With advances in veterinary medical technology, dogs and cats are living longer than ever. While every pet owner wants to keep their beloved pet around as long as possible, the older your four-legged friend becomes, the more likely they are to develop chronic medical conditions—including brain changes, which are similar to human Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia types. Brain changes can begin to affect dogs and cats who are 10 years of age and older, and most pets develop at least one cognitive dysfunction syndrome sign by 16 years of age. Read our Memorial Villages Animal Hospital team’s cognitive dysfunction guide to learn to recognize signs of your pet’s brain changes, and get a jump start on your beloved companion’s treatment.
Cognitive dysfunction causes in pets
As pets age, their organs begin to function less efficiently, with brain and nervous system capacity declining as well. Brain cells die over time, causing atrophy and declining function, which affects memory, learning, and coordination. Substances, such as beta amyloid and monoamine oxidase, can build up in the brain, slowing the organ’s signals, and altering neurotransmitter levels or workings. As in humans, the exact causes of pets’ brain substance buildups and dementia are unknown, but research is ongoing.
Pet cognitive dysfunction signs
Cognitive dysfunction can affect dogs and cats. This disease causes both species to develop the following similar signs:
- Behavior changes — Pets may lose interest in play or food, become irritable, and groom themselves less or too much.
- Anxiety — Pets may become upset more easily and pace, pant, or vocalize more often.
- Impaired memory — Some pets forget the house rules, house-training, or routines, or have difficulty learning new things.
- Sleep-cycle changes — Pets may wake in the middle of the night and vocalize loudly, sleep less, or sleep more often.
- Confusion — Pets may pace, get lost in the home, wander away from home, or stare blankly at walls or into space.
Diagnosing pet cognitive dysfunction
As pets age, many non-neurologic medical issues can contribute to similar behavior changes. Some of these medical issues include:
- Kidney disease, arthritis, or diabetes, which may cause urinary accidents.
- Hypertension, which may cause anxiety and vocalization.
- Thyroid disease, which may cause sluggishness and low appetite.
Our veterinarians will test your pet’s blood and urine to check organ function, and may recommend abdominal ultrasound or chest X-rays to gather more information. We may also recommend that a veterinary neurologist perform magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or spinal fluid analysis to help rule out primary brain diseases such as a tumor or encephalitis. Our veterinarians diagnose cognitive dysfunction based on a pet’s clinical signs, and by ruling out or treating other potential medical conditions.
Pet cognitive dysfunction treatments
Cognitive dysfunction cannot be cured, but our veterinarians can help manage your pet’s disease through treatments that help slow progression and improve your beloved companion’s quality of life. Your pet’s individual clinical signs will determine their treatments, which may include:
- Anti-anxiety medication
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitor medications (i.e., selegiline)
- Melatonin
- Antioxidants and vitamins
- Special brain-health diets
- Fatty acid supplements
- S-adenosylmethionine (i.e., SAM-e)
Adjust your home environment to help your pet who has cognitive dysfunction
Pets with cognitive impairment do best when medical treatments are combined with behavioral therapies and environmental adjustments. Consult a veterinary behaviorist or trainer who has experience with pets who have cognitive dysfunction. Such professionals can provide a behavioral training and mental stimulation plan that helps keep your pet’s brain active, reducing their anxiety. Physical exercise is also important to help improve your pet’s brain function, so regular walks or play sessions are recommended. Maintaining a strict daily routine and avoiding disruptions—such as company visiting, home construction projects, or boarding—can also minimize pets’ confusion. For dogs having accidents inside, build in a few extra daily trips outside.
In addition to maintaining a strict daily schedule, adjusting your pet’s environment can help to improve their safety, mobility, and comfort. Consider providing the following home environment adjustments:
- Nightlights to prevent disorientation in the dark.
- Comfy orthopedic beds throughout the home
- Easily accessible, low-sided litter boxes.
- Additional litter boxes, so your pet doesn’t have to remember where they are.
- Rugs and runners to help prevent falls and getting stuck.
- Potty pads in frequently soiled areas
- If your pet can no longer maneuver stairs or becomes lost in certain parts of the home, confine them to the main home areas, and keep these areas clutter-free.
Cognitive dysfunction itself does not reduce your pet’s longevity, but over time, affected pets can experience a quality-of-life decline, which may eventually require humane euthanasia. Frequent check-ins with our Memorial Villages Animal Hospital veterinary team can help you assess your pet’s quality of life, and find the best treatments to keep them comfortable and happy as long as possible. Contact us to schedule a consultation if your aging pet’s behavior changes, or you have concerns about any other of your beloved companion’s age-related medical issues.
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