Thanks to improved nutrition, better veterinary care, and safer home environments, household pets are living longer than ever. And like humans, as animals grow older, their brains undergo the normal structural and functional changes that accompany age -- all of which can alter memory and behavior.
Senility is prevalent amongst older animals. As Kim Campbell Thornton from MSNBC notes, recent research has shown that nearly a third of 11- and 12-year-old dogs and two-thirds of 15- and 16-year-old dogs have significant cognitive impairment, which is commonly termed "cognitive dysfunction syndrome" (CDS). Thornton suggests helpful tips for pet owners, including how to spot signs of dementia (disorientation, altered sleep habits, etc) and how to cope (feeding pets a better diet, maintaining a routine, keeping pets stimulated through play and trick teaching, etc).
