6 minute read
Pets
Complex matters of the animal brain
By Lynn Broom Longmead Veterinary Practice
THE brain is a fascinating and complex organ. We know its basic function involving nerves and electrical impulses, but how it processes experiences, responses and memories is poorly understood.
This lack of understanding leads to significant uncertainty in terms of outcome from brain damage. For instance, a mass such as a tumour may affect brain function in several ways. It can apply local pressure to surrounding tissue leading to loss of function, it can cause inflammation and reduce the working ability of other brain tissue and it can increase pressure within the brain affecting all brain activity.
Brain trauma can present as unconsciousness or altered consciousness. In animals this effect may be short-lived and many apparently normal functions can return quite quickly. The predictability of recovery is, however, impossible to define. Even with imaging, where the area of damage may be identified, the long-term effects can only be determined by patience and time.
French Bulldogs (left) and Chihuahuas are prone to hydrocephalus which causes increased pressure within the skull PHOTO: Alexandr Ivanov/ Pixabay
Epilepsy can be due to multiple causes. Dogs can develop idiopathic – meaning cause unknown – epilepsy typically between the ages of one and six years and this is thought to be due to an electrical abnormality. Certain breeds are more prone than others. Anti-epilepsy medication is often very effective.
Underlying disease such as diabetes and liver disease can cause altered brain function and seizures. Toxin ingestion is also a possible cause. Very young dogs which develop seizures may have congenital causes – Chihuahuas and French Bulldogs for instance are prone to hydrocephalus which causes increased pressure within the skull. Older dogs which have seizures for the first time are more likely to have a mass within their skull.
Brain tumours may initially cause subtle changes such as loss of co-ordination or localised seizures such as muscle twitching. Due to tumour growth more symptoms develop which can be multiple and can include significant changes in temperament making affected animals dangerous to live with.
Tumours which affect the pituitary gland within the brain are more common in certain breeds such as Boxers. These may cause multiple effects such as increased drinking or excessive hormone production affecting other glands outside of the brain. These tumours are often small and slow-growing and their hormonal effects can often be managed with medication. They can, however, start to affect surrounding brain tissue leading to other symptoms.
Old dog vestibular syndrome is a common cause of weakness and inco-ordination in old dogs. This typically affects the balance system and its cause is usually unknown. It causes ‘flickering’ eyes – nystagmus – and a head tilt with many, but not all, cases spontaneously resolving.
CT and MRI scans allow for identification of any lesions present and allow better determination of prognosis. A dog which has had a subtle bleed or a small area of trauma may well recover fully. A tumour is likely to continue to grow and can cause progressive symptoms leading eventually to death. Symptoms may be controlled in the short term with anti-epileptic drugs and anti-inflammatories but are unlikely to prevent ongoing tumour growth.
Brain-related disease can be unpredictable and difficult to manage but investigation techniques exist to allow identification of the root cause and this allows planning for any future treatment that may be available.
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MID DORSET BRANCH CATS PROTECTION Cats looking for new homes
Kevin, one. A very confident happy boy who needs to learn some boundaries Sausage, five months. Very sweet natured little cat who loves being stroked
Theo, two. Very sweet and loving once he gets to know you Schnitzel, five months. He wants attention but is not quite brave enough to come forward for it yet
Fudge, four. Looking for an understanding home to call his own Shadow, one. Looking for a home in the country where she has outside space with sheds or barns
Trigger, two. Gorgeous chap that was found as a stray Cracker, five months. She is a very sweet natured little cat who loves being stroked
LOST CATS If you have lost a cat, please contact us via our website, phone or Facebook. Make sure we have a contact phone number so we can get in touch with you quickly if needed.
n White with black markings, male, missing since 11 November from Blandford.
FOUND CATS If you regularly see a cat in your garden or down your street that you don’t think has an owner, please give us a call – it might be a lost cat that could be reunited with its owner.
n Ginger and white, male –
We are still offering neutering and micro-chipping for £5 in postcode
BEHAVIOUR TIPS
Tip #28: Puppy series – mouthing
MOUTHING is a normal and natural exploratory behaviour in puppies under five-six months, and it serves an important purpose.
It teaches ‘bite inhibition’ – the ability to subconsciously inhibit bite force if they are ever in a situation when they need to use aggression.
An adult dog with good bite inhibition is unlikely to break the skin of a person or dog, while a dog that is losing his bite inhibition can cause very serious injuries.
Mouthing is NOT an aggressive behaviour but reprimanding or punishing it can lead to aggression as this is likely to worry and/or frustrate the puppy.
So, encourage puppy to play with toys instead of hands – make toys more fun to play with – and if mouthing of hands is too hard, give him a tip-off by saying ‘ouch’ and withdrawing your hand gently.
If he repeats the hard mouthing, calmly end the play session for one minute by walking away. Over time, we do this to gentler and gentler bites so by the time he is six months old he is no longer mouthing. If clothing is mouthed, we end the session immediately – that is there is no tip-off – because we don’t know how hard he is mouthing! n Helen Taylor is a qualified accredited behaviourist, a Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist, a Registered Practitioner with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council, and a member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (no 881). help@helentaylordorset.co.uk;
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