CDS
CANINE COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION
HOW TO KEEP YOUR DOG MENTALLY SHARP
Don’t let canine cognitive dysfunction prevent your dog from having a mentally and physically healthy life. Proper diet and exercise can help prevent cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) in dogs so you won’t have to watch them decline mentally and physically as they age.
There are many subtle signs of aging: they may lose their youthful energy and love of life, start moving more slowly on your morning walks as well as sleeping more. Then like the dread of many of us, that grey hair starts appearing, first around his muzzle. Thankfully, due to advances in nutrition and health care, it’s becoming more common for small-breed dogs to live well into their teens and even large-breed dogs are living longer. One drawback of this longer age is our best friend’s body is open to more health challenges.
One of the main issues facing our older dogs is canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), a disorder very similar to Alzheimer’s in humans. As they age, dogs can forget how to do things they’ve always been able to do, they may even become disoriented or forgetful. They may start to have accidents in the house, become restless at night and maybe bark for no apparent reason.
These can all be signs of CDS, studies have shown that CDS causes changes in a dog’s brain similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease in man. It is not well known but dogs have been used as models for studying Alzheimer’s in people. Progression of CDS is typically very gradual and early symptoms are often associated with just getting older (he’s barking because his hearing is failing, he’s disoriented because his eyesight is worsening, etc.).
To determine if the problems are actually be caused by CDS, a veterinarian will perform tests to rule out medical causes and will use the results together with information the owner provides about the changes in the dog’s behavior.
When a dog has been diagnosed with CDS, there are prescription medications available to help control the disease. However, whether or not your dog has CDS, you can help prevent or slow down the progression of this condition and help keep your older dog’s brain sharp and functioning well through “brain games” that you can do at home with your dog and with “brain foods” that you can add to your dog’s diet.
WHAT HAPPENS TO A DOG’S BRAIN WITH CDS
The brain is separated from circulation by what is called the blood-brain barrier. This blood-brain barrier regulates the delivery of nutrients from the bloodstream to the cells of the brain. In older and aging dogs, the blood-brain barrier becomes more permeable, allowing some potentially harmful molecules access to brain tissue, leading to cognitive decline. Normal metabolism leads to oxidative damage and the production of free radicals. Free radicals can damage proteins, cellular fats, and molecules responsible for cellular health and reproduction. In the brain, damage from free radicals can lead to nerve cell dysfunction and death. Another factor in the development of CDS is that the brain atrophies (shrinks) and the tissue is replaced by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) causing brain swelling.
HELP KEEP YOUR DOG’S BRAIN SHARP WITH BRAIN GAMES
Just like with us, studies have shown that dogs that don’t use their brains lose some of their higher functions such as problem-solving skills. One of the best things you can do is to provide mental stimulation for your dog. This can help in slowing down the neurological (brain) signs of aging. Taking your dog for walks and varying the routes, playing with him, teaching him new tricks, and giving her puzzle toys will all help her to use her brain and stay sharp.
Research has also shown that using brain teaser toys when your dog is a puppy also helps prevent the onset of CDS. Brainteaser toys are any toy that requires the dog to solve a puzzle to get some kind of prize-for example, toys such as kongs, kibble balls, and food puzzle toys. It has also been shown that dogs that participate in adult training classes are less likely to develop CDS. Adult training classes could be agility class, tricks class, or other sports.
BRAIN FOOD FOR YOUR DOG
Dogs like humans can develop changes in their brain such as beta-amyloid accumulation and oxidative damage. The accumulation of beta-amyloid and oxidative damage appears to be connected. Researchers have found that these physiological changes are related to the development of CDS. Antioxidants are commonly talked about in human health and medicine, and researchers have studied the effects of feeding a diet high in antioxidants to older dogs to see if there is an improvement in age-related cognitive dysfunction. What was found is both promising and exciting. Older dogs that received a diet rich in antioxidants showed improvement in learning and spatial attention within two weeks of starting the enriched diet. When this diet was combined with mental stimulation such as walks, housing with another dog, and training, the effects were even better. In tests used to measure an elderly dog’s spatial memory and its ability to discriminate between objects, recognize objects, and adust to new situations, dogs on diets high in antioxidants fared better than a control group of dogs fed a normal diet.
