The aging brain

Canine cognitive dysfunction is a gradual, dementia-like change that affects roughly 14–22.5% of dogs over 8.¹ Vets use the acronym DISHAA for the signs:²

D

Disorientation — getting lost in familiar places, stuck in corners

I

Interaction changes — suddenly clingy, or suddenly avoidant

S

Sleep–wake changes — wandering or pacing at night

H

House-soiling — accidents in a dog who was reliable

A

Activity changes — pacing, or playing less

A

Anxiety — new fears, irritability

Many of these overlap with pain, arthritis, vision or hearing loss and other illnesses, so the vet will rule those out first.² Treatment works best when it starts early — so mention changes as soon as you see them.³

What helps at home

• Keep their brains busy: short sessions practicing old tricks and learning new ones, puzzle toys, and sniffing games.⁴
• Make the house easy to navigate: good traction, night lights, and more frequent potty breaks.⁴
• Ask about medication. Selegiline is the drug labeled for canine cognitive dysfunction.¹

Diets and supplements: mixed evidence

Antioxidant-rich diets helped most when combined with enrichment in lab beagles,⁵ and a Purina-funded trial of an MCT-enriched diet improved signs over 90 days.⁶ But a year-long trial in ordinary pet dogs found no effect from an enriched diet or training.⁷ The guidelines call the evidence for other supplements limited.¹ Ask the vet before switching foods.