What is senile dementia?
Senile dementia in dogs or cognitive dysfunction syndrome is a degenerative disease that has no cure. However, you can take measures to improve your pet’s life quality. Senile dementia is related to brain age and the symptoms include memory loss, reduction of learning capacity and stimuli response.
What causes senile dementia in dogs?
The exact cause exact of senile dementia is not entirely known. Experts believe that there is a genetic predisposition to suffer the disease.
What are the symptoms of senile dementia in dogs?
Dogs suffer the same symptoms of senile dementia as humans. However, the symptoms of senile dementia in dogs may not be so easy to detect. Sometimes, aging is thought to be a major cause.
Symptoms can be:
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Disorientation
- Sleep cycles unrest
- Irritability
- Lack of desire to play
- Forgetting signs or codes he recognized before
- Loss of appetite
- Motor difficulties
- Not moving when someone opens the door
- Lack of response to commands he was trained for
- Lack of response to his name
- Difficulty to learn things new
- Walking into walls or corners and staying there
- Fecal or urinary incontinence
How must I care for a dog with senile dementia?
You must pay attention to the signs that indicate you that your dog is suffering from senile dementia. For example, when a dog has hearing loss, this can cause him a lot of anxiety. In this case, you can train him to learn to respond to signals. Establishes a strict schedule for meals, rest, and other activities. This order can be very therapeutic for disoriented dogs.
Your vet will probably prescribe medication to improve your dog´s cognitive ability. This includes supplements with antioxidants, selenium, vitamin C and E, beta-carotene, carnitine, and Omega-3.
If you want to get in touch with the best vet for your dog, you will find a handy interactive guide here in Dogalize so you can find veterinary clinics in your area. Follow us and find out the latest information on dog care and the like.