Background and Purpose of the Trial
With the advancements in modern medicine, both humans and canines are living longer and we are now seeing a greater number of dogs suffer from dementia. Currently, there are no approved treatments for cognitive decline in either humans or dogs. This study aims to find a safe and effective drug for reducing progression of the disease. Cannabidiol (CBD), trazodone, and rapamycin have shown beneficial effects on brain aging, which means they may be effective treatment options for dogs. All three drugs will be tested in order to determine if one, or all, may be a safe and effective medication for reducing the progression of dementia in dogs.
Who Qualifies
Dogs will need to meet the following criteria in order to qualify for this clinical trial:
- Greater than 8 years old
- Show signs of dementia
- Be systemically healthy
Study Design
After an initial health assessment, all clients will go home with a liquid medication to be given twice daily and a capsule to be given once weekly. This study is blinded, so pet owners will not know which treatment group their dog is in. All pet owners will be expected to bring their pet back every 3 months over the course of 2 years with an MRI being conducted every 12 months (3 total) and a spinal tap being conducted every 6 months (5 total).
Commitment
This is a 2-year study and it is important to be committed to remaining in the trial for the entirety of the 2 years, unless the pet reaches the end of their life prior to that. Pets will need to come to the VTH for appointments every 3 months and undergo several anesthetic events throughout the study.
In the unfortunate event that a pet reaches the end of their life, the euthanasia and autopsy are required to be performed at CSU. While this is not pleasant for anyone to think about, it is extremely important for the study to be able to analyze these final samples. We will pay for the euthanasia, along with a general or private cremation, depending on the pet owner’s preference.
Financial Incentives
All diagnostics, drugs, and exams related to the study will be covered by the study. A $250.00 credit will be applied directly to the pet owner’s VTH account every 6 months with continued successful study visits for a total of $1000.00 upon full 2-year study completion.