Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Physical signs to watch for in dogs with cognitive dysfunction
By Ozawa, Makiko et al.·Published in The Journal of veterinary medical science·2019·Department of Veterinary Pathology, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Physical signs of canine cognitive dysfunction.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that older dogs, especially those 16 years and older, often show physical signs of canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), which can include vision problems, difficulty smelling, tremors, swaying, and falling. These symptoms can appear as early as 10 years of age and may help owners recognize CCD sooner. By identifying these physical disturbances, pet owners can seek veterinary help earlier, potentially leading to better management of their dog's condition.
People also search for: dog cognitive dysfunction symptoms · signs of aging in dogs · how to help my dog with CCD · dog tremors and falling · vision problems in older dogs
Abstract
Physical disturbances are common in dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD). However, the relation between these physical disturbances and CCD has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to clarify the physical disturbances in CCD by questionnaire survey. The questionnaire consisted of items of general information, physical disturbances (gait and posture abnormalities, and deteriorating perception) and a CCD assessment scale named the CCD rating scale (CCDR). The survey was conducted toward owners of dogs aged 10 years or older in two ways: A web-based (Web survey) and a paper-based (Paper survey) survey. To determine which physical disturbances were associated with CCD, ordinal logistic regression analyzes were performed. Through the Web survey, 726 valid responses were obtained, and the test results revealed that vision impairment, smell disturbance, tremor, swaying or falling and head ptosis were significantly associated with CCD. These items, except for head ptosis, were also significantly associated with, or tended to be associated with, CCD in 103 valid responses to the Paper survey. The prevalence of CCD was increased in the elderly dog population, especially in dogs aged 16 years or older. In contrast, physical signs gradually increased from 10 years of age. These results suggest that physical disturbances may appear in the early stages of CCD. In conclusion, the present study revealed new clinical signs of CCD linked to physical disturbances and suggested that these signs could be useful for detecting early stage of CCD.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31685716/