Is My Pet Senile?

Senility is a condition that affects people and animals alike.  Known as cognitive dysfunction syndrome in cats and dogs, it affects over 50 percent of dogs 10 years and older, and over 28 percent of cats 11 years and older.  Quite often, owners don't realize that there is a problem.  My beloved old dog, Bijoux, who is 14, has been showing signs of this disease for the past 4 months, so I thought that it would be helpful to share them with you.

Symptoms of cognitive dysfunction are similar to those of people with Alzheimer's disease:

• Change in sleep patterns - pacing and inability to sleep at night
• Confusion or disorientation - your dog may get trapped in corners, behind furniture, get lost in your own back yard, or stare into space.
• Urinating or defecating inappropriately in the house - even if your dog has just been outside, or your cat has an indoor litter tray
• Decreased activity levels
• Increased irritability
• Anxiety and apathy
• Increased vocalization
• Inability to respond to commands or do tricks

As you can see, the symptoms are vague, so it is important to keep a record of any abnormal behaviors that your pet is exhibiting.  Many other conditions can cause the symptoms listed above:  a urinary tract infection can cause inappropriate urination in the house; arthritis can lead to decreased activity levels and irritability; and deafness can make a pet unable to respond to commands.  To diagnose canine cognitive dysfunction, other diseases have to be ruled out through physical exam, urinalysis, blood work, and x-ray. 

Unfortunately we can't reverse the aging process, but medications can help to slow down the progression of cognitive dysfunction.  These medications are not licensed in cats, but have been used with some success.  There are also prescription diets available for both cats and dogs to help treat cognitive dysfunction.