Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How walking speed relates to aging and brain health in dogs
By Mondino, Alejandra et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2023·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Winning the race with aging: age-related changes in gait speed and its association with cognitive performance in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of senior dogs was studied to see if their walking speed could indicate changes in their thinking abilities as they age. Researchers found that dogs who walked faster when not on a leash tended to have better attention and memory skills. This suggests that measuring how quickly a dog can walk without restraint might help veterinarians assess their cognitive health. Understanding these changes can help pet owners recognize signs of aging and cognitive decline in their dogs.
People also search for: why is my dog walking slow · signs of dementia in dogs · improving senior dog memory · canine cognitive dysfunction symptoms
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In humans, gait speed is a crucial component in geriatric evaluation since decreasing speed can be a harbinger of cognitive decline and dementia. Aging companion dogs can suffer from age-related mobility impairment, cognitive decline and dementia known as canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome. We hypothesized that there would be an association between gait speed and cognition in aging dogs. METHODS: We measured gait speed on and off leash in 46 adult and 49 senior dogs. Cognitive performance in senior dogs was assessed by means of the Canine Dementia Scale and a battery of cognitive tests. RESULTS: We demonstrated that dogs' food-motivated gait speed off leash is correlated with fractional lifespan and cognitive performance in dogs, particularly in the domains of attention and working memory. DISCUSSION: Food-motivated gait speed off leash represents a relatively easy variable to measure in clinical settings. Moreover, it proves to be a more effective indicator of age-related deterioration and cognitive decline than gait speed on leash.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37396989/