After doing some research on the internet, I'm pretty sure this is what Saber has. Some things he has been doing:

-He has pooped in the house three days in a row, 4 times since Friday. This is a dog that has NEVER had an accident in the house since he was a puppy.

-When he's between the couch and recliner he can't seem to back out and/or he gets confused on how to back out.

-Endless pacing of the house.

-Sometimes not laying on his bed correctly with his butt hanging off.

-Trouble navigating the stairs.

-Sleeping more deeply and failing to respond to his name being repeated over and over even when it's in a loud tone of voice. It can actually take 2-3 gentle nudges on his butt to wake him up.

-Giving the occasional cold shoulder to family members he's been around his entire life.

-Startles very easily. 4th of July was a nightmare when fireworks have never bothered him before.

This is all I can think of at the moment. He does have some medical problems that I thought might be causing some of these symptoms. Then, on 5/28 we had to put his best friend to sleep and I could have explained off some of his symptoms because of that. But, then he pooped in the house on Friday. I figured, he's getting older and, no pun intended, sh*t happens. But now he's done it three days in a row and I know in my heart something isn't right.

I plan on seeing if I can take him to the vet tomorrow night and see what the vet thinks and to make sure there's not something else going on. If he does have CCD, I know there is medication that is supposed to be very helpful but doesn't always work in every dog. I'm just quite heartbroken right now. CCD is a progressive disorder with no cure, so he will only get worse over time. I know that dogs with CCD can eventually have trouble with their sleep cycles (sleeping during the day, up at night) and even with eating and drinking. Luckily, he doesn't have these symptoms yet.

Anyway, does anyone have any experience with this? Thoughts, advice, etc?

check here to Buy Neutricks

Okay I am gonna get long winded.

1) My first husky was diagnosed with this back about 6 years ago and it was just from the vet saying I think it is this. He was forgetful, confused, pee and poo problems a couple time, pacing, selective or hard of hear issues etc.  We used a product called "Missing Links" it is equivalent to Ginko Biloba it is a supplement of granuales you put on food. (he liked it alot.) I do not know how long it took to work I do not remember. He did get better but it was not a 100% cure but it decreased everything and stopped to pee poop issues. He was "diagnosed" at about 12-13 years and he passed at 16. The reason I say diagnosed is because there was no process to diagnosing him just "those symptons sound like". "lets try this drug and see if it works". ( oh she said the selective hear ...thump the ground with your foot just before you call their name) we did and that worked better then the startling bump tap.)

2) My Aussie husky mix was diagnosed with this 2.5 years ago after serveral "survey" questionaires with the vet. Beka (the pup) is now almost 11 yrs old.  Her issues were as follows: stand offish with my husband who she used to follow around, confused, pacing, disorientation or getting lost on the way to the water bowl, forgetfullness, not able to "back out" of a spot, violent hiding(tearing through the house upending furniture to get behind a chair to hide, scared of sneezes (used to kiss you after you sneezed), cowaring away for some loved ones who she used to "love", trying to get protection from mommy etc. I took here to the vet after the sneezing incidents cause this was coupled with the violent hiding (which scared me to death.) The vet had a checklist that we went through of CCD issues and she had all but the sleep reversal and pee/poop issues. So the vet asked me to try NeuTricks (liver pill) which is a drug that was just coming out on the market. We tried for 6 months with AWESOME success! So we went back for eval and we redid the check list (lost almost all traits). Vet suggested decreased doseage and we did for 2 weeks and most all traits started coming back so right back on full doseage. Full doseage works! At the same time the vet had two different vet tech's animals on the drug. Their dogs had 1 no effect 2nd okay effect. So every year now we go through the checklist again with notes added to show if she is getting worse better or same.  Note that several months ago we thought we reverted to having a pee issue.....vet was gonna have us use Neutricks and Missing Links but we found out that someone (hubby) forgot to give her her pills for a couple days. So only on Neutricks still.


