Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How common are vision and hearing loss in older dogs and their link
By Hopper, Ryan G et al.·Published in PloS one·2024·Department of Surgical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Dual sensory impairments in companion dogs: Prevalence and relationship to cognitive impairment.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Older dogs, especially those 8 years and older, often experience problems with both hearing and vision, which can lead to cognitive issues like confusion or disorientation. In a study of 238 dogs, it was found that those with both sensory impairments had a much higher chance of showing signs of cognitive impairment compared to those without these issues. While the exact cause of this relationship isn't clear, it's important for pet owners to be aware that if their older dog is having trouble seeing or hearing, it could also be a sign of cognitive decline. Regular check-ups with the vet can help manage these conditions.
People also search for: why is my dog confused · signs of cognitive impairment in older dogs · dual sensory impairment in dogs · dog hearing and vision problems · treatment for older dog cognitive decline
Abstract
PURPOSE: Many older dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) develop cognitive impairment. Dog owners often describe impairments in multiple sensory functions, yet the relationships between sensory and cognitive function in older dogs is not well understood. METHODS: We performed assessments of dog vision and hearing, both clinically (n = 91, electroretinography and brainstem auditory evoked potential) and via validated questionnaire (n = 238). We determined prevalence of sole and dual hearing/vision impairments in younger (<8 years) and older (≥8 years) dogs. Impairment cutoffs were determined using data from young dogs. We assessed the relationships between questionnaire-assessed vision and/or hearing impairments and cognitive impairment using logistic regression. RESULTS: Younger and older dog groups had similar distributions of sex and purebred/mixed breed status. Sex had no relationship to prevalence of sensory impairments. Older dogs had higher prevalence of hearing, vision, and dual sensory impairments, assessed both clinically and by questionnaire (P<0.001), and cognitive impairment assessed by questionnaire (P<0.001). Dogs had higher prevalence of reported cognitive impairment when owners reported dual vision and hearing impairments (79-94%, versus 25-27% in dogs with no sensory impairments), which was most consistent in dogs aged ≥8 years. In these older dogs, dual vision/hearing impairments were associated with a significantly increased risk of cognitive impairment (1.8-2.0 odds ratio). CONCLUSION: Dogs aged ≥8 years are at higher risk for dual hearing/vision impairments and associated cognitive impairments. The causal relationship between these impairments is not defined, but clinical consideration of these multimorbidity risks should be made in older dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39413072/