Veterinary Medicine - July 2008 - (Page V4)

S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and cognitive dysfunction in dogs go away with older animals. In addition, research suggests that training and enrichment can slow the progress of cognitive dysfunction in dogs. For dogs already su ering some of the e ects, providing simple, clear, direct cues so they know what is expected and giving short enrichment exercises may work. Keeping them focused and providing easy-to-follow instructions are important for these pets. Landsberg: Also, pain management might be critical in keeping an older pet’s life enriched; if it’s not in pain, an older pet can move around more. Feeding and manipulation toys are good options for older dogs. Taking walks instead of runs, and playing tug games instead of chase games are all alternative forms of enrichment for senior dogs. Florsheim: You must provide these pets with clear cues and instructions and a stricter social structure. Owners may need to take the dog out more frequently or may need to start placing the pet in its crate again, if it was originally crate trained. Feeding toys are good, but for dogs with cognitive dysfunction, keep them simple; they may candles or aromatherapy products such as lavender to help the pet nd its way around. Owners can make many adjustments to keep dogs enriched and functional. Use rewards, not punishment. And be very consistent. Dramard: I tell owners not to shout at their dogs. Old dogs can become quite depressed. The owner must be quiet, calm, and empathetic to avoid stressing the dog. When the dog doesn’t sleep well, the owner should increase its activity during the day. The dog will be more tired at night and might sleep better. Let the dog sleep in the owner’s bedroom; old dogs can become anxious, so perhaps sleeping close to the owner would help it sleep better. improving learning and memory tests in dogs. Most of these drugs, however, have side e ects or are cost-prohibitive and are not currently licensed or available for use in dogs. Mischoulon: In people, cholinesterase inhibitors are a temporary treatment measure. They gently alter the course of the illness and slow its progress. There is no evidence that they stop or reverse the illness. The earlier you institute the treatment, the better the outcome. Landsberg: What other drugs or psychotropic agents do you recommend to help with restlessness and sleepwake cycles? Dramard: Some veterinarians use a drug like acepromazine or diazepam, but I do not feel that it is advisable to give sedatives to older pets because you can depress them more and worsen any cognitive dysfunction. A drug such as clomipramine or uoxetine could be used. It should take e ect after a few days. I think it is better to use a psychotropic or antidepressant drug if you see signs of anxiety or depression. Landsberg: So for chronic anxiety, ongoing agitation, or ongoing depression in an elderly pet, you might need these drugs. However, as we mentioned, you have to be careful with anticholinergic drugs and be sure to discontinue selegiline before using clomipramine or uoxetine. For shortterm use, are there other drugs that are shorter acting and don’t take a few days or weeks to take e ect. Florsheim: You could use a benzodiazepine, such as alprazolam. Landsberg: So it is okay to use a shortacting drug just before speci c events such as bedtime, thunder anxiety, or departure anxiety. Dr. Mischoulon, you treat depression, mood disorders, and anxiety in older people. Where do psychotropic drugs t in when treating your senior patients? Mischoulon: Psychotropic drugs are a mainstay of treatment. Depression Drug therapy Bottiglieri: Do you use acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in dogs? I know these have limited success in people. Landsberg: At CanCog, a private company in Toronto, Ontario, Joseph Araujo is doing his PhD thesis on muscarinic decline in the brain of senior dogs and has researched the e ects of scopolamine on cognition in older dogs.5 He found that when old “The earlier you institute the treatment, the better the outcome.“ - Dr. David Mischoulon not be able to use the more complex ones. When taking older dogs outside, be sure they aren’t overstimulated. Rather than taking them to a park with 50 other dogs, stay in the front yard and give them short periods of exercise. Landsberg: If a pet can’t walk well, put ramps in. If the pet can’t see or hear well, use odor cues such as scented dogs are given anticholinergic agents, their ability to perform learning and memory tasks declines very rapidly. Young dogs are not a ected in the same way. If a cholinergic decline is a component of cognitive dysfunction in older dogs, giving anticholinergic compounds can cause learning and memory problems for them. Early studies on cholinesterase-inhibiting compounds showed some promise in 4

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Veterinary Medicine - July 2008

Veterinary Medicine - July 2008 Contents Leading Off Practical Matters Idea Exchange Clarification Dental Corner The Diagnostic Approach to Hematuria Guidelines for Evaluating Hypercalcemic Cats CE Form Advertiser Index Marketplace/Classifieds Mind Over Miller

Veterinary Medicine - July 2008

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