Pet Dementia PreventionAs pets age, there are a growing number of cats and dogs that are suffering from dementia and veterinarians are warning that a pet’s sedentary lifestyle and poor diet can be to blame. There are an increasing number of cats and dogs suffering from this progressing disease, and many pets are dying of it.

The problems that animals face can be a direct result of lifestyle choices made by not only the pet but primarily the pet owners. A lack of physical activity and a diet of “cheap” pet food plays a significant role in the increasing number of dementia cases in cats and dogs.

“We see an increase in pet obesity,” says Professor Dr. Holger Volk, a leading veterinary scientist at the Royal Veterinary College, “Just as we see health problems among people who are less active so we see the same problems with their pets eating more and getting less exercise and this may lead to an increase in dementia.” With the growing issues, it may be difficult for pet owners to detect the decline of their beloved pet’s health.

How can you detect dementia in your loyal companion?

Some signs include:

  • Getting “stuck” behind furniture
  • Walking in circles
  • Forgetting certain activities, such as eating or forgetting that they have already greeted you
  • Attempting to go in a door the wrong way
  • Getting lost or struggling to find their way around
  • Increased amount of sleep during a 24-hour period
  • Disinterest in surroundings
  • Decreased purposeful activity
  • Loss of knowledge, including daily activities such as housebreaking
  • Increased amounts of anxiety shown by apprehension, panting, moaning or excessive shivering

Other signs of dementia in pets include failure to respond to commands and difficulty hearing, inability to recognize familiar people, and difficulty navigating the environment.
There are three main contributors to the changes in an aging brain that cause a gradual impairment in cognitive functioning: oxidative stress from free radical damage, the formation of lesions on the brain, and alterations in oxygen and energy availability.

The brain is thought to be more sensitive to the effects of oxidation than other tissues of the body. The damage to your dog’s brain caused by oxidative stress can cause a decrease in cognition as well as degenerative nerve disease similar to, for example, Alzheimer’s disease in humans.

It is critical to monitor changes within your pet, as well as get the proper attention from an experienced vet. Dementia can accelerate at differing rates and cause different amounts of impairment and discomfort to your beloved pets. If you see any of the warning signs or sense something is out of place, it is important to contact Bennett Creek Animal Hospital and Pet Urgent Care and seek immediate attention for your pet.

Testimonials

Been coming here for over 10 years. They know my cats very well, the staff is even excited to see them come in nowadays! I’ve had the chance to... read more

Mitchell K.

Dr. Deans is a fantastic exotics vet. She has taken the best care of our 16 year old chinchilla. She is incredibly kind and compassionate and has a... read more

Dorina L.

We’ve had the unfortunate need to use the emergency service here twice for our two boys. Both times everyone was compassionate towards our dogs,... read more

Mary T.

Mitchell K.

Been coming here for over 10 years. They know my cats very well, the staff is even excited to see them come in nowadays! I’ve had the chance to watch this practice grow…it has never strayed from its dedication of animal health and professionalism. All the staff carries the same level of compassion as any of the staff before them. Doctors are very knowledgeable and do everything they can make sure clients have a transparent experience as well as the pets having the most comfortable experience. Prices are reasonable and competitive, especially when considering the facilities, resources and tools they have at their disposal. Going to the vet is part of the expense of having pets! It’s SO GREAT now that emergencies do not have be done with corporate vets and can be done with a private practice. Honestly a blessing to have this private practice in our community.

Dorina L.

Dr. Deans is a fantastic exotics vet. She has taken the best care of our 16 year old chinchilla. She is incredibly kind and compassionate and has a very gentle way that puts animals at ease. She answers questions very patiently and responds to messages quickly with helpful details and information. We feel very lucky to have found her!

Mary T.

We’ve had the unfortunate need to use the emergency service here twice for our two boys. Both times everyone was compassionate towards our dogs, kind and left us feeling calm and quite happy with the care received. Most recently, our dogs were treated by Dr. Duncan and we could not be happier. Our wait was extended because of a high priority emergency that came in at the same time we did, but the techs triaged our boys, brought them into an exam room to make things less stressful and checked in routinely. While we ended up leaving close to midnight, Dr. Duncan and the other staff we interacted with showed no signs of fatigue despite it being a busy night. While we love our local vet and Bennett Creek is 30 minutes from home, I wouldn’t hesitate to bring my animals here and we plan to use their boarding services in the future as well. Kudos to Dr. Duncan and her team, we appreciate you so much! (Our pups are doing well and after two days are basically back to being their normal silly and rambunctious selves!)

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