How to Identify and Treat Cognitive Decline in Senior Pets

As your pets age, it becomes all the more important to keep an eye on their behaviour so that you can spot any early signs of decline in physical or mental health. Spotting signs early can mean that you can get advice from your vet as soon as possible, and you can take steps to keep a good quality of life for your pet as much as possible. 

One condition to be on the lookout for amongst older pets is cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) - which is a common occurrence of cognitive decline amongst senior pets. 

With CDS, a pet’s brain gradually degenerates, and you can start to see your pet behave in abnormal ways which are reflective of their declining cognitive function. This disease can affect pets similar to how dementia or Alzheimers impacts humans, so it’s important to remain on alert and if you’re spotting the signs, get them the help that they need as early as you can. 

A handy way to remember what to look for if you think your pet may be experiencing CDS is to use the acronym: “DISHAAL”. Let’s break down what this acronym stands for: 

Disorientation 

If you notice signs that your pet is disoriented and confused, or even staring blankly at walls or into space, this could be a sign that they’re experiencing brain fog. This can sometimes be harder to spot at first, so this is where just keeping an eye on your older pet going about their daily activities is so important. Brain fog could look like: 

• Forgetful of their usual routine - Your pet may forget that they have been fed or taken for a walk and may seem agitated after their usual activities.
• Trouble navigating around the home - They may seem lost in their usual surroundings, having trouble locating their litter box or their pet door, or getting stuck in corners. This can be a particularly distressing experience for your pet if you live in a larger space, as they can feel even more overwhelmed. 

Abnormal interactions 

If your pet’s cognitive function is declining, you may find that their interactions with you or others start to change. This could come in many different forms - such as a pet that was normally aloof being more open to, or seeking out, petting. Or, a pet that was typically physically affectionate starting to retreat and distance themselves from others. This sign of CDS can often be a key one for cats, who may have once been watchful of people, keeping their distance, and now don’t pay much attention to people getting closer to them. 

Sleep/wake cycle disturbances 

Any drastic changes to your pet’s sleep cycle may be a sign of CDS. For example, if your pet is having unusual and abrupt bursts of interrupted sleep throughout the sleep, or if your pet who was normally an early waker is now sleeping until late in the morning. Interrupted wake-ups can often come with pacing or agitation throughout the night, or increased vocalisation, which are signs of them feeling stressed or disorientated as they’re trying to sleep. 

House soiling 

This can sometimes go hand in hand with the signs of disorientation - with your pal struggling to identify when they may need to use the bathroom, or how they’re able to find their way to where they normally go to the bathroom. While accidents can happen for a range of reasons, it’s worth noting if your pet is having more frequent accidents - particularly if they’re accompanied by any of the other signs and symptoms. 

Activity changes 

Has your pal stopped interacting or engaging with activities and toys that used to be their absolute favourites? Or sometimes even a usually sedentary pet begins frequently pacing around the house? While sometimes waning energy levels can be a usual sign of ageing, if you notice a lot of disengagement from their usual behaviour and favourite things, this is something to keep an eye on! 

Anxiety 

We all know that it can be distressing when you can feel changes in your body or mind - even more so when you’re not too sure why it’s happening! Our pets are no exception. Because our senior pets might not feel like themselves, they may be more likely to experience anxiety. The uncertainty and irritation they feel can often come from their deteriorating senses. Even though your senior pet may be used to being home alone, CDS can cause them to feel particularly anxious when they are home alone. They may exhibit signs like pacing around the house or unusual amounts of aggression or impatience. 

Learning & memory changes 

You may find that your pet loses their ability to remember old commands that they used to be able to do with no trouble at all. Or, they may struggle to learn any new behaviour or routines. This is particularly important to pay attention to if there are any major changes to your older pet’s routine - such as a house move or the addition of a new family member. This can make a major change even more confusing for your pet who is experiencing cognitive decline. 

Diagnosis 

There is not a specific test to diagnose CDS, so a vet will normally use information given by you, the dog’s symptoms and a physical exam to evaluate. Other diseases can have similar signs and symptoms to CDS, so a vet may also run other tests to rule these out. 

Treatment 

Unfortunately, there is no cure for CDS. But there are ways to slow the progression of the disease and relieve some of the distress and discomfort of your pet’s symptoms. By working with your vet to put a plan of action in place, if caught early and treated effectively, your pet could still live a quality life for their final years. Some suggestions that your vet may give are: 

• Dietary changes: a diet that is high in antioxidants, fats, and fatty acids may protect and promote healthy brain cells.

CDS can be difficult to navigate for both you and your senior pet, however, by spotting the signs early and putting a plan in place, there are ways that you can still enjoy your pet’s twilight years and make them as fulfilling as possible - in amongst the changes that they will experience.