Understanding Dog Dementia: Causes, Symptoms, and Care
As our beloved dogs age, they can face a variety of health challenges, just like humans. One such challenge is canine cognitive dysfunction, commonly referred to as dog dementia. This condition, often seen in senior dogs, can lead to behavioral changes, confusion, and a decline in their overall quality of life. It is comparable to Alzheimer’s disease in humans where we see similar changes in the brain.
What is Dog Dementia?
Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is a neurodegenerative condition that affects a dog's cognitive functions. According to the Purina Institute CCD is estimated to affect 14% of dogs 8 years and older, with increasing prevalence as they age. However, it is often under-diagnosed by veterinarians as it is not often detected on a physical exam. An important part of diagnosing CCD is the conversion between the owner and their veterinarian about what abnormal behaviors they are seeing at home. Just like elderly people, senior dogs can experience memory loss, disorientation, and changes in behavior due to the dysfunction of the neurons in their brain. These symptoms are beyond what is normal with the aging process. The exact cause of CCD is not fully understood, but it is believed to result from the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain, leading to cell damage, decreased blood flow, changes in glucose metabolism, and cognitive decline.
How is it Diagnosed?
Diagnosing dog dementia involves ruling out other potential health issues that might cause similar symptoms, such as hypothyroidism, vision loss, or hearing loss. A thorough history is needed to see if a dog is demonstrating symptoms. It can be very helpful to bring videos of your dog exhibiting the abnormal behaviors to your veterinarian as many of the symptoms are seen at home and not in a clinical setting. Your veterinarian will perform a physical exam to evaluate your dog for any neurologic abnormalities or musculoskeletal pain which may contribute to changes in their behavior. It is also helpful to have blood work run to rule out metabolic causes of behavior changes. Your veterinarian may also recommend a urinalysis, blood pressure, or imaging the brain with an MRI to help rule out other possible causes of your dog's symptoms.
One helpful tool that owners can use at home to help diagnose CCD is a survey created by the Purina Institute. The survey can be filled out at home and brought to your veterinary appointment to help your veterinarian evaluate your dog for CCD. Please select the link to be taken to the survey.
Symptoms of Dog Dementia
Recognizing the symptoms of dog dementia is crucial for early intervention:
Disorientation: Dogs may appear lost in familiar surroundings or forget how to navigate their own home. They may stare at walls or wander into places that you would not usually find them.
Altered Sleep Patterns: Erratic sleep-wake cycles, night waking, or increased daytime sleepiness, they may be difficult to wake up, vocalize excessively especially in the evenings.
Changes in Social Behavior: Withdrawal from interactions with people or other pets, or an increase in seeking attention. Some dogs may become aggressive.
Loss of Housetraining: Accidents indoors, even in dogs that were previously well-trained.
Pacing and Restlessness: Dogs may wander aimlessly or exhibit repetitive movements, appear anxious, or irritable.
Reduced Grooming: Neglecting personal hygiene and grooming habits.
Treatment Options
At this time there is no cure for CCD and there is not a specific treatment. More research is needed to find ways to help these patients. There are, however, several treatment options that can be tried to help slow the progression of the disease and help reduce the symptoms. It is important to understand that individuals will respond differently to each treatment option and for some patients there is no improvement with any of the treatments.
Early detection can help manage the condition more effectively as it may help slow progression of the disease in its earlier stages. Veterinarians may prescribe diets, activities, or medications that aim to improve cognitive function and manage symptoms.
Treatment options include:
Diet: Some prescription diets are rich in antioxidants, fatty acids and medium-chain triglycerides which may help slow the progression of CCD. These diets include Hills BD and Purina One Vibrant Maturity 7+.
Environmental enrichment: Things like regular exercise, social interaction, and new toys can help to delay progression o f symptoms and help improve cognitive function for some dogs. A larger improvement in learning ability was observed in dogs that received environmental enrichment and dietary therapy suggesting that combining the two has a greater effect than diet or enrichment alone.
Medications: Selegiline can be especially helpful with dogs who have changes in their sleep cycle. SAMe was shown to improve clinical signs in one study. Some veterinarians may recommend melatonin or dog-appeasing pheromone therapies to help with anxiety and changes in sleep cycles, at this time evidence on their effectiveness is anecdotal. There are a few drugs approved for use in Europe such as Kasivan that can help improve blood flow to the brain.
Some veterinarians may recommend acupuncture, though there are no studies that currently demonstrate its effectiveness to slow progression of symptoms, evidence of its effectiveness is also anecdotal at this time.
Caring for a Dog with Dementia
Providing the best care for a dog with dementia involves a combination of medical intervention and lifestyle adjustments:
Routine and Familiarity: Maintain a consistent daily routine and avoid major changes in the environment if possible.
Mental Stimulation: Engage your dog with puzzle toys, gentle training exercises, and interactive play to keep their mind active.
Physical Exercise: Regular, low-impact exercise can improve overall health and promote mental well-being.
Diet: Provide a balanced, nutrient-rich diet that supports brain health. Consult your vet for appropriate dietary recommendations and if your dog has symptoms of CCD talk to your veterinarian about starting one of the diets discussed previously.
Comfortable Environment: Create a safe and comfortable living space, avoiding hazards that might confuse or stress your dog. If your dog is having trouble maintaining grip with their back legs on a slick floor, consider putting rugs on the floor to help make walking easier for them. If you have a pool consider putting a fence around it to keep your dog from falling in.
Medication and Supplements: Administer prescribed medications and supplements as directed by your veterinarian.
Love and Patience: Shower your dog with affection and understanding, as they navigate this challenging phase of their life.
Conclusion
As our canine companions age, it's our responsibility to provide them with the care, love, and attention they deserve, especially if they develop canine cognitive dysfunction. While the journey might be challenging for both you and your dog, understanding the causes, recognizing the symptoms, and implementing appropriate care strategies can significantly improve their quality of life and yours. It can be difficult to accept that your dog has CCD and to have patients for their symptoms which can be both upsetting and disruptive to the life you had with them before CCD. If your dogs symptoms are very disruptive or upsetting, it is important to remember to be patient with yourself while going through this challenging time.
It is important to reach out to your veterinarian early if you have any concerns about your dog having CCD and not to attribute their symptoms to normal aging. In patients that are not treated and that progress to having more severe symptoms their lives may be shortened. Dogs with more severe symptoms live on average 2 years after their symptoms appear before they are euthanized. By being vigilant, patient, and proactive, we can ensure that our senior dogs enjoy their golden years with the comfort and happiness that they have brought into our lives.
