naturalpet


ALZHEIMER’S ALTERNATIVES


Natural Therapies Can Help by Dr. Shawn Messonnier


anine and feline Alzheimer’s disease, also known as cogni- tive disorder, is the most com- mon chronic degenerative problem for older dogs and cats, especially past the age of 10. It affects millions of pets in the United States. The cause of Alzheimer’s in ani- mals is unknown. It appears, however, that inflammation may play a role. On the microscopic level, scientists have noted the presence of abnormal pro- tein accumulations occurring within the brain’s blood vessels, similar to those in people with Alzheimer’s. Ultimately, the brain lesions inter- fere with proper functioning of nerve transmissions.


C Many different natural


therapies can help alleviate cognitive disorder.


Clinical Signs


Several signs may indicate cogni- tive disorder in affected dogs, includ- ing:


n Staring at a wall n Lack of awareness of surroundings n Occasional lack of recognition of the owner


n Lethargy/lack of energy n Excess sleep (especially during the day)


n House-training problems (usually urinating inside the house)


n Deafness Cats share the same clinical signs 14


of cognitive disorder as dogs, plus the following:


n Poor coat (excessive shedding or thin, dry coat)


n Poor appetite n Chronic constipation n House-training problems (usually urinating outside the litter box when other problems related to anxiety behavior are not in evidence)


Note that other conditions, such as diabetes plus thyroid, kidney, heart or adrenal gland disease, can produce signs similar to those associated with cognitive disorder. A full diagnostic evaluation that includes blood and


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urine testing should be performed by a veterinarian before reaching such a possible diagnosis.


Conventional Treatment The drug Anipryl has been approved for treating cognitive disorder in dogs; no medication is available for cats. While effective in some patients, this drug is expensive and can have rare side effects. If the drug proves to be effective, Anipryl must be used for the rest of the life of the dog. Natural, drug-free therapies are less costly.


Natural Therapies Many different natural therapies can help alleviate cognitive disorder, as recommended by a holistic vet. Changes in diet may include anti- oxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, herbs such as ginkgo biloba, targeted ho- meopathics and phosphatidylserine and acetyl-L-carnitine supplements. While I may incorporate a com- bination of these in the treatment of a pet with cognitive disorder, one mainstay is supplementation with choline/phosphatidylcholine. Many pets in my practice have had benefi- cial results with the patented product Cholodin, made by MVP Laborato- ries. It contains choline, phosphati- dylcholine, methionine and inositol. Several years ago, I conducted a study funded by the manufacturer


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