Senilife and Aktivait– these contain nutrients which help improve nerve cell communication, protect nerve cells from toxic substances and improve blood flow to the brain. Aktivait is also available for cats with cognitive dysfunction. Ans: Cognitive dysfunction is a condition that occurs in older cats and dogs and shares many similarities with Alzheimer’s disease in humans. It is caused by progressive degenerative changes to the brain and is characterized by behavioural alterations resulting from a loss of cognitive ability and learned behaviour. The condition occurs frequently in older animals but its signs are often misinterpreted as normal age-related behavioural changes.

Just like with any medication, animals may respond differently – one dog might show a great improvement after starting treatment, while another may not respond at all. It can take a few weeks for the medications to start having an effect. About 5 weeks in I noticed he was getting up in the middle of the night, to wake me to take him out to the toilet. Meaning he was no longer wetting his bed. At first I brushed this off as a mere coincidence. Animal behaviourists have identified four distinct symptoms of cognitive dysfunction- Disorientation, Loss of house training, Irregular sleep patterns and reduced interaction. This can be due to the harmful free radicals that are naturally produced in the body. In a young and healthy animal, antioxidants are produced to neutralize the free radicals and maintain equilibrium. As your pet ages they produce less antioxidants and an imbalance occurs. This leads to an excess of free radicals, which damage the cells and cell contents especially DNA, lipid membranes and proteins. This in turn can lead to the development of disease and related problems. Just like with human Alzheimer’s, canine cognitive dysfunction is a progressive disease and cannot be cured, but it can be managed to ensure a good quality of life. What are the signs of canine cognitive dysfunction? As a cat or dog’s cognitive function improves, benefits that their owner may observe include increased alertness, higher energy levels, and greater willingness to engage in social settings. One particular benefit that is more pronounced in dogs than cats, is improved obedience after taking Aktivait, as well as willingness to engage in training.Unlike many natural supplements, SAMe has no known side effects or reactions with other medications. It also helps support liver function and is often used in patients with liver disease. It contains a complex mix of antioxidants (Vitamins C, E, CoQ10, alpha lipoic acid and N-acetyl cysteine) and compounds necessary for optimum metabolism and function of the nerve cells (Carnitine, DHA/EPA and Phosphotidylserine). It may also help to prevent free radical damage and improve electrical transmission between nerve cells. Aktivait comes in a tablet form and should be administered orally. It can either be given by mouth or added to your cat or dog’s food, at an appropriate dosage level: These may seem to be an additional inconvenience, but this is UK Law. Unfortunately, we cannot make any exceptions, regardless of the situation. Where can I find more information about Authorised Medications? Legally a vet is obliged, on request, to provide a written prescription for a medicine they would otherwise sell to you for your pet. Can I return prescription medicines if my animal no longer needs them?

As dogs grow older the brain can become damaged by free radicals which can cause biological and physical damage to the brain tissue. This can lead to behavioural changes such as disorientation, disturbed sleeping patterns, loss of interest in other group members, and loss of house training. We are not able to send medication to countries outside of the UK under the UK Veterinary Medicines Regulations. A valid prescription is required from a registered vet within the country the medicine is intended to be used. What is a prescription? Description: Aktivait is a synergistic combination of nutrients, antioxidants and mitochondrial co-factors which has been demonstrated to be of benefit in cognitive dysfunction. It is a nutritional supplement to aid a healthy central nervous system and support brain function in older dogs and cats. Aktivait helps to avoid free radical damage and promotes brain signal transmission. Aktivait is the first supplement to combine all the nutrients necessary that may help to sustain optimum function. It contains a complex mix of antioxidants (Vitamins C, E, CoQ10, alpha-lipoic acid, and N-acetyl cysteine) and compounds necessary for optimum metabolism and function of the nerve cells (Carnitine, DHA/EPA, and Phosphatidylserine). Hills B/D prescription diet– specially designed to improve cognitive function, learning and memory in older dogs. Improvements can be seen after 2 weeks on the diet. It is supplemented with many vitamins and minerals which are beneficial to the brain. The law changed in 2005 to require veterinarians to allow their clients to buy veterinary medicines from the supplier of their choice. Your vet will be familiar with this procedure, and will provide a signed prescription on request. To save your vet's time, you can print off a blank prescription which you can take to your vet to be completed. You then need to send this to us for review, before we can despatch any “prescription only” medicines (categorised as POM-V). Will my vet charge me for providing a prescription?Avoid changing or rearranging the furniture and eliminate clutter to create wide pathways for your dog. Onset of Action: 3- 4 weeks after starting supplementation noticeable improvements can be noticed. This may vary by age, breed and severity of the changes present. Six weeks is the average reported time by owners.

It can be diagnosed with the help of the following clinical signs which can be grouped into five areas. Behaviour CategoryNo medicine is risk free and all medicines have the potential to cause adverse effects. Some of the adverse effects are known about and these are explained in the SPC of products. Others that may only rarely occur or are specific for certain breeds or groups of animals may only be seen when the products are used more widely. If you suspect that you or your animal has had an adverse reaction to a veterinary medicine, or you think the medicine hasn’t worked as it should have done, report it to the VMD using the form available via the link below: https://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/adversereactionreporting/