Vet's Note: Pets Can Get Dementia Too

A 2018 US study found that up to 70% of dogs aged 15 and over suffer from cognitive decline.

We all know old age brings a host of illnesses, and dementia is the one we fear most: as the knowledge of youth slips away, we dread losing our connection with the people we love.

Thanks to great advances in nutrition and medicine, dogs and cats live far longer than before. As with humans, longer lives mean "diseases of old age" appear in more and more pets. Much like Alzheimer's or dementia in people, we call the neuro-behavioural problems of ageing pets Cognitive Dysfunction (CD). When declining cognition causes behavioural changes unrelated to other medical problems, CD may be the cause.

Risk rises with age from 11 onwards

CD is very common in dogs. A 2018 US survey found nearly 30% of dogs showed cognitive dysfunction at 11–12 years, and by 15–16 nearly 70% were affected. Observable signs include changed sleep habits, house-soiling, and altered interaction with owners, surroundings and other animals. A 2019 Japanese study added vision problems, declining sense of smell, trembling, swaying, falls and a drooping posture as clinical signs of canine CD — useful supporting clues, especially early on.

Seemingly sharp-witted cats can develop CD too, and the likelihood rises with age: only 28% of cats aged 11–14 show age-related behavioural change, but over 15 the figure jumps to 50%. Related behaviours in older cats include aimless activity, disorientation, changed sleep, prolonged staring, toileting outside the tray and excessive vocalising (often at night).

Does my pet really have CD?

If you suspect CD, have your vet examine them. Many common problems of older animals — arthritis, kidney disease, metabolic disorders, dental disease — also present as changes in movement, toileting, activity or eating habits. Writing physical problems off as "just old age" risks leaving a real illness untreated and delaying treatment. So investigate the suspected problems first; only after ruling them out, together with the history, can CD be confirmed.

CD cannot be cured, but depending on the case medication may support brain function, and daily Omega-3 supplementation helps neural health. Combined with environmental enrichment, this can slow the rate of decline.

How to help at home

Use varied, interesting activities to stimulate your pet's brain: exercise together, play, rotate new toys. Even if they learn more slowly than a youngster, training an older dog is excellent brain stimulation. Beyond enrichment, adjusting lifestyle to the growing health problems of age makes older animals more comfortable: dogs may need more frequent toilet walks or training to use an indoor toilet spot; cats may need more litter trays, larger trays or more frequent cleaning. For pets whose sight is failing, extra lighting or even scent markers around the home help them find their way.

Understanding CD lets us accompany our pets through old age with care. May every ageing pet still eat well, bask in the sun and be adorable every day.

References

1. Neus Bosch M, et al. Dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome: a natural model of Alzheimer's disease. Curr Alzheimer Res 2012;9(3):298-314.
2. Neilson JC, et al. Prevalence of behavioral changes associated with age-related cognitive impairment in dogs. JAVMA 2001;218(11):1787-1791.
3. Ozawa M, et al. Physical signs of canine cognitive dysfunction. J Vet Med Sci. 2019;81(12):1829-1834.
4. Moffat KS, Landsberg GM. An investigation of the prevalence of clinical signs of cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) in cats. JAAHA 2003;39(5):512.