Dog Dementia

Those of us who have had geriatric dogs know all about the losses that occur with old age. Lucy, our half golden, half lab who lived to 14, lost most of her hearing and a lot of her mobility. Thankfully, she did not loose her mental capacity or develop cognitive dysfunction syndrome or what is more commonly known as dementia.

Yes, dogs do get a form of the brain loss seen in humans of advanced years. They fail to recognize their "family" members, wander into corners or stare aimlessly into space and often mix up day and night, remaining awake and disoriented during the evening hours. Often they revert to their pre-housebroken days.

None of these symptoms are pleasant for the owners of dogs with this condition but thankfully, according to an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday, there are some drugs that may alleviate some of the symptoms. The drug Anipryl has been shown to alleviate at least one clinical sign of dementia in about 70% of dogs. The drug costs about $50 for a two month supply and side effects may include vomiting and diarrhea. It also takes about four to six weeks to kick in.

But if you are the "parent" of an aging pet, it is worth keeping this info in your back pocket. You never know if or when you might need it and $50 seems like a fairly small amount to pay for relief for your best friend.