My senior dog barks all night. Could it be anxiety or dementia?

Question

My 12 yr old st bernard barks all night. He sleeps in our bedroom on his own bed. If you get up he stops barking until you get back in bed then it starts again. Is it anxiety? He also does it when you leave the room. He has lost the use of his back legs due to hip an back problems. Could this be the problem? Pet's info: Dog | Saint Bernard | Male | 86 lbs

Makenzie Kurth, DVM · Accepted Answer

This could be anxiety as you suggest, or it could be canine cognitive dysfunction (doggy dementia). CCG often includes restless/wakeful behavior at night and sleeping during the day. It can also include loss of house-training, failure to recognize family members and confused or wandering behavior. Melatonin and/or Benadryl are considered generally safe medications to give before bed to help promote sleep. There are also medications and prescription diets made especially for CCD if that is what’s happening to Sherwood. Talk with your vet to see if s/he agrees and to discuss options and doses.

My senior dog barks all night. Could it be anxiety or dementia?

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