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Wales Online
2 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Four key signs of ‘dementia' in dogs affecting one in three pets
Four key signs of 'dementia' in dogs affecting one in three pets While there is no cure for this progressive condition, there are therapies available to help improve your pet's quality of life. Dogs can experience something called canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome, which is similar to dementia (Image: Getty ) Experts have shared four key signs of 'dementia' in dogs that is thought to affects around a third of pooches by the age of 11. These symptoms could mean your pet has canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome, a condition related to the ageing of a dog's brain. Also known as CCD or CDS, this condition is often compared to dementia or Alzheimer's in humans. It leads to changes in awareness, deficits in learning and memory, and decreased responsiveness to stimuli. According to experts at Pet MD, the symptoms of CCD often start mild and get progressively worse, similar to the effects of dementia. They said: 'Although the initial symptoms of the disorder are mild, they gradually worsen over time, beyond what can be expected with normal ageing. 'These pets experience 'cognitive decline', which is the slow decrease in the brain's ability to perform normal tasks. In fact, clinical signs of cognitive dysfunction syndrome are found in nearly one in three dogs over the age of 11, and by the age of 16, nearly all dogs display at least one sign.' While there is no cure for CCD, there are therapies available to ensure your pet has the best quality of life possible. Therefore, getting diagnosed sooner rather than later is important. Pet MD listed four of the 'most common' symptoms of dementia in dogs. These are: Disorientation/confusion Changes in behaviour Anxiety/restlessness/impaired memory Changes in sleep cycle Disorientation or confusion caused by CCD might translate as getting stuck going around objects, not recognising familiar people or pets, staring blankly at walls, and pacing. Whereas changes in behaviour can be spotted in extreme irritability, decreased desire to play, excessive licking, lack of self-grooming, or loss of appetite. Anxiety, restlessness and an impaired memory could lead to seeming disregard for previously learned training or house rules, your pet being slow to learn new tasks, an inability to follow familiar routes, and faecal and urinary soiling in the home. Signs of changes in sleep cycle can include night waking, night vocalisation, and night pacing. If you think your dog is displaying signs of CCD you should speak to your vet. Charity PDSA says: 'Contact your vet if you've noticed changes in your dog's behaviour because symptoms of cognitive dysfunction usually get worse with time.' The exact causes of CCD are not known, but it is thought many of the same changes that cause problems as people age are likely to also cause problems as our pets age. How to care for a dog with CCD 'Dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome require lifelong therapy and support,' Pet MD says. 'While there is no cure, there are several things that you can do at home to help your dog's cognitive functions.' Article continues below These include: Maintaining a healthy and stimulating environment including daily routine of exercise, play and mental stimulation Maintaining a strict routine Making your home more accessible and safer Night lights can help your senior dog navigate in the dark Potty pads near doors give your pup a place to go if they can't make it until you come home or wake up Orthopaedic foam beds (with washable covers) can make sleep more comfortable Your vet may also recommend medication and behavioural therapy, a special, balanced diet, supplements and anti-anxiety tablets.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Black Cat Who Insists on Exercising With Dad Is the Cutest Little Workout Buddy
Meet Knuckles, the Black Cat who loves to hop on the treadmill and work out alongside his dad. Isn't he just the cutest little workout buddy!? According to his human mama, Knuckles now requires working out on the treadmill six or seven times a day, and all at his "preferred speed," of course. According to this video, Knuckles insists on walking on the treadmill so that he can work out alongside his human dad every time he gets on the exercise bike. According to his human mama, Knuckles is "relentless in his desire to get on the treadmill." He is also very particular about his walking speed. 1.3 mph is too slow for the adorably named Knuckles, while 1.5 mph is just a little too fast for him. At these speeds, he will look around to let his humans know that he wants to go faster or get off the treadmill, and look at them to let them know that he wants to go to his human mama, 1.4 mph is the perfect walking speed for Knuckles. She notes that it's great that he enjoys walking on the treadmill so much. When they first adopted him, they were told that he had Pectus Excavatum, which could make it hard for him to breathe if he put on extra weight. According to PetMD, Pectus Excavatum in cats results from them being born with a sunken or concave chest cavity. This chest cavity abnormality causes the heart to move out of place, which can squeeze its right side against parts of the lungs, creating a lung deficiency. While this can be very serious, resulting in serious illness or even death in some cats, overall, Pectus Excavatum, which is Latin for "hollow breast," is very rare. So, thankfully, most of our feline companions will not be affected by it. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Dog's Reason for Avoiding Eye Contact with Owner in Morning Warms Hearts
