Q: Is there such a thing as doggy dementia, and is there a way that I can prevent it?
A: ‘Doggy dementia’ is a recognised disease in dogs. Because it can occur in cats as well, it is referred to as cognitive dysfunction (CD). It is a neurodegenerative condition, similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans, and affects geriatric dogs and cats.
Although studies have found CD to be a common problem in aged animals, it is still a severely under-diagnosed disease, with up to 85% of potentially affected animals not being identified.
The reason for this is that the signs develop slowly and are often mistaken for normal signs of ageing by owners.
It is important to differentiate the normal signs of ageing (which should not affect the dog’s daily performance) from signs of CD, which are considered pathological.
When the signs of CD are recognised early, steps can be taken to slow down the progression of the disease, using pharmacological intervention with drugs, nutritional supplementation and behaviour modification.
A thorough medical and neurological evaluation is essential for all older animals to check for CD, and should be done at least every six months to a year.
Dr Vanessa McClure, veterinarian
