OkcPets Magazine November 2021

November/December 2021 • OKC Pets 11 T here she was, my new foster dog. I had seen her shelter pictures, and she was a beautiful, cream-colored retriever. I eagerly awaited my veterinarian to bring her to the lobby. Snowball slowly and stiffly rounded the corner, dragging her toenails, knuckling on the tile. I took a deep breath, kneeled and embraced her. My heart filled with warmth as she melted in my arms. I felt her tense muscles relax. Her soft, freshly bathed coat seemed to fill the room with the scent of warm oatmeal cookies. From that moment, we were bonded. Snowball was my first foster “hospice” dog. I knew what to expect and had been down the “golden years” road too many times to count. My dad used to explain to me, “If you look into your dog’s eyes, you can see your soul. You will know if you have done your job well.” He passionately instilled in me the need to treat my dogs with respect and compassion, regardless of the age or breed. Snowball was to be no different. No matter what was ahead, the best was yet to come for Miss Snowball. Being knowledgeable with realistic expectations can help you be prepared for life with a senior dog. What can you expect as your dog enters the golden years? Senior dogs experience changes in their bodies in similar ways to humans. Eyesight and hearing wane, joints begin to ache and stiffen, and behaviors may change. Changes in your dog’s gait and posture and movement problems are indicators of an aging neuromuscular system. Pain, metabol- ic disease and sensory loss modify the animal’s perception of its environment and the ability to react. Cognitive impairment may increase anxiety and reduce ability to cope with new situations. According to Charles McWilliams, DVM, owner of Jenks Veteri- nary Hospital, “Aging is not a diagnosis.” He often listens as owners describe their dog’s behaviors and physical problems as just “old age.” In McWilliams’ experience, the most common aging com- plaints include mobility and behavioral issues. Most can be treated, but the first step is determining the cause of the changes in your pet during this season of life. Begin with a senior dog examination with your veterinarian to establish a health baseline on which to judge progression or regression. Can a dog have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease? Like Alzheimer’s in humans, dogs can have a progressive disease called Canine Cogni- tive Dysfunction or Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. It is estimat- ed that 14% of dogs older than eight show some symptoms, and 68% of dogs aged 15-16 have symptoms of cognitive impairment. McWilliams describes CCD as a diagnosis of exclusion. There is not one specific test to rule out CCD. First, your veterinarian should rule out possible medical causes CANINE Golden Years Canine Cog itive Dysfunction By Karen Dugan Holman, BS, BSE, MS Karen and Snowball