The Savvy VetTech

What is Canine Cognitive Dysfunction?
Dogs that are getting older may start to show some signs of what we would call dementia in humans. It is a degenerative condition in the brain. It is progressive and is not curable, but there are a few treatment options. The cause is not known but it has been thought to be related to some imbalances of nervous system compounds, such as acetylcholine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

We know that the risk of a cat developing a vaccine-induced or related sarcoma is around 1 in 10,000. However, these sarcomas are extremely aggressive and are difficult to treat. Some veterinary schools have already started implementing tail vaccines in cats. The idea is that if the cat develops a sarcoma in the tail, the tail can be amputated, thus making it easier to cure the cancer.