LITTLE ROCK — Do you have a question about
pets? We’ll get you an answer
from an authority. Send your question to Rhonda Owen,
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette,
P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark.
72203 or e-mail [email protected]
My oldest dog, Justin, is 12 years old. Lately, his behavior has changed and he doesn’t seem quite right. He sometimes seems lost in the house, which is odd because he has never lived anywhere else. He also gets restless at night. He wanders around and barks for no reason that I can figure out. I think he’s getting senile. Can old dogs get something like Alzheimer’s disease?
Dogs in their senior years can develop canine cognitive dysfunction, which indeed has symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans, veterinarian Nicholas Dodman says in the October issue of Your Dog.
As dogs age, their bodies and brains becomes less nimble and quick, just as ours do. But with Alzheimer’s and canine cognitive dysfunction, the change in behavior is more abrupt, Dodman says.“Within months, a dog with the condition will likely be acting differently from theway she had over the course of most of her life.”
Dogs suffering cognitive dysfunction also may get what’s know as “Sundowner’s Syndrome,” which means they become anxious and agitated in the evening. They may bark incessantly, pace and startle easily.
Canine cognitive dysfunction is difficult to diagnose because there aren’t any lab tests or absolute criteria that identify it, Dodman says. Making a diagnosis is a process of eliminating other possible causes for the changes in behavior. Headvises keeping a checklist of behavior changes and updating it every month or two to see how the changes are progressing.
Pfizer Animal Health, which makes the canine dementia drug deprenyl (brand name Anipryl), has a website devoted to canine cognitive dysfunction (cdsindogs.com) that provides a checklist for owners. The site also offers a dog behavior history form that you can download and use to record changes, then give to your veterinarian to help him make a diagnosis.
Some of the symptoms listed on the forms are:
Wanders aimlessly.
Appears lost or confused in house or yard.
Gets “stuck” in corners or under furniture.
Stares into space or at walls.
Doesn’t recognize familiarpeople.
Appears to forget the reason for going outdoors.
No longer greets owners when they arrive home.
Forgets to ask to go outdoors.
Sleeps less during the night.
Uses the bathroom indoors.
Does not respond to verbal cues.
Use the checklist once a month for a few months, marking any behavioral changes you notice. If you notice the check marks increasing over time, take your dog to your veterinarian for a examination. He may want to do diagnostic tests to rule out other health problems.
There’s no cure for canine cognitive dysfunction, Dodman says, but there are tactics for possibly slowing its progression and making your dog seem more like himself. While results aren’t assured, they might help your dog.
Drug therapy - deprenyl, the only drug approved to treat cognitive dysfunction in dogs, must be prescribed by your veterinarian. One study showed that 69 percent of dogs taking one tablet daily showed improvement in at least one of the symptoms. But “results with the drug have been all over the board, ranging from remarkable turnarounds to no improvement at all.”
Food - Hill’s Prescription Diet b/d contains antioxidants that could prevent damage to brain cells. It includes high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids that promote cell membrane health, fruits and vegetables, plus Lcarnitine for energy.
Supplements - A veterinarian might recommend a supplement such as coenzyme Q10, which is also used to increase brain function in humans.
More activity and interaction - “Just like the human brain, the canine brain is subject to the use-it-or-lose-it axiom.” So step up playtime with your dog, mix up your walking route so he’ll experience new sights and scents, and introduce him to more people and dogs.
Family, Pages 42 on 11/07/2012