monik7 wrote:Since Martha mentioned allergies and Karen mentioned Benadryl, I felt it would be good to know the facts about diphenhydramine. Personally I won’t take it. My dad had dementia, so any evidence that something can cause it - one dose or more- is enough to for me to steer clear of it. We all make our own choices. I’ve never been one to take chances and I sure won’t with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Sandi
Thanks VERY MUCH for posting this, Sandi.
Your information about dementia and Alzheimer's perhaps offers an answer to a nagging question that I have had for many years. Two of my favorite dogs (of course, all of my dogs have been my "favorites"
) - my sweet Rodrey James, and his Mom Cude Dog, had allergy problems of unspecified origin in their later years, particularly my Rod.
At my veterinarian's recommendation, I gave him a daily dose of generic Benedryl (diphenhydramine) suitable for his weight for probably the last two or three years of his life (also gave this medication to my Cude).
The last year or so of both their lives they both developed Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (if anyone is interested, Google it - most references state something like this:
"Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is the canine analog of human Alzheimer disease (AD)). [!!!]
The CCD started slowly - but noticably - and then accelerated until the end.
Dealing with CCD in my beloved dogs was truly terrible and awful.
My Big Joe has allergies also, particularly in the summer. I have given him diphenhydramine in the past. This stops
NOW.
Although I am not aware of any studies linking CCD to diphenhydramine, and two dogs does does not a diagnosis make - I'm like you. Why chance it?
I only wish someone had told me this a long time ago.
Sandi, thank you for posting. You may have saved a life.
Anne