How to care for ageing cats and dogs with dementia, with tips from an expert


Sometimes the little guy just stops and does not know where he is any more.

At 15 years old, Olli the pug is very old, in need of help and often disoriented. He does not hear or see much, and his back legs hurt.

โ€œOlli has had dementia for a few years,โ€ says owner Ute Hausmann. She has adjusted to his needs, caring for, nurturing, looking after and encouraging the โ€œdearly lovedโ€ animal who has been with her and her husband in Cologne, Germany, for 11 years.

According to Holger Volk, a professor at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover in Germany, dementia is common among dogs and cats of an advanced age.

He says about one in three dogs aged 12 to 13 show clinical symptoms of the condition.

By the age of 15 to 16, two out of three dogs are affected by โ€œcanine cognitive dysfunction syndromeโ€.

Dementia is common among dogs and cats of an advanced age. Photo: Shutterstock
Dementia is common among dogs and cats of an advanced age. Photo: Shutterstock

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *