Sheltering. She is the proud pet parent of a rescued Cocker Spaniel\/Shih Tzu mix named Miles, who has become her favorite running partner. Visit her online at\u00a0jenniferlesser.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The post Sundowning in Dogs \u2014 Yep, It\u2019s Not Just a Human Problem<\/a> by Jennifer Lesser<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post Sundowning in Dogs \u2014 Yep, It\u2019s Not Just a Human Problem<\/a> by Jennifer Lesser<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n Just like us humans, as our four-legged friends grow older, they may experience health issues ranging from arthritis<\/a> to cancer<\/a>. But what many pet owners aren\u2019t prepared for are the behavioral changes that often arise in their elderly dogs. A component of canine cognitive dysfunction or dog dementia<\/a>, sundowning (or sundowner\u2019s syndrome) is one such condition that impacts many dogs as they age. And sundowning in dogs presents itself much like Alzheimer\u2019s disease in humans.<\/p>\n \u201cJust like with humans, sundowning in dogs is believed to be caused by age-related issues such as the breakdown of the central nervous system, oxidative stress and brain cell death,\u201d explains Dr. Stephen Katz, a veterinarian practicing more than 30 years and founder of the Bronx Veterinary Center<\/a> in New York. \u201cUnfortunately, it\u2019s often all just a part of the aging process for both dogs and people.\u201d<\/p>\n Is your dog getting lost in the yard? Could it be sundowning? Photography \u00a9CatLane | Getty Images.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n According to Dr. Adrienne Pincetl, associate veterinarian at University Veterinary Hospital and Diagnostic Center<\/a> in Salt Lake City, Utah, recent studies have shown that both dogs and cats experience physiologic changes to their brains and central nervous systems as they age, which may account for behavioral changes and symptoms of cognitive dysfunction.<\/p>\n \u201cThese symptoms can include wandering, getting lost in the house or yard, or getting stuck places, such as behind furniture. They may also exhibit pacing, restlessness or other repetitive behavior \u2026 and there can also be a regression in learned behaviors, including house training<\/a>, so more accidents may be observed,\u201d she adds. \u201cAnecdotally, many people report that there\u2019s an increase in this type of behavior in the evening and night-time hours, similar to the \u2018sundowner\u2019s syndrome\u2019 observed in humans.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Katz adds that sundowning in dogs may also exhibit as barking<\/a> for seemingly no reason, becoming clingy to owners or demonstrating anxiety-related behaviors like panting. \u201cQuite often, there\u2019s also an increase in irritability, and some dogs may even become aggressive,\u201d he warns.<\/p>\n However, another common side effect of getting older \u2014 loss of vision and\/or hearing \u2014 can also cause similar symptoms. \u201cIt can be difficult to determine whether an animal is scared and confused at night because of cognitive dysfunction, or because their limited vision is impacted by the lack of light \u2026 or they may just be acting differently because they are arthritic and uncomfortable,\u201d Dr. Pincetl adds.<\/p>\n According to Dr. Katz, while there\u2019s no known cure for the symptoms of sundowning in dogs, there are strategies to help your dog manage these changes in behavior, including medications like Selegiline to help increase dopamine levels in the brain, a change in diet to improve digestive health<\/a> and limit accidents, or anything that might help improve your dog\u2019s cognitive performance, such as puzzle toys or even certain brands of dog food. \u201cIt has been shown that dogs that get regular mental stimulation as they age<\/a>, like new toys or learning new tricks, maintain a better ability to learn \u2014 and may even experience a delay in mental decline,\u201d Dr. Pincetl agrees.<\/p>\n Scott R. Sheaffer, a certified canine behavior consultant and owner of USA Dog Behavior, LLC<\/a> in Texas, notes that one of the best things you can do for your dog during this stage of life is reduce the number of triggers that might cause anxiety to keep your pet as comfortable and relaxed as possible. \u201cFor starters, you\u2019ll want to provide plenty of structure in your dog\u2019s day and keep his daily routine predictable for him \u2026 so he should be fed or walked or go to bed in the same order and around the same time every single day,\u201d he advises.<\/p>\n One thing you shouldn\u2019t do when it comes to sundowning in dogs, however, is attempt to discipline or punish your dog for undesirable behaviors like suddenly having accidents in the house.<\/p>\n \u201cCanine cognitive dysfunction is under-diagnosed and misdiagnosed in a lot of dogs \u2026 and while we\u2019ve made great strides in understanding how Alzheimer\u2019s affects humans, we\u2019re just now starting to understand how dogs are impacted by similar issues as they age,\u201d Scott notes. \u201cAs a result, sometimes people think their dog needs to start a new obedience training regimen in order to improve his behavior \u2014 but the only thing that\u2019s going to do is make your dog even more anxious.\u201d<\/p>\n When it comes to sundowning in dogs, experts agree the best thing to do for your dog in his later years is to continue to provide him with a healthy diet<\/a> and ample exercise<\/a>, a predictable routine and mental stimulation, and medication when appropriate to keep him as comfortable as possible \u2014 particularly in the evening hours. \u201cAlthough it\u2019s not possible to completely reverse the clinical signs associated with this condition, it is possible to maintain a good quality of life \u2014 for both the animal and the owner \u2014 as your pet experiences his \u201cgolden years,\u2019\u201d Dr. Pincetl concludes.<\/p>\n Thumbnail: Photography \u00a9Akchamczuk | Thinkstock. Jennifer Lesser is a New Jersey-based freelance writer. A marathoner, triathlete, and Taekwondo black belt, she specializes in health and wellness \u2014 for people and canines \u2014 and has written for magazines and websites including\u00a0Whole Dog Journal,\u00a0Health,\u00a0The Spruce Pets,\u00a0Weight Watchers\u00a0and\u00a0Animal Sheltering. She is the proud pet parent of a rescued Cocker Spaniel\/Shih Tzu mix named Miles, who has become her favorite running partner. Visit her online at\u00a0jenniferlesser.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The post Sundowning in Dogs \u2014 Yep, It\u2019s Not Just a Human Problem<\/a> by Jennifer Lesser<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nSymptoms of Sundowning in Dogs<\/h3>\n
![\"Senior](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/senior-dog-in-grass.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIs It Sundowning or Something Else?<\/h3>\n
Managing Sundowning in Dogs<\/h3>\n
What Not<\/em> to Do About Sundowning in Dogs<\/h3>\n
Some Final Thoughts on Sundowning in Dogs<\/h3>\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\nAbout the author<\/a><\/h3>\n
Read more about senior dogs and aging in dogs on Dogster.com:<\/h3>\n
\n
Symptoms of Sundowning in Dogs<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nIs It Sundowning or Something Else?<\/h3>\n
Managing Sundowning in Dogs<\/h3>\n
What Not<\/em> to Do About Sundowning in Dogs<\/h3>\n
Some Final Thoughts on Sundowning in Dogs<\/h3>\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\nAbout the author<\/a><\/h3>\n
Read more about senior dogs and aging in dogs on Dogster.com:<\/h3>\n
\n