Waverley Animal Hospital vet Dr Robbie Anderton discusses dementia in dogs

If your dog is acting weird and showing changes in behaviour, it might have dementia. Dr Robbie Anderton explains doggie dementia and what to do.

Waverley Animal Hospital vet Dr Robbie Anderton. Picture: Paul Loughnan

Have you wondered why your older pet is acting odd?

Forgetting things or showing strange behaviours they never used to?

Wondered if they could have dementia?

Thirty per cent of dogs over 11 years old, and 60 per cent of dogs over 13 years old show signs of cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Signs are seen in older cats too.

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This disease is similar to human alzheimers disease, where there is a gradual degeneration of the nerves within the brain.

Is your pet showing these signs?

• disorientation — can’t navigate around the home or yard, getting stuck;
• changes in social interactions — doesn’t like interacting with your family or visitors;
• altered sleep/wake cycles — pacing at night, vocalising at night;
• starting to house soil, loss of memory or learning abilities;
• changes in activity — decreased regular activity with toys or owners, or even increased;
• repetitive activity like pacing, star gazing, circling; and
• increased anxiety — gets fearful around new situations and environments, separation anxiety, and with unexpected stimuli like noise.

There is a lot of cross over with these signs and other common diseases of older pets, examples include arthritis, anxiety, urinary tract infections, so a visit to your vet and a full examination and some tests to rule out other causes, may lead to a diagnosis.

There are some treatments that can help these older pets improve their quality of life.

Do you have a question for Dr Robbie? send it to [e-mail]

Dr Robbie Anderton is a veterinarian at Waverley Animal Hospital and on the Two Vets Talk Pets podcast