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Alzheimer's in Dogs
by: Dr. Shawn Messonnier, Texas
Alzheimer's disease is a devastating progressive neurological disorder of older men and women. A comparative disease occurs in dogs called canine cognitive disorder. As in people, it is most commonly seen in older pets. It is estimated to affect 10 million to 15 million pets in the U.S. alone. Microscopically, beta amyloid plaques within the brain and its blood vessels are seen (as in people with Alzheimer's.)
Recently, the drug Anipryl® has been approved for treating cognitive disorder in dogs. While effective in some patients, the drug can have rare side effects. If effective, Anipryl® must be used for the life of the dog. Since the medication is expensive, a less expensive option might be preferred.
One safer, less expensive alternative that I have been using in my practice for many years is the B vitamin supplement Cholodin®. Cholodin® contains the B vitamin choline, phosphatidylcholine, methionine and inositol. Recently, in an attempt to quantify response to Cholodin®, the manufacturer asked me to perform a study using the supplement in dogs and cats. The results of the dog studies are presented here.
Twenty-one dogs of various breeds were enrolled in the study. The age of the participants ranged from 10 to 16 years of age. Nine neutered males and 12 spayed females were enrolled in the study.
At the beginning of the study, owners were asked to identify any problems commonly associated with cognitive disorder. The following abnormal signs were reported by pet owners:
- Deafness
- Lethargy/lack of energy
- Excess sleep (sleeps a lot during the day)
- House-training problems (usually urinating inside the house)
- Staring at the wall
- Occasional lack of recognition of the owner
- Lack of awareness of surroundings
A blood profile including a T4 test was performed prior to the start of the study. Each pet was supplied with a two-month supply of Cholodin® to be administered according to label instructions. At the end of a 30-day period of treatment, the dosage was doubled if improvement was not seen.
The results were tabulated with the following scoring system. Pets were scored as no response to the supplement, minimal response, moderate response (up to 50 percent better) and significant response (greater than 50 percent improvement in clinical signs.)
The results of the study indicated the following:
- 1 dog showed no response
- 5 dogs showed minimal response
- 4 dogs showed moderate response
- 5 dogs showed significant response
- 3 dogs was lost to follow-up
- 1 dog was euthanized for acute liver failure not related to cognitive disorder or the supplement
Two dogs, owned by the same owner, showed an exaggerated response and became quite hyperactive, causing the owner to stop the supplement. As a result, the two dogs reverted to showing signs of cognitive disorder, which the owner felt was more desirable than the improved, hyperactive state.
The studies showed that supplementation with the B vitamin choline supplement Cholodin® is safe and effective for reversing signs of Alzheimer's disease in dogs. My own clinical experience indicates that if given to older pets before clinical signs appear, many pets taking choline supplementation will not develop signs of Alzheimer's disease (cognitive disorder.) Cholodin® is safe, inexpensive, and has no significant side effects.
As pet owners seek more natural therapy for common diseases, the use of choline supplements such as Cholodin® can be recommended.
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