Now Missing links is a supplement I found at online pet store supplement store(petsmart, chewy) where as Nuetricks is a protein like synthisized (sp) drug/supplement I found at onlinepet stores and at vets. The vets are much more expensive. You can get for my 45-50 lbs dog a 30 day supply for $40 (www.entirelypets.com) [60 pill bottle free shipping over certain amount but I always by multiple bottles at a time.] There is also suppose to be a health benefit for omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. We just recently added aplle cider vinegar and salmon oils to the dogs diets. It might also mbe helping her. There is supposibly an actual drug but I do not know about it. I have also been told to stimulate her mind more too to help her.

I definately reccomend the Neutricks but understand that it does not work on all. Then 2nd I would reccomend the Missing Links well blend plus.

Aussie husky update, Beka still has her bad days that when dad comes downstairs I am her best friend but I can hadle that with all of the other symptoms missing.   I suggest you start writting down the "difference" that are happening now and to what degree they are happening. I can not believe how much the checklist that we do every year help with my peace of mind.

There is a good chance that Megan can chime in on some good holistic health supplements that you couls add to the diet that should help. omegas, antioxidants, etc. (hopefully she will see this and be able to help too.)

So, I took Saber to the vet Thursday night and explained what's been going on with him. The vet said it definitely sounds like he's having some cognitive issues. He told me to go ahead and try the Neutricks and see if that helps. He's hesitant to put Saber on the prescription drug for dementia at this point seeing as how he has a lot of issues going on.

This week I'm going to order the Neutricks and also something called cholodin that has great reviews on amazon. Has anyone heard of or had any experiences with cholodin? I realize I might not see any results for a month or so. Or, I might not see any results which scares me.

He's doing about the same. Since Wednesday, he's only pooped in the house once. It's just weird that he poops and never pees in the house. He does seem to forget what he goes outside for and often comes back in after walking around for awhile and not going potty. Being completely honest, I find myself getting extremely frustrated at times or wanting to have a breakdown. I know that he can't help it and I certainly don't scold him for having an accident. This is just the way it's going to be from now on and I have to try to get used to it.

I hope it all work well. Let me know if you find a better supplier of the Neutricks. (60 for less than $44.94 w ship) Also I believe [but am not positive cause it was so long ago] by 1 month I was positive that the Neutricks was working at 1 week I thought it was and at 2 weeks I was pretty sure. So hopefully you will not have to wait the whole month. Remember keeping the brain stimulated helps too. Get Saber going on the mental olympics I guess.

I go see my vet at here soon and I think I will ask her about the cholodin b/c I have not heard of it. Think I will have to do some research on that. Keep us updated please.

Colleen, Amazon has Neutricks right now for $33.60 with free shipping for 60 tablets:

http://www.amazon.com/Neutricks-For-Dogs-Chewable-Tablets/dp/B004E2Z4W4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374500549&sr=8-1&keywords=neutricks

I forgot to add that I've started him on salmon oil and vitamin e. I might eventually start adding ACV also. I also have some puzzle games that I can do with him. I've had them for awhile but I just have to start doing it more often to mentally stimulate him.

Thanks for the tip I will have to try amazon. Last time (over a year ago) it was not free shipping when I found the Neutricks there. I have to add the vitamin E also. I added salmon oil and ACV this past year also.

Small update:

Today marks the 10th day Saber has been on Neutricks and cholodin. There's been no improvement to speak of yet but I realize it's still early. He has good days and bad. Sometimes when he's outside he'll look lost or forget to do his business and no matter how many times I tell him to "go potty" he won't. So, I'm always on pins and needles worrying that's he's going to mess in the house. We let him out quite a bit and it doesn't make a difference. A lot of the time we have to make him get up and go out because he won't get up on his own. We're trying to watch him as close as possible for signs that he has to potty. However, it's not always feasible to do this.

