Vet shares heartbreaking glimpse of dementia in senior dogs that most owners overlook

In a world where dementia in dogs is not paid heed to, a vet has strived to create awareness on the subject. Dr. Buzby, who goes by @drbuzbys on TikTok, has opened up about the mental disease in pets while sharing striking glimpses of victim dogs. She revealed that senior dogs may exhibit behavior that is strongly linked to dementia and is likely a symptom of a serious health disorder. 

In a viral post with 2.7 million views, Dr. Buzby, founder of ToeGrips, a company for dog nail grips, showcased what dog dementia really looked like. To begin with, it featured a furry pup staring at the corner of a room at basically “nothing” to hint at the dog’s declining mental state. “Walking in circles” was another sign observed in senior dogs with dementia. In the bit, the video showed a poor dog moving around in circles on the same spot. Pacing around the house aimlessly and seeming in a constant state of confusion were other evident signs of the condition. The vet stressed that these symptoms may be prevalent, particularly at nighttime, leaving the aging dog mostly restless and exhausted. 

Dr. Buzby advised pet owners to pay close attention to their senior dogs for these symptoms, as they could be linked to Canine Cognitive Disorder (CCD), commonly known as doggy dementia. The post, liked by 421,000 people, transformed into a dementia awareness space for pet owners and everyone. “Just learned dogs can get dementia,” said @number_one_simp0 and @jhoooooopbi expressed, “Well, now I’m freaking sad.” A fellow pet owner (@cxfiedexotics) shared their personal experience. “Reminds me of ours. He just stares off into nothing, and he loves spending so much time outside, sitting by our gate, just looking around.” Likewise, @stylebyariam_ wrote, “Seeing my dog like this was so heartbreaking.” 

Dog dementia resembles Alzheimer’s in humans. Senior dogs will often show symptoms of mental disease. They are mostly linked to brain damage related to age and may leave the dog feeling anxious and lost. In addition to the symptoms stated by Dr. Buzby, experts at PetMD revealed that house soiling, overall increase in anxiety, forgetting where food and water bowls are, barking at nothing, and getting stuck in odd places are also common. The cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) that encompasses dementia is diagnosed with multiple factors. 

Vets use a combination of a dog’s behavioral history, blood work, a physical exam, and X-ray to screen for any underlying disease. Liver and kidney disease, urinary infections, bladder stones, and arthritis can lead to dementia symptoms. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for the mental condition yet, and it is managed rather than cured. CDS is high in dogs, with 68% of cases occurring in 15 to 16-year-olds. Most of the pups remain underdiagnosed because of a lack of awareness, as the symptoms are ignored as normal aging, per Today’s Veterinary Practice. 

You can follow @drbuzbys on TikTok for more dementia-related videos.