Improving Canine Healthspan: Behavior
In the last article, we covered that declining mobility is one of the key factors that leads owners to consider end-of-life care. The other leading factor is behavior changes. When dogs become grumpier, get stuck in corners, or start having accidents in the house, they slowly become a dog their parents no longer recognize. That’s a hard reality for many parents to live with, and often they correlate those changes with a declining quality of life.
While behavior changes in older dogs are multifactorial, many of them are associated with canine cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive dysfunction is similar to dementia in people, and we are finding that it has similar predisposing factors. Many of these factors are things we can modify early in our dogs’ lives to protect them from cognitive decline before it starts.
Did you know that in studies of longevity in humans, most factors that promote a longer lifespan are psychosocial rather than medical? That’s right, the longest-lived humans don’t get there by running marathons, pumping iron, or intermittent fasting. The longest-lived humans have strong social networks, and a strong sense of both belonging and purpose. These social interactions play a key role in preventing dementia, with socially active humans having a 38% lower risk than their more isolated counterparts. Dogs have grown and evolved alongside us and our tribes, and one could argue they are equal, if not more social, than we are today. So, it's no surprise that these same psychosocial factors can help stave off cognitive decline and improve longevity in our canine companions as well. Environmental enrichment is the key, and here are some easy things that you can do to enrich your senior dog’s life:
Training and Brain Games: In fact, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks! Or you can work on the old tricks! Snuffle mats, puzzle feeders, “sniffaris”, or treat mazes in the house are all great ways to get your dog’s brain working a bit harder. Scent training has actually been shown to be a great mental and physical workout for dogs, and many areas have scent training classes that you can take.
Physical Activity and Novelty: Many owners of senior dogs tell me that they just let Fido out in the backyard now because it’s too hard for him to go for a walk. But they don’t realize how much physical and mental stimulation he is missing out on by never leaving the house. Walking the neighborhood allows him to see new things, smell new smells, and process new information, all of which are great for preventing cognitive decline. Consider driving him to the next neighborhood over for a walk one day, or maybe taking a trip to the hardware store! Dog-friendly stores are great places for senior dogs to interact with the world and probably to get a few extra treats.
Social Interaction: When people first adopt a puppy, all they want to do is take it EVERYWHERE! But as our dogs age, they often get left behind. We worry they’ll be uncomfortable, or we tell ourselves that they would rather be at home sleeping. But social interaction is so important for them! Take them to the brewery. Grab some neighborhood friends and take all of the dogs for a short pack walk. Dog parks may not be the safest place for them anymore, but getting together with smaller groups of older dogs can be engaging and enriching.
I would be remiss in this topic if I did not also mention pain control. Pain in dogs can have many behavioral manifestations, and the consequences can compound on one another. For example, a dog with hip arthritis may become increasingly protective of that area, snarling or biting when a human or other dog gets too close. Furthermore, that dog may be so uncomfortable that it can’t sleep well at night, leading to even more irritability during the day. Any time a dog develops aggressive tendencies later in life, the first question should be “is this dog painful?” Dogs with dental pain can become reluctant to eat. Painful dogs often become more reclusive and even depressed. In quality-of-life conversations, owners often use “not eating well” and “doesn’t want to play anymore” as evidence of poor quality of life, when they're often signs of pain.
To wrap it up, we can improve both the lifespan and the healthspan of our dogs by protecting their mental health and preventing cognitive decline. Enriching their lives with fun, novel experiences and controlling their pain are two easy steps we can take early in their senior years to help keep them happy and engaged for years to come!