It just breaks my heart that one day he might not recognize me. Or he might not be able to drink water or eat his food. I've had to stop letting kids pet him on our walks. I feel horrible because he absolutely adores children. I don't think he would harm them, but I just can't be 100% sure and I'd rather be safe than sorry no matter how much it saddens me.

To be continued...

Hang in there Beth....hopefully results will show soon.

Saber has now been on Neutricks, cholodin, salmon oil and vitamin E for 31 days. There still has been no improvement that I can see. He hasn't been pooping in the house as often but he's being let outside twice as much and watched carefully for signs he has to go. So, I'm sure that's cut down on some of it. He did poop in the house Thursday and Friday. He also pooped in my new car Friday on the way to the vet  . He's still having trouble navigating stairs, getting stuck in small spaces and being startled easily.

I'm going to go another 30 days on the Neutricks and cholodin. My vet also gave me a different supplement to try called Senilife XL. So, if there's still no improvement in another thirty days, then I will try the Senilife.

Ahh hang in there, it seems that this is on of those things that is acrap shot as to whatdrug regiment works with what dog.

Thanks, Colleen. I'm not ready to give up yet! It's just that some days are harder than others and I have to remind myself not to get so stressed out about it. I appreciate the support since I don't know many people that have experienced this with their dogs.

I have added the Cholodin to Beka's regiment as some symptoms are coming back for her. We are gonna add it on for 30 days before seeing her doctor to see what is next. (I mentioned to her Dr that you were trying it and we decided to try it this way and then We will discuss later.) Keep me updated and I will let you know about Beka's info if and good tid bits are there next month. Ps I just saw that Sentinel XL stuff at Entirely pets and other places recently when looking for the Cholodin. Must be a little newer. Keep at it!

Sounds like a plan!

I thought I'd update for anyone that cares.

So, I didn't see any improvement with Saber on the Neutricks so I started him on the Senilife XL. Today is his 12th day on it and I'm wondering if it's making him worse. Or he's just getting worse in general.

Saber was acting really off on Friday so I had the vet see him. Nothing wrong as far as he can tell. He was okay on Saturday and Sunday and then last night he started regressing again. He aimlessly wanders through the house, and turns in many circles like he's going to lay down, but then he just keeps walking around. It got to the point that in the middle of the night I had to close him off on one half of the house so I could get a couple hours of sleep. On his walks, he stumbles multiple times and even takes a few headers. He lags behind me and walks sooooo slow. On the occasions he happens to be walking in front of me, he'll walk into me or in my path and I end up stepping on him by accident. Last night he was staggering around like a drunk person in the house. Then, he'd just stop, pant and stare at nothing. When he gets let out to potty, he doesn't always go and I can't force him. It's like he forgets why he went out in the first place. He wouldn't respond to him name last night either. And he refused to climb up the stairs to come back inside. I had to go out there and lead him up the stairs by his collar. I was picking him up but I can't keep doing that. Both of my shoulders are bad and I'm afraid I'll drop him.

For the most part, the Saber I've known and loved for the last 14 1/2 years is gone. Oh, I'll see glimpses every so often, but it's almost gone. It's like a tiny piece of him slips away each day. It doesn't mean I love him any less. When we had to put his best friend, Sebby, to sleep almost four months ago, that's when he really started to decline. I guess Sebby was his tether and kept Saber going. I do sometimes think Saber's lonely without his buddy.

When I used to come home from work, Saber would greet me and tell me off. Now, he hardly makes a peep. I miss his backtalk and woos. I miss playing hide and seek with him. He's also lost the ability to hop up in his chair to look outside. I can't tell you how much it KILLS me that this is happening to him. I can't begin to describe all the emotions going on inside of me at once. From sadness to frustration to anger (not at him, at the situation) and then just wanting to cry until there's no more tears to cry. I'll be honest, I'm not a patient person but I'm learning to be with him.

