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Doggie Dementia

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Doggie Dementia

Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCD) is a heart-breaking condition where a dog’s brain undergoes the process of ageing which may bring about a decline in their level of awareness, learning and memory capacity as well as their reaction to stimuli. The onset of symptoms is generally minor, but over time, they get progressively worse. Unfortunately, 50% of dogs older than 11 years of age display clinical signs of cognitive dysfunction. By the age of 15 years, 68% of dogs show at least one sign.

Signs and Symptoms

  • anxiety
  • increased irritability
  • reduced interest in playing
  • appetite loss
  • changes in sleeping patterns
  • disorientation and confusion
  • reduced learning capabilities
  • failure to recall learned house rules and training
  • urinary and faecal incontinence
  • reduced interest in self-grooming
  • unnecessary licking

Symptoms of CCD can coincide with age-related issues such as diabetes, arthritis, kidney conditions, cancer as well as sight and hearing loss so it’s important that you distinguish between the actual reasons your dog isn’t behaving as they used to. Perhaps they’ve stopped chasing their tail due to painful aches. On the other hand, it could be due to a progressive cognitive decline.

A very helpful acronym that helps pet parents decipher if there’s more than meets the eye to their pooch’s condition is DISHA. DISHA was created to assist owners in distinguishing the obvious CCD symptoms and changes.

  • Disorientation and Spacial Awareness Issues – One of the most common signs is when a dog gets confused in their familiar environment. They may crawl behind an object and be unable to get out from behind it; they may enter or exit through the wrong door or stare blankly at a wall instead of doing something they’d typically do at that time of day.
  • Interactions: Your pooch might usually be the social butterfly on the block, but you gradually notice that they begin snapping or growling at dogs or children they used to be friendly to. In order to discount any physical conditions that could potentially be causing them pain, such as diabetes or arthritis, your vet will need to take blood tests, X-rays and ultrasounds. Your pooch may not show as much enthusiasm towards activities or treats that they once used to.
  • Sleep-Wake Cycle Changes A change in normal sleep patterns is a common symptom of CCD. Many pooches appear to interchange their daytime activities with their night time activities. If, for example, your dog used to sleep soundly but now paces most of the night, try leaving a light on for them or playing white noise for them. If this is unsuccessful in aiding their sleep issues, consult your vet for medication that may restore their sleep pattern.
  • House Soiling If your pooch is house-trained and suddenly begins “doing their business” indoors, this could be a vivid indication of CCD. Your dog has most probably lost the ability to control their elimination or forgotten where to eliminate entirely. If diabetes, bladder infections or kidney issues have been discounted from the equation, one can presume there’s been a cognitive decline.
  • Activity Level Although most dogs tend to become less active with age, those with CCD exhibit changes in how they respond to people, sounds and other stimuli in their environment. They may not find the enthusiasm to greet or play with you as they once did, they may display repetitive motions such as walking in circles, bobbing of the head or shaking of the legs. This behaviour is usually linked to deterioration of the brain and less likely to be confused with other conditions. Pet parents should also acknowledge that something isn’t right if their usually serene pooch begins barking unexpectedly and unnecessarily.

If you notice anything peculiar along these abovementioned lines, consult your veterinarian immediately.

Diagnosis 

Your veterinarian will require a thorough account of your dog’s medical history as well as when you initially noticed associated symptoms and the nature thereof. It’s also useful to mention any likely occurrences that may have triggered the abnormal behaviour or complications. Once a physical examination has been conducted by your vet to assess your pooch’s overall health and cognitive performance, ultrasounds, X-rays and blood tests will be carried out to discount other conditions that may be linked to cognitive dysfunction syndrome.

Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no way to stop cognitive deterioration, but it is possible to decelerate the process so that the number of problems that potentially arise can be minimised.

By feeding your pooch a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and anti-oxidants, vitamin C and E, flavonoids, beta carotenoids, selenium and carnitine carotene as well as enhancing your furry loves one’s environment, you may increase their chance of cognitive improvement. Keeping your fur child mentally and physically stimulated with food puzzles, frequent scheduled play sessions, walks and socialising with other dogs, are vital to arouse their brain activity and enhance their learning and memory capabilities.

