Vet School 101 Older, brain-addled pets may get a boost from new SAMe supplements (“cognitive dysfunction,” redux)

Got an aging pet on your hands? If you don’t you may well soon, so pay attention:

From the files of “I-believe-it-because-my-behaviorist-told-me-so” comes a new approach to treating cognitive dysfunction in aging pets.

“Cognitive dysfunction”—as in, sometimes disoriented, occasionally confused, often engaging in repetitive behavior such as circling and pacing, exhibiting altered sleep/wake cycle patterns, and often suffering generalized anxiety or serenading us with inappropriate vocalization.

We occasionally call it “dogzheimers” or “catzheimers” but when we do so we’re really just acknowledging the dementia these pets suffer. We typically don’t go so far as to classify their condition beyond the recognition of the general syndrome of “cognitive dysfunction.”

For these pets, cats and dogs alike, few medications have been known to help. Though selegeline (Anypril, by Pfizer) has been used to some effect in dogs, my experience with it has been distinctly underwhelming.

For dogs, behavior modification therapy and anti-anxiety medications like Prozac (fluoxetine, marketed as Reconcile for dogs by Lilly) have been far more effective for me. But the effects are limited and the dementia, usually progressive I spite of these approaches.

Moreover, nothing seems to work for cats beyond a stable home environment, attention to vision, hearing loss and other health concerns (which can exacerbate confusion), and keeping a strict schedule of feeding, brushing, etc. to minimize disorientation. (All of which, incidentally, are recommended for dogs, too.)

That’s why anything new on this front is welcome by me and others who find themselves frustrated by the continual decline of our clients’ beloved pets.

Enter Virbac and its new supplement, Novifit-R. Here’s its pitch:

SAMe, (S-adenosyl methionine), is a well-documented endogenous compound essential to sustaining processes of intermediary metabolism that are most affected by aging: cell membrane protection, antioxidant activity, and neurotransmitter turn-over and tissue regeneration. Based on SAMe's mechanism of action and established applications in human and animal neurology, oral supplementation offers new hope for the management of declining mental functions in senior dogs and cats.

Virbac has developed a biologically available, stable and active form of SAMe called NoviSAMe and presents it in an enteric-coated tablet for use in dogs and cats. A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on this new presentation and revealed its effectiveness at reducing signs associated with cognitive decline in dogs.

Will it help? Dunno. But SAMe is safe, helps liver function and, if you’ve got the cash, is well worth a go. Given that so many of my cognitively-challenged geriatrics are also on NSAID pain relievers (Rimadyl and Metacam, primarily), SAMe is already on the menu.

After reading a not-yet published study, my local veterinary behaviorist (Dr. Lisa Radosta) is on board with it. And that's enough endorsement for me when you consider the dearth of SAMe side-effects.

Here’s hoping enough of my clients will try it so I can come back to you a few months from now with a more positive review. In the meantime, you’ve got little to lose…‘cept a few more bucks a month, right?

August 10th, 2008

Add Comment14 Comments

I've tried SAMe and milk thistle for liver disease, had no idea it would work for cognitive dysfunction, unless liver disease was the root cause. One has to becareful of digestive upsets though.

Barbara A. Albright/New Hampshire August 10th, 2008 04:44:00 PM

I have an aged dog in my care with basically doggie Alzheimer's. Never thought of Sam-e but now that you mention it, why not?

But hasn't it already been marketed as Denosyl?

Stefani August 10th, 2008 09:26:00 PM

Stefani: I'm meeting with the Virbac rep later this week so I plan to ask her exactly how their SAMe reparation is different from Nutramax's (maker of Denosyl). My understanding is that the formulation is different and that the preparation is more bioavailable and the tablet is chewable. The different pricepoints will be fun to observe, as well. I'll keep you posted.

Dr. Patty Khuly August 11th, 2008 08:03:00 AM

Stef, Dr. Khuly, It was Denosyl that I bought at the clinic----but I knew it was also called SAMe. I'd be very interest in knowing the comparisons also.

