Does Your Pet Have Dementia?

Odd as it may sound, pets are also subject to dementia, just like humans are.

Unfortunately, most cases of dementia are simply chalked up to a pet's particular personality or even to a medical reason. Whilst it is sometimes true that your cat enjoys scratching furtively in their litter box before deciding that the carpet in your living room is a much better place to relieve herself; or that your dog always seems to lose his toys, these signs are also true in the case of pet dementia.

Dementia, otherwise known as cognitive dysfunction, is quite prevalent in pets these days.

Cause of Pet Dementia

The hospital director at the Cape Cod Veterinary Associates in South Yarmouth, Maine,
Dr. Thomas M. Burns, believes that there is no known cause of this progressive disorder, stating that:

"Among the suspected culprits is vascular damage leading to hypoxia in the brain, beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, oxidative stress or modification of proteins in the brain."

Hypoxia arises when a specific region of a pet's body is deprived of an sufficient oxygen supply.

Dr. Burns also states that companion pets these days are actually living longer lives, due to improvements in veterinary care as well as nutrition. However, the down side to this is dementia.

"With an increasing senior pet population, we are seeing more pets with apparent dementia," Dr. Burns says.

Recently, a veterinary study discovered over 25% of cats aged 11-14, and over 50% of cats over the age of 15 experienced at least one senior onset of a behavioral problem.

"In dogs, cognitive dysfunction can develop as early as age 10," Dr. Burns says. "However, it is usually seen in dogs that are older."

Medications

Dr. Burns further stated that the published data described a few prescription veterinary medications that have proven to be helpful in slowing down the full onset of dementia in pets.

Such medications include Selegiline or Anipryl for both cats and dogs. Newer veterinary medications like Senilife and Novofit have also shown some progress too.

"There is some anecdotal evidence that diet can help early to moderate cognitive dysfunction," he says, though he is unaware of any definitive study that's been conducted to determine if nutrition affects the progression of the disease.

Dr. Burns recommends that dogs with known dementia be fed Prescription Diet Canine Brain Diet made by Hill's, a leading manufacturer of pet foods. According to Hill's, this diet has been specifically formulated with a mixture of antioxidants and other nutrients, like Omega-3 fatty acids, so as to combat the symptoms that are associated with cognitive dysfunction and advancing age in dogs.

"Veterinarians first must rule out underlying medical conditions that could mimic the clinical signs of cognitive dysfunction," Burns emphasizes.

Such conditions include kidney disease, liver disease, high blood pressure and diminished vision or hearing.

"Only after a thorough senior evaluation, that includes laboratory work and testing - such as blood pressure = can a patient be considered to have cognitive dysfunction," Burns says. "There is no definitive test for cognitive dysfunction. It is diagnosed by exclusion of other medical conditions."

Preventing Pet Dementia

Writer, Steve Dale, explains that the symptoms of dementia in pets is quite similar to those witnessed in humans. Dale uses the acronym DISH (disorientation, interaction, sleep, house-training) to explain the incapacitating condition.

Dale uses the example of dog with dementia who appears confused, disoriented and forgets the location of his food or water dish and subsequently bumps into furniture.

Pets with dementia may suddenly stop being so affectionate and will withdraw into themselves; introverted pets who have dementia will do the opposite – they will become rather vocal and demand more attention.

It is recommended that senior dogs and cats should be examined once every 6 months. It is also suggested that pet owners try to keep their pets as mentally stimulated as possible in order to keep their brains sharp.

Photo Credit: me'nthedogs