Is your senior dog vocalizing at night? Does your older cat seem more anxious than usual? They may have cognitive dysfunction, an age-related neurodegenerative condition in dogs and cats similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Senior pets are loyal, loving companions, and our Westerville Veterinary Clinic team knows you want to offer them the best possible care in their later years. We explain all you need to know about cognitive dysfunction in pets and encourage you to give us a call if you think your pet is affected.

What causes cognitive dysfunction in pets?

Normal cellular metabolic processes in the brain release unstable molecules that can damage brain cells. In a healthy brain, antioxidant activity counteracts these effects, but your pet’s protective mechanisms fail as they age. Abnormalities associated with cognitive dysfunction in pets include:

  • Reduced brain size
  • Reduced brain cell numbers
  • Brain tissue scarring
  • Nerve tissue degeneration
  • Damaged protective tissue that covers nerves
  • Brain microbleeds
  • Presence of beta-amyloid plaques

What are cognitive dysfunction signs in pets?

Signs are often subtle and may include:

  • Disorientation — Affected pets may get lost in familiar places or fail to recognize family members or other household pets.
  • Alterations in social interaction — Your typically confident pet may become clingy and needy, or your typically affectionate pet may start keeping their distance from you and family members.
  • Changes in sleep/wake cycles — Your pet may sleep more during the day and pace and vocalize at night.
  • Loss of house training — Your dog may have accidents indoors, and your senior cat may forget to use their litter box. They may also forget other learned behaviors, such as basic training commands or tricks.
  • Altered activity levels — Your older pet may no longer seem interested in walks and playtime, or they may seem restless.
  • Increased anxiety — Affected pets may also show more anxiety signs, such as whining, panting, excessive salivation, and destructive behavior.

The most common clinical signs in dogs include daytime sleeping, nighttime restlessness, fewer interactions, disorientation in the home, and increased anxiety. Visual impairment, smell disturbance, tremors, and falling have also been associated with cognitive dysfunction in dogs. Cats are more likely to show increased interaction and vocalization. 

How is cognitive dysfunction diagnosed in pets?

No test is available for cognitive dysfunction, and we need to rule out other conditions with similar signs before we can diagnose cognitive dysfunction. Tests commonly include:

  • History — We’ll ask about any health issues in your pet, their medications, signs that concern you, and when you first noticed signs.
  • Physical examination — We’ll evaluate your four-legged friend from nose to tail to detect abnormalities that could account for their signs.
  • Blood work — We’ll request blood work to help rule out conditions such as infection, kidney disease, and electrolyte imbalances that may affect your pet’s mental ability.
  • Urinalysis — We’ll evaluate your pet’s urine for additional health information.
  • Neurological examination — We’ll test your pet’s cranial nerves and reflexes to help determine their neurologic status.

Once we rule out other potential health conditions, we may ask you to fill out a questionnaire to determine how much your pet is affected. These assessment tools ask you to score your pet regarding common cognitive dysfunction signs. 

How is cognitive dysfunction treated in pets?

Unfortunately, cognitive dysfunction can’t be cured, but management strategies can help slow progression. Strategies include:

  • Diet — Veterinary prescription diets for cognitive dysfunction are rich in antioxidants, fatty acids, and other nutrients that help support brain function and health.
  • Enrichment — Stimulating your pet’s brain can help keep them mentally engaged. Recommendations include regular physical activity, using food-puzzle toys to feed meals and treats, changing out your pet’s toys every few weeks, and teaching your pet a new trick. 
  • Medications — A medication that has been approved to treat dogs with cognitive dysfunction is administered orally once a day and is effective in up to 70% of dogs.
  • Supplements — Supplements, such as antioxidants and medium-chain triglycerides, can help promote your pet’s brain health.
  • Anti-anxiety medication — For pets with anxiety issues, anti-anxiety drugs can help. 
  • Environmental management — Managing your pet’s environment is also important. Examples include:
    • Taking your older dog outside more frequently for bathroom breaks and providing puppy pads near doors
    • Increasing your pet’s daytime exercise to help prevent nighttime restlessness and vocalization
    • Placing multiple litter boxes throughout the house
    • Keeping in mind that senior pets may be less tolerant of children and other household pets
    • Avoiding moving your furniture so your pet is not confused
    • Keeping to a schedule as much as possible

If your senior pet’s behavior has recently changed, contact our Westerville Veterinary Clinic team, so we can determine if cognitive dysfunction is a contributing factor and develop an effective management plan.