Diagnosis and management of common diseases in geriatric canines (Canis familiaris) (review)

Llaque-Chávarri F.; Huamán-Dávila A.M. · Revista Electronica de Veterinaria (2022)

Resumen

There is a lack of information regarding the control and management of diseases in geriatric canine patients. This is mainly due to the fact that a great variety of them do not have a defined treatment, and are mostly chronic and progressive, decreasing the animal’s quality of life. Chronic kidney failure is the most common pathology in the geriatric stage; it is characterized by the deterioration of kidney function, accompanied by various secondary complications. This disease has a variety of markers for its diagnosis, with SDMA being the most precise; in terms of treatment, probiotics and medicated diets can be used to prevent its progress. On the other hand, canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome is considered an underdiagnosed disease, mainly due to the lack of diagnostic tests, therefore its evaluation will be based mostly on changes in behavior, caused by the accumulation of Aβ plaques in the brain, and the decrease in neurotransmitters. It is suggested that the management of this pathology can be carried out based on supplementation and diets that contain antioxidants and MTCs, and also through the use of selegiline, which is the only drug approved so far by the FDA for DCC. Finally, regarding Cushing’s syndrome, this pathology is also underdiagnosed, due to the fact that the clinical signs present are often confused with various diseases. Its management will be carried out based on pharmacological control, frequently with trilostane or mitotane; or through surgical interventions, mainly hypophysectomy or adrenalectomy, depending on the origin of the disease.

Instituciones: Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego