Older dogs may experience it early.
Sydney, September 9, 2019: If you’ve got an older and he is acting weird then you need to keep a watch. If he is not sleeping at night, seems anxious then these can be signs of dementia.By the time your pooch reaches the age of 14, she or he has a 40 per cent chance of developing canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD).
According to abc.net, scientists began to recognise the condition in dogs some two decades ago, and have amassed a large body of research into it. But many pet parents are surprised when it happens to their dog. Its prevalence comes down to the extended lifespan of our much-loved pets, said Tom Duncan, a researcher with the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre.
Veterinarian Cameron Fay sees cases of dementia in dogs at least once a week at his clinic in Sydney’s Inner West. He said dementia in dogs can happen quickly. According to him while people are aware of dementia in humans, the problem with identifying it in animals is that it can happen quickly.
“With dogs and cats, everything is in fast forward. You’ve got a puppy, then an adult dog … a senior, and finally the geriatric. And that happens in a short space of time. Sometimes it’s a matter of months you can see that mental decline in them, ” Dr Fay said.
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