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Health Matters
June 7, 2011
Advances in veterinary medicine has made it possible to extend our dogs' lives to a point where we now face a whole new category of health issues - all related to geriatrics. On one hand this is great news - on the other, geriatric health problems can be as hard to cope with as the more "serious" diseases that affect pets regardless of age. Canine dementia is one of these medical conditions; it can be heartbreaking to see your once vital and intelligent dog staring vacantly into a corner or barking endlessly without any other reason than the fact that his brain has begun to betray him. However, there are steps you can take to help prevent and/or minimize the effects of canine demential - and this month, Ann takes a look at what's available in traditional medicine as well as holistic/alternative treatments.
*Standard disclaimer: while we will offer our opinions about how to best achieve optimum health for our animals, we do NOT profess to know what is better for your pet than you or your vet do! Always consult with your vet, then consult with another vet and get a second opinion (because we also believe in having options!).
June Health Matters
Canine Dementia
As I get older I find myself stopping sometimes to ask myself, “What is his/her name?” or looking for the right word to finish a sentence. Sometimes I walk into the kitchen and forget why I went in there. Those of you over 50 know what I mean and the rest of you will find out in time. It’s the human condition known as aging. Every day I work several puzzles (Sudoku, crossword, jigsaw) to keep my mind active. Then the other day a family member told me that her dog was diagnosed with canine dementia, also known as canine cognitive dysfunction. I was stunned. Senility in dogs? When did that happen? I mentioned it to my business partner and she told me that two of her older dogs also suffer from this condition.
Like people, dogs don't age in a day. The signs of aging, both physical and mental, are gradual and cumulative. As a pup, your dog could run and play for hours. At an adult, he played and ran with you or his friends. As a senior he may not run often and then only with reason. One day your dog may no longer run, but simply trot after a ball or coming in to dinner. The same is true of the brain. As a pup your dog learns everything ~~ both good and bad in just a few lessons. As an young adult, he learns rapidly the rules of the house and of proper conduct. As a senior he may occasionally have a lapse in manners. At what point do you suspect cognitive dysfunction?
Symptoms
There are seven classic symptoms of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD or CDS -- Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome) aka Canine Dementia. They are: 1) confusion 2) less responsive 3) forgetfulness 4) wandering aimlessly through the house 5) getting lost in corners 6) having accidents in the house 7) not responding to his/her name. Other common signs of CDS are abnormal sleeping and waking patterns, staring into space, being more sensitive to cold, not recognizing familiar people, and barking for no reason.
Canine Dementia is age-related, happening in older dogs, and occurring in large breeds sooner than in small breeds. Beyond that, there doesn't seem to be any way to predict which dog or breed will suffer from CDS or when it will happen. CDS is similar to Alzheimer's in people, causing confusion, disorientation, personality changes, and memory loss. It is caused by beta amyloidal deposits in the brain. These nerve destructive proteins accumulate over time creating a plaque buildup that impedes the brain's transmission of electrical signals. Because the buildup is gradual, early symptoms are generally not recognized 
as anything more than the customary signs of aging. A recent study by the University of California Veterinary Medicine showed that out of 69 dogs participating, 32% of the 11-year old dogs were affected by this syndrome and 100% of the dogs 16 years of age older were affected.
It has also been found that oxygen levels in the brains of older dogs are decreased. In addition, there appears to be changes in various neurotransmitter chemicals, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
Medical Treatment and Medicines Available
If your dog fits the above profile, and your veterinarian agrees with your conclusion, there are some treatments available. Anipryl is one of the top medications for canine dementia. The chemical in Anipryl is called “Selegiline hydrochloride” (L-deprenyl). This is the same drug used in human medicine to treat Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease. Anipryl works by increasing the level of an essential neurotransmitter called dopamine. Anipryl reverses some of the changes associated with canine dementia and it improves the behavior in about 75% of affected dogs in one month. In some cases it takes up to two months to see signs of improvement. Anipryl (or selegiline) is an MAOI medication (monoamine ocidase inhibitor medication). It increases the dopamine in the brain and is a medication that is FDA approved for use in dogs to treat CCD (and Cushing's disease). It has proved to be effective in improving the quality of life for some older dogs. Side effects commonly seen with Anipryl include gastrointestinal upsets (e.g. vomiting), loss of appetite, and lethargy.
