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2-17-2010
Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome
Sometimes older dogs get confused; maybe they will forget their housetraining rules or seem lost in their own home. Is this a normal part of a dog entering their senior years? Or is this a sign of a certain illness that affects older dogs?
When is a Shih Tzu considered to be a “senior” dog? Generally, smaller breeds of dogs live longer than larger breeds. However the life span of a dog will differ with each individual, that quality of life will vary and you can work together with your dog’s veterinarian to determine if your older dog has Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.
What is this? Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (or CDS) is an erosion of the brain and the nervous system in dogs.
This is the canine equivalent to Alzheimer's disease in people. Like Alzheimer's, it is caused by physical changes in the brain and brain chemicals, and it is not a part of normal aging. It is a canine disease.
Sometimes older dogs get confused; maybe they will forget their housetraining rules or seem lost in their own home. Is this a normal part of a dog entering their senior years? Or is this a sign of a certain illness that affects older dogs?
When is a Shih Tzu considered to be a “senior” dog? Generally, smaller breeds of dogs live longer than larger breeds. However the life span of a dog will differ with each individual, that quality of life will vary and you can work together with your dog’s veterinarian to determine if your older dog has Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.
What is this? Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (or CDS) is an erosion of the brain and the nervous system in dogs.
This is the canine equivalent to Alzheimer's disease in people. Like Alzheimer's, it is caused by physical changes in the brain and brain chemicals, and it is not a part of normal aging. It is a canine disease.
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What exactly happens if a dog has Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome?
This health issue will cause a sometimes rapid deterioration of cognitive ability, causing behavioral changes that can disrupt the lives of dogs and their human family members.
Studies at the University of California-Berkeley has shown that over 60% of dogs between the ages 11 and 15 show one or more signs of CDS, and that percentage goes up as dogs get older.
The Specific Symptoms
There is a big difference between a Shih Tzu that is getting older and a Shih Tzu that has Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. Your dog may have CDS if you notice at least 3 of these symptoms:
• Withdrawing from interaction with regular family members
• Wanting less petting and attention
• Staring at walls or into space
• Sleeping much more than normal during the day
• Sleeping less at night
• Having accidents in the house, when normally perfectly housetrained
• Difficulty learning new commands
• Pacing or wandering without direction
• Repeated trembling or shaking
• Ignoring familiar commands such as “come” or responding to their name
• Becoming lost in well-known places like the home or yard
• Getting "stuck" in known places, like behind your furniture
• Having trouble finding the door
• Decreased activity
• Not recognizing family members or other familiar people
What Can Be Done to Help?
If you see 3 or more of these behaviors in your Shih Tzu, there is medical treatment available.
First, you must of course set up an appointment with your Shih Tzu’s veterinarian right away.
Tests will be done for Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. Note: if you dog’s veterinarian is not willing to perform testing and chalks these symptoms up to “normal dog aging” it is strongly recommended to seek a 2nd opinion; because help is available!
Physical and neurological exams should be done as well as blood and urine tests. Since other dog health issues may cause some of these symptoms, such as vision loss, kidney problems, hearing loss and more, it is important to rule out any other issues.
If it is determined that there are no underlying causes for your older dog’s behavior, the most common conclusion will be Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.
While there currently is no cure for CDS, there is rising hope. There is now a prescription medication available to treat dogs with CDS in the United States and there are 2 available in Europe.
How Does This Medication Work?
This works by increasing the amounts of dopamine in a dog’s brain. This chemical serves as a transmitter that the brain needs in order to function normally. Increasing this chemical via medication can improve a dog’s ability to focus and function. As with any medication, not all dogs will respond the same. However, many senior dogs are helped with this remedy. They are able to think more clearly, remember better and have a much higher quality of life in their last few years.
To Summarize
While we all wish and pray that our Shih Tzu will live just as long as we do, the most loving thing that we can take is to always provide the best treatment available to keep our Shih Tzu happy, healthy and with us as long as possible.
This health issue will cause a sometimes rapid deterioration of cognitive ability, causing behavioral changes that can disrupt the lives of dogs and their human family members.
Studies at the University of California-Berkeley has shown that over 60% of dogs between the ages 11 and 15 show one or more signs of CDS, and that percentage goes up as dogs get older.
The Specific Symptoms
There is a big difference between a Shih Tzu that is getting older and a Shih Tzu that has Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. Your dog may have CDS if you notice at least 3 of these symptoms:
• Withdrawing from interaction with regular family members
• Wanting less petting and attention
• Staring at walls or into space
• Sleeping much more than normal during the day
• Sleeping less at night
• Having accidents in the house, when normally perfectly housetrained
• Difficulty learning new commands
• Pacing or wandering without direction
• Repeated trembling or shaking
• Ignoring familiar commands such as “come” or responding to their name
• Becoming lost in well-known places like the home or yard
• Getting "stuck" in known places, like behind your furniture
• Having trouble finding the door
• Decreased activity
• Not recognizing family members or other familiar people
What Can Be Done to Help?
If you see 3 or more of these behaviors in your Shih Tzu, there is medical treatment available.
First, you must of course set up an appointment with your Shih Tzu’s veterinarian right away.
Tests will be done for Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. Note: if you dog’s veterinarian is not willing to perform testing and chalks these symptoms up to “normal dog aging” it is strongly recommended to seek a 2nd opinion; because help is available!
Physical and neurological exams should be done as well as blood and urine tests. Since other dog health issues may cause some of these symptoms, such as vision loss, kidney problems, hearing loss and more, it is important to rule out any other issues.
If it is determined that there are no underlying causes for your older dog’s behavior, the most common conclusion will be Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.
While there currently is no cure for CDS, there is rising hope. There is now a prescription medication available to treat dogs with CDS in the United States and there are 2 available in Europe.
How Does This Medication Work?
This works by increasing the amounts of dopamine in a dog’s brain. This chemical serves as a transmitter that the brain needs in order to function normally. Increasing this chemical via medication can improve a dog’s ability to focus and function. As with any medication, not all dogs will respond the same. However, many senior dogs are helped with this remedy. They are able to think more clearly, remember better and have a much higher quality of life in their last few years.
To Summarize
While we all wish and pray that our Shih Tzu will live just as long as we do, the most loving thing that we can take is to always provide the best treatment available to keep our Shih Tzu happy, healthy and with us as long as possible.
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