Can Dogs Experience Sundowner Syndrome?

It’s called Sundowner Syndrome, and if you’ve never heard of it before, it’s a condition typically found in senior humans experiencing Alzheimer’s or dementia. A snapshot explanation from the famed Mayo Clinic describes symptoms that include increased agitation, aggression, anxiety, and confusion. And because these symptoms tend to kick in during late afternoon or early evening, it earned the name “Sundowner”.

What triggers it in humans is not entirely known. It has been noted that it tends to present during times of physical and mental fatigue, or when daylight begins to diminish, causing fear and even hallucinations. Also, from overstimulation during the day that can make it hard to wind down in the evening. Of course, these causes are further exacerbated by age-related cognitive decrease, and the resultant anxieties can be difficult to allay when an individual’s ability to rationalize is diminished. Particularly so when that individual is a dog.

Now, because both dogs and humans can be prone to sundowning syndrome, it’s no surprise that pooches display many of the same agitated behaviors as their human counterparts. And for them, that translates into pacing, aimless barking, and nighttime clinginess that may be caused by fear from the diminishing daylight.

If you’re living with an elderly dog, you may well recognize some of the above behaviors that have become part of your pet’s cognitive decline.

But while it can’t be cured, it can be managed.

Here’s How:

1. Dogs love a routine. In fact, they thrive on knowing exactly when that food bowl will hit the kitchen floor. When your dog is dealing with Sundowner, it becomes even more important to establish a schedule – feeding, walking, bedtime – and stick with it. Less disruption and more predictability create a sense of calm for your pet.
2. Encouraging your little buddy to wind down and sleep through the night can be a challenge. I’ve been there, and when your pooch is up and walking around, you’re not sleeping either. To help ready them for bed, be sure to keep your dog active throughout the day – particularly the afternoon - to help tire them out before bedtime.
3. Install a couple of nightlights close to where your pet sleeps and/or wanders at night. Not only does providing soft, low light help alleviate visual confusion, but it can reassure your pet that family is nearby and they’re not alone if they wake in the dark.
4. Place a runner or mats in areas close to where your dog sleeps at night. This helps avoid scary slips that can disrupt a peaceful night. I’ve actually purchased rubber-tread socks for my dog so she can walk around without slipping, and if she lies down on my hardwood floors, she has sufficient traction to stand up when she wants.
5. Keep water bowls handy so your pooch doesn’t get up and start roaming in search. And, consider baby gates if you have steep stairs that your buddy could fall down if confused.

Being a pet parent to an aging dog is all about navigating their changing physical and mental health. With Sundowner syndrome, you’re adding an extra layer of issues to consider. But you know what? You got this!