OLD DOGS, NEW TRICKS?

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by Christine J. Crosley, D.V.M.

QUESTION: My 3-year-old Dachshund mix, Willa, doesnt seem to respond very
much anymore when I get home after work. I also worry that she may be losing
her hearing. Is there anything I can do?

ANSWER: Its true that older dogs and cats seem to have more trouble
hearing the middle range of sounds as they grow significantly older. Even
for our smaller canine friends - the scale shows Willa at 5 pounds - a
3-year lifespan is a long one for a dog. This may be a simple hearing
problem, but Ill want to explore the possibility that it may in fact
represent something larger, a condition we veterinarians refer to as
cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS).

An apparent hearing loss is often part of a more generalized picture
involving some disorientation, decreased activity levels, changing
sleep/wake patterns, loss of housetraining, altered responses to family
members, and changed greeting behaviors.

Interestingly, modern science has shown us recently that dogs (cats,
too, incidentally) may in advancing age experience decreased levels of the
neurotransmitter dopamine - just as many people do. But if we replace some
of the dopamine thats been lost to the aging process, some of these old
age problems may improve. So, to quote Pfizer, the company that
manufactures the product most veterinarians use to treat CDS, You can teach
an old dog new tricks.

Actually, this product, brandnamed Anipryl, is a very good medication,
and at my practice we prescribe it fairly often. (The drug is sometimes
given to humans as an adjunctive treatment in early to moderate Parkinsons
disease.) Weve often seen it produce fairly miraculous turnarounds in older
pets. Anipryl can provide a better quality of life for many animals, thus
prolonging the time theyre able to spend with us. So it might make sense to
give Anipryl a try, to see if it helps Willas symptoms to improve.

QUESTION: Are there risks involved with this drug?

ANSWER: Well, let me explain in a little more detail how it works. Anipryl
contains the chemical selegiline. It must be administered in the morning,
because it speeds up metabolism a bit, so it might keep an animal awake if
its given in the afternoon or evening. To address the question of risks, in
clinical trials carried out by the manufacturer, four percent of the dogs
treated with Anipryl experienced some type of adverse reaction. These side
effects ranged from restlessness and agitation to anemia, vomiting,
diarrhea, and disorientation. Its also very important to realize that
Anipryl is whats called an MAO inhibitor, which means it cannot be safely
combined with many other drugs. Also, Anipryl may not be safe for breeding
dogs, or for pregnant or nursing females, but of course this isnt an issue
with Willa. Finally, I should point out that Anipryl is not an inexpensive
drug.

QUESTION: Okay, now I know that theres a way to treat Willa
conventionally. To be honest, though, I was hoping for a more holistic
path.

ANSWER: Thats terrific, and even though this is one example where Id say
Western medicine has something good to offer, there are certainly many ways
of looking at this old age problem. The holistic approach Id recommend
involves a combination of antioxidant therapy and nutraceuticals, in an
attempt to inhibit what we call the dopaminergic degradation of Willa's
central nervous system. What this means, simply, is that we hope to slow
down the progression of the cognitive decline.

Some of the nutritive aids we might consider include the following:
Phosphatidylserine, which has proven quite successful in treating
humans with cognitive decline.
Acetyl-L-carnitine, which has slowed the progress of Alzheimers
disease in humans.
Melatonin, which has found notable success in treating problems
involving sleep disorders.
Antioxidants - particularly vitamins E, C, and alpha-lipoic acid. These
nutrients can also be used in careful combinations, and have produced
excellent results in treating a variety of old-age problems.
Red yeast rice, which is a natural lipid-lowering agent that also slows
the progression of cognitive decline.
Herbs we might consider include ginkgo; qian ceng ta (a Chinese herb);
curcumin, an extract of turmeric; and two herbal preparations that have only
recently begun to find use in this area - gotu cola and brahmi.
Finally, I'll add that oxygen-enrichment programs have been found to provide
temporary relief - from two to four weeks - in dogs with CDS.

QUESTION: You just mentioned several Chinese herbs, so I'm wondering, could
acupuncture help Willa?

ANSWER: Interestingly, the Chinese look at cognitive dysfunction in very
much the same way as Western practitioners do. The aim of TCM would be to
improve oxygen delivery and blood flow to the cerebrum, paying particular
attention to maintaining adequate Heart Yin and Blood. Its a bit
complicated to go into here, but one of the TCM practitioners at our
practice might use either Chinese herbs or acupuncture - or both - in
treating Willa's condition.

So the good news, obviously, is that there are lots of options open to
you, from both a Western and a holistic perspective. I need to add a few
words of caution, though. There can be serious drug interactions if these
treatments are combined without proper knowledge. Certain drugs (those with
cholinergic or anticholinergic effects) should not be combined with ginkgo,
and ginkgo should also be used very cautiously in combination with
selegiline (Anipryl). Melatonin, for another example, has been shown in
humans to interfere with blood sugar levels in human diabetics, so if Willa
were diabetic, we'd want to monitor her blood sugar levels very carefully if
we were treating her with melatonin. In short, as I've mentioned many times
in the past, herbs can be powerful healing agents, and they should not be
chosen or administered lightly. If you do decide to choose a holistic
approach for Willa, its important that you continue to seek professional
help as you move forward with her treatment.

Dr. Crosley will speak at Whole Foods Market on Tuesday, August 19, at 7
p.m., on Hands-On Homeopathy - Bring Your Own Case (an interactive talk).2
From August through November, Dr. Crosley will be speaking at Whole Foods
Market on the third Tuesday of each month.

Chris Crosley is certified by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy and is
co-owner of Animal Health & Healing, a full-service holistic and
conventional veterinary practice in the Clayton/Richmond Heights area.
Phone: 34-781-1738