Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome

windwalker718 · 07-21-2009, 08:54 PM

Our 12 year old lab is slipping away... at first it just seemed deafness, then vision... but the wandering and confusion it's progressed to leaves little doubt now. Tomorrow I'm going to call our Vet and discuss treatment with Anipryl on a trial that Pfizer has allowing 1 free month on a 2 month trial. Will also look into generic forms of the medication. It's the only med that's approved for this.

My question is has anyone else started their pets on this medication? What were the results, and how quickly have you seen improvement. He does have other issue, but they're typical aging things, a bit of loss in muscle strength, deafness, and his vision's not great. Our supervision is enough to cope with this for now...

though we do know the trip to the bridge isn't far off. My hope is that this medication can buy our ole man another 6 months, at least til winter. His #1 joy in life right now is laying out in the dog yard.

LisaT · 07-21-2009, 09:14 PM

I guess, I would first make sure that it isn't Cushings:
http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...=1#Post1135725
http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...=1#Post1136607
http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...=1#Post1142015

HeidiW · 07-21-2009, 09:16 PM

I am sorry, it is so hard. Hope he has more time with you. My Kasey loved to lay in the shade too, and that was all she wanted to do.

LJsMom · 07-21-2009, 09:22 PM

We thought Wooly Bear had CCD. We tried the Anipryl and it did help. Then we tested his thyroid - it was really low. After treating the thyroid, we were able to stop the Anipryl. Have you checked the thyroid?

windwalker718 · 07-21-2009, 09:41 PM

Will discuss the whole thing when we see the Vet, but I've a strong feeling it's "doggie Alzheimer" With his age and other issues we'll have to weigh the options. He does have other problems, just that this is the one that we as pack members are having trouble with.

Kayos and Havoc · 07-22-2009, 08:21 AM

My Max is in the same boat. We have found he has Cushings and we hope the treatment helps. He may or may not have CDS, although I suspect he does.

windwalker718 · 07-25-2009, 11:03 PM

Jonah is stable for now... like people with Alzheimer he goes thru a "sundown" period most evenings around 4:30-6... nobody knows exactly why. We're using an anti anxiety medication @ the first signs of that now, and it allows us to handle the rest of his issues without placing more stress/expectations on him than he can handle. The anxiety meds are only as needed, he still eats like a horse... LOL

His favorite thing is still to lay outdoors in the dog yard, though now it's in the grass instead of on the deck. I leave the door open most of the time so that if he suddenly gets confused he can come in and find me. At the stage he's in (due to age and other problems) we all agreed it's the best course for him.

07-21-2009, 08:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
windwalker718 Master Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NW Connecticut Posts: 865	Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome Our 12 year old lab is slipping away... at first it just seemed deafness, then vision... but the wandering and confusion it's progressed to leaves little doubt now. Tomorrow I'm going to call our Vet and discuss treatment with Anipryl on a trial that Pfizer has allowing 1 free month on a 2 month trial. Will also look into generic forms of the medication. It's the only med that's approved for this. My question is has anyone else started their pets on this medication? What were the results, and how quickly have you seen improvement. He does have other issue, but they're typical aging things, a bit of loss in muscle strength, deafness, and his vision's not great. Our supervision is enough to cope with this for now... though we do know the trip to the bridge isn't far off. My hope is that this medication can buy our ole man another 6 months, at least til winter. His #1 joy in life right now is laying out in the dog yard. __________________ Home of: Bree... Rescue Mutt (12/11) Demi V. Hayden (8/09) SG Ikon V.Wolfstraum--(5/09) & Many beloveds at the gate waiting for me...

07-21-2009, 09:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
LisaT Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern CA Posts: 17,002	Re: Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome I guess, I would first make sure that it isn't Cushings: http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...=1#Post1135725 http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...=1#Post1136607 http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...=1#Post1142015 __________________ K9 Tick Disease Information http://www.rabieschallengefund.org

07-21-2009, 09:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
HeidiW Knighted Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 3,141	Re: Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome I am sorry, it is so hard. Hope he has more time with you. My Kasey loved to lay in the shade too, and that was all she wanted to do. __________________ Heidi, human mom to Daisy, 6 yr JRT Bella, 3 yr GSD Bo, 2 yr GSD Rest in Peace, Kasey, GSD Shelter 8/96-12/07 at the Bridge Patches, CS Shelter 4/93-4/05 at the Bridge Keisha, GSD 12/87-10/96 at the Bridge Tarsha, GSD my sweet 16 BD at the Bridge

07-21-2009, 09:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
LJsMom Knighted Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: RI Posts: 2,246	Re: Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome We thought Wooly Bear had CCD. We tried the Anipryl and it did help. Then we tested his thyroid - it was really low. After treating the thyroid, we were able to stop the Anipryl. Have you checked the thyroid? __________________ Joanne Kryska's Ironwill Steel Train SD (Siberian Husky) Mila (GSD) Adopted from BDBH. Waiting at the bridge: Lady Jane Cobb (GSD - age 15) Sasha (Siberian Husky - age 13) Niko (Siberian Husky - age 14) Wooly Bear (Siberian Husky - age 13)

07-21-2009, 09:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
windwalker718 Master Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NW Connecticut Posts: 865	Re: Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome Will discuss the whole thing when we see the Vet, but I've a strong feeling it's "doggie Alzheimer" With his age and other issues we'll have to weigh the options. He does have other problems, just that this is the one that we as pack members are having trouble with. __________________ Home of: Bree... Rescue Mutt (12/11) Demi V. Hayden (8/09) SG Ikon V.Wolfstraum--(5/09) & Many beloveds at the gate waiting for me...

07-22-2009, 08:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
Kayos and Havoc Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: McAlester, OK Posts: 16,921	Re: Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome My Max is in the same boat. We have found he has Cushings and we hope the treatment helps. He may or may not have CDS, although I suspect he does. __________________ Kathy The Wrecking Crew URO3, UCD "Kayos" CD,TDX,RE,CGC,HIC,TC URO1, UCD "Havoc" CDX,GN,RE,CGC,HIC,TC,BH At the Bridge: Lucky, Wolf, Max Gone but never forgotten

07-25-2009, 11:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
windwalker718 Master Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NW Connecticut Posts: 865	Re: Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome Jonah is stable for now... like people with Alzheimer he goes thru a "sundown" period most evenings around 4:30-6... nobody knows exactly why. We're using an anti anxiety medication @ the first signs of that now, and it allows us to handle the rest of his issues without placing more stress/expectations on him than he can handle. The anxiety meds are only as needed, he still eats like a horse... LOL His favorite thing is still to lay outdoors in the dog yard, though now it's in the grass instead of on the deck. I leave the door open most of the time so that if he suddenly gets confused he can come in and find me. At the stage he's in (due to age and other problems) we all agreed it's the best course for him. __________________ Home of: Bree... Rescue Mutt (12/11) Demi V. Hayden (8/09) SG Ikon V.Wolfstraum--(5/09) & Many beloveds at the gate waiting for me...

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