Senior Pets: Hope for Dogs with Senility

As dogs age, their owners may notice some behavior changes.  Many people attribute this to “just getting old” but researchers have identified physical and chemical changes that occur in the brain as it ages.  The disorder is labeled canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) by scientists.
CDS is diagnosed in dogs that have one or more of these behavioral changes without an underlying cause:

• Disorientation or confusion (wanders aimlessly, appears lost, gets “stuck” in places, stares at things, appears to forget people)
• Changes in social behavior (seeking attention less often, less enthusiasm on greeting people, walks away while being petted)
• Changes in sleep or activity (sleeping during day/awake at night, increased wandering or pacing, barking for no reason)
• Loss of housetraining (accidents in the house, forgets to ask to go outside, forgets why he is outside)

If you think your dog may have CDS, the first step is to have your dog evaluated by the doctor. Many health problems in older dogs can cause similar behavior changes and should be ruled out before a diagnosis of CDS can be made. 

Fortunately, there is a medication that can help with CDS. This medication works to correct the chemical imbalance in the brain, allowing the dog to think more clearly.  70% of dogs show improvement within one month of therapy.  Unfortunately, at this time, there is no medication available for cats with senility.