Psychological considerations
In the January 18, 2015 column, I referred to some behavioural changes in the elderly dog/cat. I have been reminded that I did not venture to explain the why. It’s all well and good to document the symptoms that dogs and cats exhibit as they become elderly, but we should also explain to the readers why these changes are happening. Well, that may be true, but generally, I try not to get too involved in the heavy science of explaining the biochemical causes of ailments. I prefer to keep it simple.
Nevertheless, there is no harm in alluding to physiological decline in brain function and how it impacts on the animal’s psychological behaviour.
Now, as your dog/cat grows older you might notice that he/she begins to exhibit psychological and behavioural changes (see TPC January 18, 2015). Well, while no one knows exactly why dogs/cats (and humans, for that matter) decline in their abilities as they age, I think that scientists are in agreement with the suggestion that that genetic material (of animals including humans, and all other life forms) reproduces itself in