Golden Retriever with Dementia Has Sweetest Way of Playing Hide and Seek
One of the heartbreaking realities of loving a pet is that one day they grow old, and that can come with a lot of physical and mental challenges for our beloved fur babies. The TikTok account for @GoldenandAussie shared a beautiful and sweet video on August 18 that shows the reality of this sad fact.
Watch the following to see this heartbreakingly cute video of a game of hide and seek between a sweet elderly pup and her owner.
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The video description reads, "Goldie loved to play hide and seek growing up and now she's older with sundowner syndrome (Doggy dementia) and she's not aware I can see her when she hides. It hurts me but grateful she's still with us."
This is just so touching. What a sweet old girl Goldie is. TikTok users are so touched by this game and @Liz comments, "Her face makes me cry because she’s so sweet looking & knowing what’s happening to her, dogs should live longer. Sweet baby." @Kathryn adds, "Found out my lab has dementia this week, immense tears and sadness that she’s so unsure of herself."
One user asked "How do you know if your dog has dementia? What's the process for a diagnosis?"
If you suspect your older dog may be suffering from sundowner's syndrome, the first step is to have a consult with your vet. Make notes of your dog's behavior, eating patterns, and sleep schedules as well as any unusual behavior they are exhibiting (Growling at things that aren't there, staring off into space, barking more than usual) to show your vet.
Your vet can map out the best course of treatment for your dog, and whether or not that includes medications. There is no cure for dog dementia but certain medications may help.
The most important thing is that you continue providing your pup with love and affection and patience and understanding, as well as sticking to a regular routine. That includes playtime like games of hide and seek, even if they are no longer the best at hiding like this sweet girl above.
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