Signs of dementia….in your dog?
I recently came across an article that was very interesting about aging dogs and I thought I would pass some of that information on to you. Care for pets, including dogs has drastically improved in past years and as more and more people take better care of their dogs in terms of food and vet care, the longer those dogs are living. However, as a result, elderly dogs are suffering the effects of old age including ailments similar to Alzheimer’s disease and senility. According to recent research, the age of the dog will add to the possiblility of “dog senility”. “Recent research has shown that nearly a third of 11- and 12-year-old dogs and two-thirds of 15- and 16-year-old dogs have significant cognitive impairment.”
In dogs, the condition mentioned above is called cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Four distinct behaviors have been identified as indicators that a dog or a cat could be suffering from CDS. They are as follows:
1. Disorientation - things like walking around aimlessly, getting confused when moving around or not knowing how to get out of familiar settings.
2. Interactions - we love our animals especially when they love us back. However, if your dog doesn’t greet you at the door like he/she used to or hides from you or other family members, it could be a sign that something is going on.
3. Sleep - sleep habits in dogs suffering from CDS seems to go into reverse, meaning that animals who used to sleep through the night might be now wandering the house at night barking and howling, keeping family members awake and
4. House-training - dogs who begin to urniate or have bowel movements in the house, when they have been perfectly trained up to that point indicates that CDS could be a culprit.
If your dog is in his/her senior years and you have seen evidence of any of these behaviors, speak with your vet. There are some medications that can help.
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