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inlearningandmemory.Whencognitivedysfunctionis
suspected,avetmustfirstruleoutmedicalissues,and
conductneurologicalandsensoryphysicalexams.Dr.
LandsbergisalsodirectorofVeterinaryAffairsatCanCog,
acontractorganizationthatspecializesinnon-invasive
researchoncaninecognitionandgeneralbehavior.His
videosoftheCanCogBeaglecolonyillustratedatypical
cognitivetest.First,letadoglearnatasksuchasquickly
findingthefoodtreatthatisunderthelargebox,butnever
underthesmallbox.Oncethetaskislearned,youpresent
thedogwithareversaltaskbyputtingthetreatunderthe
smallbox.Youngdogsquicklylearnthatthetaskhasbeen
reversed,whereasolderdogstakesignificantlylonger.Butit
turnsoutyoucanteachanolddogthisnewtrickifyou
haveprovidedthedogwithanenrichedenvironment.Dr.
Landsbergsaidthatyoushouldmakeaseniordogwork
his/herbraineveryday!Hecitedseveralpharmaceuticals
thatheprescribesfordogsthatareshowingcognitive
dysfunction.Hesaidthatseniordogsshowimprovement
withthemedicationsindividuallyanddoevenbetterwhen
theyareincombination.Heencouragedownerstoasktheir
vetsforhelp.Healsorecommendedtwofoodsfordogsolder
thansix;theyareHillsb/dCanineandPurinaBrightMinds
(discussedbelow).Bothhaveadditivesthathelpseniordogs
maintainlearningandmemoryskills.

BrightMindPlatform.Thebrainisthemost

metabolicallyactiveorganinthebody.Atrest,thehuman
brainusesupto25percentofthebody’senergyeventhough
itonlyaccountsfor2percentofthebody’smass.When
challengedbyaSudokupuzzle,theenergyneedsgoup.
Thatenergyisobtainedfromglucosethatentersbraintissue
fromtheblood.Thesituationissimilarindogs.Dr.Gary
Penn,fromtheNestléResearchCenter,explainedthatdogs
begintoshowbehaviorsignsofagingbecause
theirbrainslosetheabilitytometabolize
glucosearoundtheageof7.Investigators
attheNestléResearchCenterexplored
alternativeenergysourcesandfoundthat
addingmediumchaintriglyceridestothe
foodincreasedtheabilityofdogsatthe
CanCogfacilitytoperformcognitivetests.
Iwassoconvincedbytheevidencethat
medium-chaintriglycerideshelpmaintain
cognitivefunctionthatIboughta
coconut-oildietarysupplementformyself.
IfonlyIcouldremembertotakeit!

TheHuman-AnimalBond/

QualityofLifeScale.Ifyouareanavid
readerofSaberTails,thatprobablymeans
thatyourpassionaterelationshiptoyour
PBGV(s)governsyourlife.Fromthehouse
youbuyandthecaryoudrive,tothe
clothesyouwearandplacesyouvacation
—PBGVsrule!Thisextraordinarilyclose
human-animalbondmakesitdifficult
whenyourdogisterminallyill.The
keynotespeakerfortheCHFconference
wasDr.AliceVillalobos,theformer
presidentofboththeAmericanAssociation
ofHumanAnimalBondVeterinariansand
oftheSocietyforVeterinaryMedical
Ethics.Dr.Villaloboshasananimal
oncologyconsultationservicein

WoodlandHills,Calif.,andananimalhospice,called
Pawspice,inHermosoBeach,Calif.ThePawspicemission
statementsays,“Pawspiceiscommittedtothehighest
standardofcompassionatecancertreatmentandend-of-life
palliativecaretoadvancedstageandterminalpetsby
providingauniqueQualityofLifeCareProgram.”

AccordingtoDr.Villalobos,weneedtobeableto

distinguishbetweennormalseniorlifeandendoflifein
ourpets.Inthepast,veterinarianswerenottrainedtogive
petspalliativecare;sheistryingtochangethat.Shehas
developedaqualityoflifescalethatassessesseven
characteristics,whichareHurt,Hunger,Hydration,Hygiene,
Happiness,MobilityandMoregooddaysthanbaddays.The
scaleisintendedtohelpcaregiversandfamilytomonitor
andimproveapet’swellbeing,andhelpthemknowwhen
palliativecareandhospicemaybewarranted,ratherthan
curativetreatment.Dr.Villalobosstressedtheimportance
ofprovidingterminallyillpetsallnecessarymedications,
effectivepainmanagement,adequatenutritionand
hydration,properhygiene,assistancewithmobilityto
maintainmusclemassandhealthyjoints,andcontentment.

ThePawspicewebsite(pawspice.com)hasexcellent

resourcesforpetownerswhoarefacingdifficultend-of-life
decisions.GotothesiteandclickonLibrarytofindarticles
onDr.Villalobos’squality-of-ifescaleortoviewherseminar
attheAugust2015SouthernCaliforniaVeterinaryMedical
AssociationSymposium.Thereisalsoinformationonmany
typesofcancerandwhenitistimeforeuthanasia.

The2015NationalParentClubCanineHealthConference

alsofeaturedpresentationsongastricdilatationvolvulus
(commonlyknownasbloat),intestinalinflammation,
infectiousdiseases,brucellosisandseizures.Youwillread
aboutthosetalksinafutureissueofSaberTails.

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PhotobyVeronicaScheer