Dogs can get dementia — just like their owners

Like Owner, Like Pet

Here are the warning signs.

Dementia Dog

As dogs live longer, they are starting to have similar signs of cognitive decline as their human counterparts.

If you’ve noticed your elderly dog has become more irritable, disoriented or has trouble sleeping, they may be suffering from canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD). The symptoms are eerily similar to Alzheimer’s in humans, and typically affect dogs over the age of 14. In fact, 40% of elderly dogs have the disease.

The new diet improved signs of CCD in canines, supporting the researchers’ theory that the risk factors for CCD and Alzheimer’s are similar.

A 2018 study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) looked at how diet can help elderly dogs. Dogs with CCD were given different nutritional solutions to see if it impacted their symptoms.

The nutritional changes were intended to target certain risk factors that are associated with Alzheimer’s, including DHA deficiency, reduced cerebral glucose metabolism, and chronic inflammation.

After 90 days, the study found that a diet high in medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) improved signs of CCD in canines, supporting the researchers’ theory that the risk factors for CCD and Alzheimer’s are similar.