Senility in Dogs
Canine Senility
As pet dogs are reaching much older ages than in the past, more and more cases of canine senility are being noted. As with older people, this may range from absent-mindedness to more bizarre behaviors. Some of the more commonly seen behaviors are listed below:
- Restlessness and waking at night.
- Barking for no particular reason, especially at night.
- Confusion, e.g., asking to be fed despite having been offered food shortly before, pacing around the house with no purpose, barking at well-known family members as if they are strangers, not recognizing familiar places.
- Disorientation, e.g., getting lost in familiar places or getting stuck in corners or rooms.
- Reduced interaction and playing with people, increased daytime sleeping.
- Inappropriate house soiling, e.g., messing in the house despite ready access to the outdoors.
What can be done to help canine senility?
The solution to these problems is to supplement your dog’s diet with antioxidants. The supplement we recommend is a product called Aktivait (produced by VetPlus, www.vetplus.co.uk ). It is a formula of antioxidants and compounds to maintain healthy brain function and comes in capsule form, sprinkled on food. It has a loading period of 3-4 weeks before its benefits will be fully seen, and it often results in marked improvements in the behavior and quality of life of older dogs.
Our vets can also prescribe drugs that work to increase blood flow to the brain and increase oxygenation of brain cells, increasing their function and reducing symptoms. Please contact us if you would like to discuss possible treatments further.
Senility can disturb the whole household and result in family members getting upset with the loved family pet, at times even considering euthanasia if symptoms start getting too severe. However, there are many options that can be explored, and these should always be discussed with a vet before making any rash decisions.
If you would like to have a chat about your dog’s symptoms with one of our pet health professionals, please contact us or register online.