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An 8-year-old border collie and husky mix has captured the internet's attention with his unusual morning routine, and internet users can't cope with it. In a viral TikTok video shared on Tuesday by his owner, under the username @madisondorivanzile, the clever pup can be seen comfortably curled up on his dad's side of the bed, refusing to look at his mom for a hilarious reason. "Every morning when my husband leaves for work my dog hops onto his side of the bed and thinks that if we avoid eye contact I can't see him," she wrote in the clip. "His side eye is actually unreal," the caption continued. The poster, Madison Van Zile, from Jacksonville, Florida, told Newsweek that her pup has a "hysterical side eye," as seen in the clip, that he uses regularly when he's doing something sneaky or when he doesn't want to acknowledge them. Screenshots of the viral clip show the pup trying to avoid making eye contact with his mom so he can stay in bed. Screenshots of the viral clip show the pup trying to avoid making eye contact with his mom so he can stay in bed. @madisondorivanzile "He's a super sassy boy who rules the house and has us absolutely wrapped around his little paws. We rescued him when he was a year and a half years old and his vibrant and quirky personality has been on full display since day one! He's the best dog and the perfect addition to our family," she added. Dogs are among the smartest species in the animal kingdom, and their intelligence is often compared to that of a human toddler. They can learn tricks of all sorts, words, about 155 on average, and they can even learn how to manipulate you. According to a Pet MD article by Dr. Virginia LaMon, your dog may, for example, use their puppy eyes to trick you into believing that they haven't had dinner yet, even though someone else has fed them already. Border collies are considered the smartest dogs in the world, followed by German shepherds, poodles, Australian shepherds, and golden retrievers. The video quickly went viral on social media and it has so far received more than 244,700 views and 69,600 likes on the platform. One user, Jmetvwells, commented: "I've read studies on this. It's because he's handsome and can lay where he wants. No one makes up these rules. It's just the way things go." Susie Diaz said: "If I can't see her, she can't see me." Soniasuperchingonaortiz added: "Don't be suspicious, don't be suspicious." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Newsweek
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
What Rescue Cat 'Too Shy To Meow' Does To Get Attention Melts Hearts
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Internet users are obsessed with a shy adopted cat who has a unique way of letting his owner know when it's mealtime. Vicente Marin, 33, a DJ for Club 90s in Los Angeles, is the proud owner of the adorably named orange cat Spaghetti Pete, whom he adopted three years ago as a kitten. "The first part of his name is in honor of my neighbor's cat, Muffins, that I befriended during the pandemic," Marin, who adopted Spaghetti Pete as part of a bonded pair after Muffins passed away, told Newsweek. "Muffins had a viral video on TikTok where he was eating some of my spaghetti." As the shelter had already named him Pete, which suited him, Marin simply added Spaghetti to the start of it. Spaghetti Pete is much more shy than his brother, Captain Morgan, who is "very vocal and chatty," Marin said. "Spaghetti Pete is the opposite; he can be very shy and gets spooked easily. I think he relies on his brother to do most of the meowing to get my attention." Spaghetti Pete stands on his hind legs and taps someone on the shoulder to demand food. Spaghetti Pete stands on his hind legs and taps someone on the shoulder to demand food. TikTok @sanvicenteblvd Now a video of just how the orange cat gets his owner's attention for meal times has gone mega-viral online. It has received more than 10.4 million views since being posted to Marin's TikTok, @sanvicenteblvd, on May 19. "Spaghetti Pete is too shy to meow so this is how he lets us know it's time for his dinner," Marin wrote across the video. The clip showed the cat approaching an armchair and standing against it with his two hind legs on the ground. Spaghetti Pete then stretches his body out and