by Jean Unger
CANINE COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION (doggie Alzheimer's)
by Jean Ungar in Memory of Barney the Goog (April 1984 ~ December 29, 1999)
As our Barney (Benji-Terrier mix) began to show his age around his 13th year
by slowing down a little bit. He had always been an extremely healthy dog.
While on vacation in June of 1998, (his 14th year) we first noticed him
having a problem settling down at night. He continued to circle and pace
aimlessly and wouldn't stay on the couch or our bed. I gave him some
Rescue Remedy and it seemed to help a little bit.
As the summer progressed, the pacing continued and I noticed that he always
circled to the left. He also began walking close to a wall and would seem
to get lost in a corner, then whimper for some to come and "save" him. He
began to stick his head into spaces where he would actually get stuck,
whimper until someone came to "save" him again. We began putting pillows
and or large unmovable objects in these spots, but he always managed to find
another place. He was sleeping longer in the mornings and also taking
longer naps during the day and not greeting us at the door when we came home
with his usual "singing" along with our Samoyed, Buddy. He ceased to wag
his tail and run around the yard. Did not show an interest if squirrels
where out there either. He was also losing weight. At age 2 he weight 34
lbs. At his heaviest, he weighed in at 42 lbs.
We had our Vet check him out and Barney started on the drug ANIPRYL in
January of 1999. We noticed a few slight improvements. His weight in
February was 30 lbs. His naps became shorter, he would wake up on his own
in the mornings, would lift his leg to pee and even wag his tail
occasionally. A few times he even greeted us at the door and ran around the
whole yard a few times with his tail up instead of it just hanging down
almost between his legs. His bark became weaker and his singing, too,
became less and less. He weighed 28 lbs. in March. He no longer looked
out the front window when he knew my husband would be coming home.
In April as he turned 15, he started having "accidents" in the house, and
we had to watch him closely. We started hand-feeding him because he seemed
to have lost interest in his food. So I would start him off one piece of
kibble at a time, then a handful. He also loved Mighty Dog canned Chicken
and Liver flavor, which was kind of messy to feed. Eventually, his eyesight
wasn't the greatest up close and he would chomp down on our fingers, so we
went to a large tablespoon. We started adding cooked ground beef, mashed
potatoes, lamb baby food to the diet - anything to keep him eating. Two
feedings a day started to take about an hour each. I sat on the kitchen
floor crossed legged, having him lay across my legs, while I would sing to
him or just talk with him telling him how much we loved him while coaxing
him to eat his "nummies. I even bought a special Tupperwear double dish
designed to keep food warm as it took so long to feed him.
It is purple and pink - not boy dog colors at all!
The little "improvements" became less and less and we took him off the
ANIPRYL after 6 months. In July his weight was down to 26 lbs.
Eventually we even started to hold a small water dish for him to be sure he
would drink enough. We continued like this, spending more and more time
caring for him until he started having a problem holding himself up to make
poop. At times, we also had to "tickle" him to remind him to pee. Nearing
Christmas he started to just lay down outside, not exactly fall down, but
just lie there. We had a very quiet "BLUE" Christmas together as we knew it
was our last one with Barney.
On December 29th we looked at each other and said, "It is time, isn't it?"
And so it was.
We held a special little ceremony before we left for that final trip to his
Vet with Bob and I and Buddy and Barney sitting in a small circle under our
Christmas tree. I lit a special candle bought just for Barney and then
blessed him and Buddy with Holy Water a friend brought me from her church.
We then prayed with tears streaming down our cheeks that he would have a
safe journey to The Rainbow Bridge.