Doggie Dementia
Just as humans suffer from dementia in their old age, dogs can too. The disease is more formally known as Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS). Current treatment includes a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids as well as other antioxidants and the drug Selegiline. Selegiline or Anipryl alters the attentiveness and the wake-sleep cycle.
With medical advancement, improved environments, and higher nutritional quality, animals like humans are living longer and thus suffering more from ailments that come with old age. Nearly a third of 11 to 12 year old dogs and two-thirds of 15 to 16 year old dogs have significant cognitive impairment according to research done at the University Of California School Of Veterinary Medicine in Davis. However, through diet and medication, the progress of CDS can be slowed.
Behaviors exhibited by pets with CDS can be spelled out by the acronym DISH. The first is disorientation which includes walking aimlessly, staring off into space, loss of balance, and falling. The second is interaction. The dog may no longer care to greet you and simply ignore you. Third is sleep. The animal’s routine often reverses, so it is awake during the night yet sleeps in the day. The final sign is house training. The pet no longer follows the routine which it had been accustom to for many years. However, these signs can also be indicators of other issues as well. For instance, the change of bathroom habits might be due to arthritis.
Blood pressure is very important to a pet’s health. High blood pressure, hypertension, is common in older animals. Conditions such as kidney disease or Cushing’s disease can contribute to the production of too much adrenal hormone which in return will raise blood pressure. Hypertension damages the blood vessels in the brain and thus impairs cognitive ability. Chronic high blood pressure is often the leading cause of senility in humans and researchers are finding the same trend with pets. However, because there are medicines on the market designed at reducing blood pressure levels, there is still much that can be done to reduce the chances of your pet contracting cognitive dysfunction syndrome.
The best thing an owner can do is be alert for changes in behavior. The earlier symptoms are caught, the more that can be done to improve the health conditions.
For more information regarding caring for your dog in his old age, please consult your Houston Veterinarian at http://www.houstonveterinarianclinics.com
Joseph Devine
Tags: Houston Animal Care, Houston Veterinarian Clinic, Houston Vet
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