Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs of canine cognitive dysfunction in older dogs and how to help
By Dewey, Curtis Wells et al.·Published in The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice·2019·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Canine Cognitive Dysfunction: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Many older dogs, especially those over 8 years old, can develop Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD), which is similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans. Symptoms include confusion, anxiety, changes in sleep patterns, and less interaction with their owners. While there is no cure for CCD, there are effective treatments that can help improve your dog's cognitive function and quality of life. Starting these therapies early can lead to the best outcomes for your pet.
People also search for: dog confusion symptoms · treatment for dog anxiety · older dog sleep problems · canine cognitive dysfunction treatment · how to help my dog with dementia
Abstract
Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is the canine analog of human Alzheimer disease (AD). The pathophysiology of CCD/AD is multifaceted. CCD is common in aged (>8 years) dogs, affecting between 14% and 35% of the pet dog population. Apparent confusion, anxiety, disturbance of the sleep/wake cycle, and decreased interaction with owners are all common clinical signs of CCD. Although there is no cure for CCD, several proven effective therapeutic approaches are available for improving cognitive ability and maintaining a good quality of life; instituting such therapies early in the disease course is likely to have the greatest positive clinical effect.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30846383/