Dog Dementia

Dogs are mans best friend. We take care of them making sure that our dogs are well treated and loved.  However dogs are like humans too, they get old and get sick. Dog dementia is one sad thing to witness for a dog to go through with as they aged.

In 1990s its been known that canine brains mirror those seen in people suffering from
dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. Dog dementia is a cognitive dysfunction syndrome. It's a loss of brain function affecting the thinking, and behavior. As a dog aged, they may show behaviors which is similar to their childhood.

Now what causes these to happen? When Beta-amyloid plaque accumulate in the brain, it
deteriorates mental capacity of the dog leading to lack of memory to behavioral decline. Having low neurotransmitters, the brain will not function well. Not enough blood on the brain and free radical can harm the brain cells, leading to dementia. With the causes we have for this disease, its actually hard to hard to prevent it. We may sense if our dogs are going through this sickness and the least thing we can do is to compassionately deal with it, given that theirs no cure.

Being observant will pay off on how to manage dog dementia. Notice your dog. Does your dog
having problem walking? Do you get late response when you call them? Any issues on your dogs visual? Or any unusual actions that can be a sign of dementia? If so, always take into consideration on how you can make it easy for your dog to cope with it.

You should keep the dog in as familiar places so he is not confused by new things. Since its not curable we can lessen the dementia behavior by getting the dogs on vitamin therapy,changing the dog food diet by reducing fat and protein. Bond with your dog in a way that they will enjoy and will also help in decreasing anxiety. Walk your dog, it increase the brain blood flow. Talk to your dog, they are like humans too, it will give them a sense of security and care. Visit your local veterinary to check on your dog health from time to time.

Like humans, old dogs needs special attention and care. Dementia can be a frustrating part of life cycle for a dog, and as for your loyal friend it may also frustrate you on how hard to deal with it. The dog is your best friend try to make it as a moment to emphasize the love you had to take care of it since it was little because the dog needs you now even more .

Dog Dementia | Canine Cognitive Dysfunction | Canine Alzheimer's

Like human beings, dogs also suffer from Senile Dementia as they grow older. The most common causes of dog dementia are Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome or CDS and Canine Alzheimer’s Disease, which can be quite common among dogs of advanced age. And like senility among people, dog dementia can be very difficult to cope with. However, given the right measures, the effects of this disease may be mitigated and thus make life for both the owner and his dog a little bit easier.

The first thing that needs to be done is to recognize the problem. Among the first signs of senility in a dog are sudden bouts of confusion and staring off into the distance. If the owner recognizes these signs then he or she will be in a much better position to be patient with the dog, and as the problem worsens, the need for a patient, caring attitude will only become more important.

For example, a dog may have trouble remembering where its bowl is and may end even more confused than before. To remedy this problem, the owner will need to accompany the dog to the bowl and see how well it does. In some severe cases, the dog cannot even remember whether it has eaten or not, despite having done it only minutes ago. As a result, the dog may demand to eat or drink more than what is healthy, which can only lead to even more dog health problems.

In addition to feeding, there is also the problem of the dog having trouble figuring out where the toilet is, not to mention figure out whether or not it’s time to go. And since, dog dementia leads to repetitive action, it goes without saying that the owner will need to help his or her dog with its toiletry, otherwise things can get messy.

Aside from confusion, it’s entirely possible that the dog may become overly aggressive or irritable because of dementia. This is particularly true in cases wherein the dog is confused and has forgotten who its owners are. Because of this, it’s best not to expose the dog in potentially tense situations, such car rides or places with loud noises, as that may only heighten its confusion. And although this ultimately means missing out on the fun activities which you used to do together, it’s also important to remember that dogs who are suffering dog dementia have special needs also.

And lastly, you should consider how dog dementia can influence your dog’s sleeping patterns. It’s entirely possible for the dog to begin sleeping at irregular hours and to begin following unpredictable and erratic schedules.

This can result in a number of errant behaviors, not the least of which are whining, howling and/or barking. So if you’re dog seems to be doing a lot of these then it’s possible that it’s suffering from dog dementia. Sometimes, the dog may even try to go out for a walk in the middle of the night.

At any rate, dog dementia has no cure. That’s the truth. There may be some supplements available to help him sleep or to help with nutrition, but at the end of the day, dealing with dog dementia is something which an owner may have to face up to on a 24 hour basis.