Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome

Re: Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:03:38 GMT

[quote user="mariette asselbergs"]

I would agree on the painkillers but why an x ray? What do you expect to see in an 16 year old skeleton? Bone wear and tear. What counts is if painkillers help or not.

Mariette

[/quote]

The reason I suggested xrays is because not every owner knows what their dog does 24/7. For instance if a dog had injured himself at night or had an accident when the owners were out of the house. Again, I cheerfully admit it's unlikely, but just a possibility. You can't know what's in there if you don't look! It's of course a clinical judgement, and I agree I wouldn't xray every dog. Still, if you need clinical data you need clinical data.

Re: Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome

Julian Earl — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:13:59 GMT

[quote user="Kate Richardson"]

Diazepam just before bed?

[/quote]

Owners or the dog?

Re: Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome

Kate Richardson — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:57:02 GMT

Diazepam just before bed?

Re: Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome

Julie Innes — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:54:11 GMT

Feel a bit sad reading this, as I finally put my old dog to sleep last year with similar symptoms

He would pace, constantly, and had no awareness of who any of us were. I tried selgian, vivitonin, NSAIDs, tramadol, all to no avail. He pottered on for about a year but was eventually becoming too distressed and confused, despite being relatively fit and "well" (for a 16 and a half yo dog) Hard decision to make, and every sympathy with the owners. Hope you do find something that works- will watch with interest (just in case my 12 yo dog starts going the same way in the next few years)

Re: Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:58:57 GMT

Kennel the dog outside.

Re: Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome

james herriot lied — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:26:00 GMT

Aktivait.

Surprising how often / well it works. Selgian was originally marketed as a treatment for cds, alongside the sponsored cds website, but it seems that - in the UK at least - this has been largely dropped in favour of BT efficacy.

Vivitonin is another drug for which the marketing direction seems to have shifted - it's now seen as an effective bronchodilator in its own right, and the hard-to-quantify effects on cerebral blood flow and cognitive function seem to have taken a back seat.

Really, truly - give aktivait a go.

Re: Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome

Rachael Winder — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:12:14 GMT

Sorry, should have mentioned. The dog has been trialled with both tramadol and nsaids for couple weeks at a time with no improvement. He will sleep for several hours at a time duing the day as long as someone is nearby, according to the owner. From what they are saying his behaviour almost seems like a form of separation anxiety- when owners are around ( although they work, there are various family members about most of the day) he will settle, is content, will sleep and behave normally, but when they settle for the night he seems restless and distressed.

Thanks for the help :-)

Re: Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome

Claire McConnell — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:49:10 GMT

I personally would try vivitonin - although it does not work in all dogs it has probably helped a lot in about (real aproximation here) 40% of thepatients I have tried it in. I accept 40% isn't amazing but I have had a couple of near PTS patients due to owners finding it difficult to tolerate situations anymore and it has "saved" some of them an dimproved qol of both owner and pet.

But also agree to look for pain/trial nsaids etc

Re: Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome

mariette asselbergs — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:40:04 GMT

I would agree on the painkillers but why an x ray? What do you expect to see in an 16 year old skeleton? Bone wear and tear. What counts is if painkillers help or not.

Mariette

Re: Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome

Bob Russell — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:39:14 GMT

Dogs that are restless at night should definitely be assessed for pain. I have had quite a few dogs over the years that settle and sleep well after introducing some pain relief.

Agree with Mark wholeheartedly!

Re: Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:50:54 GMT

What's the bed like? You don't mention any history of arthritis, maybe he's sore and can't get comfortable. Just because they don't limp doesn't automatically mean no pain; maybe an xray?

(Perhaps this is unlikely but I was caught out once in a similar case so I tend to be wary in old dogs of diagnosing cognitive dysfunction without a good look at the bones!)

Re: Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome

Sarah Wheadon — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:26:32 GMT

We've used a dose of alprazolam at bedtime in a couple of cases. It's worked well and gave one of our receptionist's dogs 3 months of good quality life he wouldn't have had otherwise.