Making Life Easier for a Senior Dog or Cat

Evaluating and Treating Cognition in Senior Pets—A Holistic Approach

May 31, 2009

Pain and anxiety are some of the factors which can affect cognition for older pets. Stimulation, proper diet and palliative therapies can improve the lives of senior pets

With advances in veterinary medicine and animal health care, pets are living longer and fuller lives than ever before. However, with aging dogs and cats comes a set of health care problems not usually necessary to deal with in younger pets. Aging pets often suffer from conditions such as arthritis which may be painful. Cognition can become a problem with older dogs and cats and pet owners may become frustrated when dealing with dogs or cats who do not seem to remember their housetraining or other manners any longer.

Fortunately, there are many things a dog or cat owner can do to help their aging pet.

Relieving Pain for Senior Dogs and Cats

Pain can not only make life miserable for a dog or cat and affect the pet's quality of life, but pain can also affect learning and memory. However, there are number of different options available for controlling pain, even in older pets. These options include such medications as Rimadyl, Etogesic, Deramaxx, Tramadol, gabapentin, buprenorphine, and many others. Veterinarians will often suggest suggest palliative treatment for pain in older pets if any source of pain is found or suspected.

In addition, supplements such as glucosamine and/or chondroitin can also ease joint pain in both dogs and cats and can be useful in older pets.

Anti-Anxiety Medications Sometimes Aid Cognition for Senior Pets

Older pets may suffer from anxiety from a number of sources, not the least of which is pain associated with aging related body changes. Often, alleviating anxiety can help make life easier for older pets and improve memory. Examples of anti-anxiety medications which are commonly used include Reconcile (fluoxetine) and Clomicalm (clomipramine). There are other shorter-term anti-anxiety medication which may be used as well and examples include alprazolam (Xanax), amitryptiline (Elavil), diazepam (Valium) and many others.

Medications for Cognitive Dysfunction May Aid Senior Dogs

Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is a commonly diagnosed condition in senior dogs. Selegiline (Anipryl) is a medication which specifically treats canine cognitive dysfunction. Selegeline is licensed for use in treating CCD in the United States, but propentofylline is also often used in other countries to treat dullness, lethargy and depression in older dogs.

Appropriate Diets to Aid Senior Dogs and Cats

Senior diets which are formulated for older dogs and cats can be useful in that these diets often make function of internal organs such as the liver, kidneys and heart more efficient and less stressful.

Antioxidant Supplements to Aid in Cognition for Older Pets

Though much of the proof of usefulness is anecdotal, antioxidants have commonly been used to improve cognition and aid general health. Potentially useful antioxidant supplements include:

Mental Stimulation is Important for Older Dogs and Cats

Cognitive stimulation, or mental stimulation, can also make a big difference in the life of a senior dog or cat. Stimulation can be used as a preventive measure for senior pets who are not yet showing cognitive deficiencies or as a treatment measure for those senior pets that are experiencing cognitive decline.

These are some of the things which pet owners can do to help improve the quality of life for their senior dogs or cats. Pet owners need to remember that senior pets need different types of care than younger pets.

The copyright of the article Making Life Easier for a Senior Dog or Cat in Pet Diseases is owned by Lorie Huston. Permission to republish Making Life Easier for a Senior Dog or Cat in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.