I Think Bingo Has Sundowners Syndrome?

[Guest luvRgreys]

Hope someone can help us. My sweet Bingo is 11 1/2. She has always been a "whiner" but lately she is whining and pacing all night long. If we let her outside she wanders all over(we don't leave her out,but do this 3-4 times a night)). In the morning she is wiped out and sound asleep! During the day, she has wandered to the lower part of our property and acts like she forgets how to get back up the hill to the house(we have 1/2 acre, but its hilly) My husband has had to lead her back up the path to the house. Have a vet appt tomorrow at 1:30, but she had a physical in February and exam was normal. Have any of you experienced Sundowners syndrome in your greys?

This is breaking my heart. She underwent surgery in August of last year for mammary gland adenocarcinoma and that has not recurred, and her chest x-ray was clear at that time. Wonder if it could be brain mets?

Thanks for your help, and please pray for her!!

[CaliforniaGreys]

I just had my Misty at the vet because it seemed like we got up one morning and she was old, all of a sudden. Misty is only 10 but started acting like she was 15. She would go outside and then act like she was lost. Even when we walk, she would stop all of a sudden with a look as if to say, what are doing? Her physical exam and blood work all came back fine, urine was sent out and that came back fine.I know there is a syndrome in dogs that resembles Alzheimers in people, I just can't remember exactly what it's called but remember reading about it. My vet said that he can put Misty on a senility drug to improve cognitive function but we're trying a few other things first just to be sure.Hope you get to the bottom of Bingo's problem. Will keep her in our thoughts

Edited March 15, 2008 by cbudshome

[Guest ss556]

Alan did a similar "thing" last month. All of a sudden he seemed old. Someone said it could be doggy dementia. Then after taking him to the vet, he thought Alan may have "thrown a clot". After a week, Alan was back to himself. I'm not sure what happened then. Hoping for the best for Bingo.

[Guest Scouts_mom]

Bingo's behaviour sounds very much like what happened to my sister's wonderful collie, Red, about 10 years ago. She was told it was doggy alzhiemer's and that there was nothing that could be done for the poor dog and he shortly died.

 

But, at GPA/NW's annual meeting last week, Dr. Linda Blythe, professor of veterinary medicine at Oregon State University and one of the authors of "Care of the Racing & Retired Greyhound", spoke about Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (doggy Alzheimer's). There has been a great deal of progress made recently in treating it. Mental Stimulation (walks and playing) helps as does a drug called Anipryl (selegiline) and Hills Prescription Diet b/d (which you must get from a vet). So there is hope now. If your vet isn't aware of this new stuff, he or she should contact Dr. Blythe.

[Guest luvRgreys]

Thank you for your replies. Will talk to my vet tomorrow. We love this little girl so much, got her at almost 8. She had a broken hock on the track, then was used for breeding, then bounced out of her first home because she thought a chichuahua was a lure , then the cancer , now this, she's had a rough time of it, and is still soooo very sweet.

PLease keep praying!

[CaliforniaGreys]

Hoping it's nothing serious and plenty of prayers coming your way from the desert.Please let us know how you and Bingo make out.

[Guest lotsagreys4me]

Oh I am hoping the vet can find and answer and help your girl. she will be in my prayers. Let us know

[Guest luvRgreys]

I just had my Misty at the vet because it seemed like we got up one morning and she was old, all of a sudden. Misty is only 10 but started acting like she was 15. She would go outside and then act like she was lost. Even when we walk, she would stop all of a sudden with a look as if to say, what are doing? Her physical exam and blood work all came back fine, urine was sent out and that came back fine.I know there is a syndrome in dogs that resembles Alzheimers in people, I just can't remember exactly what it's called but remember reading about it. My vet said that he can put Misty on a senility drug to improve cognitive function but we're trying a few other things first just to be sure.Hope you get to the bottom of Bingo's problem. Will keep her in our thoughts

 

 

What other things are you going to try first? Want to share

[CaliforniaGreys]

I just had my Misty at the vet because it seemed like we got up one morning and she was old, all of a sudden. Misty is only 10 but started acting like she was 15. She would go outside and then act like she was lost. Even when we walk, she would stop all of a sudden with a look as if to say, what are doing? Her physical exam and blood work all came back fine, urine was sent out and that came back fine.I know there is a syndrome in dogs that resembles Alzheimers in people, I just can't remember exactly what it's called but remember reading about it. My vet said that he can put Misty on a senility drug to improve cognitive function but we're trying a few other things first just to be sure.Hope you get to the bottom of Bingo's problem. Will keep her in our thoughts

