As they age, and especially once they pass the age of 10 (for dogs) or 15 for cats) many pets start to develop cognitive problems similar to Alzheimer's disease in people. Veterinarians call this condition dementia, "old dog/cat syndrome," or cognitive dysfunction.
As your pet ages, be sure to keep him or her busy with activities that encourage mental and physical stimulation. Reinforce training exercises and commands such as "handshaking" or "sit." You really can teach an old dog new tricks, and it helps keep your pet's mind active and healthy.
Also, watch for signs of cognitive decline in older dogs and cats.
These can include:
- Disorientation: Getting lost in the house or outdoors, even in familiar surroundings.
- Changes in behavior: Playing less with other pets, ignoring favorite toys, not responding to commands.
- Changes in sleep: Pacing during the night, meowing or barking through the night, sleeping during
the daytime when they used to interact with the family.
- Changes in recognition: Failing to recognize family members or other familiar people, greeting people
with less enthusiasm, withdrawing or avoiding interaction.
- Loss of housetraining: Having accidents in the house, not eliminating in established areas.
If you notice these sorts of changes in your pet, write down examples of the behavior and discuss it with your veterinarian. Other conditions, for example, some hormonal disorders, can cause similar signs so your veterinarian will want to examine your pet and perform tests to determine the exact cause.
Cognitive dysfunction is a slowly progressive, irreversible disorder. However, treatments, which include medication, training exercises, and a special diet, can slow the development of signs and prolong the life of your pet.
Other behavioral problems also occur in aging pets, but are not limited to that group. These can include issues such as fear of thunderstorms or other loud noises, compulsive behavior, and separation anxiety.
Click
here to see expert pet health care information in The
Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health:
page 27, Behavior (Dogs)
and page 353, Behavior (Cats)
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some of the other common conditions related to aging:
- Weight Gain
- Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
- Stiff Joints and Slower Movement
- Changes in Coat and Skin
- Eye Abnormalities