Dogs also get dementia. But it is often difficult to detect. Research published this week shows how common it is, especially in dogs over the age of 10.
Here are some behavioral changes to watch out for in your senior dog and to consult with your vet.
What is doggy dementia?
Doggy dementia, or canine cognitive dysfunction, is similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans, a progressive brain disease that comes with behavioral, cognitive, and other changes.
It is most commonly seen in dogs older than eight years of age, but can occur in dogs younger than six years of age.
Pet owners may dismiss many behavioral changes as a normal part of aging. So it’s likely there are more dogs with it than we realize.
It can also be difficult for veterinarians to diagnose. There is no precise, non-invasive test for this. And, just like humans, senior dogs are more likely to have a number of other health problems that can complicate diagnosis.
Does my dog have dementia?
Dogs with dementia can often get lost in their own backyard or home. They can get stuck behind furniture or in the corners of rooms because they forget they have a reverse gear. Or when they try to leave they walk towards the hinge of the door.
Dogs’ interactions with people and other pets can change. They may demand less or more affection from their owners than they did before, or begin to become grumpy with another dog in the household where they were once happy housewives. They may even forget the faces they have known for the rest of their lives.
They sleep more during the day and get up more at night. They may move, groan, or bark, seemingly without purpose. Rest often does not calm them down, and even if the behavior is interrupted, it usually resumes very quickly.
Sometimes caring for a senior dog with dementia is like having a puppy again, as they may start to toilet inside, despite being house trained.
It also becomes difficult for them to remember some of the basic behaviors that they have known throughout their lives, and it becomes even more difficult to learn new ones.
Their overall activity level may also change, with everything from pacing throughout the day, non-stop, to barely getting out of bed.
Lastly, you may also notice an increased level of anxiety. Your dog may no longer cope with being alone, may follow you from room to room, or may be easily frightened by things that never bothered them before.
I Think My Dog Has Dementia, Now What?
There are some medications that can help ease the symptoms of a dog’s dementia to improve their quality of life and make them a little easier to care for. Therefore, if you think your dog is affected, consult your veterinarian.
Our group is planning research into some non-drug treatments. This includes seeing if exercise and training can help these dogs. But it’s still early days.
Unfortunately, there is no cure. Our best bet is to reduce the risk of getting the disease. This latest study suggests that exercise may be important.
What did the latest study find?
The US research published today collected data from more than 15,000 dogs as part of the Dog Aging Project.
The researchers asked pet dog owners to complete two surveys. One asked about the dogs, their health status, and physical activity. The other assessed the dogs’ cognitive function.
Some 1.4 percent of dogs were thought to have canine cognitive dysfunction.
For dogs over the age of 10, the risk of developing dementia increases by more than 50 percent for every additional year of life. Less active dogs were about 6.5 times more likely to develop dementia than very active dogs.
While this may suggest that regular exercise may protect dogs from dementia, we cannot be sure from this type of study. Dogs with dementia, or those with early signs of dementia, may be less likely to exercise.
However, we do know that exercise can reduce the risk of dementia in people. So walking our dogs can help them and we can reduce the risk of dementia.
‘I love my girl so much’
Caring for a dog with dementia can be difficult, but can be rewarding. In fact, our group is studying the effect on caregivers.
We believe the burden and stress may be similar to those described when people care for someone with Alzheimer’s.
We also know that people love their older dogs. One research participant told us:
I love my girl so much that I am ready to do anything for her. Nothing is too much trouble.
Susan Hazel, Senior Lecturer, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide and Tracy Taylor, PhD Candidate, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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