Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Comparing questionnaires to detect cognitive decline in older dogs
By Haake, Julia et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2024·Department of Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Comparing standard screening questionnaires of canine behavior for assessment of cognitive dysfunction.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at how well different questionnaires can help identify cognitive dysfunction in older dogs, which is a common brain condition that affects their behavior. The researchers found that the Canine Dementia Scale (CADES) was particularly good at spotting early signs of cognitive decline, while other questionnaires might miss these early changes. They also noted that as dogs age, their ability to learn decreases and their sensitivity to pain increases, which can be linked to cognitive issues. Using the right questionnaire is important for accurately assessing a dog's cognitive health, especially in the early stages of the disease.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is a common, yet underdiagnosed neurodegenerative disease affecting older dogs. Treatment is most effective when started early, so identifying mild cognitive decline in the earlier stages of the disease is considered important. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of three different standard screening questionnaires [Canine Dementia Scale (CADES), Canine Cognitive Assessment Scale (CCAS), and Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Rating Scale (CCDR)] for CCD diagnosis. Trainability, pain sensitivity, and fear were additionally assessed with the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) in order to evaluate associations between the three dementia scales and behavior. METHODS: An online survey containing all the mentioned questionnaires was designed for and distributed among owners of elderly dogs. RESULTS: Data from 597 dogs were analyzed. Overall, the scores of the three CCD questionnaires correlated well with each other, especially those of the CADES and CCAS. The CADES was more sensitive in identifying dogs with already mild to moderate cognitive impairment, while the others classified them as still undergoing normal aging. CCD scores increased for all questionnaires with age with spatial orientation being a key feature in CCD development. Trainability assessed with the C-BARQ decreased significantly with severity of CCD signs, while pain sensitivity increased. Fear and anxiety was pronounced in animals with mild but not with severe CCD. These associations based on the C-BARQ were more clearly observable in relation to CADES and CCDR than CCAS. CONCLUSION/CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The choice of screening questionnaire impacts the evaluation of cognitive status and severity of CCD. Thresholds for severity classification differ significantly and may have an impact on reliable assessment. Further longitudinal studies are required to determine which of the questionnaires investigated in this study is best suited for early detection of CCD.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38835892/