Your veterinarian may also prescribe psychoactive medication and dietary supplements to hinder your pooch’s cognitive decline. This will be introduced in accordance with your dog’s medical history and current health status.

Management

Your pooch should be regularly assessed by your veterinarian to evaluate how they are responding to treatment as well as if there have been any developments in their symptoms. You will need to update your vet immediately if any further changes in their behaviour arise. If, however, your dog’s behaviour appears stable, bi-annual check-ups will suffice unless further issues surface.  

Written for inFURmation
by Taliah Williamson

Your 1-year-old dog isn’t 7 human years old, contrary to the traditional math.

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Dogs live an average of 12 years. Life expectancy in humans, by contrast, is at least five times that.

That discrepancy is in part the basis for the common rule of thumb that one “dog year” is the equivalent of seven “human years.”

But according to a new study published in the journal Cell, that one-to-seven ratio is wrong. That’s because new genetic evidence shows puppies and younger dogs age faster than their older counterparts do.

That means you’ve probably been estimating your dog’s human age equivalent incorrectly.

A 6-year-old dog would be the human equivalent of about 60 years old, the researchers found.

“I like to take my dogs on runs, and so I’m a little bit more sympathetic to the 6-year-old now,” Trey Ideker, a co-author of the new study, said in a press release. “What’s surprising is exactly how old that 1-year-old dog is – it’s like a 30-year-old human.”

An 8-week-old puppy is the equivalent of a 9-month-old baby.

To come up with a better formula for comparing human and dog ages, Ideker’s team looked at chemical markers in the DNA of 104 labradors ranging from just weeks old to 16 years old.

Although an animal’s DNA does not change during its lifetime, these chemical markers – called methyl groups – do. As years pass, methyl groups accumulate in the DNA, causing certain genes to turn on and off. After tracking how these groups accumulate in different parts of labrador genomes over time, the researchers compared that accumulation rate to the same methyl group changes in humans.

Ideker’s team found that in dogs’ first year of life, the animals accumulate more methyl groups than humans do. So an 8-week-old puppy is equivalent to a 9-month-old baby.

Then as years pass, that accumulation rate slows down in dogs to better match humans’ accumulation rates – suggesting older dogs age more slowly once they get older.

Ultimately, one dog year isn’t equal to seven human years. In fact, in order to calculate your dog’s human age equivalent, you’ll need a calculator.

The researchers formula is: A dog’s human age = 16 ln * your dog’s age + 31. (The ln in this formula refers to the natural log of a number.)

Essentially, for each year older a dog gets, the corresponding increase in “human years” gets smaller and smaller.

So based on that formula, a 6-year-old lab is 60 human years old. But a 12-year-old lab is 70 human years old.

“If we think about aging in terms of how old our cells are, this new paper is really useful in matching up human and dog years,” Lucy Asher, an animal behaviour expert who was not affiliated with the study, told The Guardian.

Going forward, Ideker wants to replicate the study in other dog breeds that have different average lifespans.

It’s challenging to equate human and dog aging

The new research found that methyl groups accumulated on some of the same genes in dogs and people as the two species aged. This makes sense, according to the study authors, given that dogs share the same living environment as their owners and receive almost the same standard of healthcare.

But even so, age matching doesn’t apply to the two species’ hormones and behaviours.

“Whilst a 30-year-old human might have cells of an analogous ‘age’ to a 1-year-old dog, many dogs won’t be fully grown at this time and they will still have unsettled hormones and behaviour associated with puberty,” Asher told The Guardian.

So there’s a reason your 1-year-old canine won’t act his human age, and instead prefers to chase sticks and squirrels with child-like abandon.

