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September: National Senior Pet Health Month
As you probably know by visiting this website, my dog Meeko is 13 years old. Making sure he stays healthy and vibrant now that he’s older is more important than ever. Like you, I want my pet around as long as possible!
You are going to notice some changes physically and emotionally as your pet ages. You may also notice some subtle behavior changes. If some of those changes are out of the ordinary, you may want to visit your veterinarian.
According to Petvets.com, a major source of behavior change in the aging dog, could be because of changes in the brain. This leads to the loss of cognitive abilities like thinking, memory, communication and problem solving. In some ways it resembles Alzheimer’s disease in humans. This generalized medical condition has been designated Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome or CDS for older dogs.
In the absence of any physical cause such as cancer, infection, or organ failure, Petvets says you should look for the following signs of possible CDS:
· Disorientation or confusion:
Your dog may wander aimlessly, stare out into space, or stand with his head in a corner; your dog may appear lost or confused in the house or yard;
· Decreased or altered responsiveness to family member:
Your dog may fail to respond to your attention, and stop seeking out attention;
he may be less enthusiastic in his greeting;
· Disturbances of the sleep-wake cycle:
Your dog may bark, whine or pace at night; he may persistently bark abnormally any time of the day; he may be sleeping more, or awake more at night;
· Decreased activity level:
Your dog may show less general interest in his usual activities;
· Deterioration in housetraining:
A normally housetrained dog is suddenly having “accidents”; your dog may signal less to go outside and may urinate or defecate indoors soon after being outside.
Anipryl, was approved by the USDA in December of 1998 to treat age-related behavior changes (although it has been on veterinary shelves to treat canine Cushing’s disease, a hormonal imbalance). It may prove to be a lifesaver for countless senior dogs and could significantly improve the quality of their declining years and the pleasure you take in your dog. By enhancing dogs’ functioning, Anipryl can prevent or reduce many of the symptoms of old age that can disrupt a household.
Given the possible benefits for CDS, Anipryl may well be worth trying when your dog is declining in ways that lead you to contemplate putting him or her down. If the normal course of aging and its difficulties are not disruptive for your household, you may not wish to consider medication. It’s a judgement call. But it’s nice to know that there’s help for your older pet and some of the often devastating signs of aging are not something we are forced to live with and accept anymore.
Note: This drug has been used for many years to treat humans with Parkinson’s disease. Interestingly, it has not shown any benefit for humans with Alzheimer’s.
Aarff.com Friends and Partners
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