Owning a dog can be one of the most rewarding things in life, but watching them age is difficult.
Old age in dogs comes with things one might expect: slowing down, going grey, and getting stiff, as well as their hearing and sight not being as strong as they once were.
But for countless families, something else comes into play when their dog begins to age: canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD)—also known as ‘dog dementia’.
What is dog dementia?
Veterinary neurologist Dr Abbe Crawford explains that CCD is a “neurodegenerative disorder” that can develop in older dogs.
“The pathological changes identified in the brain of affected dogs are very similar to those identified in people with Alzheimer’s disease,” she told Newsweek.
Owners of dogs with CCD often report that their pets pace aimlessly, bark at nothing, become anxious for no apparent reason, and accidentally relieve themselves the house.
These behaviors may increase at night, as the disorder affects the dog’s sleep/wake cycle.
What are the signs of dog dementia?
Dogs suffering from dementia typically experience “confusion, anxiety, altered sleep-wake cycles and reduced interactions with people or other pets.”
While owners should go to the vet if they are worried about their pet, Crawford warns that CDD is likely to be “undiagnosed,” as the initial signs can be interpreted as “part of the normal ageing process, especially in the early stages of the disease when the signs are more subtle.”
Veterinary behaviorist Gary Landsberg adds that while there is “no hard and fast order” to which symptoms develop first, the most common early signs are “nighttime restlessness, decreased daytime activity and altered social interactions.”
Signs of disorientation, aimless activity such as constant pacing, and “house soiling with increasing severity” are also warning signs, however he stresses that these are “variable between individuals.”
Other potential medical problems in the dog, such as “pain, sensory decline, endocrine and metabolic [issues]” may also manifest as symptoms of CDD.
How can you confirm the signs of dog dementia?
Landsberg is the creator of the DISHAA Scale, a cognitive assessment tool for dogs that can help identify CCD in its early stages.
DISHAA represents some of the common symptoms of progressive CDD: disorientation, social interactions, sleep/wake cycles, house soiling, learning and memory, activity, and anxiety.
It assesses dogs based on whether they have the symptoms involved in each category, and is used to monitor them over time as the condition progresses. For a diagnosis of CDD to be made, more than one cognitive domain must be affected.
Landsberg explains to Newsweek that DISHAA can “identify and rule out underlying diseases that may be causing or contributing to the signs,” followed by validated questionnaires “to diagnose severity.”
Can dog dementia be cured?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for dog dementia, and symptoms generally get worse as the disorder progresses with age.
There are, however, ways a vet can help, with medication and supplements, and there are things an owner can do to keep the animal as comfortable as possible for as long as possible.
Landsberg acknowledges “limited therapies available for treatments,” but says some “supplements, diets and medications…can slow progress or improve signs.”
Environmental management changes, he said, “might certainly improve well-being and symptomatically treat specific signs, such as fear and anxiety and repetitive behaviors.”
The veterinary charity PDSA recommends keeping each room your pet goes into as familiar as possible, trying not to move around furniture as it can confuse them.
Keeping a radio on in one room to help your pet navigate can help them, and consider trying to retrain some things they have appeared to have forgotten, such as where to go to the toilet.
Owners should never get angry at their confused or house-soiling pet, and try to keep all interactions happy, even if the pet doesn’t appear to recognize the person they are interacting with.
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