Canine cognitive dysfunction can occur for a number of
reasons, like an accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain. This creates a
build-up of plaque, which eventually damages nerves and results in the loss of
brain function, which can affect your dog's memory, motor functions and learned
behaviors.
Most dogs, regardless of breed, experience some form of CCD
as they age. In a study conducted by the Behavior Clinic at the University of
California at Davis, researchers found that 28 percent of dogs aged 11-12
years, and 68 percent of dogs aged 15-16 years, showed one or more signs of
cognitive impairment.
Dr. Bonnie Beaver, a board-certified veterinary
behaviorist, says a lot of dog owners aren’t aware that their dogs can suffer
from CCD until they take them to the vet for what they think are physical or
behavioral problems.
“The first thing you should do is to talk to your vet to
make sure that it’s cognitive dysfunction and not something else. It comes on
gradually and owners don't always notice things,” says Dr. Beaver.
“What did your dog stop doing that he used to do? Is he not
chasing his ball because he has arthritis? Or is it that he doesn't care
anymore? It's important to differentiate between physical and mental
causes."
Some symptoms of CCD can overlap with other age related
conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes, cancer, and kidney issues, as well as
hearing and sight loss. Depending on your dog's symptoms your vet may propose
x-rays, blood tests, urinalysis, or other diagnostic tests.
Dr. Denise Petryk, a former emergency room vet who now
works with Trupanion pet insurance, says the widely accepted DISHA acronym can
help dog owners characterize the most distinct signs and changes associated
with CCD.
The term DISHA refers to the symptoms Disorientation,
[altered] Interactions with their family members or other pets, Sleep-wake
cycle changes, House soiling, and Activity level changes.
“It gives us the ability to check against a list of things
to show that something else isn’t going on. If your dog has one of the symptoms
or some combination then we’re more likely to call it cognitive dysfunction.”
Dr. Beaver says to keep in mind that there isn’t
necessarily a progression to the symptoms your dog may be experiencing.
“The more signs and frequency we see, the greater
significance of the problem. Each sign or symptom doesn’t really signify a
particular phase,” she says.
Here’s the DISHA list of possible symptoms that may
demonstrate cognitive dysfunction in dogs:
Disorientation
One of the most common things pet parents may notice is
that their senior dog gets disoriented even when he’s in his normal or familiar
environment.
“This often happens when the dog is out in the backyard and
he goes to the wrong door or the wrong side of the door to get back in. The
part of the brain that is involved with orientation has been affected.” Beaver
says.
Your dog may also experience difficulty with spatial
awareness. He may wander behind the couch and then realize he doesn’t know
where he is or how to get out.
At bedtime you may find your dog in a different part of the
house staring at the wall instead of curled up in his dog bed. Petryk says dogs
have a good sense of timing, so this is a sign that something is wrong.
“The first thing you should do is to take your dog in for a
check-up. It might not be a cognitive issue, so your vet may want to rule out
some other possible medical causes which could involve a brain tumor or
diabetes.”
Interactions
Canine cognitive dysfunction can affect your dog’s
interactions with people and other animals. Your once sociable dog who used to
be the most popular pooch on the block now acts cranky and irritable, or even
growls at other animals or children. He may lash out and bite his once favorite
playmates. Petryk cautions that this behavior could be the result of something
serious.
“He may be acting this way because he’s in pain. He could
have arthritis or some other ailment that hurts when he moves or is touched.
Your vet may want to do x-rays to rule out a painful condition.”
Some dogs withdraw from their family and their favorite
activities. They may fail to notice when the doorbell rings and seem
disinterested in greeting visitors, or they may stop barking at the mailman.
Your dog may not even respond when you get his leash out to go for a walk.
"I've had patients whose dogs don't recognize that
their favorite cookies are treats for them, “ says Petryk. “The owner's first
instinct is to buy other cookies. They don't realize something else could be
going on.”