Last night was the first time that I felt like there isn't much hope left. This may sound silly, but I ask myself how happy is he? Does he know what that even means anymore? What kind of life is it for him to just aimlessly wander around confused? I have to face the hard fact that I might have to say goodbye to my best friend. It's a hard realization to come to but if his bad days are going to far outweigh the good ones, then I have to try not to be selfish and think of what's best for him.

For right now, I'm going to keep him on the Senilife XL and start adding SAM-E to his diet this weekend. I take him back to the vet on 10/4 and if he's not better, my last option would probably be the prescription drug Anipryl. Also called selegiline which is used in humans to treat Parkinson's disease and senile dementia. It's a 50/50 shot that it's going to work. I'm not 100% sure, but I think it's pretty expensive so that might take it out of the equation. If my vet could write a script for it, I might be able to get it cheaper at Walgreens or some other pharmacy.

Anyway, that's the latest right now.

Oh no! Hope for the new stuff to work.
This is exactly how Butkis our previous husky reacted after several years of "Missing Links" neurological supplements. He started to slip into this behavior of not wanting to get up, wanting to stay outside and not able to do his favorite things. It was not long afterward we decided if it got worse we were not sure what to do that we noticed the "picking him up" or "not want to come in or upstairs" was happening alot and we felt that his arthritis with this was too bad.

I will hope with all my heart!

PS Beka is doing good with the Cholodin supplement added to the Neutricks. She has gone back to mild issues and the progression of increased issues has stopped. But I think she has a mild case compared to Saber. She says buck up Saber!

This is heartbreaking. Our family sibe (my first sibe, and my heart dog) is 1 month from turning 16. She has arthritis, and has lost most of her hearing and vision, but is otherwise okay. She doesn't like to go outside either, but I think she gets nervous because she can't see or hear as well. I really hope the new meds can help Saber. It's so hard to see such beautiful, energetic, attitude prone friends decline. I'm getting teary eyed thinking about your boy and my girl. She had a bad patch a few weeks ago after getting her vaccines (can't believe the dumb vet vaccinated a 16 year old!), but she has recovered from that and seems okay. I never want to let her go, but I know that at some point I will have to.  

I'm so sorry Beth. Your post has me tearing up majorly. Bode is only 1.5 years, but I can't imagine getting to that point. Good luck and hopefully the new meds help.

I really do hope the new meds help. It's something I don't want to admit thinking about but I think about what happens when one of them finally goes and it makes my heart stop and tears come to my eyes thinking about it now.

This made me tear up, but I will keep you guys in my thoughts.

Thanks, ladies. I appreciate it and Saber and I could definitely use all the well wishes we can get!

I can't even imagine, Beth Definitely made me tear up Hopefully the new medication can help him

Wishing saber the best on new meds!

Beth,

This breaks my heart! My first husky, Sandy, was about 13 or 14 when she was diagnosed with the first symptoms of "Doggie Dementia". She continued into her 17th year with a rather high quality of life. To be honest, some of Saber's symptoms do not sound like dementia at all. I have not heard of stumbling or difficulty navigating stairs being symptoms of this. Our Sandy began suffering with her dementia about 10 years ago, so there was not alot of good internet advice sites, so perhaps those are typical symptoms that she just did not experience.

Sandy would walk into tight spots or even corners and not remember how to get out. She would bark (and she never barked) at our kitchen cabinets, just because they were there I guess. She would avoid us most of the time (I think she really just began to be bothered by crowds and the small children we had added to "her" family.). She had occasional accidents in the house, some while we were right in the room with her. However, most of the time she greeted us with a tail wag (but of course a typical husky loves all people, so maybe we were new "friends" every day). She ate well. She slept well.

We chose not to medicate her because we were warned of a possible side-effect of personality changes. We did not want to endanger our kids. While unmedicated, she was NEVER mean or testy with them, she just chose to leave the room if they annoyed her. We were not made aware of any natural supplements 10 years ago - I guess that stuff was just not as common back then.

