Download Ever wonder if your dog is going “senile”? Canine Cognitive

Ever wonder if your dog is going “senile”?
Canine Cognitive Dysfunction is a degenerative disease of the brain which typically
affects older dogs. It causes alterations in memory and learning as well as a reduction
in their general awareness. The brain degeneration in affected dogs is due to a similar
disease process as Alzheimer’s Disease in people. Just as with Alzheimer’s Disease,
there is no cure, only medications and dietary supplements to help slow the
progression and improve the welfare of our aging friends.
Diagnosing Canine Cognitive Dysfunction is difficult because it is always based on
the owner noticing the dog’s altered behaviour. After a period of time, the owner will
eventually seek veterinary advice for their dog’s changed behaviours. Your vet will
first try to address any medical problems, and if the problems persist, cognitive
dysfunction will be considered more likely.
Changes in behaviour that owners commonly notice include changes in awareness
(“he didn’t notice me come home” or “he gets lost around the house”), changes in
activity levels, changes in learning and memory (“he’s toileting in the house” or “he
knows better than that”) and changes in his sleep-wake patterns (“he paces up and
down the hallway all night”). Often these dogs become more anxious as they grow
confused about their environment, leading to increased pacing behaviour, irritability
and excessive vocalisation. Owners may initially try to solve these problems using
punishment, which of course doesn’t work. The dogs become more anxious because
they don’t understand why they are being punished. The owners grow more frustrated
and tired of the old dog doing ‘silly’ things and the bond between owner and dog that
has been so strong for so many years starts to weaken.
So, how common is Canine Cognitive Dysfunction? Currently, we’re not sure. We
expect it is happening more commonly than we are diagnosing here in Trafalgar. One
study has shown that out of 325 dogs aged over 9 years, over 20% of them were
showing signs of cognitive impairment. We also know that the likelihood of a dog
having some degree of cognitive dysfunction increases with age, and that it is more
common in female dogs than males.
Slowing down cognitive decline can be achieved. Your vet will most likely start your
dog on some medication formulated especially for the condition. There is also a
prescription diet produced by Hill’s pet food company which has helped out quite a
few of our patients over the years. We often try to use a combination of medical and
nutritional management to help out our older pets suffering from cognitive decline.
Occasionally some dogs need help managing their stress levels as well, and your vet
can offer you appropriate behavioural management advice.
I hope that people will be more likely to ask why their dog is behaving differently as
he ages. Generally there is a real reason; dogs don’t just act strangely because he’s
“getting old”. If you have concerns about the way your dog is acting, please make an
appointment with your vet for a thorough check up. There may be something we can
do to help.