Evaluating Olfactory Decline in Aging Dogs

Abstract

Aging is an important aspect of the dog life, impacting how dogs function in their roles as both companions and workers. However, the impact of dog aging upon key sensory modalities, such as olfaction, is not well understood. The current study utilized the Natural Detection Task, the Cylinder Reversal Task, and survey data to characterize age-related changes in dogs’ olfactory and cognitive abilities. We found that age did not have a significant impact upon Natural Detection Task performance. However, there was a significant impact of both age and training upon whether dogs completed the Natural Detection Task or not. Furthermore, age-related changes in performance were seen in the survey scales. This indicates that while the sample was sufficient to capture age-related changes in performance, aging had minimal to no impact on olfactory abilities. This study emphasizes the importance of olfaction to the canine and the need for further research in this realm of study.