GERIATRIC ANIMALS:
BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS IN
CATS AND DOGS
By
Dr Maria del
Carmen Barba
Doctor in Veterinary
Medicine
IVAS certified
acupuncturist.
and
Peter Neville DHc BSc(Hons)
Centre of Applied Pet
Ethology,
Aging is a physiological process for every creature and
involves internal changes in organ structure and metabolic processes including
those in the brain. How senior pets are affected by these natural aging
processes depends on many factors throughout their lives, such as lifestyle,
nutrition, their emotional environment, disease and traumas, etc. Senior pets
become especially increasingly sensitive to the secondary effects of their
external physical environment such as temperature extremes of cold or hot, or
humidity on their metabolism and strength of their immune systems.
Emotional
and physical environment.
Lifestyle has an important impact on health in both people
and animals. Pets who live in households where owners
are relatively stress free, and where they receive proper nutrition, are cared
and loved, and have all their emotional and environmental need met tend to live
longer and healthier lives. But unfortunate pets who
live in a more stressful home environment, perhaps where owners are arguing
constantly, or where health and emotional care is inadequate, or if they are
fed with poor quality or insufficient food or housed without appropriate
seasonal climate control, have a higher risk of becoming ill and aging faster.
Cortisol, which is produced by
suprarenal glands, is involved here as one of major the so-called ‘stress
hormones’. During
periods of high physiological arousal associated with stressful situations,
cortisol is released into bloodstream in a high amounts and, along with
adrenalin, another suprarenal hormone, is responsible for promoting the 4F’s
(fight, flight, freeze or ‘fiddle about’ (appease/deflect/negotiate) response
range to help the animal cope and survive. If the animal is under constant
stress, large amounts of cortisol are released into the blood, and can cause
damage to tissues and major organs such as the heart, although the brain is
often the most affected organ. This is partially due to the effect of cortisol
release inhibiting blood sugar utilisation by the main brain memory centre, the
hypocampus. If there is not enough glucose in the hypocampus, it may lack the
energy to memorise events and experiences properly. Cortisol excess can also
block brain neurotransmitter activity, disabling proper communication between
neurones causing chaos in the brain and disruption of normal behaviour. An
excess of cortisol can also kill neurones by causing excessive calcium intake,
which in turn produces a super abundance of free radicals, which kills them
from the inside. Many other neurotransmitters can also affected:, such as
acetylcholine, noradrenalin, dopamine, serotonin, L-glutamate,
gamma-aminobutiric acid (GABA) and endorphins in different degrees, and high
levels of stress hormones can also produce unwanted secondary effects
elsewhere, degenerating both the heart and circulatory system, as well as
degrading the potency of the immune system. In physical terms, all of these
disorders can lead to problems such as cognitive and memory disorders, sensory
and motor disorders and, in turn, cause many and variable unwanted behaviour
changes.
Diseases
and the Inmune System.
The aging
process has major effects on the immune function of the body and pets and
people will remain alive as long as their genes determine their immune system
remains in good shape. As soon as immune function is impaired, the survival of
the body is in jeopardy from any harmful infections and disease.
Nutrition
Brain cells, and whole Central Nervous System, require huge quantities
of good quality nutrients for functioning properly. Hence, diet is a key factor
in the brain aging processes, and thus on the timing of the appearance of any
unwanted behaviours associated with aging. An underfed pet, both in terms of
diet quality and quantity, can suffer neuronal damage, in respect of neurone
cell membrane metabolism and dendrite function, causing improper neural
transmission, impaired neurotransmitter metabolism, storage and recycling, and
worse still, synaptic loosening, neuronal death and inactivity, and associated
loss of brain function and behavioural co-ordination. Inappropriate feeding can
also lead to degenerative pathologies as chronic liver and kidney failure,
heart disease, arthritis, irritable bowel disease, disc disease, obesity, etc,
with behavioural disorders occurring as a result of these diseases as well. The
senses of hearing, touch, smell, taste and visual acuity and cognitive
disorders can all arise due to the early onset of senility catalysed by poor
nutrition, and lead to many behavioural problems from ataxia and loss of
movement co-ordination and training through to breakdowns in house-training.
Proper nutrition throughout life helps ensure that the aging
process proceeds as healthily as possible. If since birth animals are fed with
high quality food appropriate to their age and lifestyle they will tend to have
a strong immune system, and less pre-disposition to becoming ill, and of course
their Golden years will be healthier and more active than those fed poor
quality, inadequate or improper diets. Most of the modern day quality pet food
manufacturers produce a lifestyle range of products that ensure that the needs
of the animal can be met, and this is especially important in old age from a
physiological and behavioural point of view.
