My dog is ageing — are there signs of dementia?
'Invecchiando' = een-vek-KYAN-doh. Gerund of 'invecchiare' (to age). 'Demenza' = deh-MEN-tsa.
Asking the vet about Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) in an older dog showing behavioural changes.
'Sta invecchiando' uses 'stare' + gerund for an ongoing process. 'Demenza' in dogs is called 'Sindrome da Disfunzione Cognitiva' (SDC) or 'Canine Cognitive Dysfunction' (CCD). Symptoms include disorientation, changed sleep patterns, reduced interaction and 'staring at nothing'. Italian veterinary neurology has advanced treatments including selegiline (Anipryl/Selgian) licensed in Italy.
Il cane si perde in casa e abbaia di notte senza motivo.
The dog gets lost in the house and barks at night without reason.
Classic CCD signs — nocturnal disorientation and vocalisation.
Sembra non riconoscermi più — fissa nel vuoto.
It seems not to recognise me anymore — it stares into space.
Loss of owner recognition is an advanced CCD sign.
Esistono farmaci per rallentare la demenza canina?
Are there medications to slow canine dementia?
Selegiline (Selgian) is licensed in Italy for CCD; dietary supplements also help.
Italy's growing awareness of pet cognitive health reflects the broader trend of 'pet humanisation' (umanizzazione degli animali domestici). Older Italian dogs and cats now receive increasingly sophisticated palliative and geriatric care. The Italian Society of Veterinary Neurology (SINV) provides specialist referral for neurological conditions including CCD.