Topic: Does anyone know where I can find (Dementia related) (Read 2695 times)

JackSpratt · « **Reply #24 on:** May 31, 2009, 22:54:43 PM »

Hmmm, maybe they're already having top secret discussions.....? Thanks, Mildred!

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #23 on:** May 31, 2009, 22:47:59 PM »

Lots of love to Old Mog and could you ask her to howl to Franta and tell him howling in the night is just making his human grumpy

Mildred · « **Reply #22 on:** May 31, 2009, 22:22:35 PM »

No problem. I'll put the dose info with the capsules too.

JackSpratt · « **Reply #21 on:** May 31, 2009, 22:18:50 PM »

Thank you Mildred - will do so now. Do I need to look into dosages?

Mildred · « **Reply #20 on:** May 31, 2009, 21:53:43 PM »

If you want i can send some to you for her to try. Nelson wont mind! You can mix the contents in with food too.
At least its one more treatment to cross of the list!
PM me your address if you want to give them a go.

JackSpratt · « **Reply #19 on:** May 31, 2009, 20:06:44 PM »

Thanks Mildred. Zylkene didn't seem to do much in all honesty. (Not much does these days....maybe she's just really grumpy.

)

If Aktivait capsules are big I think I'd have trouble with Mog taking them. I don't want to make her more stressed than she already is!

Mildred · « **Reply #18 on:** May 31, 2009, 19:56:08 PM »

Not all vets have BP monitoring machines. They are quite expensive. My old boss didnt think we needed one but then he didnt like to buy any new equipment unless absolutley nescessary!!
We used to refer clients to another surgery to get the BP tested.
Now we have new owners who ARE interested in improving the services to clients and we do now have a BP monitor.
Yes it can be quite tricky to use and you do have to take several readings to get an average.

Have you tried using Zylkene?
We had the rep in last week who was saying that it can be used for geriatric patients with some noteable improvements. Ive got an old boy who is also brain damaged and he goes through phases of wondering around howling - used to be in the middle of the night but now all day. She suggested trying it with Nelson and it has helped a little but then its only been a few days.

Its a shame that Hills doesnt make B/d food for cats as well. Have seen some fantastic results with dogs.

Another product that can help is Activait capsules which is a brain ageing supplement. Only downside is the capsules are quite big and have a strong smell so unless you have a cat who doesnt mind taking meds then may not be easy to administer. I know Nelson wasnt keen.

JackSpratt · « **Reply #17 on:** May 29, 2009, 11:52:01 AM »

Nope, literally called a second ago to get confirmation - not one BP machine on their premises. Odd; will be having words with the vet about that.

Gillian Harvey · « **Reply #16 on:** May 29, 2009, 11:49:45 AM »

Quote from: JackSpratt on May 29, 2009, 10:38:35 AM

I called my vets and was informed they don't do BP tests for cats.....

That is odd! My vet does BP testing. Does that mean your vet doesnt have a blood pressure machine? surely they must have?

JackSpratt · « **Reply #15 on:** May 29, 2009, 11:47:35 AM »

Now on my knee; grumbling.....

Janeyk · « **Reply #14 on:** May 29, 2009, 11:39:25 AM »

awww, poor old Mog

it is awful when the are like that JS - hope you can sort something out for her

JackSpratt · « **Reply #13 on:** May 29, 2009, 10:38:35 AM »

I called my vets and was informed they don't do BP tests for cats.....OK, then. So it looks like I'll have to go to another vet for that service. How odd, I think I'll talk to a vet and not a receptionist when I'm next in about it.

Mog is currently laying on the futon looking like she's building up to a grumble again.

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #12 on:** May 12, 2009, 12:39:49 PM »

imho keeping them calm is what is most important in the treatment of dementia related agitation. For that, the Istin/Selgian combo has been worth the effort. Not many vets know about Selgian but it's a sedative anti depressant that so far has had no serious side effects in trials (only think is it tastes horrible so you have to get it down fast). It doesn't sedate to make them zombies or sleep too much either. Istin (amlodipine) has made a huge diff here too, maybe even more than Selgian I think.

