[Dailydrool] Old Folks Home and Canine Cognitive Dysfunction

[Pat Dill]

Riche asked about those who've had dogs with Old Timers Disease in 
conjunction with Ethel's symptoms.

Our most recent experience (about 3 years ago) with doggie senility was 
Abbey, whom we adopted at the age of 13. She went to the bridge at 16.  When 
she began to stand in the corner and stare at the wall and to stand on the 
patio barking randomly, we took her to the vet, who after examining her 
presumed it was CCD.  We put her on Anipryl, and after several weeks saw a 
definite improvement in her behavior.  She was more engaged, more "there" 
with us.  After 6-8 months, she began to deteriorate again.  This time we 
took her to a holistic vet, who gave us a Chinese herbal supplement to 
address the condition.  We weaned her off the Anipryl as we began the new 
treatment.  Again, we saw definite improvement.  Six months later, she began 
to deteriorate, and the holistic vet suggested that we add Anipryl back in 
addition to the herbs.  There was some improvement, not as much this time, 
and the kicker was she began to lose her appetite (as though food was no 
longer the most important priority in her life).  The last several months of 
her life we had to work hard at maintaining her weight, and her diet 
consisted mainly of things like cheese, roast beef, pasta, etc.  (At that 
point, eating ANYTHING was better than eating nothing.)  In the end she 
began to get seizures which we interpret as progressive brain disease from 
the CCD, and we had to help her to the bridge.  Prior to the brain seizures, 
she showed absolutely no signs of distress or pain and was in fact one of 
the happiest dogs we ever had, right up to the end.

The symptoms you describe certainly sound like CCD, including the 
obliviousness to the fact that a cage is already occupied by another dog 
when she climbs in.

In our opinion the meds were well worthwhile, as they improved her quality 
of life for well over a year.  If you are interested in the Chinese herbs, 
contact me off list and I will give you the information on how to obtain 
them.  Your vet will have to contact the manufacturer, as they are not 
available except through veterinarians.

Pat Dill
Proud to be loved by Rosie, Sadie, Bailey and Sampson