Cognitive-change vet notes

Senior Dog Dementia Vet Checklist

Families often use the word dementia when an older dog starts pacing, waking at night, seeming confused, having accidents, or needing more supervision. This checklist does not diagnose dementia. It helps you bring clearer patterns to a licensed veterinarian.

CHECKLIST

What to track before asking about cognitive changes

  • 1Timing: when confusion, pacing, staring, barking, or night waking happens and how long it lasts.
  • 2Navigation: getting stuck, circling, staring at walls, trouble finding doors, or needing help settling.
  • 3Sleep pattern: day sleeping, night waking, food requests, pacing, barking, and how often the caregiver wakes.
  • 4Bathroom changes: accidents, asking to go out, forgetting routines, leaking, stool changes, or cleanup burden.
  • 5Food and water: appetite shifts, food-driven waking, extra drinking, skipped meals, weight changes, or nausea signs.
  • 6Movement and comfort: slipping, trouble standing, pain signs, panting, trembling, restlessness, or reluctance to lie down.
  • 7Medication effects: dose timing, sleepiness, wobbliness, restlessness, appetite changes, or unsafe movement after medication.
  • 8Sensory context: vision, hearing, lighting, shadows, stairs, noise, room layout, and whether a calmer setup helps.
  • 9Caregiver capacity: sleep loss, supervision demands, cleanup, lifting risk, lack of backup help, and what cannot continue safely.

NOTES

How to keep the notes useful and safe

  • Write what you see before naming the cause. "Paced hallway for 40 minutes at 2:10am" is more useful than "dementia episode".
  • Track several linked categories together: sleep, appetite, bathroom, mobility, comfort, and medication timing can overlap.
  • Include videos or short examples if they show a pattern clearly, but avoid overwhelming the appointment with every moment.
  • Do not start supplements, change medication timing, restrict food, or make major routine changes without asking your veterinarian.
  • This guide is not a diagnosis or veterinary advice. It is a way to organize observations before talking with a licensed veterinarian.

VET QUESTIONS

  1. 1Could pain, vision, hearing, urinary or GI issues, medication effects, anxiety, appetite changes, or cognitive changes be contributing?
  2. 2Which details would help you decide what to examine, test, or monitor next?
  3. 3What should I track for the next 7 days so we can compare the pattern instead of relying on memory?
  4. 4Are there signs that mean I should call sooner than our planned follow-up?
  5. 5What is realistic if night waking, accidents, or supervision needs are making care unsafe for the household?

NEXT STEP

Use the cognitive-change notes with comfort, appetite, hydration, mobility, mood, and good-day ratings to create a printable quality-of-life report and 7-day follow-up.

Start a cognitive-change check-in

How do I know if my senior dog has dementia?

You cannot confirm that from a checklist. A veterinarian should evaluate possible causes. Your notes can help show timing, behavior, sleep, bathroom changes, appetite, mobility, comfort, and medication effects.

What should I track if my old dog seems confused at night?

Track wake time, pacing route, barking or staring, food and water, potty needs, medication timing, comfort signs, what helped your dog settle, and how much sleep the caregiver lost.

Should caregiver exhaustion be part of a dementia vet visit?

Yes. Sleep loss, cleanup burden, supervision needs, lifting risk, and lack of backup help affect what care is realistic at home and are appropriate to discuss with your veterinarian.

Please note: Quality-of-life scales are a starting point for observation and conversation, not a medical assessment. Always consult a licensed veterinarian about your pet’s health.