Dementia.

shiba · 03-18-2007, 05:41 AM

We were told yesterday that my eldest Shiba (Gypsy 15) has the onset of Dementia,she paces around alot, seems in a daze from time to time, and has started to scream when she goes in the car,this is all part of the trapped nerve in her spine two years ago, we were told that it could affect her Brain, we are so sad for the little girl, the vet has given us a food type supplement, that he says works on some Dogs and not on others, we are to give it a months trial,she was examined by the vet and everything else seems to be ok, this is such a shame,in my heart of hearts I feel this is the beginning of the end, and the tears have not stopped , since I was told, but I must pull myself together for her sake, I will do my best for her, but I will not let her suffer, my other Dog knows something is wrong too, he keeps sniffing her, but is keeping a low profile.I hope the supplement will help.

lovemygreys · 03-18-2007, 08:23 AM

I'm sorry to hear about your girl

Our greyhound, Erin, has senility (or canine cognitive dysfunction as it is also diagnosed). About a year or so ago we discussed options with our vet and decided to try an holistic approach...increasing antioxidants and vit B(what it sounds like your vet it trying to accomplish through the food). We saw very little change/benefit

Other things you can do is try to keep her mentally stimulated with short walks/general attention and keep down the amount of stress and change in her life.

There is a prescription drug called Anipryl, which is also what's given to human Alzheimers patients, that has been successful in reversing CCD in many dogs. Our vet gave us the prescription, though he said he hadn't seen much benefit in the dog's he'd prescribed it for thus-far (admittedly not a lot)...but thought it was worth a try for Erin. I couldn't find a local pharmacy that carried it

so my vet just advised me to order it from 800-pet-meds. It can take up to 60 days to see results...and honestly, I 'm not sure our Erin has that long due to some other health issues

At any rate, that may be an option for your pup as well.

shiba · 03-18-2007, 10:32 AM

Thanks for the reply, I am also sorry to her that you may not have long with Erin, these are such tearful times, I will see how the food supplement goes, and if there is no improvement, it will be a matter of time,and her quality of life, I will not let her live in a dark and scarey place, which I believe it seems like to a Dog.

What was it that Rudyard Kipling said?

Brothers and Sister's I bid you Beware,
Of giving your heart to a Dog to tear.

RonE · 03-18-2007, 11:04 AM

Our lab Cubby was on Anipryl. I don't know if it helped, but he had more good days than bad, so maybe it did.

On really bad days he was a afraid of everything - even me. That was the most heartbreaking thing of all.

My wife, who has done a lot of geriatric nursing, was the most patient of any of us during those times. She got especially close to him during his last year or so and took his passing even harder than I did.

Good luck to you. I know you'll do the right thing for your old friend.

Elijah · 03-18-2007, 12:20 PM

Quote:

We were told yesterday that my eldest Shiba (Gypsy 15) has the onset of Dementia,she paces around alot, seems in a daze from time to time, and has started to scream when she goes in the car,this is all part of the trapped nerve in her spine two years ago, we were told that it could affect her Brain

Was an operation on such an "old timer" out of the question to possibly repair this? I don't know if this was even an option or not...just a thought.

shiba · 03-18-2007, 12:21 PM

Thanks Ron,Gypsy is on a food supplement to coat the nerves, and feed the brain, it is called Aktviait, it is so sad to see her pacing around all the time, I try to play with her but she is mostly not bothered, I can't let her go on like this indefiitly, the vet said that although she has weak hind legs,(due to her spine fusing) this is not life threating, but in the end he said we may have to make the decision for her.

Elijah, the trapped nerve, was caused when two disc's fused in her back, trapping the nerve, it was an awful time I thought I was going to lose her then, the vet kept her at the clinic for a week,she was so weak when she came home, we were told to keep her in a cage and carry her outside to do her Business, she remained in the cage for six weeks then was allowed to walk around the lounge for 30 minutes each evening, she got stronger,and learned to walk again, it left her with weak hind legs, but she was ok, and happy and pain free,that was just over 2 years ago, so I think I have been very lucky to keep her this long, God willing he will allow me a little longer.thanks for taking an interest.

Shiba.