One way to help prevent cancer in your dog is to maintain their overall health. But, as they get older, this gets harder. Sometimes (like with aging humans) they may begin to show signs of issues related to mental health, like dementia.
So, we asked Dr. Al Townshend from our Kali’s Wish Panel of Experts to share some tips on what to look out for and how you could help your pet if this happens:
As pets age they become susceptible to some of the same issues some older humans have to deal with, and dementia could be one of those concerns. Warning signs of pet dementia include:
- Increased anxiety
- Decreased activity level
- Lower threshold for aggression
- Inappropriate vocalizing (barking, howling, or whining)
- Pacing
- Inappropriate elimination (pee, etc.)
If any of the above symptoms occur, be sure to mention them to your Veterinarian. Although the most common way of treating dementia in pets is prescription medication, there are some other things that may help:
- Acupuncture has been known to help some dogs
- Supplements of Omega 3 fatty acids, ginkgo biloba, SAM-e, vitamin E
- Melatonin has helped some dogs sleep through the night, which helps with the overall health of your dog and mitigate some of the symptoms of dementia
Do you have any questions for our Panel of Experts? Click here to submit them today!
The content on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Our Panel of Experts is comprised of practitioners with varying specialties and perspectives. As such, the views expressed here may not be shared by all members of our Panel.