taps tentatively on the shoulder of a person sitting on the chair. And when they look back at him, the feline licks his lips—making absolutely clear what exactly it is he wants. Marin said: "Spaghetti does meow, but it is very rare. He mostly does the cat chirp—some call it the cat activation noise—and taps for his meals." Chirping or trilling can sound like a purr with a higher pitch, and can be used by adult cats to greet their human owners, or thank them for food or giving them attention, according to PetMD. "He started tapping for his meals a year ago," Marin said. "I think switching from daylight saving time is what made him start tapping. He noticed that his meals were an hour off schedule!" TikTok users found it adorable, awarding the video close to 3 million likes and thousands of comments. One user wrote: "I would be embarrassed to speak too if my name was Spaghetti Pete." Another posted: "Please get up quicker when he asks you, thanks." A third user described him as "so polite," and one comment read: "I would love to have a polite cat." And as one moved commenter summed it up: "So I definitely mean to be dramatic, but I would die for Spaghetti Pete." Spaghetti Pete taps the person on the shoulder and then licks his lips. Spaghetti Pete taps the person on the shoulder and then licks his lips. TikTok @sanvicenteblvd Marin told Newsweek his "phone is full of pictures and videos" of his two cats, and he loves "sharing moments that bring me joy" with followers online. "I'm so happy people all over the world enjoy watching these moments with me. I myself am a shy person, so I feel part of Spaghetti Pete's online personality is a reflection of me," Marin said. "Ultimately, I hope to encourage people to go adopt a pet from their local animal shelter. There are thousands of Spaghetti Petes waiting for their forever home." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Dog's 'Freedom Run' After Getting in Trouble Has Internet In Hysterics
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Sometimes, dogs will act apologetically when they get causing mischief, but not Sadie the goldendoodle who has left internet users in stitches by doubling down on her antics. In a now-viral TikTok video (@sadiethegoldend00d), Sadie's owner captured the moment she caught the young pup roaming around the outdoor swimming pool. Sadie appeared to have escaped the house to reach the pool, and even though the covers were still on, that didn't stop her from trying to splash around. During the clip, Sadie's owner can be heard saying: "How did you get out? You're in trouble." Nonetheless, that wasn't going to stop Sadie from having her own pool day. Even after her owner announced that she was in trouble in a firm tone, Sadie kept splashing and bringing more water to the surface. Her owner's anger appeared to spur her on, as she then got the zoomies and ran across the entire length of the pool. Stock image: A Norwich Terrier runs along the street. Stock image: A Norwich Terrier runs along the street. Wirestock/Getty Images Social-media users can't get enough of the puppy's commitment to the cause, and the video has gone viral online. In just a matter of days, it has already amassed over 687,500 views and more than 65,400 likes on TikTok at the time of writing. Newsweek has contacted @sadiethegoldend00d via Instagram for comment. We could not verify the details of the video. The caption alongside the clip reads: "Me no in trouble. Me having fun." Many owners will be familiar with the sight of their dog getting a case of the zoomies, otherwise known as frenetic random activity periods (FRAPs). It is a sudden burst of activity that involves them running around in large circles, often in a hunched position that offers the maximum speed. It can be very entertaining at the time, but the actual cause of the zoomies is still not understood. The website PetMD suggests that it is a quick way for dogs to release their pent-up and excess energy, to show excitement, or even relieve themselves of stress. Indeed, moments of high arousal can trigger the zoomies, such as their owner picking up their favorite toy or maybe the leash. Additionally, it may be a sign that they're having so much fun and can't contain their joy, or don't want it to end. If they start zooming around, it could be an attempt to make the activity last longer. Regardless of why they are doing it, zoomies are generally a sign of a happy dog. It can occasionally be a stress reaction, so PetMD recommends observing their body language and the timing of it to learn the trigger. While Sadie's owner might not have been too pleased with her antics, TikTok users are obsessed with her zoomies. This has led to more than 4,300 comments on the viral TikTok post so far. One comment reads: "If I'm in trouble, might as well make it worth it." Another TikTok user wrote: "Well, if I'm already in trouble." A third joked: ""Wellllll let's do a freedom run first then …" One comment read: "I think her favorite word might be trouble." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
