#DogDementia - Who are you?
Every pet owner is different, just as different as the pet itself. Not infrequently, both also share some #character traits and sometimes (or much more often than expected) look quite similar. The #ageing of a dog is defined as "the sum of all harmful effects of time" and is influenced by biological (genes, nutrition e.g.) and chronic effects (e.g. medication or food). While one pet owner may feel the slightest change in behaviour, another pet owner may only realise this at an advanced stage. Behaviour is an important indicator of the quality of life and well-being of our dogs. It is not uncommon for pet owners to come to my office and report a recurring pattern of behaviour. A pattern of the same type, limited duration and sometimes associated with a trigger. They are concerned and want answers. It is the "#stare". Your dog stares at you, the ceiling or into space. For #petowners, this is without clear indication of why he is doing this or what he wants. Staring is one of the first reliable symptoms in dogs that signify mental impairment. As a hallmark of canine dementia, staring can serve as the first cardinal symptom to directly initiate further clarification. Not every staring dog is immediately a dementia patient, but in combination with other symptoms, the puzzle can emerge: Canine dementia. Canine dementia is the analogue of #Alzheimer's disease in humans. It is a neurological, chronic and progressive disease that appears especially after the age of 8. There is increasing deposition of insoluble protein, leading to impaired nerve function. Also known as canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) or CCDS for short, a therapy concept should be developed that focuses on the #quality of life of your #dog. #veterinary #veterinaryfordementia #forget #old #dogsoninstagram #cognition #epilepsy #dogs #dogsofinstagram #pet #petfluencer #petlove #vetfluencer #braincheckpet #braincheckpetresearch