What to do about food obsession

[ViburnumFarreri]

My dog is 13 and has early dementia - vet calls it cognitive dysfunction - which mainly presents as behaviour disinhibition and inappropriate elimination. She’s been totally deaf for several years. She has always been very food motivated but now is obsessed - it’s all she cares about. She sleeps a lot during the day, but in the evening she won’t settle, she pesters all the time for food with whining and barking. She used to get her snuffle mat after I’d had dinner, but she was pestering the whole time I was eating so now I give it to her before. She barks hysterically while I fill it up and won’t stay sitting on her mat - if I try to push or hold her back, she snarls and mouths me. I have to shut her in another room while I fill it and she goes absolutely nuts.

She used to settle after her mat but now she carries on pestering until I give her another food activity. She’s not interested in any toys any more, just in when the next meal or treat activity is coming from.

She won’t take any notice of hand signals any more, and just barks at me. I’ve tried reinforcing the training commands she used to respond to (she’s always been very vocal, but would stop at the shush command if I had a treat in my hand, and would sit/down, stay (for a short while!), leave it, etc) but now she’s too excited and too disinhibited, I think. Is it pointless trying to train a dog with cognitive decline, or should I keep trying? Before she lost her hearing I clicker trained her and that went well, but obviously I can’t do that now.

The barking is driving me nuts - every time I get up (or even move in my chair!) she leaps up barking. I think food is the only thing that gives her pleasure now, but I can’t feed her constantly!

What breed(s) is she, and what do you mean by "inappropriate elimination" ? How much of a mess does she make wear each day?

@lljkk she’s a cocker spaniel. Inappropriate elimination meaning she pees (and occasionally poos) in the wrong place. I think it’s mainly that the urge comes on her quite suddenly and she can’t hold it, but sometimes she doesn’t make any effort to go to the door. Mostly it’s on the floor, but sometime on a duvet or throw. It’s not incontinence (dribbling urine), but urinating in the wrong place, iyswim.

You say food is her only pleasure, and it sounds as if she is stressed about it constantly.

Is there nothing else she enjoys? Walks? Sniffing? A cuddle?

Maybe see if you have a ‘chirovet’ in your area. They are vets who look more at whole wellbeing rather than just treating a specific illness and may use things like acupuncture or other remedies.

things like teaching or promoting relaxation may help your dog, also promoting strong blood flow may help slow the decline.

what has your regular vet said or suggested?

Not so much stressed as constantly anticipating/ expecting/ trying to chivvy me into the next food event.

She used to be very playful, but isn’t interested in toys now unless they contain food. So she’s obsessed with her snuffle mat, and goes and lies on it very pointedly when it’s not in use. She adores ripping cardboard apart to get to treats inside - eg I put treats in a cardboard envelope or packing tube, inside a box, inside another box, and she’d happily be there all evening ripping through the layers and snuffling for treats.

She used to like playing a particular game (involving scent but not food) on walks but isn’t interested any more. She’s never enjoyed walks otherwise and now really dislikes them.

She’s always been very cuddly and wants to be in contact with me the whole time. In the evenings, though, she won’t cuddle, just stares and whinges to try to get me to do food games. If I try to cuddle her she wriggles away and tries to chivvy me into the kitchen.

After she’s had her supper and I go up to bed, she’s back to normal and very cuddly again.

I'd be tempted to do whatever keeps her calm and happy, for whatever time she has left.

At this stage you probably can't train her to repress her wants and feelings.

Surely the best thing for both of you is to make her as happy as you can as much as you can? For whatever time you have left.

Thanks for that suggestion. It sounds expensive, though, and she’s no longer insured as the premiums were £1k+ pa.

The vet said it’s cognitive dysfunction and said there’s a drug they could try but it’s expensive and is his experience the benefits are very slight. He said she’s overweight (I don’t think she is, certainly not to a degree I’m concerned about) and we shouldn’t give too many treats, but that’s a) the only thing that gives her pleasure and b) the only way to train her.

I’ve just ordered some more food based puzzle toys and a slow feeder bowl.

I want to do more training with her, but I’m struggling to know how when she gets so overexcited and just barks hysterically - she needs to be calm enough to focus on the hand signals. It was a lot easier with the clicker, as you can mark the exact moment they do the right thing, ie stop barking.

IME training potential is very limited in a dog with noticeable cognitive decline. They struggle to learn much new and retain the knowledge. Plus, as hearing declines I think barking tends to increase. It's also fairly normal for interest in walks and cuddles to decline dramatically.

Personally, I would focus on changing her environment to get the behaviour you want (rather than training) and I think your plan to get puzzle feeders etc is a very good one. They will help keep her mind active and slow down/drag out the eating period which is the bits she enjoys. Don't be afraid to replace almost all her meals this way, if that's what it takes.

I agree with the PP. Much in this stage is about doing what you can to keep everyone comfortable and safe. It's sad and I've nursed a dog through this end stage quite recently myself. It takes a lot out of you and can be physically and emotionally pretty draining.

Having had a dog go through this earlier this year (cognitive decline) it's a permanent and progressive change.
I agree with the philosophy to keep doing what she likes. If the treat hunting makes her happy, keep doing that - but more hunting and less treats. My old dog virtually refused walks in the last couple of months of her life which was really hard. Did most of her toileting in the house. Which was grim.
She wasn't ill with something that could be medicated but her quality of life with dementia became extremely poor.

I would go back to the vet and ask for more tests.

Has she had a full blood count and urine test recently? I would want more than just a hands on physical exam with the symptoms you are describing.

Loads of physical reasons for demanding food and being constantly hungry.

It may be cognitive decline but I would want to rule out loads of other reasons as well.

Is she on any medication at all - some can increase hunger.

I would also be tempted to try her on the drug - which I am guessing is Anipryl? If she carries on the same just stop but also if she does become less food orientated then you have found the cause and can either carry on with the medication or try other apporaches.

Hi. I wanted to reach out to you as I am going through something similar with my spaniel. She had an orthapaedic operation and is an old girl, and has alwasy been obsessed with food, but now she has taken to just whining and being super anxious about food. She lost interest in her ball and just licks her lips on walks. I am wondering if she might have congnitive decline also but its really hard to know as she has other issues which could be causing it also. Its such a difficult time. I just dont know how to please her and she is overweight too so its hard to keep the constant food up as she needs to lose weight. I wanted to ask if you had any luck or tips for me. Cheers tash