March & April, 2010

March & April, 2010

March 19, 2010

Old Dog Vestibular Syndrome

We have recently seen old dog vestibular syndrome in several of our senior patients. If you haven’t seen a dog with this syndrome before, the symptoms can be very frightening to observe. Old dog vestibular syndrome refers to problems with the system of nerves in the inner and middle ear that regulate balance. Onset is sudden and a previously healthy dog might fall over, stumble drunkenly, walk in circles or be unable to get up. Other symptoms may include head tilt, rapid or jerking movement of the eyes, vomiting and loss of appetite from nausea and distress. Clients often fear their animal has been poisoned or is having a stroke.

Balance in dogs, as in humans, is controlled by the vestibular apparatus. So, what on earth is the vestibular apparatus? In a nutshell, it is the neurological equipment
responsible for perceiving the body's orientation relative to the earth, determining if you are upside down, standing up straight, falling etc., and it informs the eyes and the limbs how they should move accordingly. The vestibular apparatus allows us to walk, even run, on uneven ground without falling, helps us know when we need to right ourselves, and allows our eyes to follow moving objects without becoming dizzy. There are two sets of receptors involved: one to detect rotational acceleration (tumbling or turning) and one to detect linear acceleration and gravity (falling and letting us know which direction is up and which is down). Both receptors are located in the middle ear. Rotation is detected using the three semicircular canals as shown above. When there is trouble in this apparatus it is difficult if not impossible to properly perceive the body’s orientation. To put it more simply, you don't know which way is up, whether or not you are standing up straight or slanted, and you'll feel extremely dizzy. Imagine spinning around and around and having the vertigo last for days or even weeks and you get a good picture of how the suffering animal feels.

Peripheral vestibular disease can have several causes including infection and brain lesion which are serious conditions and need to be ruled out. But old dog vestibular syndrome and its feline counterpart, feline vestibular syndrome, are what we most commonly see and both are idiopathic. Idiopathic refers to any condition that arises spontaneously with no known cause. The good news is that while the signs of this syndrome can be very scary, old dog vestibular syndrome can resolve with no treatment in 7 to 14 days. Treated with Chinese medicine, acupuncture and herbs, the feelings of nausea and vertigo can go away much more quickly and help your animal feel much better much sooner. We also prescribe Chinese herbal formulas to help prevent recurrence. Should you observe any of the symptoms described in your animal, give us a call right away.

Pets and Senior Citizens

You’ve probably noticed that when you pet a soft, warm cat or play fetch with a dog whose tail won’t stop wagging, you relax and your heart feels a little warmer. Scientists have noticed the same thing, and they’ve started to explore the complex way animals affect human emotions and physiology. The resulting studies have shown that owning and handling animals significantly benefits health, and not just for the young. In fact, pets may help elderly owners live longer, healthier, and more enjoyable lives.

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in May of 1999 demonstrated that independently living seniors that have pets tend to have better physical health and mental wellbeing than those that don’t. They’re more active, cope better with stress, and have better overall health. A 1997 study showed that elderly pet owners had significantly lower blood pressure overall than their contemporaries without pets. In fact, an experimental residential home for the elderly called the Eden Alternative, which is filled with over 100 birds, dogs, and cats and has an outside environment with rabbits and chickens, has experienced a 15 percent lower mortality rate than traditional nursing homes over the past five years.
There are a number of explanations for exactly how pets accomplish all these health benefits. First of all, pets need walking, feeding, grooming, fresh water, and fresh kitty litter, and they encourage lots of playing and petting. All of these activities require some action from owners. Even if it’s just getting up to let a dog out a few times a day or brushing a cat, any activity can benefit the cardiovascular system and help keep joints limber and flexible. Consistently performing this kind of minor exercise can keep pet owners able to carry out the normal activities of daily living. Pets may also aid seniors simply by providing some physical contact. Studies have shown that when people pet animals, their blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature decrease. Many benefits of pet ownership are less tangible, though. Pets are an excellent source of companionship. They can act as a support system for older people who don’t have family or close friends nearby. The JAGS study showed that people with pets were better able to remain emotionally stable during crises than those without. Pets can also work as a buffer against social isolation. Often the elderly have trouble leaving home, so they don’t have a chance to see many people. Pets give them a chance to interact. This can help combat depression, one of the most common medical problems facing seniors today. The responsibility of caring for an animal may also give the elderly a sense of purpose, a reason to get up in the morning. Pets also help seniors stick to regular routines of getting up in the morning, buying groceries, and going outside, which help motivate them to eat and sleep regularly and well.
If there are older people in your life that you think might benefit from having a pet at home, talk to them about it before you pick one out. Make sure that they want the responsibility of a new pet, as well as the noise and the messes that may come along with it. Talk to them about whether they feel capable of feeding, watering, grooming, exercising, and cleaning up after an animal. If they decide they’re willing to accept that responsibility, take your friend or family member out with you to the humane society or the breeder to pick out a new furry friend. They may fall in love with a dog or cat that might never have caught your eye. It is often a good idea to pick out older pets that may not require as much energy to take care of them. Puppies and kittens can be destructive and more responsibility than the person can handle.

Finally, before you encourage an older person to adopt a pet, consider whether you could take care of the animal if its owner is no longer able. Often, if seniors reach the point where they have to leave their homes and move into assisted-living facilities, they also have to give up their pets. The number of nursing homes and other types of housing for the elderly that will accept animals is growing, but the vast majorities still don’t allow pets. Seniors can plan ahead and find a pet-friendly nursing facility, just in case they need to use it someday.

Pets and the elderly have a lot to give to each other. Research and experience has shown that animals and older people can share their time and affection, and ultimately, full and happy lives. Though pets can’t replace human relationships for seniors, they can certainly augment them, and they can fill an older person’s life with years of constant, unconditional love.

Health Benefits of Pet Ownership

In our hearts we know that pets enrich our lives, and in recent years scientific studies have begun to pin-point the ways that companion animals improve our minds and our bodies. Beyond walks and "fetch," beyond lazy days in the sun and eager faces at the end of the day, pets provide documented health benefits. A 1993 report in the Harvard Health Letter explains that companion animals have more consistent behavior compared to our human companions and that they offer unconditional affection. The effect: lower blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety level for pet owners. We repay them with love and attention. In fact, more than 60 percent of pets receive "as much attention as children," according to the 1994 American Animal Hospital Association pet owner survey.

Senior Dogs and Diet

As your dog ages, his active lifestyle may begin to slow and his body to change. Many older dogs have different nutritional needs than younger dogs, and the diet should reflect those needs.

If you have ever searched for senior diet recommendations on the Internet, then you have probably uncovered many conflicting suggestions. All dogs are different, which is why the suggestions are not uniform. We find it helpful to make diet recommendations based on “metabolic age” rather than chronological age. Metabolic age refers to how animals digest, absorb and utilize nutrients and their ability to expend energy in the form of activity. Metabolic age is best determined by a thorough exam and by a blood panel which will indicate how efficiently the organs are working and processing the nutrition they receive. A general health panel at around age 7 or 8 is not only an excellent tool for making dietary recommendations but also to serve as a baseline reference for future comparisons.

There is one aspect of the senior diet that is rarely argued: caloric intake. As your pet slows down, he needs to consume fewer calories than when he was younger. The last thing your slowing pet needs is extra weight. Not only will it make him even less active, it can lead to a number of health issues. On the other hand, if he is still fairly active, don't limit the number of calories to too few as that can result in nutritional needs not being met. Your pooch is unique. With the help of Dr. Peggy, you can decide what food is right for your dog.