Our close friends dogs, unfortunately, can also suffer from dementia, which we encounter especially in advanced ages. A new study published this week on the subject sheds light on how common dementia is in dogs. The research also warned of behavioral changes that can be seen in dogs, especially over a certain age.
The research handled the data of 15,000 dogs examined within the scope of the Dog Aging Project, which has answered many questions about dogs so far. The researchers prepared two different questionnaires for the owners of the dogs. The first included questions about the dogs’ health status and physical activity, while the second included questions about the dogs’ cognitive status.
After the age of 10, the risk increases by more than 50% each year:
Results from the surveys showed that 1.4% of the dogs had cognitive dysfunction. The striking result of the study was that the risk of dementia increased by more than 50% with each new age in dogs 10 years and older. Moreover, dogs that were less physically active had a 6.5 times greater risk than dogs that led more active lives. The research also revealed the importance of active living in dogs.
The signs that dogs are starting to experience dementia are very similar to those in humans. These symptoms include changes in their relationships with their owners, wanting less or more affection, starting to show different attitudes towards friendly dogs with which they get along, and even erasing all the faces they remember from their memory. If dogs are diagnosed with dementia early, there are some medications that can help with this condition.
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