How to Identify Cognitive Dysfunction in Aging Pets (and What You Can Do to Help)
Humans aren’t the only ones suffering from memory loss and impaired brain function as they age – it can also happen to our pets. In dogs, this is called Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, or CDS, and, unfortunately, many of its symptoms are ignored as “normal” aging.
Of course, a significant loss of mental acuity is not normal at all. To better understand what CDS looks like and what treatment looks like, I interviewed Dr. Elizabeth Stlow, DVM, DACVB, a UC Davis Veterinary Behaviorist who runs the behavioral services program for her Veterinary Clinical Hospital . That’s pretty much everything you need to know to keep your pet healthy today, tomorrow, and for years to come.
Know the Signs of Cognitive Dysfunction
You won’t be able to help your pet if you don’t know what to look for, so the first step is to find out what CDS looks like. It usually presents with symptoms similar to age-related cognitive decline in humans; classic signs are summarized by the abbreviation DISHAAL , which means:
- Disorientation
- Changes in relationships with owners, other pets, and the environment
- Disturbances in the sleep-wake cycle , sometimes with rhythm or shortness of breath
- House pollution
- Activity changes: increase or decrease
- Increased anxiety
- Changes in learning and memory, such as not being able to learn new tricks and / or forgetting those they once knew.
Diagnostic criteria may vary from case to case, but overall, a middle-aged dog showing two or more of these symptoms indicates a “high suspicion score,” explains Dr. Stelow. Some of the symptoms are obvious: if your dog doesn’t seem to recognize you anymore, suddenly starts sleeping during the day (and wanders around at night, whining) and seems to have forgotten trained commands, he is probably experiencing cognitive dysfunction.
But Dr. Stlow tells Lifehacker that sometimes the symptoms aren’t always clear. “It [sounds] so random, but it’s not: if you ever see a dog walk up to a closed door and stand by its hinges, waiting for the door to open, assume it’s cognitive dysfunction in dogs,” she says. “They just walk on the wrong side of the door and insist that the door open … This does not happen to all dogs with cognitive dysfunction, but dogs that do [it] invariably have [it].”
Cognitive dysfunction looks a little different in cats; namely, the list of symptoms is much shorter. Lack of Homeschooling and Increased Vocalization – “So a cat that walks around the house and cries about nothing,” as Dr. Stlow puts it, are usually the only signs that cat owners will get. Any of these symptoms alone can be reason enough for an examination, but if your cat exhibits both, it is important to ask about the potential cognitive cause.
Watch for all symptoms
You cannot prevent or reverse CDS, but as a pet owner there are a few things you can do to help. The first and most important thing is to know what all the symptoms look like, not just the ones that can complicate your life. “We tell veterinary students that [the symptoms] that make the owners scream at you are the loss of home schooling … and changes in the sleep / wake cycle … These other things, sometimes they just shrug and say, ‘ Well, this is a long time ago for you, ”says Dr. Stelow.
Do not rush to attribute strange behavior to “just old age”. If you have a middle-aged or older pet, don’t wait for him to poop on the carpet or let you sleep through the night before taking him to the vet. These may be their only symptoms, but the idea is that you don’t overlook others.
Try puzzle feeders, workouts and sports for mental exercise
Exercise is important for the health of pets, but when it comes to CDS, Dr. Stlow says mental exercise is also important. Food puzzles and toys are some of the best tools we have to keep pets’ minds busy: “ Almost everyone should feed their pets with toys and jigsaw puzzles anyway – it helps prevent brain congestion,” she says.
In the same vein, Dr. Stlow recommends interactive teaching even (and especially) cats – but for fun, not obedience. Learning new skills keeps your pet’s brain busy and exciting for both of you. If you’re unsure of where to start, try thinking about the cute or desirable things your pet is already doing: “It’s easy to capture the behavior,” explains Dr. Stelow. “You don’t think about teaching cats to sit, but they do.” High-five, handshake and offensive on demand are all great starting tricks for a cat .
Dogs can of course also learn new tricks, but if you really want to challenge them, Dr. Stlow recommends exercising. The possibilities are virtually endless: agility, scent tracking, musical canine freestyle (also known as dancing with dogs), dock jumping, surfing with dogs, disc dog, canicross (cross-country dog running), sled racing, rescue operations, etc. a little. Even modest dog sports require tremendous mental effort, which is exactly what you need.
Training and sports are more than mental training – they also strengthen your relationship with your pet, which is very important for his mental and emotional well-being. They cannot get this connection from anyone else: you are their best friend.
Change (or supplement) their diet
Switching your pet’s diet to a medium chain triglyceride (MCT) diet can also help alleviate CDS symptoms. MCTs, which are commonly extracted from coconut oil, have been used in diets for many years to support brain health . The theory is that MCTs break down into ketones, which the brain can absorb and use as energy instead of or in addition to glucose. Basically, MCTs (and ketones) provide the brain with another source of energy to fuel various brain-related activities, which can be beneficial for people whose brain function is impaired for one reason or another.
The same is true for dogs, at least in theory. There is limited research to suggest that MCT-fortified dog food may help with CDS symptoms . Dr. Stlow recommends Purina Bright Mind because it is available over the counter and is “moderately rich” in MCT. (Higher levels are for epilepsy and may be overkill for CDS.) However, there are several MCT-fortified diets on the market, so be sure to discuss this with your veterinarian.
Supplements can also help your pet, especially with antioxidants. Dr. Stlow says Denamarin and Senalife are most commonly used to support the brain. They will not turn back the clock, but they firmly fall into the “no harm, may help” category.
Do not wait
The cool thing about all of these interventions, from puzzle feeders to supplements, is that it’s never too late to get started. “When the dog or cat reaches middle age, it’s quite appropriate for the owner to say,“ I’m going to change your diet to one that contains MCTs, I’m going to prescribe you an antioxidant supplement, ”says Dr. Stlow. “But if you start to see clinical signs, you have to take full advantage of them.” She also notes that pet owners often cut back on exercise and vigorous play as their mates reach middle age, when both are critical to cognitive health. So keep playing with your older pets: challenge them with puzzle feeders, interactive toys, exercise and even exercise.
As beneficial as special meals and training are, the most important thing is to pay attention to your pet’s behavior throughout its life. This is the only way to know what is normal and what is not. Dr. Stlow put it best: “Old age is not a disease,” she says. “If you see clinical signs of illness, don’t call it old age.”