How to recognize canine dementia: a demented dog is characterized by this behavior

How to identify canine dementia? Our four-legged friends are getting older, and old age also brings health problems. As with humans. According to the report American Kennel Club dogs enter their third life period between the ages of 7 and 10, and in the case of larger breeds, already at the age of 6.

The fur on their faces starts to turn innocently gray, and your furry friend may become disoriented or confused. These are just some of the signs that can alert you to the phenomenon dementia in your dog. Indeed, recent findings from North Carolina State University suggest that cognitive dysfunction can occur not only in humans, but also in companion animals. Research even suggests that the symptoms of dementia in humans and animals have quite a few parallels.

Changes in a dog's behavior can be one of the indicators of cognitive dysfunction. From wandering aimlessly to getting stuck in corners. A new study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science even stated that one of the signs is the speed with which older dogs move. This can be directly related to the health and vitality of their brain.

A sign of canine dementia: walking speed

“Walking speed in humans is strongly associated with cognitive decline. We hypothesized that the same might apply to dogs," said Natasha Olby, Ph.D., author of the study. The study involved measuring off-leash walking speed in both adult dogs, who served as a control group, and older dogs. These older dogs were subjected to additional cognitive tests and their owners completed a cognitive assessment questionnaire.

The findings showed that older dogs that moved more slowly showed more pronounced cognitive decline.

Interestingly, size was not a determining factor for speed in older dogs. Basically, older dogs were slower than adult dogs in the last 25 % of their life expectancy, regardless of their size. This decline, according to Olby, reflects human patterns where walking speed remains fairly consistent before declining as we approach the latter stages of life.