Old age comes to us all but Bein the golden retriever has been saved from the misery of doggy dementia after changing his daily diet.

Bein, whose full name is Bein Ard Buidhe, which is Scottish Gaelic for "golden mountain", started to suffer problems about a year ago when he reached the age of 11.

His devoted owner, Sarah Hatton, was beside herself with worry her companion was succumbing to old age mentally, although physically the canine was still in good shape.

Sarah, 38, of Compton Avenue, Brighton, started to notice signs of dementia creeping into his daily life.

She said: "I have a rabbit called Dylan and Bein used to lick him all over his head.

"I also have some ferrets and Bein doesn't like them but he began to think Dylan was a ferret and wouldn't go near him. He seemed to be confused."

Sarah, a care assistant, voiced her concerns to an animal behaviourist she knew.

He told her to try changing Bein's diet and so she asked her vet to provide Bein with a brain-improving doggy meal.

Within weeks of guzzling the food, Bein began to get up to his old tricks again.

Sarah even wrote a daily diary of his mental state and Bein has been hailed as one of the UK's first dogs to shake off the signs of doggy dementia.

She said: "He has a renewed zest for life. He recognises Dylan again and I've had to buy him new toys. It's even renewed his amorous side.

"I've jokingly called it the senile doggy diet. It's been a tremendous boost for him."

Bein's doggy dementia diet was created by pet food company, Hill's Pet Nutrition.