WHAT IS AN ANTIOXIDANT-ENRICHED DIET?
Well, typically an antioxidant-enriched diet for humans will contain:
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin C
- Selenium
- L – carnitine
- Alpha-lipoic acid
- Flavonoids
- Carotenoids
- Fruit and vegetable extracts
Research has shown that a nutrient profile could be used to decrease the production of free radicals, increasing the ability of the body to clear free radicals, and thus slowing the progression of cognitive decline by reducing oxidative damage. The studies showed significant improvement in cognitive function (learning and memory of learned tasks) in older dogs receiving antioxidant-fortified food. An interesting fact is that the antioxidant-rich nutrient profile showed no beneficial effects in learning or memory in young dogs. The presumption is that the young dogs did not yet have a level of oxidative stress and damage that could be improved by such a nutrient profile.
A diet change using high levels of appropriate antioxidants has been shown to slow the rate of cognition decline in older dogs, and the positive effects of antioxidants on cognition occur fairly rapidly when the dog is a responder to this approach. If you would like to add some brain-boosting foods at home, try these.
Vitamin E: Add supplemental vitamin E at up to 100 IU per day for a small dog and up to 400 IU per day for a large dog. Really look at what food you’re giving to your dog and if it already contains large amounts of vitamin E, then you may not need to add extra.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a very safe vitamin, usually requiring very large doses before there are any side-effects. However, there is little benefit to providing mega doses of this. Try adding 50-100 mg per day depending on the size of the dog.
Fruits and Vegetables: Add fruits and vegetables to make up to 10 percent of your dog’s diet. Colorful fruits and vegetables are likely to have the most benefits, so try blueberries, raspberries, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, etc. But be careful that you don’t upset your dog’s stomach with these, so start slowly and add small amounts at a time. For a small dog, it may not feel like you are adding any significant amount, but don’t fret it’s okay, remember it doesn’t take much to make a difference for them.
FROM A PUPPY UNTIL AN ADULT HOW-TO PREVENT CDS
The research only shows the positive effects of high antioxidant diets in dogs that we, re older, to begin with. So you may want to start feeding your dog’s brain when they are younger to help prevent problems from developing. Research has shown that puppies fed a diet high in fish oil (DHA) scored higher on trainability tests. In addition, rat fetuses from mothers that were fed a diet high in DHA had greater brain and nerve development.
When an expectant mother is fed a diet rich in DHA during the last three weeks of gestation, her puppies reap the greater neurological benefits. If there is earlier development in the puppy’s brain, they can begin learning earlier, and the more learning that a puppy does, the lower the chance of developing CDS later on in life. If your dog is pregnant, make sure she eats a diet rich in DHA, such as one based on commercial puppy foods, which usually contain appropriate levels of DHA.
If you are making your own food for your puppy or you’re pregnant female, consider adding salmon oil to his or her food. If you are feeding a raw-based food, do not feed raw fish more than once a week without supplementing additional thiamine (vitamin B1). Raw fish naturally contains thiaminase and feeding large amounts of raw fish can result in a thiamine deficiency.
Encourage a healthy lifestyle that incorporates physical activity, social engagement, and cognitive enhancing activities, along with adequate intake of dietary antioxidants, has been shown to reduce the risk of developing a neurodegenerative disease in dogs and humans alike. So to help keep you both mentally sharp, consider, sharing a healthy veggie or fruit platter with your dog.
SO WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE IN CDS PREVENTION
ANIPRYL
There have been studies that show 62 percent of dogs between the ages of 11 and 16 have at least some symptoms of Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS). Sometimes called Doggie Alzheimer’s, just some of the symptoms are confusion, memory loss, and personality changes. Never fear, there is hope.
Anipryl is an oral tablet that is highly effective in treating canine CDS. It works by boosting the dopamine levels in the brain. In fact, 70 percent of dogs with canine CDS responded positively after a month of treatment. Anipryl is also used to treat conditions caused by an over – secreting pituitary gland. Anipryl works by suppressing the pituitary gland directly. This is a new and innovative approach to treating this condition. It may take anywhere from one to three months of treatment before any positive results show.