“The development of dogs is not just a shortened version of the human development, which is why it’s difficult to find a clear match-up between a dog’s age and a human’s age,” Asher added

By: Aylin Woodward
Source: Business Insider US

 

Why our pets may be feeling the cold more than we think

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Why our pets may be feeling the cold more than we think

While the cold weather may bring many positives such as TV series marathons in bed and an excuse to have just one more mug of hot chocolate, what it can also unfortunately bring with it is a lot of discomfort to our fur babies. Winter can exacerbate existing ailments our pets may have such as arthritis and, while we may be able to verbalise our pain, unfortunately our pets can’t. When it comes to cats it’s especially difficult for pet parents to acknowledge their pain as they’re absolute masters of disguise – a survival instinct. “Caused by the wear and tear of cartilage and bone of the joints, arthritis, if not managed properly can become extremely painful and debilitating,” says Dr Guy Fyvie, Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s veterinary advisor.

He explains that pets are more likely to develop arthritis as they age, but at times can occur in younger pets as a secondary ailment due to an inherited disease such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, or trauma to cartilage and ligaments.

According to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), arthritis in pets is not a single ‘type’ of problem and presents differently in the growing, versus the middle-aged, versus the older cat or dog. Therefore, arthritis presenting at the different life stages requires a unique approach for optimal care. For example, in a growing dog surgical intervention may be the first line of treatment in an effort to limit the disease progression and the likelihood of pain in the future, whereas an older cat, for example, may require pain management and dietary changes. “We know arthritic cats are harder to diagnose, so signs pet parents should look out for is 1. sleeping all day, contrary to popular belief this isn’t normal. It’s called ‘slowing down,’ and is almost always pain related, and 2. look out for a scruffier coat especially around the tail area as they struggle to groom.”

It’s not all doom and gloom, however. Dr Fyvie says the good news is that there are plenty of things pet parents can do to reduce arthritis pain and improve their pet’s quality of life.

Weight management – Carrying a little extra weight can become a significant load on your pet’s joints and can increase the pain and stress on an already arthritic pet. Maintaining optimum weight should be a priority. If your pet’s weight is a concern, make an appointment with your vet. Your vet will objectively assess their weight, recommend nutritional and lifestyle changes if necessary, and prescribe pain relief or anti-inflammatory medication, as required. A food like Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic + Mobility can also help to support pets’ joints while assisting them in losing those extra kilos and maintaining a healthy weight.

Regular exercise – It’s hard for all of us to get up and move in winter – it’s just so cold. However, it’s important to maintain regular gentle exercise with our pets to keep their joints healthy and moving. A brisk walk with your dog when the winter sun is high, or a play session with your cat and an empty toilet roll will do wonders for everyone’s physical and mental wellbeing and is critical in the management of arthritis.

Comfortable bedding – Make sure your pet has a warm and sheltered area that is out of the cold, wet and wind. Winter nights make joint pain worse and a snug comfortable bed with extra blankets will allow your pet to relax while they’re lying down and recuperating. Just make sure your pet’s bed isn’t on a high level or is difficult to get in and out of, as this can put added pressure on their joints.

Avoid stairs – By minimising access to stairs, where possible, for really arthritic pets, can reduce unnecessary trauma. If stairs are unavoidable you may have to carry small pets up and down or use ramps around the house, if space allows. If jumping in and out of the car proves problematic for your larger dog, then consider a portable ramp to make this transition easier. For cats specifically, lower their food and water bowls for easy access or, if this isn’t possible, ensure there is a halfway jump to get up to them.

Nutrition – The food your pet eats plays an important role in their overall health and well-being.  Hill’s Prescription Diet j/d and mobility range of foods for dogs and cats are made with high levels of specific Omega-3 fatty acids, Glucosamine and Chondroitin, and is the only food clinically proven to improve mobility in as little as 21 days. For accurate diagnosis and treatment options, always consult your veterinarian and ask them to recommend the best food for your pet’s arthritis and joint health.

“Ideally, but unfortunately not in all cases, the management of arthritis should be a gentle one, involving a combination of the above approaches to optimise your pet’s comfort. The most important thing to remember though is to keep a close eye on your pet and if you notice any changes in their behaviour, make an appointment with your vet.  Prevention is always better than cure,” Dr Fyvie concludes.

