Content
- What is senile dementia?
- Senile Dementia Symptoms in Dogs
- Treatment of Senile Dementia in Dogs
- Follow the dog with senile dementia
When we decide to welcome a dog into our home, we know that this relationship will give us many positive moments that result in the beautiful bond between a person and their pet, however, we also accept the great responsibility of giving our animal an excellent state of health. and well-being.
Dogs are susceptible to numerous diseases, and as with us, some of them are directly linked to the aging process as is the case with older dogs, and although it is very nice to have our pet by our side for a long time, this one it also requires more attention on our part.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we talk about Symptoms and Treatment of Senile Dementia in Dogs.
What is senile dementia?
Elderly dogs begin their aging process between 6 and 10 years old, although it is true that large-breed puppies age earlier than smaller ones. The aging process in the dog is associated with a progressive loss of some functions, such as those associated with the sense of sight and hearing, with the sense of smell being the last to diminish its capacity.
Senile dementia is a disorder that affects older dogs with some frequency and normality and is a disease that can also be observed in humans as they age. Senile dementia is a cognitive dysfunction, which translates as follows: the dog begins to lose its ability to reason.
Senile Dementia Symptoms in Dogs
The symptoms of senile dementia in dogs can also be observed in other pathologies of various natures, so if you observe any of these manifestations in your pet, you should urgently seek out your veterinarian. You senile dog behaviors are as follows:
- The dog does not orient itself well in space, it gets lost in familiar places, cannot overcome obstacles and walks to the wrong side of the door (it tries to get out on the hinge side)
- Decreases the response to various stimuli, there is loss of interest and does not like human contact, although on the contrary, it can develop a behavior of great attachment.
- He has a lost look and walks without any concrete objective.
- He is restless and restless, sleeps during the day and walks at night.
- It takes time to respond or does not respond to commands, it takes time to recognize family members.
- Shows changes in appetite.
- Start taking care of your needs indoors.
Owners suffer a lot from their dog's senile dementia, as they progressively see it as decrease the faculties of this, but far from isolating the sadness that this may cause us, we must do everything possible so that our pet passes this stage with the highest quality of life possible.
Treatment of Senile Dementia in Dogs
Veterinary care is essential, the doctor will conduct a thorough behavioral and physical exploration to verify the diagnosis of senile dementia or cognitive dysfunction syndrome.
In case the diagnosis is confirmed, we should clarify that senile dementia there is no cure, but it is possible to palliate its symptoms to improve the quality of life of the elderly dog.
As we will see later, the owner has a lot to say about the treatment of senile dementia, since the use of drugs is reserved for those cases in which the degeneration is not severe, otherwise the response to the pharmacological treatment can be practically null.
If the veterinarian decides to prescribe a pharmacological treatment, he usually uses the following drugs:
- MAOI (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors): This group of drugs, by inhibiting this enzyme, reduces the action of free radicals, which has a neuroprotective function.
- Ginko Biloba: It is the most natural treatment since it is a plant extract that improves blood flow to the brain and with it the cognitive functions.
- Nicergoline: This active ingredient increases blood flow to the brain and decreases the release of free radicals, which also exerts a neuroprotective effect.
Follow the dog with senile dementia
If you are the owner of an elderly dog suffering from senile dementia, far from being frustrated, you should know that you can do a lot to improve your pet's quality of life:
- Stimulation of the sense of touch is vitally important, pet your puppy whenever you can, as long as you don't interrupt his rest.
- Taste stimulation is also important, there is nothing better to feed a dog with senile dementia than homemade, tasty and fragrant food.
- The senile dog perceives its surroundings as something threatening and generates anxiety in the face of obstacles it cannot overcome. Try to ensure that your environment does not have barriers that hinder your mobility.
- Respect your dog's sleep cycle. If you are wandering around at night, try to provide a safe environment so that you can do it safely.
- Love him as you never did, and above all, never recriminate his behavior.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.