It is easy to administer and does not require monitoring since it does not inhibit the adrenal gland’s function and will not cause adrenal toxicity or insufficiency. It can be given with food and is available in multiple dosage sizes.
KNOW THE SIGNS OF YOUR DOG’S CDS
- Disorientation
- Staring into space such as a ceiling or wall
- Barking at the ceiling
- Gets stuck in corners
- Wanders aimlessly
- Looks confused
- Fails to recognize family or respond to commands
- Interactions Apathic
- Indifferent
- Won’t do the activities it had always done before
- Abnormal sleep/wake cycle
- Keeps you up at all hours of the night with howling or barking
- Sleeps more overall in a 24 hour period
- Anxiety and aggression
- Plays less
- Increasingly agitated
DIAGNOSIS OF EXCLUSION
There are medical causes for the above behavioral changes and must be ruled out in order to make a definitive diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Medical problems may include but are not limited to Cushing’s disease, parathyroid disorders, thyroid disorders, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, incontinence, liver disease, musculoskeletal disease, dental disease, prostatic disease, and sensory loss.
Behavioral problems that may look like CDS can include generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, fear-related aggression, pain-related aggression, noise or storm phobias, lack of housetraining, attention-seeking behaviors, and compulsive disorders. Often there will be concurrent behavioral and medical illness as medical and cognitive disorders may exacerbate existing, previously undiagnosed, behavior problems.
THE HUMAN CORRELATION
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
This disease affects approximately 10% of people over 65 and 50% of people over 85. Degenerative changes may be found in multiple brain areas of affected patients. The primary disease process includes:
Amyloid plaques are an accumulation of B-amyloid ( AB ) as a result of the defective precursor proteins ( APP ).
Neurofibriliary tangles form from abnormal APP as well as from abnormal tau protein accumulation. Tau proteins are a normal part of cell transport mechanisms. In Alzheimer’s disease, the abnormal tau proteins can lead to the death of brain cells and a “tangle” of protein filaments.
THE DISEASE PROCESS IN DOGS AND CATS
Diffuse amyloid plaques are found in the front part of the brain of affected dogs around the age of 9 years. This is associated with memory and learning problems. The ability to voluntarily control elimination may also be affected, leading to house soiling problems. With time the plaques progress to other regions of the brain which may lead to problems with spatial disorientation, wandering, and decreased vision and hearing capabilities.
Decreased neurotransmitter availability, perhaps due to increased enzymatic breakdown and increased free-radicals may lead to decreased brain signaling and cell damage. Neurofibrillary tangles have not been identified in the brains of CDS dogs and cats as they have been in humans.
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS NOW AVAILABLE FOR DOGS AND CATS
Here are some: SenilifeTM, ProneurozoneTM, Denosyl®/Denamarin® (SAMe) are a few examples of those available for both dogs and cats in the U.S. Your veterinarian will be able to recommend the appropriate supplement if one is right for your pet.
As discussed before Anipryl® (selegiline) is the only drug approved for use in dogs with CDS. The American Association of Feline Practitioners also supports its use in cats with CDS as diagnosed by a veterinarian.
Warning: Anipryl® has several drug interactions. Always discuss ALL medications and supplements, including flea and tick products with your veterinarian so that they can determine if it is safe for your pet to take this medication concurrently. Your veterinarian will do blood and urine testing before starting this medication to ensure your pet is healthy enough to take it.
It has been shown that forty-eight percent of dogs aged 11 – 14 years old that show signs of impairment in one behavioral category will develop impairment in two or more other categories within 6 – 18 months without treatment.
Clinical trials have shown improvement in existing behavioral signs of CDS and delay in the onset of additional signs in several of the treatment modalities discussed here. Make sure you consult your veterinarian if your pet has signs consistent with CDS and to select an appropriate treatment plan.
IN CONCLUSION
Improvements in the abnormal behaviors associated with CDS are typically seen within 6-12 weeks after starting to feed a nutrient profile containing high enough levels of appropriate antioxidants. If no improvement is seen within 12 weeks, it is unlikely that nutrition alone will make a difference. These are dogs who need additional follow-up and investigation with your veterinarian.
