Azkona G, García-Belenguer S, Chacón G, Rosado B, León M, Palacio J
Departamento de Patología Animal, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013-Zaragoza, Spain.
J Small Anim Pract. 2009 Feb;50(2):87-91. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2008.00718.x.
The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and severity of behavioural changes associated with age and their relationship to risk factors such as sex, reproductive status, bodyweight and age.
A cross-sectional study design was chosen. A total of 325 geriatric dogs were included. Owners of dogs older than nine years were interviewed by a veterinary behaviourist. Structured phone interviews were used to gather information about four behavioural categories related to cognitive impairment: sleep/wake cycles, social interaction, learning and house training and signs of disorientation.
Signs of cognitive impairment showed a prevalence of 22.5 per cent in geriatric dogs. Sex and age emerged as significant predictor variables. Females and neutered dogs were significantly more affected than males and entire dogs, respectively. Prevalence and severity increased with age. Although weight was not a statistically significant predictor variable, smaller animals had greater odds of showing age-related cognitive impairment. The most impaired behavioural categories were social interaction and house training.
Age-related behavioural changes should be considered by practicing veterinarians because of their relative high prevalence among geriatric dogs, especially in females.
本研究旨在描述与年龄相关的行为变化的患病率和严重程度，以及它们与性别、生殖状态、体重和年龄等风险因素的关系。
采用横断面研究设计。共纳入325只老年犬。兽医行为学家对9岁以上犬只的主人进行了访谈。采用结构化电话访谈收集有关认知障碍的四类行为信息：睡眠/觉醒周期、社交互动、学习和室内训练以及迷失方向的迹象。
老年犬认知障碍迹象的患病率为22.5%。性别和年龄是显著的预测变量。雌性犬和绝育犬分别比雄性犬和未绝育犬受影响更显著。患病率和严重程度随年龄增加。虽然体重不是统计学上显著的预测变量，但体型较小的动物出现与年龄相关的认知障碍的几率更高。受损最严重的行为类别是社交互动和室内训练。
执业兽医应考虑与年龄相关的行为变化，因为它们在老年犬中相对高发，尤其是在雌性犬中。