For more information visit the Hill’s website

Media contact Republic PR | Julia Rice | julia@republicpr.co.za | 083 379 4633

Other posts by Hill’s Science Plan

Fight the effects of ageing in cats and dogs

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Hill's Pet Nutrition

Signs that your pet is ageing

As a ‘pet parent’ you may not like to think about the fact that your pet is getting older, perhaps because of the risks that come with age, such as cancer, arthritis, brain ageing and kidney disease. But even if your pet is ageing, he or she can now live a longer, healthier life thanks to better care and nutrition.

It’s not always easy to spot the signs that your pet is ageing. In fact in many cases pet parents often miss valuable “nutrition” years because there is little evidence of ageing at the age pets are considered “senior.”. If your pet is aged 7 and over they are considered senior. Large breed dogs reach the senior stage at age 5. “It’s not just what you see on the outside that counts. We know that inside every cell in the body, ageing is occurring,” says Dr Guy Fyvie, Veterinary Affairs Manager at Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Age-related changes start small and these small changes may seem unrelated, or at least unrelated to ageing, but if you’ve noticed your pet sleeping more or acting less excited about playtime, it’s likely that you’re actually seeing some signs of ageing. “The good news is that astute pet parents can spot the signs of ageing once they know the small changes to look out for,” adds Dr Fyvie.

Watch out for the tell TAILS signs of ageing:

  • Your pet may be confused by things that he/she used to experience easily before, such as locating their bed and bowls. They may also get stuck more frequently or find it difficult to pace around familiar obstacles like couches, coffee tables or even people. Your dog may bark for no reason.
  • Your pet may no longer be as interested in normal activities such as playing, running, grooming and exploring their environment. Instead, they may become restless and anxious, pacing around the house or fixating on objects or people.
  • Your older pet may stop socialising with you as much, losing interest in being petted, greeting you at the door or even sitting with you.
  • Loss of control. Kidney disease is common in older pets, particularly cats, and is a leading cause of illness. If your pet is drinking and urinating more, then this could be a sign that the kidneys are not functioning as they should. If you notice changes in your pets elimination routine – there should be cause for concern, it could be a sign of several conditions, including pain, bladder and kidney function and possible loss of brain function. Loss of weight and appetite can also be an indication of renal problems.
  • Sleep-Wake-Cycle. As your pet ages you may notice changes in their sleep patterns, which could indicate a brain dysfunction. This can include being awake more at night or sleeping more in the day. If your pet is restless or sleeps fitfully, there could be a problem.

The right nutrition can fight the effects ageing

The good news is that a simple change of food can make a big difference to an older pet.Through more than a decade of research into how nutrition impacts pets’ cell function, Hill’s has learned a lot about how the right food can help in fighting the effects of ageing.

Hill’s Science Plan Senior Vitality – formally known as Youthful Vitality – was developed with this in mind. This breakthrough nutrition is formulated with natural ingredients including fruits and vegetables, added fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and amino acids – all working together to fight signs of ageing.

  • Brain Function. Powerful antioxidants for a healthy brain to support desire for family interaction
  • Energy and Vitality. Protein and L-carnitine support improved activity and the ability to get moving
  • Healthy Immune System Vitamins C & E help bolster a strong immune system
  • Healthy Digestive System High quality, easy-to-digest ingredients with great taste
  • Luxurious Coat Essential fatty acids promote a coat with increased shininess and softness
  • No added artificial preservatives, flavours or colour.

Cutting-edge food science that transforms lives

In a clinical study1, pets fed Hill’s Science Plan Senior Vitality showed increased vitality, ability to get moving, running and playing, desire to interact and shinier, softer coats. In another in-house study, 70% of owners saw improvements in one or more signs of ageing after just 30 days.2

Hill’s Science Plan Senior Vitality is available for cats and mini, medium and large breed dogs in dry & delicious stews that cats and dogs love!

1 Clinical study conducted with 214 dogs aged 7-15 years and 82 cats from 8-15 years and with US veterinarians and pet owners.

2 In-House User Test study conducted with a prototype formulation (USA, 2015) via Applied Market Research (IMR) with 279 cats & dogs all above 7 years of age.

Source: Hill’s Pet Nutrition