Page 2 - Autumn 2011

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...to the autumn edition of Small Talk! With Bonfire Night
fast approaching we have an article looking at noise
phobia and what we can do to help our pets. We also
have articles discussing some of the conditions our pets
may suffer from when they become older; diabetes,
kidney disease and behavioural changes. Finally, we all
know our pets like treats and most pet owners know that
chocolate can be toxic to dogs. Our toxic treats article
shares advice on other foods that may harm our pets.
Welcome...
H
umans are not alone in suffering from age related behavioural
changes. Both cats and dogs are susceptible to brain changes
during their later years. These changes lead to a decline in mental
awareness that is far more severe than that expected due to age alone.
This condition is often referred to as cognitive dysfunction syndrome -
and may be regarded most simply as a type of senility.
In dogs the signs of cognitive dysfunction syndrome usually appear
slowly and creep into their behavioural patterns. These subtle changes
may initially go unnoticed. Dogs may become unresponsive to their
name being called and not simply because of their hearing deteriorating,
or may refuse to participate in their favourite games like they used to.
Some dogs suffer with confusion and can even get lost in their own
garden or on their daily walk. They sometimes just sit and stare at the
wall or sleep all through the day and pace the house at night. Toilet
training may also be lost and a perfectly house trained dog may start
to mess inside the house or in their beds. As an owner, it can be very
worrying to see your pet lose interest in life like this and watch your
relationship slip away. Cats may also lose their litter training and start
to urinate in strange places round the house. Grooming becomes less
frequent and their coat may develop mats. Cats can become more vocal,
with louder or more confused crying round the house, especially during
the night. They may even become quite grumpy and avoid human
contact. These symptoms can be caused by a number of very treatable
medical conditions, so an accurate diagnosis by a veterinary surgeon
is always worthwhile. Similar signs can be seen with arthritis, cystitis,
diabetes, thyroid disease, renal disease and other rarer neuronal
diseases. Cognitive dysfunction syndrome is often a diagnosis of
exclusion, so your vet may need to check for concurrent disease
before a treatment plan is agreed upon.
Even in humans, these ageing changes are challenging to treat.
In pets, treating cognitive dysfunction syndrome can include
medical therapy or dietary therapy. Medical therapy includes drugs
to increase the blood supply to the brain and increase mental
awareness, or drugs that alter the level of dopamine in the brain which
has a direct effect on brain activity. Please contact your vet for any
further advice regarding the treatment of old age change in your pets.
Senile Behavioural
Changes
Mark Bayliss BVMS, MRCVS,
Ardene House Veterinary Practice
Firew
and Noise P
Fear of noises such as thunder and fireworks is a common
problem in dogs and will start early on in life with noises
encountered on a daily basis that make us jump. We know
where the noise comes from, our pets don't and noises such
as fireworks are similar to things like cars backfiring, slamming
doors, high pitch alarms - all of which attract our hearing,
let alone our pets with their sensitive hearing. What may be
worse is that the pet may associate the noise with other things
which they may then become fearful of too. Being attuned to body
language, your pet may also pick up on your nervousness and
if you reassure them and comfort them during these problems,
they may believe there really is something to be fearful of. This
makes it even more likely that they will become more frightened
by fireworks.
What we can do to help
Firstly, whilst you may want to comfort your pet, you should
actually try not to because you may well be suggesting that their
fear is normal. Equally, do not punish them. It really isn't their fault
if they are scared and have an accident. Instead, try to behave as
normally as possible and try to do things that the pet enjoys.
Medications:
There are a number of medications that can help your pet.
We do try to avoid straightforward sedation, but a number of