click here for on demand Low Stress Veterinary Care Courses
Facebook  Linkedin  

704 N Main Street Tuscola IL 61953

dr.sally@mchsi.com


Phone:217-722-4484

Facebook  Linkedin  Youtube  

Dear Friends,


Deciphering senior dog behavior can be challenging. As I outlined in my last newsletter, behavior changes often reflect physical bodily health changes. Intestinal, orthopedic, organic, and sensory ( visual and hearing) system changes can cause increased anxiety, aggression, and compulsion behaviors.


The brain is a part of the organ system. Aging in the brain triggers behavior changes. By-products of body inflammation accelerate brain aging and decline. Management of chronic physical health conditions can be achieved with resulting improved behaviors - or not. Now we have to determine how much of the residual behaviors are due to health management challenges, learned behavior, or cognitive dysfunction.


Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome is a behavior diagnosis through exclusion of other health and behavior problems. DISHAA- Disorientation, Interaction, Sleep.Housesoiling, Activity and Anxiety - is the acronym used to describe the behavior changes from CDS. We can see similar behavior changes with arthritis, diabetes, and other health conditions as well. How do we know what CDS is and is not?


Here is a guiide:


Aging body behavior changes - Increased anxiety and aggression are the primary changes. Pain and inflammation primary triggers these behavior changes due to the changes in endorphins, stress hormones, and body chemistry. Marked increase in these behaviors is a clue that it is not primarily CDS.


Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome - Increased Anxiety and Compulsive behaviors in the face of managed senior health. Gradual increase in behaviors often not noted until geriatric age is common with CDS.



Is it both? Could be - as you can see anxiety is the common behavior change in both body and brain aging. Screening for CDS, senior health and other behavior problems is important, and need to be efficient for you the practitioner and relevant to your client. Use the Purina DISHAA Handout as a pre exam screening tool. Ask for a short home video to see the dog walking through the home, to go outside for elimination. This will help you screen for gait, the home obstacles, and cognition.


For a deeper dive into this topic watch my YouTube video Canine Cognitive Dysfunction -What it is and is not


My Canine behavior and health at all ages course is written for the client to understand how health and behavior impact each other. I present a case of a senior dog with both organic health and cognitive decline that increased separation anxiety. By addressing both issues, the dog improved significantly. I


This $19.95 course can be viewed repeatedly and is designed to help you help your client.


Check the course out for yourself for free! Veterinary and shelter staff - enter code K9CDS in the cart at check out. Valid through 2/28/2023


You will recieve an email reciept with the link to the course and other content.

limit one use of coupon per person. Send me your thoughts after taking the course for additonal content ideas.


Take Care, and keep life Low-Stress!


sally signature _2_.JPG
Canine Cognitive Dysfunction - What it is and is not
Canine Cognitive Dysfunction - What it is and is not
Visit my Blog, Shop and Resources page to help you and your clients with Low-Stress Veterinary Care
LinkedIn Share This Email