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Watching an older dog pace in circles can feel unsettling, especially when it comes out of nowhere or seems to happen more at night. The tricky part is that circling is not one single “symptom” with one single cause. It can be a sign of confusion, nausea, pain, anxiety, sensory loss, or a problem in the brain, inner ear, or even the liver.
Because some causes are urgent and others are manageable but progressive, the safest approach is to treat new or worsening circling as a medical clue worth investigating, not just “old age.”
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. Always check with your dog’s veterinarian, especially if the behavior is new, escalating, or paired with other changes.
What “pacing in circles” can look like in real life
People often describe circling as one of these patterns:
- Repeatedly walking loops around a room, furniture, or the yard
- Spinning in place, sometimes always in the same direction
- “Wandering” without settling, often paired with staring or seeming lost
- Circling before lying down, but taking much longer than usual to get comfortable
- Nighttime pacing (up at odd hours, restless, vocal, or unable to relax)
Details matter. A dog who circles only before meals may be excited or anticipating food. A dog who circles while also stumbling or vomiting is a very different situation.
Common reasons senior dogs pace and circle
Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), sometimes called dog dementia
CCD is an age related brain condition that can affect memory, awareness, and sleep patterns. It is often underdiagnosed because changes can creep in slowly and look like “normal aging.” Cornell’s veterinary resources describe cognitive dysfunction as a common age related disease that affects the brain, with signs that may be mistaken for aging.
Many vets group CCD signs into patterns like changes in sleep wake cycles, confusion, anxiety, altered social interaction, and house soiling. Pacing, wandering, and nighttime restlessness are commonly reported in CCD descriptions.
What you might notice:
- Getting “stuck” behind furniture or in corners
- Staring at walls or into space
- More anxiety in the evening (often described as “sundowning” in dogs)
- Pacing at night, then sleeping more during the day
Important reality check: CCD is a diagnosis of exclusion. That means your vet generally wants to rule out pain, neurologic disease, metabolic disease, and sensory issues first.
Where research is limited: There is active research on CCD, but there is no single test that definitively “proves” it in a living dog, and evidence quality varies across supplements, diets, and non-prescription approaches. Your veterinarian can help you sort what has decent support versus what is mostly anecdotal.
Vestibular disease (inner ear or brain balance problem)
Vestibular disease affects balance and can make the world feel like it is spinning. Dogs may circle, lean, stumble, or seem panicked because they feel dizzy. Authoritative veterinary references describe classic vestibular signs like head tilt, abnormal eye movements (nystagmus), and incoordination (ataxia), and note that “peripheral” (inner ear) and “central” (brain) causes can look different.
VCA notes vestibular disease can cause sudden disorientation and head tilt, and that lack of improvement or worsening can suggest a more serious underlying disorder that warrants further diagnostics or referral.
What you might notice:
- Sudden onset, sometimes dramatic
- Head tilt
- Rapid eye flicking (nystagmus)
- Wobbliness, falling, or nausea/vomiting
This is a “same day vet visit” problem in most cases, because vestibular signs can resemble stroke-like events or other neurological emergencies.
Pain, especially arthritis or spine discomfort
Some senior dogs pace because they cannot get comfortable. Others circle because turning one direction hurts less. Pain is also a common driver of nighttime restlessness. Even if your dog is not yelping, subtle signs can include:
- Difficulty lying down or getting up
- Avoiding stairs, jumping, or slippery floors
- Irritability when touched
- Panting or pacing at night
Pain is treatable, but it requires a plan that is safe for your dog’s age and medical history. Never start human pain meds, as many are toxic to dogs.
Anxiety, stress, or compulsive patterns
Anxiety can look like pacing, looping, or repetitive wandering. In seniors, anxiety can be triggered by:
- Cognitive changes
- Hearing or vision loss
- New environments, visitors, schedule changes
- Medical discomfort (pain, nausea, need to urinate)
If circling is accompanied by trembling, hiding, clinginess, or sudden noise sensitivity, anxiety may be part of the picture. Still, anxiety is often a secondary symptom, so it is wise to rule out pain and neurologic issues first.
Sensory decline (vision or hearing loss)
Dogs who cannot see well may “map” their environment differently and circle along walls or furniture for orientation. Dogs who cannot hear well may startle easily and appear disoriented. Sensory decline does not usually cause sudden severe circling by itself, but it can worsen other conditions like CCD or anxiety.
Neurological disease, including brain tumors or inflammatory conditions
Circling can occur with diseases that affect the brain, particularly if it happens in a consistent direction, is paired with seizures, sudden behavior changes, weakness, or abnormal eye movements. Some causes are treatable, others are managed for comfort, and many require imaging or specialist evaluation to diagnose.
Because this category includes serious issues, new circling with other neurological signs should be treated as urgent.
Metabolic or organ related problems (including liver disease with hepatic encephalopathy)
When the body cannot clear certain toxins effectively, the brain can be affected. Hepatic encephalopathy is one example. MSD Veterinary Manual describes hepatic encephalopathy as a neurobehavioral syndrome associated with severe liver dysfunction or portosystemic shunting. VCA also discusses hepatic encephalopathy in pets and emphasizes that prognosis depends on severity and ability to treat the underlying condition.
