Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

[lolli94]

I have no experience with this, but they are beautiful!

[Freedom]

Thanks for sharing their photos. Abby is so proud sitting up tall! And Dep, he looks like a nice fella.

I didn't mean just talk to him, sorry. I was trying to explain where to touch him. As he has dementia, the instincts will remain longest, so something which never bothered him as a pet, may (MAY, I have no idea if they will) invoke an age old instinct, and help to confuse him.

Also, long slow strokes are calming, soothing, while short rapid pats are anxiety producing.

[Ezio]

Thanks for sharing their photos. Abby is so proud sitting up tall! And Dep, he looks like a nice fella.

I didn't mean just talk to him, sorry. I was trying to explain where to touch him. As he has dementia, the instincts will remain longest, so something which never bothered him as a pet, may (MAY, I have no idea if they will) invoke an age old instinct, and help to confuse him.

Also, long slow strokes are calming, soothing, while short rapid pats are anxiety producing.

You can really see the German Shepherd in her when she sits like that. Dep is one of those dogs that would make a perfect family dog (if he wasn't sick). Abby is going to be a mess when we lose him. She treats him like her puppy.

Oh, okay, sorry about the misunderstanding. Have you heard of any dogs with this having issues with aggression? I brought my concerns up to the vet when I saw him yesterday (cat got neutered) and he said it could happen. We had been talking about Dep's anxiety and how the meds might cause aggression.

This morning he was really forceful about wanting on my mom's lap (she said he was almost frantic and she had to use all her strength to keep him off (she has back problems and didn't' want to risk injury if he forgot how to get off again).

[Freedom]

I've not heard of dogs developing aggression issues, but I'm sure it could happen; it certainly does with humans who have dementia!

As for him being forceful about getting in her lap, that sounds more like a panic attack, at least the way you described it. Poor boy, so scared and knew he would find comfort in a human lap -- but picked the wrong human!

[lizbud]

You can really see the German Shepherd in her when she sits like that. Dep is one of those dogs that would make a perfect family dog (if he wasn't sick). Abby is going to be a mess when we lose him. She treats him like her puppy.

Oh, okay, sorry about the misunderstanding. Have you heard of any dogs with this having issues with aggression? I brought my concerns up to the vet when I saw him yesterday (cat got neutered) and he said it could happen. We had been talking about Dep's anxiety and how the meds might cause aggression.

This morning he was really forceful about wanting on my mom's lap (she said he was almost frantic and she had to use all her strength to keep him off (she has back problems and didn't' want to risk injury if he forgot how to get off again).

Is Dep on any medication right now? I was reading about a drug used to treat this problem. It's called Anipryl. ( generic is selegiline). Has your Vet recommended this?

[Freedom]

That a good medication to review and consider. By the time my vet suggested it for Marlin, he was too advanced, and passed 3 weeks later. So I really have no info on it, whether it helps or not.

[Ezio]

Is Dep on any medication right now? I was reading about a drug used to treat this problem. It's called Anipryl. ( generic is selegiline). Has your Vet recommended this?

That a good medication to review and consider. By the time my vet suggested it for Marlin, he was too advanced, and passed 3 weeks later. So I really have no info on it, whether it helps or not.

My vet doesn't carry it and says the results aren't that good (other people bought it online (1800PetMeds, Amazon) and the results weren't all that great). It also is really $$$ here and I don't have that kind of money (if it was a drug with a good success rate or necessary for life (cushings, diabetes,heart, I would find a way) and he is impossible to get supplements into (won't eat food that contains them (we tried multiple joint and "senior" supplements) and it takes two people to get a pill into him.

Vet also is not 100% sure that Dementia is what is going on. He's leaning that way since Dep does not have any physical symptoms (besides weight loss) and has never had a "noticeable" seizure.

[LeonilCraig]

Keeping pets active, physically and mentally (fight boredom with training exercises and interactive toys) and at a good weight throughout their life helps prevent CCD and promotes overall health.

[earllloyd]

I know Canine Cognitive Dysfunction happens when dog is around 10 years old, but your dog was early facing this problem. There's no way to prevent this Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, but you can do your best by mentally and physically stimulating your dog as much as possible.