Bear in mind that eating time is a hard task for them,
especially when olfaction is poor, and they cannot smell foods properly. Also
is necessary to consider that periodontal disease and simple gingivitis can
make them difficult and painful to grab and chew the meal. In such cases, add
strong smell foods, as garlic, fish or cheese, can help them to get interested
on food. Besides to give them moistened food on instead dry food, so chewing is
easier to them.
According to human research, melatonin production decreases
as the body ages. Melatonin is a hormone produced by pineal gland and is
responsible for inducing sleep, and for ensuring that we and our pets rest
properly during sleep time. Its production is stimulated when light levels
decrease during the evening. When melatonin is deficient, its restorative and
antioxidant effects during sleep are impaired, and so both people and animals
can then experience have uncomfortable, short and unrestorative nights and so
need more sleep during day. Cortisol levels also influence melatonin
production, as does diet because melatonin is produced by the body from
serotonin which depends on an adequate dietary intake of tryptophan.
It is therefore highly advisable to allow pets an
appropriate opportunity for sleep and rest both during night and day, although,
daytime sleep has restorative effect that the night sleep, mainly due to the
fact that melatonin is not produced in the daytime. Unfortunately for older
animals and people, due to naturally reduced levels of melatonin release at
night, night sleep can be restless, and they may wake up several times,
beginning pacing and vocalising. This is mainly because they can't reach the 3rd
and 4th sleep stages, the deep restorative stages, so easily and so
they spend more time in the less beneficial REM stage. This is particularly
found with aging cats, for whom attention to diet and stimulation of activity
during the day, and provision of a very comfortable night-time bed becomes
increasingly important if owners are not to be woken by their cat’s activity!
It is also important that owners of older cats try not to respond by getting up
and comforting the older cat when it first shows this nocturnal activity unless
there are indications of poor health, or they will simply reinforce the
behaviour and increase their cat’s dependence on them for stimulation during
the night.
Understanding old
pets
In physical terms, disorders associated with poor nutrition,
poor sleep and immune system challenge can all lead to diseases as cognitive
and memory disorders, sensory and motor disorders, in old age causing a great
range of unwanted behaviours. Senility leads to cognitive disorders, which, in
turn, promote insecurity in particular for the older dog and cat and lack or
awareness of what to do to resolve challenges and conflicts. For example, many
older pets find it very hard to cope with life if they are temporarily isolated
from the owners in the day or night and can become anxious and distressed. This
may present as pacing, vocalising, chewing household furniture, and loss of
bowel and bladder control. There may be also be a
return of very puppy like behaviour in older dogs in an attempt to attract and
keep the owner’s attention and prevent separation.
House training accidents are also common in older pets as
bowel and bladder sphincter control deteriorates and so aging dogs will need to
be walked more frequently and more litter boxes may be needed by older cats.
Many older bitches, especially if spayed, may leak urine when asleep or relaxed
due to loss of oestrogen influence in maintaining bladder sphincter tightness.
Frequent short exercise outdoors and opportunity to urinate will help keep
their bladders as empty as possible, and in severe cases of overnight
involuntary urination diapering the dog can help. Some drugs are available to
help increase bladder urinary sphincter tone, those without anticholinergic
effects are probably preferred for older bitches, but a low dose of synthetic
oestrogen (eg 1m stilbestrol per dog per week) can also resolve the problem for
many. Litter boxes and beds will also need to be placed in easily accessible
places if cats become physically less able to move around easily or jump
because of arthritis etc. and may also need to be positioned in very obvious
places if they begin to forget where they used to be found.
For dogs, aging as a result of stress induced cortisol
effects and poor diet or failing digestive and absorption capabilities can
result in memory loss and lead to them forgetting learned tasks and elements of
even well-established obedience training, So they will require more direction,
more on-leash walking perhaps to keep them safe outdoors and maybe louder
signals if their hearing becomes impaired. But beware! Many older dogs, like
older people, can learn to become selectively deaf in their old age to their
owner’s requests in order to avoid having to move or do some things that they
would prefer to avoid!
