Dog with dementia behind net curtain, confused and staring at the wall. — (Photo Credit: Catherine Falls / Getty Images)

Dementia in Dogs (Canine Cognitive Dysfunction): Symptoms, Causes, & Treatments

August 31, 2023

Dementia in dogs, also known as canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCD or CDS), is a medical condition that can set in as a dog’s brain ages. It can bring about symptoms such as decreased awareness, slower responsiveness, and memory issues.

The condition gradually gets worse over time, with studies showing that as many as one half of dogs…

Jenna was the Managing Editor of DogTime.com and CatTime.com from June 2023 through December 2024. She is the proud helicopter dog mom of her rescue pups Washington and Goldie Hawn. She grew up in rural North Carolina on a family farm, which is where her love of animals became apparent as she quite literally endeavored to save every abandoned fur baby within the farm's proximity. Jenna has worked as a book editor, ghostwriter, and speech writer for various political personalities across the country. She is passionate about animal rights, sustainable agriculture, equality, and climate change—even appearing on PBS NewsHour, as well as in NBC News, The Nation, The Advocate, Yahoo News, and Newsweek.