Prevent progression of doggie dementia in your senior dog


 

Thanks to wonderful care by owners and great advances in veterinary medicine, our dogs are living longer than ever. But with our senior dogs reaching more advanced ages, they are also developing more age-related problems.

One such problem is canine cognitive dysfunction, also known as doggie dementia. It is caused by gradual damage to the brain from harmful byproducts of metabolism, leading the brain to slowly lose function. 

Senior dogs affected by doggie dementia can have many possible clinical signs. These symptoms often start very subtly and become more obvious over time. Changes may include: 
  • Escalating separation anxiety
  • House soiling
  • Phobias
  • Waking at night/disrupted sleep cycles
  • Excessive vocalization (such as barking at nothing)
  • Disorientation (for example, getting lost in the house)
  • Changes in interactions with people and other pets 

The good news is that there is a way to slow down the onset of these signs by using antioxidants that can reduce the damage occurring to the brain.

Antioxidants are found in food and help counteract harmful chemicals that damage the body's tissues, including brain tissue. Antioxidants often used for doggie dementia include:

  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin C
  • Selenium
  • L-carnitine
  • Alpha-lipoic acid
  • Flavonoids
  • Carotenoids 

You can find a combination of these antioxidants both in supplements and prescription diets designed to support aging brain health.

In addition to antioxidants, research shows that dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction benefit from environmental enrichment like regular exercise, interactive toys and playtime with other dogs. Combining antioxidants with environmental enrichment is the best bet for slowing down the progression of this unfortunate aging change.

 

Shop supplements today to help keep your senior dog's mind sharper longer >>