Sensory impairment also occurs with old age and the world
around an older cat or dog can become darker and blurred as eyesight
degenerates, more silent as hearing fades, and less fragrant because of
increasing olfactory dysfunction. Hence pets, as well as old people, become
slower to react to changes in their environment and aware that they are missing
out on information about their environment, may begin losing their
self-confidence. Providing older dogs with a secure indoor kennel can be
helpful, so that they can retreat to an enclosed area where less change can
occur, and they can rely on their sense of touch more and so feel more secure
when they are inside. This should be placed close to owner's favourite paces at
home such as in the living - dinning room, kitchen or bedroom and perhaps moved
around to accommodate the pet’s activity patterns. Cats can also benefit from a
secure more enclosed resting box and, if they are able still to climb, or easy
access can be provided, this is best positioned off the floor as cats feel
safer higher up as climbing animals. However, while such dens afford more
opportunity for security and undisturbed sleep in old age, it is important that
owners do not simply allow their pets to hide and sleep away their remaining
years but encourage them out to interact and exercise as much as possible
within their physical limitations.
With fading eyesight and motor co-ordination it is very
important to avoid rearranging the home furniture so that pets can walk safely
inside home, knowing where the furniture and familiar objects are as they move
around by using their memory as much as sensory input. An older pet suffering
sensory impairment may not recognise his owners immediately on meeting as in
earlier years, but this does not always means the he has forgotten them, but
simply that he is not able to see, hear and smell them as quickly as he used
to. Owners may need help to distinguish between slower
response time and total loss of memory due to senility. It can be useful in
such cases that the owner becomes louder in his initial greetings and day to
day interactions with their pet, perhaps clapping their hands first to announce
their arrival before touching and talking with their pet at close quarters to
avoid frightening him.
Most importantly, older pets need a level of stimulation and
wakefulness appropriate to their physical capabilities to keep their brain
active and functioning to the best of its ability. This can be provided
regularly through physical exercise, such as walks outdoors for dogs and games,
especially chase games as these demand sensory and motor co-ordination, and
those using different kind of novel toys, sounds, etc for both dogs and cats.
Presenting a range of novel toys and objects will also maintain the pet’s
interests and sensory investigation skills. Such attention to environmental
enrichment helps prevent the sensory isolation that leads to neuronal 'apathy',
and so is very necessary to maintain an active brain. Forms of tactile
stimulation such as regular stroking, massage and Tellington Touch are also
essential for maintaining sensory and muscular function in older pets.
Company is a most important form of stimulation required for
an older pet, to keep him feeling close to the family and stimulated and
involved socially. As they age they may need to be reassured by owners
increasingly, so it is important to talk with them more, touch, exercise and
react with them during their often reduced waking hours. While good levels of
physical and mental stimulation are vital for the welfare of older pets and in
preventing behaviour problems associated with senility, it is important not to
frustrate them with over frequent demands to play and exercise, nor to change
routines of feeding, play, exercise etc or their physical environment too
suddenly or without appropriate supervision. As ever, it is a question of
balance related to a good assessment of exactly what any animal is capable of
for his age and abilities.
Older pets commonly suffer from painful or uncomfortable
physical conditions. Hyperthyroid cats can vocalise far more frequently than
normal, and show levels of restlessness, agitation and weight loss in old age
in spite of having an excessive appetite, due to excessive production of
thyroid hormones. Controlling the thyroid imbalance should diminish or resolve
these behavioural and physical signs. Older cats and dogs can often suffer from
arthritis, artrosis, hip displasia, cancer and other painful disorders such as
disc disease, spondylosis, wobbler syndrome, etc. Such pets may become
aggressive and or intolerant of being approached, petted or handled due to
pain, or try to isolate themselves to avoid being touched and hurt in social
interactions with people or other pets. Alternatively they may stay lying down
for long periods because movement causes them more pain, and all such cases,
the veterinary surgeon will be able to advise about
managing the cause of the pain and how far the pet should be encouraged to be
more active. In some such cases acupuncture has been found be highly beneficial
in managing pain, so improving the pet’s welfare and strengthening their inner
reserves of energy. Nutraceuticals such as Methylsulphonylmethane (MSM),
glucosamine and collagen supplies have also showed their effectiveness in such
geriatric patients. Being overweight only adds to the discomfort or pain of such
conditions and so it is especially important that older pets are maintained at
their correct weigh, again, the veterinary surgeon will be able to advise about suitable weight loss programmes and diets for
older pets.
Much of what constitutes good care for older pets in terms
of physical and psychological needs revolves around thinking ahead and
maximising the cat or dog’s abilities to remain active, reactive and competent
in all areas of life as they age, expecting that certain behavioural changes will
occur and being prepared to change husbandry practices early on. Older animals
do need more care and attention in their often reduced waking hours and perhaps
more help from veterinarians and behaviourists when age related problems arise, but they will repay
this with the love, humour and wisdom that only age can bring – and surely they
deserve our extra care after devoting their youth and adulthood to us!