Cognitive decline in senior dogs is increasingly recognised as a welfare concern, and evidence-based enrichment strategies can maintain cognitive function and quality of life in aging individuals.
Cognitive decline in senior dogs causes genuine suffering through disorientation, anxiety, disrupted sleep, and the loss of familiar relationships and routines that structure the dog's social world. Owners often attribute signs of cognitive dysfunction to normal aging and do not seek veterinary assessment or treatment. This represents a welfare gap — many dogs are experiencing treatable or manageable cognitive decline without receiving appropriate support. Evidence-based enrichment strategies including regular scent work, which engages the olfactory system powerfully, gentle interactive play, and maintaining social engagement slow cognitive decline and maintain quality of life. Early recognition and veterinary assessment enables earlier intervention and better long-term welfare outcomes for aging dogs.