Meds for dogs with dementia anyone?

Mrs Jingle

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Anyone any experience of using meds to help a dog with dementia please? We are all still reeling form losing our beautiful lab less than a month ago at the age of 6 and had no idea we would be very quickly facing losing our little terrier too. Very sad times in this household just now.

Anyway - little terrorist is 13 so not totally shocked at her possible passing. Up until just a month ago she was an absolute live wire - physically flying around everywhere. But weirdly did not even notice her very good friend was missing, and that was the start of a rapid downhill decline, all the usual dementia signs came on very rapidly. Today she went to the vets and we had expected she might not come home she has been so poorly last couple of days. Messing in the house, standing in obscure places and staring into nothingness, walking backwards and not really responding to any of us in anyway - usually her little stumpy is wagging away just looking at us come in the room. Also appeared to have gone almost blind and deaf overnight.

Anyway vet said all bloods and tests and physical tests are 100 percent - physically she is very healthy for her age but she does have late stage dementia . They have given us 2 week of Selgian and vitofyllin. My question please, has anyone had any success using these meds on a dog with dementia? Vets did warn this is only a 2 week window to see if she responds and I accept that and even if they work it will not be a long term solution obviously. But I would love to know of any experience with using these drugs for dementia in dogs and if they helped hwo long were you able to keep your dog going on them? TIA
 
Awww I didn't realise there are meds for dementia in dogs.
Whilst my terrier has not been formally diagnosed he shows classic signs, he is a floor licker, occasionally gets a bit disorientated, and now he will not share a bed with our lab. But in many other ways he still has a good quality of life. He is happy to play ball, has a good appetite, and I have recently put him on a joint supplement which means he is no longer stiff or sore in a morning when he gets out of bed.
Personally I don't think I would medicate, and just call it a day when his quality of life deteriorates to the point that he doesn't enjoy life anymore.
It's heart breaking, BL is 14 years old now, can't imagine life without the curmudgeonly old git!!!
 
Thank you Tihama


Personally I don't think I would medicate, and just call it a day when his quality of life deteriorates to the point that he doesn't enjoy life anymore.

buddy love I do agree with this actually and yesterday we truly believed we were taking her to be PTS. But as the vet felt it worth trying her on the meds as they have seen very good results in some dogs with dementia we have to at least give it our best shot.

Otherwise I would always be wondering should we have tried medicating to see if that improved her quality of life for a little longer. Clutching at straws I realise, but if no improvement in a few days or an even more rapid decline the decision will be made.
 
It's really sad when they are not really themselves :( My old girl (13 yr old hound) started to look a bit vacant (well more vacant!!) a couple of months ago - she is starting to slow up and finally looks like an old dog. I think it is probably 'early' old age symptoms for her but I have noticed a very significant difference for her on Aktivait (it's a snake oil supplement (!) you can buy online...I had no real expectations and I don't think it would be appropriate for your girl but for others who have mild symptoms it might be worth a try. It's not especially expensive and my old hound has regained most of her joie de vivre in the 3 weeks she has been having this - she had started to not want to play or engage with us as much. It's really hard to see them age. Hugs.
 
Thank you Tihama




buddy love I do agree with this actually and yesterday we truly believed we were taking her to be PTS. But as the vet felt it worth trying her on the meds as they have seen very good results in some dogs with dementia we have to at least give it our best shot.

Otherwise I would always be wondering should we have tried medicating to see if that improved her quality of life for a little longer. Clutching at straws I realise, but if no improvement in a few days or an even more rapid decline the decision will be made.
Wishing you and your little terrier all the best x
 
I had an old boy who developed dementia, I took him to the vet due to pacing a lot at night, deep rasping panting & staring at me! I was worried about his heart & lungs (due to the panting) after a check over the vet said he was physically fine but suggested dementia as a cause.
He was put on meds ( sorry don't know which one) & he was a different dog, much happier, no panting, pacing or staring. But still perky, they were expensive but worth it
 
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