D Gunn Moore suggests a bp of 140 is ideal in oldies. We've noticed a diff though at 160. Probably depends on how high it is to start with. Initially Swampy reacted weirdly to Istin but that soon wore off. With both you have to watch the liver values as you do with any of these drugs. I hope you sort it out, it's such a horrible yet common illness.

JackSpratt · « **Reply #11 on:** May 12, 2009, 11:11:32 AM »

I don't feel like I know anything, despite reading most articles I can find on the internet. I think it's because I'm unsure what to do for the best with this particular condition in one of our moggies.

Catbird · « **Reply #10 on:** May 12, 2009, 11:02:21 AM »

The new issue of Cat World has an article on feline dementia, that might offer some info but then again, you might already know more than they do.

C.

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2009, 11:13:11 AM »

a few vets have a (small) mobile bp monitor but generally it's a big box with headphones, doppler (think so?) and cuff, wires, paraphenalia anyhow. It can be done at home but the vet would have to do it. My vet said he'd train me but it doesn't look too easy. You have to take quite a few readings to then average it out. He's never shaved Swampy's paw to do it though, mind you he's got short hair. They do have to keep quite still which is a bit of a challenge and takes 2 peeps. Def worth doing though as high bp can cause mega howling and is common as muck in any old cats.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2009, 23:43:28 PM »

I asked my vet about taking cats bp at home and she said it depended on the cat and she would lend me a machine but did not think Franta suitable as they need to keep still and be quite good............Frantas not

JackSpratt · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2009, 19:50:01 PM »

Thanks Desley - got to get through Spratts dental first, will then start organising a geriatric blood panel and BP test for Mog.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2009, 19:28:05 PM »

I hope she can be of help. When Ginger had his blood pressure done, they shaved part of his paw, then used a machine that was similar to our blood pressure ones, so not one you could do without a vet.

JackSpratt · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2009, 17:03:18 PM »

She wouldn't speak to you? Hmmm, well I'll try anyway.

Nope, I haven't checked Mogs BP; mine's probably quite high though.

Can you do that at home?

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2009, 15:51:47 PM »

yes that's her. She wouldn't speak to me, but it took about a week but she did get back to my vet. I nagged him until he did it. He faxed her everything etc and I got the impression she gave it serious thought - he said they spoke for about 1/2 hour. I must actually drop her a line to thank her. She is maniac about getting elderlies bp down. Have you taken Old Mog's? Imo it makes a huge difference to their brains to have lower bp. Good luck

JackSpratt · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2009, 14:39:22 PM »

Sounds like Professor Gunn-Moore. I gave her number to my vets and asked them to call and discuss Mog, but I think they've not had chance yet. Might just do it myself and that way I'll get the information directly.

Thanks Kate.

swampmaxmum · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2009, 12:54:16 PM »

I'm so sorry, it must be driving you nuts I know

Have you tried FABcats. org? They have a vet who has written a paper on dementia, who's the vet who saved Swampy back in January as she suggested the Selgian (anti depressant)/Istin combo to calm him down. Her name is on the bottom of the article and she's contactable by your vet (probably not by you), in Edinburgh. I know she recommended vivitonin for dementia although Swampy couldn't use that as it hypes cats up or gives them energy. She may be of some help - I hope so x

JackSpratt · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2009, 12:44:31 PM »

A complete list of the stages of feline dementia? Old Mog is literally driving me to distraction with her constant noise - she cries when she walking around, when she's settling to go to sleep....it's pretty much constant. She's even woken herself crying recently.

I don't know what to do for the best, other than what I'm doing. (Fuss, diffusers, rescue remedy..... have tried other stuff but it wasn't successful.)

Any advice appreciated. I love her dearly and hate to think she might be unhappy. (Not to mention the other three being disconcerted by the constant crying!)

Author Topic: Does anyone know where I can find (Dementia related) (Read 2695 times)

Catbird