Why is our dog panting and pacing all night? - Stevens Point ...

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Dear Doctor: We have a 13-year-old cocker spaniel that has started to pace at night when we are trying to sleep, and she is panting when it ... Whyisourdogpantingandpacingallnight?ForUSATODAYNETWORK-WisconsinViewCommentsDearDoctor:Wehavea13-year-oldcockerspanielthathasstartedtopaceatnightwhenwearetryingtosleep,andsheispantingwhenitdoesnotseemappropriate.Sheisdefinitelyslowingdownoverall,andseemsmuchmorewhinythanweremember.Howdoweknowifsheisinpain?Signed,AmyinPlover Thisisanexcellentquestion,asshecertainlycouldbeactingthiswayifshewasinpain.Anytimeyouseechangeslikethis,itisidealtostartwithavisittoyourveterinarian.Theywillperformacompletephysicalexamination,andwillmostlikelyrecommendadditionaltestingtodetermineifthereareanyunderlyinghealthissues.Inmostcases,basiccomprehensivebloodtestingincludesacompletebloodcellcount,achemistryprofile,thyroidtestingandaurinalysis.Testingfortickdiseases,suchasLymeandanaplasma,maybeappropriate,plusX-raysand/oranultrasoundtoscreenforcertaininternalproblems.Ifthetestingdoesnotrevealanyobviousproblems,anotherconsiderationforhersymptomswouldbepossiblecognitivedeclineordysfunction,whichwouldbesimilartodementiainhumans.Cognitiveissuesindogsandcatsdonotnecessarilybeginatacertainage,butaremorecommoninolderpets.Thesymptomsofcognitivedysfunction(CD)aredifferentforeverypet,andgenerallyprogressovertime.Somepetshavemildsymptoms,whileotherswillhavedramaticchangesintheirpersonalitiesandroutines.DogswithCDmayexhibitanyorallofthefollowingchanges:sleepingmorethannormalordecreaseindailyactivity,decreasedresponsetocommands,decreasedinterestinthesurroundings,confusionordisorientation,inabilitytorecognizefamiliarpeople,excessivepanting,increasedthirst,reducedinterestinfood,lossofbladderorbowelcontrol,vocalizing(whine,bark,howl)withoutobviousreason,agitation,anxiety,pacing andalteredday-nightcycles.Thislistingisnotall-inclusive,andmanyofthesesymptomsmaybeassociatedwithotherdiseases.Atthistime,thereisnotatestforanimalstoconfirmCD,butyourveterinarianmaysuspectcognitivedeclinewhenthestandardtestingisinconclusive.Basedonhumanresearch,therearemanyfactorsthatcontributetothedevelopmentofCD,allofwhichultimatelyharmtheindividualcellswithinthebrain.Whilethediseaseprocessescannotbereversed,brainfunctioncanstillbesupportedbyvarioussupplements,nutrientsandmedications,alongwithchangesindailyroutines.Responseswillvaryfromonepettoanother,butinallcasesitisimportanttomakemultiplechangestoimprovethechancesofafavorableresponse.Petsneedtoremainengaged,whichcanbeachievedbysensorystimulationandexercise.Increasedsensorystimulationincludesfrequentpetting,massage,brushing(iftolerated) andhugs.Dailywalksarealsoessential,evenifitisonlyashorttripdownthedrivewayandbackafewtimesduringtheday.SeveralsupplementscanbebeneficialfordogswithvaryingstagesofCF,includingNeutricks,melatonin,fishoils,B-vitamins,Senilife,andCellAdvance880,withacombinationoftheseincreasingthechanceforimprovementinaparticularpet.Additionalconsiderationsincludegoodqualityfood,coconutoil andaprescriptionmedicationknownasSelegiline.Themanagementplanisdifferentforeverypet,butyourveterinarianshouldbeabletoguideyouthroughthisprocessifcognitivedeclineisthesuspectedcauseofyourgirl’ssymptoms.Bestwishesforyouandthehealthofyourgirl.ViewComments



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