Changes in your senior pet's behaviour – such as listlessness and confusion – could be a sign of brain-related changes that mimic human dementia. Here's what you need to know.
🕒 4 min read
What is dementia?
Both dogs and cats can get illnesses similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans, where age-related degenerative brain changes cause behavioural changes and forgetfulness. In dogs, we call the condition 'canine cognitive dysfunction', although the term 'dog dementia' works well. It affects 1 in 5 dogs aged 11-13 years, and gets steadily more common as dogs age, with 2 in 3 dogs over 15 being affected. In cats, 'feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome' affects 1 in 3 cats aged 11-14 years, and 1 in 2 cats over 15.
However, although the condition is common in both cats and dogs, it's probably also under-recognised by both vets and pet owners.
Signs of dementia in dogs and cats
Both canine and feline dementia can be tricky to spot, and many owners put the signs they do see down to old age. Animals with dementia will be confused. Cats are likely to be noisier than usual, and will call out a lot and undertake aimless activity. Dogs are likely to have changes in their sleep-wake cycle, meaning they start pacing or barking in the evenings.
There are other signs of dementia in dogs, too. Your pet might ask to be let out, then forget why. They may get lost in familiar environments or get stuck in corners or behind furniture. They may find it harder to find dropped food, as their sense of smell is often affected.
They can also find it hard to recognise familiar people or animals and how to respond normally, which can lead to aggression. Separation anxiety is also common, and they might lose their house training, or forget simple commands.
For both dogs and cats, your vet is the best person to help identify dementia in your pet.
What causes dementia in dogs and cats?
Just like Alzheimer's in people, cognitive dysfunction in pets is thought to be caused by damage to brain cells as they age, causing changes that restrict the brain's ability to store and retrieve information. Over time, the brain cells become less resistant to damage and some of the connections can be lost, resulting in confused behaviour.
Dogs and cats with cognitive dysfunction also have less dopamine and serotonin than normal pets, which means that the neurons in their brain can't transmit properly.
Pet dementia: risk factors
The most significant risk factor is increasing age. As dogs and cats get older, the chance of them showing signs of dementia increases dramatically: by 15 years of age, it's more likely your pet has it than not.
Having said that, various studies have found other risk factors:
Dog dementia
In dogs, epilepsy, smaller breed size, being underweight, and an incomplete diet all increase the risk. Having more training throughout life decreases the risk.
Cat dementia
In cats, rural pets were less likely to get dementia, possibly because they're exposed to less pollution or have more mental stimulation.
Diagnosing dementia in pets
As yet, there's no test for dementia in pets. Instead, a presumptive diagnosis is based on symptoms and the ruling-out of other conditions that cause similar signs. For example, your vet might want to rule out arthritis and kidney failure as reasons for pets to be vocalising and having accidents in the house.
In some cases, further tests will be needed to see whether your pet is healthy before making a presumptive diagnosis of dementia.
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Preventing dementia in pets
One important thing we can do is make sure our pets are on a complete and balanced diet so their brain has everything they need to function. Senior pets can struggle to get all the nutrients they need from their diet, so offering a multivitamin like MultiVitality Senior can help them get everything they need.
Another important thing to consider is training, for both cats and dogs. Like humans with sudokus, brain work has been shown to have a protective effect against dementia in pets. We commonly train puppies and then rarely teach them anything new once they're in adulthood, so I always recommend making an extra effort to practice your pet's commands, and teach them new ones, as they age.
Treating dementia in pets
To an extent, pet dementia symptoms can be improved with natural supplements containing denamarin, silybin, vitamin E, cholodin, and omega-3 fatty acids, which means Glossy Coat Omega isn't just for healthy coats – it's perfect to help support our pets' brains as they age.
Conclusion
Dementia is more common in pets than we realise, with many signs being mistaken for 'old age'. If you notice behavioural changes in your older pet, a visit to the vet to discuss dementia is the best bet.
