Mary Allen
The older dog walks more leisurely, sleeps a lot, no longer responds to every command,
and sometimes leaves a puddle on the floor … Pet owners blame age for many of the behavioral changes – but it can also be due to dementia.
The Animal Welfare Association now explains it. This senile dementia is comparable to human Alzheimer’s, the exact cause is not yet known.
But as the animals get older and older, more and more dogs get sick from it. Dogs are more common than cats. There is no cure for dementia, but it can be slowed down if recognized early. It affects cats from ten years old and dogs from eight years old.
Dementia Occurs in Cats From the Age of Ten and in Dogs From the Age of Eight
Since only a specialist can rule out other diagnoses, you should visit your veterinarian with older dogs and cats at least once every six months.
In addition to the symptoms already mentioned, changes in eating and drinking behavior and increased anxiety or aggressiveness can indicate dementia.
Dementia Therapy in Animals: Balancing Activity and Rest
Therapy is based on three pillars: mental stimulation, medication, and nutrition. For example, dog owners should never simply be given less food if the animal is gaining weight – instead, it is getting easily digestible food with less energy and more nutrients. For example, medications can improve blood circulation.
The most important thing is a kind of brain training: it starts with walking in different and unknown places, preferably with short, but more frequent circles. You can hide food in the house and practice new commands. In addition, many breaks, rest phases, and routines are needed.
As dementia progresses, it is best not to remodel the apartment, and cats prefer to stay indoors. In the event that disoriented animals run away, a transponder with a microchip helps.