Dog dementia is more common than owners realize

Vets typically refer to dog dementia as canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD). Overall, the incidence of CCD
is 15 to 30 per cent, Rossman says. Worse? “It’s often underdiagnosed,” says Melissa Bain, DVM,
professor of clinical animal behaviour at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
in Davis, California. On average, most dogs are diagnosed at eight years old. In a study conducted by
Bain, 28 per cent of dogs aged 11 to 12 and 68 per cent of dogs 15 to 16 showed one or more signs of
cognitive impairment. Here are the signs to watch for—and what you can do to help your dog.