If your dog’s steps are getting shorter, it could be an early warning sign of dementia – here’s what vets want you to watch for

The change in your dog’s walk that could signal something serious

Most of us assume that when an older dog slows down, it is simply a natural part of ageing. Stiff joints, tired legs, a body that no longer bounces the way it once did. We adjust the walk, shorten the route and put it down to the years catching up.

But new research published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science has found that one particular change in the way your dog walks may be telling you something far more specific – and far more important – than general ageing.

Shorter strides in a dog’s front legs are now linked to cognitive decline, not just getting older. And the parallel with human dementia is striking.

What the research found

Scientists at North Carolina State University followed 88 senior and geriatric dogs over time as part of a longitudinal study of canine brain ageing. The dogs – a mix of breeds, sizes and sexes – were enrolled when they reached 75 per cent of their expected lifespan and visited the laboratory every six months for comprehensive physical, neurological and cognitive testing.

As part of each visit, the dogs were filmed walking at their own pace along a five-metre walkway on a slack leash, with no encouragement, treats or external motivation. Researchers measured both the absolute stride length and the stride length adjusted for body size.

The findings were clear and significant. The relative stride length of the front legs decreased as cognitive performance worsened — and crucially, this reduction was driven by cognitive decline rather than chronological age itself. When both age and cognition were included in the same statistical model, age alone was a poor predictor of stride changes. It was the brain, not the birthday, that mattered most.

On average, a 10-point increase on the Canine Dementia Scale translated into a 1.2 per cent reduction in front leg stride length.

Interestingly, the hind legs told a different story entirely. There was no significant change in hind leg stride length associated with either age or cognitive decline.

Why the front legs are affected differently

Lead author Dr Natasha Olby, a professor of veterinary neurology at North Carolina State University, explained the difference.

“In dogs, the hind legs are important for moving forwards, while the front legs also change direction and initiate braking,” she said. “The cerebral cortex integrates more sensory information into the neuronal circuits which produce steps in the front legs, and so loss of high-level sensorimotor integration affects them differently.”

In simpler terms, the front legs require more brain involvement to do their job – and when the brain starts to decline, the front legs show it first.

The human parallel is well established

For anyone who has watched a parent or loved one develop dementia, the gait connection will sound familiar. In humans, changes in walking – shorter steps, slower pace, uneven or shuffling movement – have been documented as early warning signs of dementia, sometimes appearing years before memory loss becomes noticeable. These changes are thought to be driven by deterioration in the brain’s frontal cortex and cerebellum, which are responsible for planning and monitoring movement.

The fact that dogs show the same pattern opens a genuinely useful window for early detection. Dogs cannot tell us when they are confused, disoriented or struggling cognitively. But their walk can.

What canine dementia actually looks like

Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome – the veterinary term for dog dementia – is more common than most owners realise, particularly in dogs over 10. Signs can include disorientation in familiar environments, staring at walls or into corners, getting stuck behind furniture, changes in sleep patterns (particularly restlessness at night), loss of house training, reduced interest in play or interaction, and failure to recognise familiar people or animals.

Many of these signs develop gradually and are easily dismissed as “just getting old.” The stride research adds a measurable, observable physical marker that owners and vets can monitor over time.

What you should do if you notice changes

Dr Olby’s advice is practical. “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,” she said. “If a diagnosis of cognitive decline is made, there are likewise several lifestyle interventions that can be made, even if there is currently no cure.”

Those interventions typically include dietary changes (antioxidant-rich foods and omega-3 fatty acids), mental stimulation through puzzle toys and training, maintaining regular exercise appropriate to the dog’s ability, and in some cases medication to support cognitive function.

The research also found that chronic pain – measured through the Canine Brief Pain Inventory – independently shortened front leg stride length, meaning that arthritis and cognitive decline can compound each other’s effects on mobility.

Why this matters for dog owners over 60

For the Starts at 60 community, many of whom share their homes with older dogs, this research offers something genuinely valuable: a simple, observable indicator that something beyond normal ageing may be happening. You do not need equipment or veterinary training to notice that your dog’s front steps are getting shorter. You simply need to watch – and to take what you see seriously.

Our dogs cannot tell us when the world is becoming confusing. But their walk, it turns out, can speak for them.