Eventually, at age 17, her quality of life digressed to the point where we believe she was suffering. She found it hard to get up from lying down, to navigate stairs and to remember to go potty outside. She was also mostly deaf. When we began to have to lift her up and down stairs and to clean accidents daily, we had to make one of the hardest decisions of our lives and put her to sleep. I don't think her mobility issues had anything to do with the dementia but rather just age and arthritis. She was a sweetheart to the end and one of the best dogs I have ever owned. Her spunk, with just a hint of naughtiness, kept us all on our toes and even on her worst days, we remember and saw hints of the dog who always slept on our feet, who chewed up every book left in the floor, who thought our bed was her own and who was faithful to the end!

My thoughts and prayers are with you and Saber, Beth!

My cat Squeakers had senior dementia. She also had arthritis and had difficulty jumping not related to the dementia. (She couldn't jump though she could still pull herself up and climb. If she wanted lap, if I didn't pull her up onto my lap fast enough, she'd climb up my legs, regardless if I was in pants or shorts)

Her dementia (which was never officially diagnosed) was the same as what Lisa was describing with her dog--walking into corners and not knowing how to get out. Randomly crying out, because. It didn't help that in the last few years of her life I moved her into 5 new homes (yay for college ending, settling into grad school, parents moving out of my childhood home, all at the same time). I know she still knew who I was...she greeted me home every day after work/class and not just because a new friend because she didn't like anyone but me (she would tolerate my family, but I was the only human she liked)

Your story, Beth, also breaks my heart. I hope the medication will be able to help give Saber comfort and contentedness.

Beth after reading from Lisa and Li and then remembering Butkis's past and Beka's present with CCD I concur with the fact that I have not heard to much about the stumbles and up/down/rise issues except when added arthritis. I think the thing is that Saber has arthritis ( I think you have said that before). In my post I mentioned the picking up the dog and hard to get up but Butkis had to have arthritis at 16 and 70 lbs.

In our CCD checklist things to watch are sleep patterns do change often day become night for them.
Additionally one thing they mention also is selective hearing, they suggested stamping feet whn call the pup in the house as they will zone out making it sound like they can not here you. I remember one night we put Butkis outside in the fall at 9 and by 12 he still did not want to come in by 2am I could not get him to come in but did not see him in the trees as it was too dark.By 5am my hubby was in tears cause he could not find him. So I looked with a flashlight and called his name. Did not find him. So at 7 am I woke with the sun and looked for him. I found him napping peacefully four feet from where I stood in the dark call his name. He had dug an arctic tundra style hole/depression so that his head was above ground and body below grade. He was definitely sleep right next to me when i was calling him at 5 am. But how do you see a black dog at night when they are curled up. Definite selective hearing.

Hang in the hopefully the meds give Saber some relief, and wishing the supplements would have helped as they helped with my cases of this. Let us know the update later after Saber hass tried for a bit. And thanks again for the Cholodin info.

Thanks so much for the support, everyone!

It helps me a lot to read some of your experiences with this disease. Sometimes I feel so alone because nobody understands how difficult it is to watch my beautiful and proud boy slowly drifting away.

Lisa, the stumbling probably has more to do with the bad back he has than the dementia. Having trouble navigating stairs can be one of the symptoms as seen here:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=1346 - third symptom down

and here:

http://www.akcchf.org/news-events/library/articles/cognitive-dysfunction.html

His trouble with the stairs could also be worse because of his back.

I'm happy to say Saber had a decent day yesterday. He started going up the stairs again by himself. He didn't have as much of the vacant look in his eyes that he had Monday. I played a puzzle game with him last night and he just whipped right through it to get to his treats lol! It took him no time at all. At least he still loves his food and treats!

I ordered some SAM-E this morning so I should have it by Friday so I can start giving it to him this weekend. It's supposed to help with the neurotransmitters in the brain. If all else fails, I'm going to have to talk to my vet about the Anipryl. I'll keep everyone posted.