Few conditions are as disastrous and painful to deal with as dementia. Here, we’ll go over what you need to know about dementia in dogs and when to euthanize.
Symptoms Of Dementia In Dogs and When To Euthanize
The various symptoms of this condition can be divided into two sections – early and late. Understanding those is key to figuring out when to euthanize.
* Becomes almost completely unresponsive.
* Loses “the light” in its eyes.
* Starts just “existing” and isn’t really living anymore.
* Loses its sense of identity.
To euthanize for cognitive dysfunction is no different than euthanasia for any other reason. It’s done through a chemical injection after sedating the dog.
It’s difficult to given an exact percentage because a lot of dogs never get diagnosed despite having dementia. A lot of them would often die of a different cause while still in the early stages of the condition.
Dementia is a slow but unrelenting disease. If you spot its symptoms early and start helping your dog to stay healthy and active, you can slow it down a bit.