RESUMO
Brain aging is a degenerative process manifest by impairment of cognitive function; although not all pets are affected at the same level, once cognitive decline begins it is generally a progressive disorder. Diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is based on recognition of behavioral signs and exclusion of other medical causes that might mimic CDS or complicate its diagnosis. Drugs, diets, and supplements are now available that might slow CDS progression by various mechanisms including reducing oxidative stress and inflammation or improving mitochondrial and neuronal function. Moreover, available therapeutics may provide some level of improvement in cognitive and clinical signs of CDS.
Assuntos
Envelhecimento/psicologia , Gatos/psicologia , Transtornos Cognitivos/diagnóstico , Doenças do Cão/diagnóstico , Cães/psicologia , Envelhecimento/patologia , Animais , Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Doenças do Gato/diagnóstico , Doenças do Gato/epidemiologia , Doenças do Gato/terapia , Gatos/fisiologia , Cognição/fisiologia , Transtornos Cognitivos/epidemiologia , Transtornos Cognitivos/terapia , Terapias Complementares/veterinária , Dietoterapia/veterinária , Doenças do Cão/epidemiologia , Doenças do Cão/terapia , Cães/fisiologia , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
Aged dogs demonstrate cognitive decline that is linked to brain aging. The purpose of the present study was to examine if a commercially available nutraceutical supplement that may be neuroprotective and contains phosphatidylserine, Ginkgo biloba, vitamin E, and pyridoxine could improve cognitive function in aged beagles. Nine aged beagles were tested on performance on a delayed-non-matching-to-position task, which is a neuropsychological test of short-term visuospatial memory. All subjects were tested on 5 baseline sessions; then, to assess the supplement, a crossover design was used in which 1 group received the supplement and the other a control substance in the 1st phase, with treatment conditions being reversed in the 2nd phase. Performance accuracy was significantly improved in supplemented dogs compared with control dogs and the effect was long lasting. These findings suggest that the nutraceutical supplement can improve memory in aged dogs.
Assuntos
Envelhecimento/psicologia , Cães/psicologia , Ginkgo biloba/química , Memória de Curto Prazo/efeitos dos fármacos , Fosfatidilserinas/farmacologia , Piridoxina/farmacologia , Vitamina E/farmacologia , Animais , Estudos Cross-Over , Suplementos Nutricionais , Feminino , Masculino , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Distribuição Aleatória , Segurança , Resultado do Tratamento , Complexo Vitamínico B/farmacologiaRESUMO
This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a citronella bark collar and a new, scentless spray bark collar in a veterinary hospital or a similar kennel-type environment. Forty-one dogs were included in the study. The efficacy of each collar was evaluated independently in comparison to control as well as in a crossover design. Thirty of the dogs were evaluated with the citronella collar, with 76.7% showing a reduction in barking. Twenty-nine dogs were evaluated with the scentless collar, with 58.6% showing a reduction in barking. The improvement over the control collars was statistically significant with both the citronella and scentless collars.