If you’ve got an older dog that’s acting a little unusual, and you think it’s just old age — think again.
Getting stuck behind furniture, not sleeping at night or becoming increasingly anxious can all 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).
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.
“We are prolonging the lives of dogs far beyond what a wild dog would be expected to live to, ” Dr Duncan said.
“We have great veterinary care now and so we’re able to treat conditions that may have before affected the dog’s life span.
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