Through my blog, you would have known there are similarities between humans and pets on so many levels.
We are aware that, as humans age, there tends to be a decline in memory and several other things, and of course it happens in pets too, and that's exactly what I have come to talk about in today's publication.
A more scientific name for dementia in dogs are, canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome. It is a condition that is related to how the dogs brain ages.
A dog with dementia will ultimately lead to deficit in learning, changes in awareness, as well as decreased responsiveness to stimuli. This syndrome in dogs has been compared to Alzheimer in humans.
As a dog gets to old age, the atrophies, meaning the cells die. Specifically, the portion of the brain designed for learning, and memory, as well as those designed for coordination are affected.
At the initial stage of dementia, the symptoms are often mild, and they get worse over time, with symptoms more than what is attributed with normal aging.
Dementia in a dog comes with different symptoms that pet owners could watch out for.
Disorientation: This is almost one of the first signs you would notice, they just become disoriented even when they are supposed to be comfortable in their space. I read a good example from an article, which is, you could see your pet wandering behind the couch and they don't even know where they are going.
Changes in sleep patterns: Either the dog begins to sleep more or sleep less, there is often a change in sleep habits.
Sometimes, there is even a switch, their day time activities switches to night while night activities switches to day time.
Those jumping around, shouting, and barking may not just interest the affected pet anymore, or should I say, the pets doesn't have the energy for it anymore.
Forgetting training: In a situation where your dog has previously been trained, all those training may be swept under the rug as he may begin to urinate and pass faeces anywhere around the house.
Difficulty finding food and water bowls: Dogs are known to easily recognize where their water and food bowls are, but when a dog finds it difficult to locate important places in the home especially where it's food and water is located.
When a dog has this disorder, it would require a lifelong support and therapy. Of course, there is no cure for the condition but it can be managed with lifelong therapy and support.
With the maintenance of a healthy and stimulating environment, it will help to slow down the progression of cognitive decline. This can be achieved through, regular exercise, play and mental stimulation.
Basically just helping your canine friend manage this new stage of their life, of course with guidance from your veterinarian.