 

 

What other things are you going to try first? Want to share

The things we're trying are totally un-related because I told my vet that I wasn't sure if Misty's behavior was from senility or if something was hurting her and that's what was causing her to stop and look around like she was lost. So my vet thought it was more important to rule out any discomfort first and then possibly try the Anipryl which has been used with great success as Scouts_Mom said.

[Guest LindsaySF]

My Chows got doggy dementia as they got older. I thought it was part of the aging process.

 

Good luck with this. Hopefully it is treatable.

[RobinM]

You and your baby are most definitely in my thoughts.

[seeh2o]

One of my dogs has SARDS (sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome) and went blind from it. I've learned that even after they have aclimated to being blind they can sometimes become disoriented. There is a supplement that many people on the yahoo group, Owners of Blind Dogs, use with some success. Humans also use it to help lessen "forgetting". I think it's time for me to start taking it. I think it's also time for my dog with SARDS to start taking it. Now we'll both be taking the same supplements!

 

Anyway, here is a link to a website where vet discusses it and an excerpt from it which discusses it - Phosphatidylserine.

 

Link

 

 

"Dear Dr. Shawn:

”I was wondering if pets get Alzheimer’s disease like people? I know this is a common problem in older people and I’m worried about my older dog becoming senile as she gets older.”

 

Answer:

” While pets don’t actually develop Alzheimer’s disease, both dogs and cats develop a condition called cognitive disorder. While the condition appears new, it is not and has been recognized by veterinarians for many years. There are a number of clinical signs in pets with cognitive disorder. These signs are often accepted by owners as normal signs of aging, when in fact they are signs of a (usually) treatable condition. Owners must be taught that any of these signs warrants a full evaluation. Education must begin before the first geriatric visit. Regular geriatric examination, ideally every 6-12 months, will facilitate communication and allow for early diagnosis of cognitive disorder and other conditions often seen in geriatric dogs.

 

Common signs in dogs and cats with cognitive disorder include wandering aimlessly, vocalizing for no reason, getting stuck in a corner, increased daytime sleeping, seeking less attention, loss of house training, and seeking less attention. Because these signs can mimic other conditions (cancer, hypothyroidism), these pets should receive a full workup prior to the diagnosis of cognitive disorder.

 

The drug AniprylR is approved for treating cognitive disorder in dogs. It must be given daily for the life of the dog once the diagnosis is made. Side effects are rare in dogs and included restlessness, disorientation, vomiting, anorexia, weakness, anemia, stiffness, and polydipsia. The major concern among owners is the cost: a one month supply for a 30 pound dog costs about $125.

 

There are other more natural alternatives, including herbal preparations (gingko, lycopodium, salvia,) thyroid supplement (when hypothyroidism is the cause), nutritional supplementation using whole food preparations of vitamins such as inositol and lecithin, and a specific product which combines choline and several other nutrients (choline, phosphatidylcholine, methionine, inositol, and various B vitamins.)

 

Acetylcholine is a widely distributed neurotransmitter in the body. Choline loading using choline provides additional choline which can be used to make acetylcholine. Phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) is part of the plasma membrane of mammalian cells and provides additional choline for acetylcholine synthesis. Methionine and inositol also are involved in neurotransmitter metabolism. It has been suggested that aging people and pets begin to lose cholinergic nerve receptors, and certainly diseases such as human dementia and senility and cognitive disorder are most common in aged patients. Since oral choline administration increases plasma choline levels, and since brain levels of acetylcholine increase as plasma choline levels increase, using choline loading/supplementation has the ability to improve neurological disorders that result from decreased acetylcholine.

 

Natural therapies have proven extremely effective in most pets in my practice, without the expense or side effects of drug therapy. Therapy is given for 2 months to assess efficacy (as is true with any nutritional therapy,) although results may occur more quickly."

Edited March 16, 2008 by ckruzan

[Guest luvRgreys]

Thank you for all the replies. This is the first time we have been on the receiving end of being in need, what GREYT support

I printed out the "Dr.Shawn" info and will take it to my vet tomorrow, he is very open to natural healing items.