What you might notice (varies widely):
- Episodes that seem to come and go
- Disorientation, staring, odd behavior
- Worse signs after eating in some cases
This is not something to “watch and wait” on without veterinary guidance, because treatment depends on the underlying cause and can be very specific.
When circling is an emergency
Seek urgent veterinary care now (ER if needed) if circling is paired with any of the following:
- Collapse, inability to stand, severe wobbliness
- Repeated vomiting, severe nausea, or signs of intense dizziness
- Seizures, sudden blindness, or new severe head tilt
- One sided weakness, dramatic personality change, or extreme confusion
- Head pressing, crying out, or obvious severe pain
- Rapid worsening over hours
If you are unsure, call a veterinary clinic and describe the combination of signs. It is always better to be the person who “overreacted” than the person who waited too long.
What to do at home right now (safe steps while you arrange vet care)
These steps are meant to reduce risk and gather useful information. They do not replace medical evaluation.
Make the environment safer
- Block stairs, pools, and ledges.
- Add traction (rugs, yoga mats) to prevent slips.
- Keep lighting soft but adequate at night, especially if vision is declining.
- Remove clutter so your dog cannot get stuck behind furniture.
If your dog seems dizzy (possible vestibular issue), keep them in a small, padded space and assist with a harness or towel under the belly for bathroom trips.
Take a short video
A 20 to 60 second clip of the circling, plus your dog walking toward you, can be extremely helpful for your veterinarian. Try to capture:
- Which direction they circle
- Whether they stumble or tilt
- Eye movements (if visible)
- Whether they respond to their name or a treat
Track the pattern for 24 to 48 hours
Write down:
- Time of day (especially evening or night)
- Duration and frequency
- Appetite and water intake
- Bathroom changes
- Any triggers (after meals, after waking, after loud sounds)
Patterns help separate “nighttime confusion” from “episodic metabolic issue” from “pain when settling.”
Do not give new medications without guidance
This includes leftover prescriptions and all human meds. Some common over-the-counter drugs are dangerous for dogs, especially seniors with kidney or liver changes.
What your veterinarian may check (and why)
Your vet’s goal is usually to separate: pain, dizziness, brain disease, and metabolic disease. Common steps can include:
- Full physical and neurologic exam (gait, reflexes, eye movements, proprioception)
- Ear exam (inner ear infection can contribute to vestibular signs)
- Bloodwork and urinalysis (screens for organ dysfunction, infection, electrolyte problems)
- Blood pressure check (high blood pressure can worsen neurologic events)
- Imaging (X-rays for pain sources; advanced imaging like MRI or CT if brain disease is suspected)
- Medication review (some meds can increase restlessness or disorientation in sensitive seniors)
If CCD is suspected after other issues are ruled out, your vet may discuss a multi-part plan: environmental routines, sleep support, enrichment, and possibly prescription options tailored to your dog.
Practical support for dogs with cognitive changes
If your vet believes CCD is likely, these strategies often help, even while you fine-tune treatment:
Stabilize the daily routine
Dogs with cognitive changes do better with predictability:
- Same meal times
- Same walk times
- Same bedtime routine
- Short, calm play sessions instead of long, chaotic bursts
Use gentle enrichment
Aim for low frustration, high success:
- Snuffle mats with easy finds
- Food puzzles that do not require complex problem solving
- Short “find it” games in one room
- Slow sniff walks
Support sleep hygiene
For dogs who pace at night:
- A short potty break right before bed
- Soft night lighting
- White noise if they startle easily
- Comfortable orthopedic bedding
Avoid punishment. If a dog is circling from confusion, correcting them can increase anxiety and make pacing worse.
Where research is limited: Many over-the-counter calming aids and supplements are marketed for senior anxiety or cognition, but evidence strength varies widely. It is worth discussing any supplement with your veterinarian, especially for seniors on other medications, because interactions and dosing matter.
A simple decision guide you can use tonight
- If circling is sudden, intense, or paired with balance issues, vomiting, head tilt, seizures, or collapse: urgent vet care.
- If circling is gradual and mostly at night, with confusion or sleep changes: schedule a vet visit soon and ask about CCD, pain, and sensory decline.
- If circling shows up when your dog tries to lie down or settle: ask your vet to evaluate pain and mobility.
- If circling comes in episodes and your dog seems “not themselves” during those windows: ask your vet about metabolic causes and whether bloodwork is needed.
When in doubt, call your dog’s veterinarian. You are not bothering them. You are giving them a clear symptom that can guide real medical decisions.
Sources (for further reading)
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (Cornell Vet School)
- MSPCA (PDF), Canine Cognitive Dysfunction clinical signs and diagnosis (MSPCA-Angell)
- VCA Animal Hospitals, Vestibular Disease in Dogs (Vca)
- VIN (WSAVA), Diagnosis and Treatment of Vestibular Disease (Vin)
- Auburn University (PDF), Acute vestibular attacks and common signs (vetmed.auburn.edu)
- MSD Veterinary Manual, Hepatic encephalopathy in small animals (MSD Veterinary Manual)
- VCA Animal Hospitals, Hepatic Encephalopathy (Vca)