Help! Does My Dog Have Dementia? (Vet Answered)
This question has been answered by a vet
Veterinarian & Animal Behaviorist
With nearly two decades in veterinary medicine, Dr. Paola brings hands-on experience across multiple species. A graduate of the University of Guadalajara, she specializes in preventive care, animal welfare, and positive reinforcement training.
The Question
“My 16 year old mixed terrier Hazel enjoys fairly good health and gets moderate exercise each day. She’s lately taken to destroying my made bed every day when I’m in another room. Do dogs get dementia and could this be a problem? I scold her but the behavior continues.“ – Dianne
Quick Info about Hazel
Hi Dianne,
This is a thoughtful question and one many pet parents of senior dogs ask. Yes, dogs can develop a condition called canine cognitive dysfunction, which is similar in concept to dementia in humans. As dogs age, changes in the brain can affect memory, learning, and emotional regulation. Signs often include disorientation, changes in sleep patterns, altered social interactions, anxiety when separated, and new repetitive or destructive behaviors that were not present earlier in life. What you are describing could fit into that picture, but it could also reflect age-related anxiety or frustration rather than true cognitive decline, much like an older person pacing or fidgeting not because they forget where they are, but because they feel unsettled.
The bed destruction itself is important to interpret carefully. Dogs do not destroy things out of spite, and scolding tends to worsen anxiety, especially in senior dogs whose coping skills may already be fragile. If Hazel only does this when you leave the room, it suggests separation-related stress or restlessness rather than willful misbehavior. Imagine being unsure where your anchor went and trying to self-soothe by digging or nesting, behaviors that are instinctive and comforting for many dogs. Repeated scolding can unintentionally confirm that something is wrong, reinforcing the cycle rather than stopping it.
The next step is a thorough veterinary evaluation to look for underlying contributors such as pain, sensory decline, hormonal disease, or early cognitive changes, because many of these are manageable. Adjustments like predictable routines, gentle mental enrichment, comfortable resting areas, and avoiding punishment often make a meaningful difference. If cognitive dysfunction is suspected, early intervention can slow progression and improve quality of life. In the meantime, replacing scolding with calm redirection and management is kinder and more effective, especially for a dog who has shared your life for sixteen years and is telling you, in her own way, that something has changed.
Kind regards,
Dr. Paola