How to Manage Old Dog Dementia

'You can't teach an old dog new tricks' very often because old dogs get senile dementia which is very similar to that which humans get, involving deficits in short term memory, 'slow' thinking, and just acting 'strange'. Old dog dementia is common, often linked to other diseases, but can be managed more easily and effectively than most people think.

Things You'll Need

• Dog
• Pharmacy, vitamins, dog food
• Ongoing healthy relationship with health care professional

Instructions

How to Manage Old Dog Dementia

1. An 'old dog' can be an animal at age of 9 if a Great Dane, or 14 if smaller breed. In general, the smaller the size or breed, the longer the life span. Assess where you dog is at in terms of his/her health and the body senses. Can the dog see as well as it used to? Do the pupils constrict when light is shone directly into the eyes? Does the dog bump into objects in a room, particularly one she is used to when you re-arrange the furniture? Does the dog hear as well as it used to? Does he/she walk with an abnormal gait? (Stiff gaits often reflect arthritis or hip dysplasia, exaggerated 'ataxic' steps often associated with vertebral or neurological problems). Is the kidney and liver working well? Abnormalities in these are detected best by blood work at a vet clinic, often associated with increased drinking, yellow or pale gums, or increased urination with abnormalities in the urine. Is the dog producing low amounts of thyroid hormone (making dogs slow down and susceptible to skin problems) or excess amounts of cortisol from the adrenal glands (decreasing muscle mass, increasing drinking/urinating and causing dogs to be 'hyper in the head' despite deteriorating body condition and general health)? Is your dog developing diabetes? (sugar in the urine is the best indicator of this).

2. One you have ruled out or taken into consideration any diseases associated with old age, keep the dog in as familiar surroundings as possible so he is not confused by too many new things.

3. Consider vitamin therapy. It has been clearly shown that vitamin E (400 units per day in medium-sized dog, two times a day) can minimize dementia-related behaviors (slow thinking, depressed, aggressive, not remembering things, un-coordinated activities) along with thiamine (vitamin B1, in doses of 100 mg/day for a large dog, scaled down to 20 mg/day in small breeds under ten pounds).

4. Reduce protein and fat in the diet by changing to a senior feed, made by a commercial pet food company (NOT a private label product which is cheaper, but which contains more plant than animal protein). Keep in mind that ammonia is a byproduct of protein digestion and metabolism, and that if the liver is not functioning right, this ammonia can build up in the blood and damage brain cells. Keep in mind as well that kidneys filter toxins and that the less they have to work, the more easily they do this vital job.

Tips & Warnings

• Old dogs become more 'human' as they get older, requiring special attention and care.

• Research in human dementia is yielding data which is very applicable to aging dogs.

• You can read into a dog's behavior problems whatever you want to or are afraid of most. Please consult professional or otherwise proficient animal health care providers if in any doubt about how to make your dog feel as young as possible in her older year.