Just like us our pets can develop reduced brain function and dementia symptoms as they get older. Understanding the causes and knowing how to reduce these symptoms can help them (and you) maintain a good quality of life.

You may have noticed that your pet is starting to show some odd behaviour. This may include a reduction in house training, going the wrong way on walks or changes in temperament such as an increase in anxiety. It is important to rule out physical causes first before assuming these changes are brain related.

For instance, deafness and reduced eyesight are common old age changes and your pet may no longer hear you call them or may not see you approach so may be startled and bite as a fear response. Pain from arthritis is also common in old pets and reduced desire to get up and go outside in cold weather may increase the likelihood of urinating or defaecating indoors. Animals which are drinking more due to underlying health issues are more likely to urinate indoors due to the increased frequency of needing to go.

Older cats are prone to developing overactive thyroid glands. Common symptoms are weight loss despite a normal (or increased) appetite and changes in behaviour such as inability to settle, yowling randomly and becoming more grumpy. This is a potentially treatable condition and your vet can advise you on the options for investigation and treatment.

If you have ruled out or addressed physical causes with the help of your vet then you can concentrate on helping your pet deal with their reduction in brain function. As in humans a good diet and regular exercise as well as ongoing training can help. Dogs which go for regular walks (even if these walks are shorter due to reduced activity levels) stimulate their brains with the sights and smells they experience which can reduce levels of anxiety and learning new tricks can maintain brain activity.

Supplements or specific brain supportive diets have been shown in trials to increase brain function. Ageing digestive systems are often less able to absorb certain micro nutrients as efficiently as when younger and supplementing these can help with brain activity. Increasing intake of anti-oxidants (vitamins E and C), B vitamins, omega 3 fatty acids and selenium have all been shown to help improve brain function. Medications may also help and you can discuss these with your vet.

Changing your pet’s routine can help deal with the changes. For instance provide litter trays for cats which are urinating indoors because they don’t want to go out in the cold. Letting your dog out more frequently including last thing at night and first thing in the morning can reduce the risk of accidents indoors. Keeping a set routine and going for walks in familiar areas can reduce the risk of old dogs getting lost.

Whilst brain changes can be an inevitable part of ageing, we can help to reduce these changes as well as reducing the impact on our pets and our own lives by making a few simple changes.

By Lynn Broom