According to new research, shorter strides in dogs can be an early warning sign of dementia, similar to humans. Veterinary scientists have found that cognitive decline in dogs is associated with changes in the front legs’ gait.
Study Findings
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, followed 88 senior and geriatric dogs for the remainder of their lives. The dogs underwent a series of physical, neurological, physiological, and orthopedic examinations, including tests for cognition, mobility, vision, hearing, and strength.
Each time, owners were asked to fill out questionnaires about their companion’s health and behavior. A filmed assessment of gait speed and stride length formed an integral part of the visits. The researchers found that the relative stride length of the front legs tended to decrease across visits, indicating that as dogs age, greater cognitive decline results in shorter strides of the front legs.
Lead author Natasha Olby said, ‘The length of front leg stride taken by dogs decreases with age, but even more importantly, decreases with a cognitive impairment.’ Olby added, ‘If owners notice that their dog’s front leg stride is becoming shorter, they should visit their vet, for there are possible alternative causes such as arthritic pain or neck issues that can be treated.’
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
