Dear Dr. Dog: I am fortunate to still be caring for my canine companion well into her senior years. I’ve heard that older dogs sometimes experience neurological problems like strokes, seizures, and even “canine Alzheimer’s.” Is this true, and what should I be on the lookout for?
Older dogs, much like older people, are indeed at increased risk of developing a variety of neurological disorders, some of which are familiar to many of us. Neurological diseases include disorders of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles. Common problems that affect our canine companions as they age include strokes, brain tumors, intervertebral disk disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. In the past two to three decades, our understanding of these problems has increased tremendously, leading to advancements in diagnostic and treatment options readily available to families and their pets.
Let’s take a closer look at what can go wrong.
Strokes
Strokes, sudden injuries to the brain that result from a disturbance of blood flow, are fairly common in human medicine. The outward signs of a stroke depend on its location and severity – limb weakness, balance loss, blindness, and seizures are all possible. Strokes can be mild or debilitating and typically occur very suddenly, with little or no warning.
With the increasing availability of advanced brain imaging like MRI, we can how routinely diagnose strokes in our canine patients. Fortunately, the majority of dogs suffering from strokes will recover quite well given proper supportive care, even with very serious initial dysfunction. Of course, it is very important to search for and correct any underlying cause.
Brain tumors
Various types of cancerous tumors grow in the brain. Some are benign, and others malignant. They may impair function by creating pressure inside the skull or by directly invading important parts of the brain. This is a serious disease, though treatment options are often available to extend and improve the quality of life for dogs with brain cancer.
Many families are surprised to learn that brain surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are routinely employed in veterinary medicine. Treatment plans are always tailored carefully to meet the individual needs of patients and their families, and are designed to maximize quality of life.
Intervertebral disk disease
Degeneration of the cartilage disks in the spine may lead to disk herniation, sometimes called a “slipped disk.” This is the most common spinal disorder in dogs. When these cartilage cushions bulge against the spinal cord or spinal nerves, they cause pain, weakness, incoordination or even paralysis of the limbs. Fortunately, the prognosis for recovery is usually very good, even in cases of complete paralysis.
Both surgical and medical treatments are available. Surgery provides the best chance of recovery in cases of severe weakness or paralysis. When serious weakness or repeated mild episodes occur, a veterinary neurologist or surgeon should always be consulted to help determine the best course of action. In some cases when signs are mild or surgery is not an option, strict rest along with pain medications, rehabilitation therapy, and/or acupuncture may be helpful.
Neurodegenerative disorders
More than simple age-related deterioration, these diseases cause excessive loss of function. In the spine, the best example is degenerative myelopathy, which occurs in older dogs and causes progressive, non-painful limb weakness leading to paralysis. This devastating disease has no effective treatment, but is fortunately fairly uncommon. It is frequently confused with degenerative disk disease, which is more common and treatable.
Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS) is a degenerative brain disorder that has been called “canine Alzheimer’s” due to its close similarity to the human disorder. Signs include memory loss, confusion, and antisocial behavior. Researchers have recently taken great interest in CCDS due to its potential to help shed light on the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in people. As a result, we are rapidly learning more about this disease and about canine brain aging in general. Evidence suggests that a combination of dietary antioxidants and environmental enrichment (socializing play, exercise, obedience and agility training) can prevent and even reverse some of the signs of brain aging in dogs. Your veterinarian can recommend prescription diets or dietary supplements with these benefits. In certain cases, medications that increase neurotransmitter activity may also provide relief.
Common signs of neurological disorders include convulsive seizures, balance loss, limb weakness or incoordination, spinal pain, unexplained changes in behavior, vision loss, and urinary or fecal incontinence. Many neurological diseases are mistakenly attributed to more well-known geriatric problems, including arthritis, or simply to “old age.”
It is never normal for an older animal to display signs of neurological dysfunction. If you suspect a neurological problem, make detailed notes about what you see, including what part(s) of the body are affected, when and how often the problem is observed, whether it appears to worsen over time, and what effect any previous treatments may have had. If a problem only occurs intermittently, a video recording can be invaluable.
Veterinary neurologists have advanced, specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological problems and work in partnership with family veterinarians. Most are also trained to perform neurosurgery. If you or your veterinarian suspect a neurological problem, you may be referred to a neurologist for further evaluation. After an interview and complete neurological exam, neuroimaging (x-rays, MRI, CT scan or others) may be recommended. Special blood or spinal fluid testing may also be helpful.
While neurological diseases can be devastating to canine companions and their families, many problems, including some once considered hopeless, are now regularly treated and cured.
David A. Geiger, DVM, heads the Neurology/Neurosurgery department at VCA San Francisco Veterinary Specialists. He has special interest in less-invasive spinal surgery techniques, management of encephalitis, and treatment of head and spinal trauma. Outside his veterinary practice, his interests include cycling, kayaking, and exploring the Bay Area with his own gracefully aging canine. Visit www.sfvs.net for more information.
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