Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are common conditions as we age. They’re likely common in aging pets, too. Estimates range from 14 to 35 percent of the dog population age 8 and older may be affected. Nearly one-third of cats ages 11 to 14 and 50 percent of cats 15 and older are likely impaired. This article presents signs of dementia, medical conditions that mimic it and current research on the disease.
Source: The Washington Post, August 31, 2023. Link. Some signs of dementia are:
- Confusion and disorientation.
- Forgetting things pets have learned, such as house training or using the litter box.
- Changes in their sleep-wake cycle.
- Among cats, an increase in vocalization, meaning more crying or howling.