How do you recognise dementia in dogs?

Brain ageing such as dementia in dogs

Dogs, like humans, are getting older and therefore more often develop age-related conditions. These include conditions such as joint problems, kidney problems, heart problems but also forms of brain ageing. This blog will explain what brain ageing such as dementia in dogs is and how to recognise it. In dogs, we don't usually talk about dementia, but about Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. The ability to remember and learn is impaired. This condition is similar to the human condition Alzheimer's.

When does dementia occur in dogs?

Most dogs show signs of dementia from around 7 years of age. Of course, this is an average and a dog can also show signs of brain ageing from well over 4 years of age. In dogs, it can be even more difficult to recognise these signs than it already is in humans. Often the changes are very gradual and are not so noticeable at first. However, the majority of dogs do show behavioural changes from around 12 years of age, ranging from less eager to walk, more lying down to more restlessness.

How does dementia occur in dogs?

Dementia develops in dogs in a similar way as in humans. In the brain, pieces of protein (amyloid) are formed and deposited in the blood vessels around the nerve cells. This causes oxygen deficiency in the underlying areas of the brain, causing the nerve cells to die. In addition, the body will respond by opening up the blood vessels, allowing more oxygen-rich blood to flow into them. However, this oxygenated blood causes a lot of radicals (charged oxygen molecules). Radicals also cause additional damage in the brain. Besides amyloid deposition, Vitamin�A, C and E deficiencies probably play a possible cause of Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.

Symptoms of dogs with dementia

In the early stages of dementia, the condition is not often not recognised as such. The symptoms are often not obvious and consistently present in the beginning. The first visible symptoms are often the dog's sleeping problems whether or not combined with other socially undesirable behaviour.

What can you observe about abnormal behaviour?

Changed social interactions: does not greet/recognise the owner anymore or, on the contrary, is suddenly much more affectionate than before;
They make less contact with their surroundings, seem to stare ahead aimlessly;
Change of day-night rhythm, causing them to wander restlessly at night and sleep a lot during the day;
Both less brushing and excessive licking often stand out;
Disorientation/confused, they sometimes seem to get lost while walking or in the house;
Fear and panic (separation anxiety);
Unwetting, both urinating and defecating in the house;
Some dogs start eating worse.

Treatment of dementia

If the vet can establish that the symptoms did not arise from physical ailments (such as kidney or liver problems), it can be assumed that the dog is suffering from Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS), or Dementia.

Dementia is unfortunately not yet curable, although it does seem that the process of deterioration can be slowed down. Although there is no solution yet, it does seem to have been shown that some drugs, diets and supplements can be effective in slowing down the ageing process.

Medicines

There are some medications on the market that are used to treat dementia when there is anxiety behaviour in dogs. You can think of Selgian or Clomicalm. Only thorough research can make a vet decide to leave these medications.

Diet food

It has been shown that antioxidants and fatty acids from plants inhibit the formation of free radicals and render it harmless. By inhibiting the formation of free radicals, older dogs are supported against the new damage. For example, a food specifically aimed at dogs with dementia is Hills Precription Diet Canine B/D and SANIMED Senior Dog.

Nutritional supplements

Many dietary supplements rely on high omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to trap free radicals, hoping to reduce damage. There is also Cholodin, this contains a lot of choline. This choline is needed for the production of acetylcholine, a transmitter of stimulus transmission in the brain. Sufficiently high concentrations of choline are believed to protect the brain against age-related intellectual decline and certain forms of dementia.

Brain training

It is also important to keep challenging your ageing dog mentally and physically. Every day challenge your dog to take a nice walk, play games to find some food or treats, for example. However, it is very important here to adjust the difficulty to the state of your dog. If the dog is already easily confused, then obviously give an easier challenge than when you do not yet notice any deterioration.

Veterinarian determines that there are no other causes for the abnormal behaviour

. Through a good history (questions to the owner) and by examinations, the vet can determine whether the behavioural changes are not from a physical condition. For example, your dog may be disoriented because he is going blind/deaf and he may be housebroken because he has lost control over his sphincter muscles. When physical conditions are ruled out, dementia can be diagnosed.

-This is an automated translation-