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Anipryl® – Help for Senior Dogs?
Anipryl, in the form of white, convex tablets, is a medicine used for treating cognitive dysfunction and senility (CDS) in older animals. It is meant to be used for dogs only.-
Anipryl is the veterinary trade name for a drug called selegiline hydrochloride, also known as L-deprenyl. The drug is approved by the FDA for use in dogs for treatment of Pituitary Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) also known as Cushing’s disease and Canine Cognitive Dysfunction.
What is Canine Cognitive Dysfunction?
With growing years, pets, like humans, also go under physical and mental changes, like developing grey hair, becoming fussier or reluctant to have a change in normal routine. However, certain changes are taken for granted and ignored and considered normal for old age, but some could be signs of what we know as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. It is a chain of aged behavioral patterns. For example, you would have noticed one of the following typical ‘old age’ actions:
Broad confusion – your pet won’t greet or seem to identify you as it used to do. It gets ‘lost’ in the yard or house.
Improper vocalization – It may bark or mew in the middle of the night for no apparent reason?
Getting day and night mixed up – It sleeps all through day and keeps awake all night?
Confusing indoor and outdoor- Older dogs with dementia might not remember to go out for doing their usual business as they always used to. It could be due some urinary tract infection or gastrointestinal problem, which shouldalways be ruled out first before presuming it to be a behavioral (dementia) problem.
Loss of appetite-It may lose interest in food or even forget eating at times.
Personality changes – For example, a formerly outgoing pet may become fearful or aggressive.
Doesn’t respond to voice commands as before-First of all you need to rule out if there is hearing loss, which is common in older dogs. In case of cognitive dysfunction, the dog is unable to process the command and act on it as before.
The first step in the right direction is to see your veterinarian and get general health of your pet examined to discount any medical or physical problems that might be causing this abnormal behavior. In fact all pets above seven years of age should be subjected to geriatric examination once a year. If your pet is found to be healthy, your veterinarian may recommend treatment, using Anipryl, an approved drug for helping dogs affected with cognitive dysfunction. This is the only approved drug for the purpose.
Is there any generic available?
Yes, Selegiline is available as genericequivalent.
How does Anipryl work?
Anipryl augments the concentration of a chemical called dopamine in brain, a messenger of nervous system. Enhanced levels of dopamine perk up many cognitive processes.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION:
Anipryl needs to be given orally. Veterinarian’s Instructions regarding dosage should always be followed. Give Anipryl in the morning. If you find it difficult to give the medicine, discuss with your veterinarian.
CDS: The suggested dosage for controlling clinical signs connected to CDS is 0.5-1.0 mg/kg once every day, preferably in the morning. The initial dosage for should be the nearest whole tablet. Subsequently, adjustments may be made depending on the response and tolerance to the drug.
PDH: The prescribed amount for controlling clinical signs connected with canine PDH is 1.0 mg/kg once every day, preferably in the morning. If there is no noticeable improvement after 2 months of treatment, dosage may well be increased to a maximum of 2.0 mg/kg once every day. In case no improvement is noticed after one month of increased dose, or clinical signs progress, the canine should be re-evaluated.
It is recommended to watch dog closely for any likely adverse affects after the dose is increased.
How supplied: It comes in a convenient tablet form for easy dosing. Five tablet strengths are available in blister-packs of 30 tablets each: 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, and 30 mg. Each box contains 1 blister pack (30 tablets).
Storage: Store at controlled room temperature 20°-25°C (68°-77°F).
Contraindications for Anipryl
Anipryl is contraindicated for dogs having known hypersensitivity for this drug. If you intend using any Selegiline Hydrochloride drug, you should know that the drug’s safety on nursing or pregnant animals has not yet been fully tested.
It is not recommended to administer Anipryl within five weeks of having administered any antidepressants or SSRI medicine. Also ensure that the dog has not been given MAOIs within the last five weeks.
By no means give your dog ephedrine while giving it any Selegiline Hydrochloride. Additionally, no shampoos, flea or tick collars, or topical medicines having Amitraz or Mitaban should be given.
Phenylpropanolamine is used for treating urinary incontinence in elderly dogs. If phenylpropanolamine is mixed with Anipryl, severely high blood pressure levels could occur. It is imperative to stop giving your dog phenylpropanolamine at least a fortnight before administering any Selegiline Hydrochloride medicine.
Anipryl is rather a new drug, the long term effects of which are still under study. The studies conducted so far point out that some dogs may suffer from side effects due to Anipryl, which can include:
If the dog seems to have an allergic reaction, ask for emergency veterinary care without delay.
Some very common symptoms of overdose include dehydration, weight loss and excessive panting. You may also notice that the dog’s pupils fail to contract in bright light.
Keep out of reach of children. Not for human use.
Anipryl should not be administered at doses exceeding those recommended (0.5-2.0 mg/kg once daily).
CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.
Reproductive Safety: The safety of Anipryl in breeding, pregnant and lactating bitches and breeding dogs has not been determined.