Just like people, dogs can also develop dementia as they age. That agile dog that used to run out the door may one day stagger to the closet to relieve himself.
It’s an unfortunate reality that many dog owners may have to face, especially if their dog’s breed lives 10 years or more. A new study that is part of the Dog Aging Project found that the risk of developing cognitive problems in many dogs increases by 52% each year after age 10.
But there’s no reason to despair if your furry best friend is showing signs of canine cognitive decline, or CHD, said veterinarian Dana Varble, director of the North American Veterinary Community.
“Often pet owners think their dogs are just ‘slowing down’ and don’t realize there are things they can do to alleviate, delay or even prevent cognitive decline as dogs age,” Varble said.
“Studies show that mental activity and exercise are important for a dog’s mental well-being, just as they are in humans. Stimulating the brain is important and this can easily be done with food puzzles, for example,” she said.
Food puzzles are toys in which the owners hide treats, and it is up to the dog to push, shake or try to remove these hidden foods. These activities help keep the brains of dogs and cats engaged, experts say.
In addition, “nutritional supplements have been shown to improve the signs and slow the decline of CHD. There are also special foods for senior dogs,” Varble said.
Lifestyle
In the new study, published Thursday (25) in Scientific Reports Magazine, researchers asked more than 15,000 dog owners to complete two surveys between December 2019 and 2020 on the health and cognitive status of their pets. Then the scientists grouped the dogs by age and analyzed the results.
Based on age alone, a dog’s chances of developing canine cognitive decline increased by 68% each year after a decade of life. But when other factors were taken into account, such as the dog’s breed, existing health problems, spaying and physical activity, the risk dropped to 52% for each year of life.
Inactive dogs of the same breed, health status, age and sterilization status were nearly 7 times more likely to have canine dementia than active dogs with the same traits. Whether it’s inactivity that leads to dementia or vice versa is unclear, the study authors said.
In addition, dogs with a history of neurological, eye or hearing disorders were at increased risk of cognitive decline, according to the study.
There’s also good news: the study found almost no cognitive decline in dogs younger than 10 years old.
What signs should we watch out for?
Veterinarians have studied the signs and symptoms of canine dementia for years to try to better understand and help the pets in their care. See below which ones to watch out for, according to experts:
- Disorientation: dogs with cognitive issues may start having trouble getting around the house or start wandering around as if they are lost. They can get stuck behind furniture and not know how to get out or look aimlessly at the floor, walls, or into space. They may even fail to recognize family members.
- Changes in sleep cycles: Dementia can cause dogs to confuse day and night, and your pet may wake up during the night and start pacing around the house, barking or whimpering. Insomnia at night can lead to excessive sleep during the day.
- Training at home: some dogs forget what they have been home trained for years and start relieving themselves indoors, which can make them anxious. They may forget to alert their owners when they need to go out, or even forget to relieve themselves while they are away and do it indoors when they return.
- Changes in social behavior: Interactions with you and others in your lives can change. A dog may become more clingy, fearful, or needy. Or the dog may become antisocial, withdrawing from interactions and spending time alone.
- Changes in physical activity: A dog with cognitive decline may lose interest in favorite toys, other dogs, and people or begin to wander aimlessly, unable to settle down in one place.
Take your dog to the vet if you spot any of these signs, and the sooner the better, suggested Varble. “Early intervention can extend and improve our pets’ quality of life,” she said.
First, the vet will examine the dog for other causes of the symptoms, ruling out things like diabetes, vision and hearing loss, kidney or urinary problems, arthritis, hypertension, and Cushing’s disease, which is caused by an excess of the stress hormone cortisol.
If you and your vet catch the signs of dementia early, your doctor may suggest a drug that works on the neurotransmitter dopamine to help with the decline.
The vet can also put your dog on a brain-healthy diet and encourage more physical activity, socialization, and brain stimulation through food puzzles, teaching new tricks, and encouraging sniffing on walks.
Source: CNN Brasil