Sleep-Wake Cycle Changes
A change in sleep patterns or a disruption in circadian
rhythms is one of the more specific symptoms related to cognitive dysfunction.
Dogs that used to sleep soundly may now pace all night. Many dogs reverse their
normal schedules, so their daytime activities become their nighttime
activities. This “up all night” routine can be frustrating and tiring to pet
owners.
“If your dog is active at night and you want to get him to
sleep, a nightlight or white noise may help him,” Beaver says.
If this doesn’t provide relief, consult your vet for
medications that may ease your dog’s anxiety and reestablish normal sleep
cycles.
House Soiling
Urinating or defecating in the house is one of the most
common ways cognitive dysfunction is detected in dogs, especially if the dog
was previously housetrained.
Petryk says that when this happens it’s important for
owners to consider that their dog may have lost its ability to voluntarily
control elimination or even let them know that he needs to go outside.
“After we run tests and rule out a bladder infection,
kidney problems, or diabetes, then there’s usually been a cognitive change. If
your dog is staring out at the sliding glass door and then poops in the house
anyway and it’s not because of bowel trouble, then he’s lost the understanding
that he should poop outside,” Petryk explains.
Activity Level
Dogs with cognitive dysfunction may show a decreased desire
to explore and a decreased response to things, people, and sounds in their
environments. They may not greet you or they may no longer respond on cue to
fetch their favorite toy. They may also be less focused and show an altered
response to stimuli. Some dogs have trouble eating or drinking or finding their
food bowls.
"They may drop something when they’re eating and they
can’t find it,” says Petryk. “If they don’t have sight or hearing issues, this
can be a true indication that they are experiencing cognitive dysfunction.”
Although older dogs experience a normal decline in activity
levels, they may also experience restless or repetitive locomotion.
"They may exhibit repetitive motion; things like head
bobbing, leg shaking, or pacing in circles. This kind of action is more related
to cognitive dysfunction or a degeneration of the brain. It’s less likely to be
mistaken for anything else," Petryk says.
Owners should also be aware if their typically quiet dog
now barks excessively or if he barks at times when nothing is going on.
Diet, Medication and Environment
Watching your dog lose his cognitive abilities can be a
difficult and disturbing process, but there are things you can do to help ease
his discomfort.
“You can’t stop the process but it’s possible to slow it
down so they don’t go from one problem to three problems,” Beaver says.
Certain dog foods are formulated to help slow down
cognitive dysfunction and include anti-oxidants and omega-3 fatty acids to
promote and strengthen cell health.
Beaver says combining an enhanced diet with efforts to
enrich your dog’s environment provides the greatest chance for cognitive
improvement.
“Introducing things like food puzzles encourages mental
stimulation,” she explains. “Any type of food dispenser toy where they have to
roll it around to get the food out helps keep them mentally active.”
Regular scheduled play sessions can also stimulate your
dog’s brain and improve his learning and memory abilities.
“If your dog doesn’t have physical restrictions, grab his
leash and take him to the dog park where he can socialize with other dogs,”
says Petryk. “It’s possible to slow deterioration by keeping him physically and
mentally active, just like it is for us.”
Psychoactive drugs and dietary supplements can also help
slow your dog's decline, but Beaver recommends visiting your vet for specific
recommendations that can be tailored to your dog’s health and medical history.
“If, for instance, your dog also has a heart problem, the
medications he takes for that is going to factor into any medications
prescribed for cognitive decline,” says Beaver. “Vets and owners need to work
together to establish a plan.”
Regular Checks-Ups
“As your dog gets older he should be having twice yearly
check-ups. That way they can help differentiate between normal aging and what's
pathological or wrong,” says Petryk.
She suggests going into the vet with a list of questions
and observations—things that you notice when you’re at home. If changes happen
gradually, it’s easy to overlook them, says Petryk.
“People can be blind to the changes in their pets because
they’ve happened slowly,” she says. “They may not notice things and it may be
too late to fix them.”
