I have always been a dog watcher. It is what I do in my everyday working life, and at home with my own dog Zak. Sadly, coming up to his 13th year has seen a rapid decrease in senses that he once took for granted.

He is now slow to rise, and his hearing is not as refined. Where once he would chase his old foe the squirrel, out of our garden, he now seldom hears or sees it. In fact I swear I caught that darn squirrel laughing at my old Zak and wondered just how long his old body could carry him.

Now medical problems are completely unfamiliar to me, so following much research I have discovered that my old Shepherd has CCD, otherwise known as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. It is a dogs equivalent of Alzheimer's and to my utmost surprise, it seems there may be a way of slowing down the process. The drug is called selegiline, and has been shown to alleviate some of the symptoms.

It may not give him back his youth, but anything that affords us a little more time together is worth trying. I owe him this for the loyalty, and unconditional love he has always shown us and for the joy he continues to bring.

I have made this post for everyone with older dogs and who are experiencing the symptoms of CCD. This is my final act of caring and so each day is a special day for us both.

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A dog's love will live in your heart forever
We stay when you're away

you saying that im sure sprinkle's lost a few bolts
i know his getting a bit grumpy and slow well he is 11 going on 12 and his back legs are on the way out but still gets around and does speed up where foods involved
BUT he has a thing of barking for no reason, take the otherday for no reason he was in the other room and just standing there looking at the wall barking ???????
MAD OR WHAT

Like his owner then?
I've come home and found you barking at the wall!

hey
you talk to yourself so watch it
and in your sleep
and you cant help it if you like sleeping down by the toilet

HAHAHAH!
i was like five.

Thats good news for dogs, do you know if it can be used on cats too ? I had an old cat whose behaviour became strange towards the end of her life, we thought she probably had some kind of cat senility, but didn't realise it was treatable.

Good info Cheers!

Useful info thanks Sorry to hear that your dogs age has finally caught up with him.

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~Hannah & Anchelle Amala (Zeea)~

I guess it happens to us all, its just the letting go that hurts.

__________________
A dog's love will live in your heart forever
We stay when you're away

Some elderly cats do get Alzheimer too.