There are a number of foods available that are now fortified with mixtures of antioxidants that can effectively counteract the effects of brain aging. It is reported that 74% of older pets experiencing lapses in house “manners” (i.e. indoor accidents) have a reduction in this problem. Also, 61% of the dogs who have lost their family connections show greater enthusiasm when greeting family members.
One of the diets frequently touted by veterinarians is Hills Prescription Diet B/D Aging and Alertness. It is a dry food with the following primary ingredients: whole grain corn, chicken by-product meal, pork fat preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid, brewers rice, soybean mill run, soybean meal, flaxseed, fish meal, chicken liver flavor, dried egg product, dried carrots, dried spinach, dried grape pomace, dried tomato pomace, dried citrus pulp, soybean oil and a whole host of vitamins and supplements – mainly Vit. B & C. I could pick this diet apart, starting with the first ingredient, but I will simply paraphrase what DogFoodAdvisor.com, the site from which I got this ingredient list, had to say in their review of the food, “This is a one star food at a five star price.” However, there were several responses to the review attesting that this diet helped the owner's dogs regain vitality and a renewed interest in life. One wonders what diets these dogs had been on before!
Holistic Treatments
These treatments are aimed at preventing or diminishing CCD or CDS. Good nutrition, regular exercise, regular mental stimulation, new situations, antioxidants, and additional vitamins (B & C) and herbal support all fall into the category of holistic treatments. Good nutrition is vital! You really are what you eat and if you eat crap, your body and brain will crap out on you! However, even dogs that have had a healthy diet can be afflicted with CCD. Then what? Keep feeding them the best variety of food available to you. Make sure they get fish. Remember that fish is a “brain food,” loaded with essential fatty acids necessary for a healthy brain. Make sure your pet eats some vegetables loaded with antioxidants every day and give them additional vitamin B and C.
Regular exercise is necessary for all animals. When we move we exercise not only our muscles, but also our brains. We literally are getting “the blood flowing” and feel better almost immediately. The same is true for our pets. Mental stimulation for our pets is as necessary for them as it is for us as we grow older. Don't wait until your dog has Cognitive Dysfunction to begin exercising his brain. The brain is a muscle and the less we use it the more it resembles gelatinous concrete! Take your pet to a new place and let him explore a new environment. New situations also stimulate the brain. Find a trainer and work with them to teach your old dog a new trick. If you have a retriever, give agility or flyball a try. If you have a couch potato, get him involved in obedience. Lure coursing, herding, rally obedience are all new to most of our pets. Be creative: the beach, a river or a lake, hiking, trail walking ~~ anything that will stimulate your pet’s brain and body. It needn't be hard exertion, just something new and interesting.
Acupuncture treatments have also been reported to be helpful in slowing down the progression of canine dementia.
Two holistic products are available via the internet. Nutri-Vet Healthy Brain for Dogs is an herbal formula that supports cognitive function and learning in older dogs by supporting cellular activity throughout the brain by maintaining normal neurotransmitter function . Memoractiv by Thorne Research for Cats and Dogs is also a natural supplement that can be helpful to dogs with CCD and contains ginkgo, Bacopa leaf, and Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) which helps support cognitive health. I can't recommend either product as I've never used them; however, certain herbs - gingko, oat, and the Ayurvedic herb Bacopa are among them - have been found to be helpful in supporting memory and learning. These herbs can be found in most health food stores.
One popular natural therapy for dogs with canine dementia is called CholodinR. It is a vitamin B choline supplement that has proved to be effective in reversing the signs of canine dementia. While I have never used CholodinR, my business partner has had her two senior dogs on this and swears to their improvement in a short period of time.
The progressive, degenerative course of canine dementia involves a gradual decline of cognitive abilities. This slow decline can make your dog gradually feel isolated and afraid, as well as become difficult to live with when he forgets his housetraining or sits in a corner and barks continually.
There is nothing sadder (or perhaps more terrifying) than the thought of losing one's mind. I can only imagine the despair our pets feel when their brains begin to betray them. The confusion must be terrible. We owe it to our pets to keep them healthy, and this means more than just shots at the vets every other year. It means keeping both their minds and bodies active and healthy through stimulation, nutrition, supplementation, and veterinary medical support – and not being afraid to investigate alternative means of fighting off or reversing signs of cognitive decline. Don't wait until it is too late, start taking appropriates steps now to keep your pet mentally sound.
