7.17.2018

July 16, 2018

White Dog remembered that Quinn found night time comfort there and thought the idea was a good one.

Our Nilla, oldest member of the White Dog Army, struggles with canine cognitive disorder, dementia. It is still relatively mild but we all watch out for her when she goes outside lest she not be able to find her way in and she is gated to prevent her from stumbling over Roman who reacts badly.

She is showing more signs of sundowner's syndrome...where her day gets turned around and she paces at night instead of sleeping. Some time ago we rearranged sleeping spaces so she could have a spacious corner in the bedroom which we could close off to keep her from wandering outside as the rest of us slept. And for a while she has been taking melatonin or an herbal composure tablet to help her settle into sleep.

But lately there has been a slide downward. She cried nervously after lights out and could not relax enough to sleep despite the pills.

Thinking she was becoming afraid of the dark we considered options that would allow her to sleep with a nightlight without disturbing the others. I ruled out the kitchen; if something should happen or she needed attention I want to be able to hear her. The kitchen was too far away. White Dog pointed out we ALREADY have a night light in the bathroom and that it might be a perfect spot if we put a baby gate across the doorway.

The bathroom shares a wall with our bedroom so she could be clearly heard. It is not in part of the house that is cooled but we keep the window partway open...she could self regulate her own comfort by sleeping against the cool tub or in front of the cabinet washed with the ambient night temperature from outside (it cools down significantly at night in the desert). There is a plush rug for comfort or space to just lie on the tile. Best of all, we thought, there was room to pace if she chose.

We told Nilla the plan and she agreed to give it a try. In the morning she reported that it was perfect! She appreciated not being in the dark and liked that she could choose her sleeping conditions. She was glad she did not disturb any of the others in her restlessness.

It has been almost a week and the bathroom seems to be doing the trick. Not only is Nilla happier but she is sleeping...so well that we have cut back the calming aids.

No one has asked to move into her old "room" in the corner but there have been exploratory sniffs and inspections. No one yet has the audacity to move in. I asked my Nilla Bean how she might feel if some other member of the WDA decided to sleep there.

"That space is big and comfy but it is too dark and too closed in for me now. So if one of my sisters or brothers would sleep better there, I think it would be OK. No point in it sitting abandoned."

2 comments:

Random Felines said...

so glad you were able to find her a good option...it is so hard to watch them age and try to help them

meowmeowmans said...

This sounds like a great solution, and we are glad it is working for your sweet Nilla.