Sometimes Euthanasia Is the Appropriate Choice

Cognitive dysfunction (or senile dementia/dysphoria) is a degenerative brain disease in dogs and cats that is irreversible. In some cats, the brain lesions are identical to those seen in cases of Alzheimer's disease in humans.

When the animal's condition deteriorates to the point of feeding by hand and carrying outside to evacuate, euthanasia is appropriate. If there is evident fear/anxiety even before such a debility develops, I would opt for euthanasia.

Research has shown that pups fed regular manufactured dog food have higher IQs and superior learning abilities when their diet includes antioxidant supplements. Similar nutraceutical supplements also help prevent cognitive impairment in older dogs. In other words, "regular" dog food is nutrient-deficient. These nutraceuticals include vitamins A, C and E, selenium, zinc, L-carnitine and alpha-lipoic acid.

Dear Dr. Fox:

We took our black Labrador to our vet to be spayed when she was about 1 1/2. When we picked her up, her back left paw knuckled under. The vet said the paw probably "fell asleep" and should be better in 24 hours.

The next day we took her to an emergency vet facility that had a neurologist. The diagnosis was sciatic nerve damage caused by the anesthesia injection hitting the nerve or her leg being tied too tight during the procedure.

Our dog still does not walk normally. Most of the time, her left leg collapses, and she compensates by hopping or limping. We cannot walk her. Her exercise consists mostly of being in our fenced back yard.