Pet Dementia Prevention

Pet Dementia PreventionAs pets age, there are a growing number of cats and dogs that are suffering from dementia and veterinarians are warning that a pet’s sedentary lifestyle and poor diet can be to blame. There are an increasing number of cats and dogs suffering from this progressing disease, and many pets are dying of it.

The problems that animals face can be a direct result of lifestyle choices made by not only the pet but primarily the pet owners. A lack of physical activity and a diet of “cheap” pet food plays a significant role in the increasing number of dementia cases in cats and dogs.

“We see an increase in pet obesity,” says Professor Dr. Holger Volk, a leading veterinary scientist at the Royal Veterinary College, “Just as we see health problems among people who are less active so we see the same problems with their pets eating more and getting less exercise and this may lead to an increase in dementia.” With the growing issues, it may be difficult for pet owners to detect the decline of their beloved pet’s health.

How can you detect dementia in your loyal companion?

Some signs include:

  • Getting “stuck” behind furniture
  • Walking in circles
  • Forgetting certain activities, such as eating or forgetting that they have already greeted you
  • Attempting to go in a door the wrong way
  • Getting lost or struggling to find their way around
  • Increased amount of sleep during a 24-hour period
  • Disinterest in surroundings
  • Decreased purposeful activity
  • Loss of knowledge, including daily activities such as housebreaking
  • Increased amounts of anxiety shown by apprehension, panting, moaning or excessive shivering

Other signs of dementia in pets include failure to respond to commands and difficulty hearing, inability to recognize familiar people, and difficulty navigating the environment.
There are three main contributors to the changes in an aging brain that cause a gradual impairment in cognitive functioning: oxidative stress from free radical damage, the formation of lesions on the brain, and alterations in oxygen and energy availability.

The brain is thought to be more sensitive to the effects of oxidation than other tissues of the body. The damage to your dog’s brain caused by oxidative stress can cause a decrease in cognition as well as degenerative nerve disease similar to, for example, Alzheimer’s disease in humans.

It is critical to monitor changes within your pet, as well as get the proper attention from an experienced vet. Dementia can accelerate at differing rates and cause different amounts of impairment and discomfort to your beloved pets. If you see any of the warning signs or sense something is out of place, it is important to contact Utah Veterinary Hospital and seek immediate attention for your pet.

Testimonials

I brought in my 9 week old kitten who had an injured leg. They were so compassionate and took the best care of him. He is in a splint and will do... read more

Melissa D.

UVH is awesome! I take my puppy Kona here and the whole staff is wonderful and welcoming and take care of Kona with care! I'm glad I chose this... read more

TaNaya H.

Absolutely amazing! I would recommend them to everyone! Not one animal hospital in salt lake would see my guinea pig, the drive was a little far but... read more

Anastasia A.

My pet rabbit seemed to be in pain and I called Utah Veterinary Hospital to see if I could bring him in for an emergency appointment. They were able... read more

Chanel N.

I was impressed by the vets knowledge as the species of lizard i have aren't super common yet in the pet trade but he knew exactly what was going on... read more

Riley H.

Dr.Rivera & Erin did an amazing job caring for our bunny Gracie. I'm so glad we found a veterinarian willing and with experience working with... read more

Elise

This is the best vet in Utah County. They treat both cats, dogs and other exotic animals. The doctors are super helpful. The staff is incredibly... read more

Matt S.

Melissa D.

I brought in my 9 week old kitten who had an injured leg. They were so compassionate and took the best care of him. He is in a splint and will do laser therapy to heal quicker. I am so grateful they had a cancellation and could get me in. Dakota and Dr Rivera explained everything to me with upfront pricing that I could afford. I will be bringing both of my kittens here for all their veterinary needs. Again I am so grateful, a day later and my kitten is comfortable and healing.

TaNaya H.

UVH is awesome! I take my puppy Kona here and the whole staff is wonderful and welcoming and take care of Kona with care! I'm glad I chose this veterinary hospital!

Anastasia A.

Absolutely amazing! I would recommend them to everyone! Not one animal hospital in salt lake would see my guinea pig, the drive was a little far but well worth it!! Great staff and doctors. Very clean and so welcoming!!!

Chanel N.

My pet rabbit seemed to be in pain and I called Utah Veterinary Hospital to see if I could bring him in for an emergency appointment. They were able to get him scheduled within a few hours, which was miraculous considering we had not been to this clinic before. Tragically, they found my rabbit was too ill to continue living. Throughout the entire process all of the staff were empathic, compassionate, and caring. They even sent a personalized card a week later expressing their condolences. I highly recommend their services and plan to take any future pets there for care. Thank you so much for your support during this hard time for our family.

Riley H.

I was impressed by the vets knowledge as the species of lizard i have aren't super common yet in the pet trade but he knew exactly what was going on and taught me something new. I would recommend this vet for anyone with a reptile or other exotic pet. All the staff were very nice and helpful as well!!

Elise

Dr.Rivera & Erin did an amazing job caring for our bunny Gracie. I'm so glad we found a veterinarian willing and with experience working with bunnies. Thank you for all your hard work! It's very much appreciated & it means a lot to us.

Matt S.

This is the best vet in Utah County. They treat both cats, dogs and other exotic animals. The doctors are super helpful. The staff is incredibly friendly and so nice and my pet is very afraid of the doctors and we had a little emergency and they were able to get us in same day and we just had a wonderful experience.
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