Barbara A. Albright/New Hampshire August 11th, 2008 05:51:00 PM

Thanks Dr. Khuly for writing about "doggie Alzheimer's". I am almost certain that my dog has some degree of cognitive dysfunction--the frustrating thing about this condition is that it seems to be a "diagnosis by elimination" kind of thing, and much of the info out there about it won't really help a pet owner catch it early, when symptoms can be extremely subtle or ambiguous. This is really an area where vets can make a big difference by asking pet owners *specific* questions about their pet's behavior as a routine part of a senior/geriatric exam, rather than waiting for pet owners to bring it up first, because we might not be aware that certain little things we may have noticed here & there could actually be early signs of cognitive dysfunction (for example, in my case, a decrease in social interaction--less affectionate, not wanting to be petted, etc.).

sooj August 11th, 2008 08:47:00 PM

sooj: Yeah, it's gotten so that I have to ask owners whether their pets are slowing down, interacting less, etc. etc. Some owners need to be prompted to raise issues like these by running down the list of potential symptoms..

Dr. Patty Khuly August 12th, 2008 08:25:00 AM

It is a tosylate salt of SAMe...slightly different chemical structure than the SAMe in denosyl. Virbac has some great client pieces that you could give at check-in - cartoon pictures of some of the symptoms of this disease. Especially useful if you do wellness or geriatric exams.

Nutramax (denosyl) also has a product, Oxstrin, that you might look into for CDS.

Jo August 12th, 2008 08:41:00 AM

Here's an answer for the Denosyl/Novifit question courtesy of my Virbac rep, Christine Molina:

Hi Dr. Khuly,

How is this product different from the SAM-E already out there for dogs with liver problems?

I am glad you asked, the type of SAMe that is found in Denosyl is called 1,4-butanedisulfonate salt, it specifically targets the liver, and they only have studies that it works on the liver as an antioxidant.

The SAMe in Novifit is a Tosylate Disulfate salt; this is the form that is used in human medicine with Alzheimer’s disease. There are over 30 years of human studies done on this type of SAMe. This type is used for brain aging.

We have a patent pending on this type of salt, it is called NoviSAMe. The way we manufacture it, it is stable, and in a highly active form 80%, it is safe and clinically proven, (in a double blinded placebo-controlled study) to be effective in dogs with age-related behavior problems and brain aging. It works in the brain as an antioxidant; it restores cell health and helps cell metabolism. It increases the formation, activation and metabolism of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Hope this helps.

Dr. Patty Khuly August 12th, 2008 11:06:00 AM

Study is here:

https://secure.vlsstore.com/Media/PublicationsArti...

Catherine August 13th, 2008 01:58:00 AM

i live with a dog with CCDS - hes now almost 11 and has had symptoms since he was about 6 - way too young to have 'dogzheimers' in my opinion (hes a lab/pitbull/dane x). At that time he went to his vet and we discussed my concerns of CCDS and what to do about it especially in a dog so young. She told me about anipryl, but also told me that for his weight, at their price it might be grossly expensive for me, which it was at about $130 to $150 a month, and out of my financial reach.
I did alot of research after that, about CCDS and also human dementia patients - case studies and clinical trials, lab test etc. i found that very high levels of dietary antioxidants were found, in humans, to halt and even reverse the signs of althzeihmers in may cases, due to their effect on the brains plaque deposits.

My thinking is that both dogs and humans are mammals and share many similarities, and may benefit from similar treatments, and that CCDS and human dementia are caused by plaque deposits on the brain, and if antioxidants were shown to fight plaques, then its worth a try...
There are several antioxidant vitamins, but the easiest (for me) source of antioxidant foodstuffs was to start feeding raw foods, with a sizable portion of raw dark green leafy veggies, red and orange veg (for beta carotine) and fish oils for the Omegas.
I swear that after a few months, this dog started showing improvement in his behaviour and cognative function. My vet was surprised and thought we were buying meds online rather in the clinic, he was so improved.
Now, 5 years after his initial diagnosis and dietary change he is still better than he was 5 years ago. Hes not as sharp as he was when a youngster but his disease hasnt progressed like it could have!
For him, a dietary change was all that was needed, and that $150 a month i might have needed for pills can go toward good food for the pack!

carmen August 13th, 2008 06:54:00 AM

I have a cat with neurological issues and arthritis - and I decided to give Sam-E a try. (I've used it in the past for pancreatic and liver issues in other cats.) He's only been on it about a week, but he does seem to be slightly improved.

I'm not convinced the veterinary brands are better, so I'm using an over-the-counter product designed for human use in the same strength - 100 mg tablets by Now Foods.

Interesting about the dog and diet change - I know of a case of another dog with neurological issues for whom a diet change worked. It landed up he was reacting to a preservative in the food.