Dan's Papers - July 25, 2008 - Pet Agree by Jenna Robbins

It always seems like the best things in life are short lived. And so it goes for our best friends, too. I think that for all they give to us, we owe it to them to understand their special needs as their faces get a little greyer, their walk has a little less bounce and curling up on the couch wins over taking a walk or playing ball.

Most age-related illnesses are all too familiar, as they have touched our human lives and those of our families and friends. My own experience last year was with my beloved Roxie, who suffered a stroke. She was not physically disabled, but had lost all memory of her surroundings and couldn't understand any of the English language she once had great command of. She demonstrated many of the signs that are associated with Dementia, but luckily was able to recover most of what was lost to her. We started over just as though she was an eight-week-old puppy and within two months she was her old self again.

Similar to Alzheimer's in humans, Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, better know as Dementia may show its face as social withdrawal, failure to recognize family, getting lost in familiar places, getting stuck in corners, staring at walls or into space, sleeping more during the day than at night, soiling in the house and not knowing their name. Medications can help modify some of the behaviors but there's no cure. The American Veterinary Medical Association found that 28% of 11- and 12-year-old dogs, and two-thirds of 15- and 16-year-old dogs have behaviors linked to dementia.

Cataracts are the number one cause of blindness in dogs. Surgery is the only effective treatment and can be 90 to 95% effective if performed early. Most canine cataracts are inherited and come with age. Cataracts can cause complications inside the eye that are irreversible and painful, including retinal detachment and glaucoma. At that time, it's too late to restore vision. The best time to perform cataract surgery is when the dog has significant visual impairment, but is not completely blind. Many families will choose to decline surgery for financial or personal reasons and many dogs are just not candidates for repaired vision. For those of you who, like me, have dogs with blindness or impaired vision, it's noteworthy to say that our canine friends seem to fair better with such handicaps than we would expect of ourselves. Though they may not be able to fetch a ball, they seem to have a feel for their surrounding and can function almost as well as a sighted dog. Blind dogs that live with other dogs in the same household can follow along and even be guided by their canine companions. As with all other health and physical decline, we must offer a touch more kindness and understanding.

Periodontitis is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world in dogs and is caused by the bacteriathatcreates plaque. Your dog's age, health, nutrition and the amount of dental hygiene it receives will dictate the health of its teeth. Aggressive chewing on hard objects, like bones, rocks or fencing can also lead to cracked or broken teeth. A regiment of oral hygiene care will greatly help to reduce the odds of tooth loss. Canine dental care should include regular brushing, annual examinations and professional cleanings by your veterinarian. Be selective about the chew toys and treats you provide. Loss of appetite, swelling or bleeding of the gums and foul breath are some of the signs that it's time to see your vet for an oral exam.

Old age is something we all will face sooner or later, unfortunately, for our canine families, sooner is inevitable. Let's make their senior years as special as possible, with a little TLC, a bit more patience and understanding and some advice from your vet.

Next week, some things you can do to make your dog with arthritis a little more comfortable.