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Friday, March 25, 2011
Sparky's sleeping shabbily
By Dr. Jeff Nichol
Of the Journal
Q: I have a 5-year-old, 5-pound male Yorkie-poo named Sparky. Yesterday, he cuddled up next to my brother and went to sleep. Suddenly Sparky awoke, shrieking as if he were in tremendous pain or frightened out of his wits. I held him and he calmed down after about a minute. I couldn't find any injury and wonder if it could have been a nightmare.
Dr. Nichol: From your description Sparky may have REM sleep disorder, also seen in humans. Dogs like this are sound asleep when the behavior occurs. Many have sudden violent movements without waking. Others thrash themselves awake and then stare around the room with a glazed look. They may cry out and even attack whoever is nearby.
The REM (rapid eye movement) portion of the sleep cycle is the deepest phase. This is when the body is actually paralyzed, literally unable to move. The cause of the sudden, often violent waking in dogs like Sparky appears to be a neurological disconnect in the spinal cord, brain stem or perhaps in the brain itself.
Events like the one Sparky had can be mighty unsettling. You are likely to see more of them if he actually does have REM sleep disorder. Recurrent bouts can be treated with an anticonvulsant medication. Clonazepam and potassium bromide are most effective.
Safety is important. Dogs with REM sleep disorder can pose a serious injury risk to their people and other pets who share the same bed. If Sparky becomes aggressive he should sleep by himself.
Q: What types of inexpensive, easily accessible probiotics are recommended to keep cat digestion healthy?
Dr. Nichol: We often think of bacteria as evil germs that make us sick, but reoccurring diarrhea can result, in part, from imbalances in normal intestinal organisms. A healthy competitive population of these little creatures is essential to digestion, immunity and the manufacture of some essential vitamins. Probiotics have become popular as a way of supplementing intestinal bacteria.
If your cat has diarrhea that comes and goes or persists for several days he might benefit from a probiotic, but his intestinal problems could be a great deal more complex. He may have parasites, a bacterial overgrowth, chronic inflammatory disease or even cancer. Considering the risk of dehydration and severe weight loss, he should see his doctor for a diagnosis before you attempt home treatment. A probiotic, in addition to specific medical management, can help re-establish healthy "normal flora" in his gut.
Having shaken my finger at you, I'll tell you that the probiotic I prescribe is Purina's Forti-Flora. It's available for dogs as well as cats in granules that are added to the food. Some pets need it for a month, others for the long term. Your veterinarian can order it for you.
Lower-cost alternatives with medical treatments are usually an exercise in false economy. On the other hand, if your intention is to prevent intestinal upsets by giving your cat a probiotic, I recommend simply feeding a high-protein canned diet (kitten food is best) and let Mother Nature take charge. She can't solve every problem, but sometimes she's smarter than modern medicine.
Dr. Jeff Nichol provides medical care for pets at the Petroglyph Animal Hospital in Albuquerque (898-8874). He treats behavior disorders at the Veterinary Specialty Centers in Albuquerque and in Santa Fe (505-792-5131). Contact Dr. Nichol on his website www.drjeffnichol.com (click Submit a Question?) or 6633 Caminito Coors NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120. Find me on Facebook.
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