Again thank you everyone, you are the best!!!!!

[CaliforniaGreys]

Don't forget to let us know how you and Bingo make out. I for one will be anxious to hear

[Guest greyladydown]

A few years ago, my elderly poodle aquired cognitive dysfunction syndrome. In her prime, she was smart, active and always aware of her surroundings. All of a sudden, at age 15, she became very disoriented and confused, started loosing weight and just looked so different. I can't stress how fast this happened.

 

After a thorough exam with a board certified specialist, we put her on Anipryl and the prescription b/d diet. The Anipryl gave her awful side effects, the worst of which was aggression (totally out of character for her). The b/d diet helped a little. About a year after her diagnosis, she also lost most of her sight and hearing as well.

 

 

[Guest luvRgreys]

[/color] Well, I wish I knew more. Dr. Seibert had a chest x-ray and abdominal x-ray done and they were clear so no mets there from the mammary gland tumor. Had a full blood panel drawn to see if there is liver disease going on, said that if the liver is not functioning, toxins could be effecting the brain. While we were there, he saw that Bingo was lethargic and unsteady on her feet, also unable to remember how to climb down from a bench she was laying on. He feels that if the lab comes back normal, we are looking at a possible brain tumor b/c of her symptoms. Doesn't feel it's Sundowner's b/c that happens only after dark and she is having symptoms during the day also. He said that an MRI would have to be done for a conclusive diaginosis, but that there would be no treatment for a brain tumor for her, and that things will happen quickly.We will get the lab results back tomorrow. Please continue to pray for our little Bingo girl. I'm just sick inside.

[CaliforniaGreys]

I'm a bit confused with the vet talking about sundowning. That is a term in my field that we use with people with Alzheimers.Some do it, some don't. But I never thought that it had anything to do with CDS.I am keeping Bingo in my prayers and hope that whatever it turns out to be, she will be okay.I can't even imagine what you're going through right now. Take good care of yourself, you have a lot of support here.

[Guest suzq]

Please know that you and Bingo are in my thoughts and prayers! It is such a helpless feeling I know, but you're doing everything you can for your sweet girl.

 

[GeorgeofNE]

I think you're referring to "sundowning," which is an expression used to describe how Alzheimer's patients tend to get worse at night. [May also be used with other types of dementia, but my father has Alzheimer's, so that's all I know anything about.]

 

My old dog, a non grey, definitely was senile at the end. What he would do I called the 1,000 yard stare. He would just stand at the edge of "his" woods, and instead of running in and doing his thing, just stand there, motionless, as if somewhere inside he knew he was supposed to care, but he didn't. It was so sad. I believe they call it canine cognitive disfunction in dogs, and there is a medication that can help, if that is indeed what's going on.

 

 

[Guest Shannon]

My 12 year greyhound has had this same problem for about the last year. I have taken her to two vets and an internal specialist. She gets panicked once it starts getting around 10pm. Paces back and forth, panting and seems frantic. I wish I was told about anipryl. The internal medicine vet put her on mirtazipine which I dont think is making much of a difference. It is like prozac I guess, but my regular vet had never heard of using it. But the thing that did make a difference- and of course it is just a mask for the real problem but was diazapaem ( valium). I give her a small dose before bedtime and it tends to settle her down without knocking her out. It helps keep her from stressing herself out. Good luck.

[Guest Ladyluther]

My Luther who will be 15 his next Birthday has CDS. He exhibits most of the standard symptoms such as: incessent barking, staring into corners, pacing and general confusion about regular stuff he used to do easily. He has been on Anipryl for almost 3 months and I do see some improvement - especially in the night time pacing..it's almost totally gone now.

 

I have found tho that it's impt to try and keep their minds and bodies active.. We still go for our 3 walks a day which he loves. We play little games like "find the treat" - with special stinky liver stuff, and of course the ever popular stuffy toss. This also helps keep him limber. Never heard of the Hills b/d diet..will have to ask my vet..Thanks for the heads up.

 

So we are truely taking one day at a time. we can't wait for spring!!

 

Oh and BTW - Anipryl IS expensive, but if your vet will write a script, you can get it for a good price at KVVET.