Dementia is not only something that people have to suffer with. Dogs can also get something similar to dementia, which is known as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CCDS). And a new study reveals that these dogs struggle with sleep.
The last thing we want to think about is our dogs getting older or suffering. And conditions such as dementia are definitely things that we don’t want to think about when it comes to our dogs. However, it’s important to know about these issues as your dog gets older, so that you know how to take care of them. Not only is this good for your peace of mind, but it also allows your dog to live their very best life until the end.
Thanks to a new study, we know a bit more about dementia in dogs, and how it can impact their sleeping habits. And this is very important, because we already know how beneficial sleep is for all animals, including us.
So what did this study reveal?
Dogs with dementia struggle with their sleep, according to study
According to One Green Planet, it seems that much like with people, dogs with cognitive issues in their older years can struggle with sleep. While there were not a lot of dogs that participated in this particular study, it’s still shed some light on the way that this condition impacts our dogs.
"The researchers conducted cognitive tests on the dogs, evaluating their attention, working memory, and executive control. The results indicated that dogs with more severe CCDS symptoms took longer to fall asleep, spent less time sleeping, and exhibited fewer slow oscillations in their brain activity during sleep, particularly during the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phase."
Not only is it important to know that a dog’s sleep patterns can be disturbed by dementia because of its ability to help researchers find ways to slow the progression of the disease or maybe in the future eradicate it, but also because it’s a sign to watch out for. As our dogs get older, we should be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of deterioration. And if our dogs are struggling to sleep, it may be a sign of an issue that a veterinarian needs to address.
Are you at all surprised to learn that a dog with dementia might struggle with their sleep? Is this something that you already knew? Let’s discuss over on our social media.