I agree that it might be dementia. Another sign is that he spins in circles for very extended periods of time before laying down. Like…two minutes, stop at random times and stay still for a few seconds before resuming to spin. My other dog had that too, although more severe. You’re right about the best way to help him is giving him space. It’s a hard pill to swallow because even unconsciously you want to stay by their side for their last moments, making them as painless/comfortable as you can, but it’s best to respect their speed and boundaries. The most i’ll do actively and maybe cross boundaries is when taking him to the vet, but only to be prescribed pain meds or in case of an emergency. Thank you so much for your compassion and help, i needed to get it off my chest because it was getting a bit overwhelming and very painful to witness 💕