Canine Cognitive Dysfunction—what is it? Wikipedia explains:
Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) is a disease prevalent in dogs that exhibit symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease shown in humans. CCD creates pathological changes in the brain that slow the mental functioning of dogs, resulting in loss of memory, motor function, and learned behaviors from training early in life. In the dog’s brain, a protein by the name of beta-amyloid accumulates, creating protein deposits called plaques. As the dog ages, nerve cells die, and cerebrospinal fluid fills the empty space left by the dead nerve cells. Canine Cognitive Dysfunction takes effect in older dogs, mostly after 10 years of age. Although there is no known cause of CCD, genetic factors have been shown to contribute to the occurrence of this disease.
Marty Becker, DVM, on Vetstreet, outlines what symptoms you might see:
Does your old dog seem to be increasingly forgetful? Does he come into a room and then act as though he doesn’t know why he’s there? Or, worse, has he started having accidents in the house, as though he has forgotten that he has a dog door to the yard? If your veterinarian can find no organic reason for your dog’s behavior, such as vision loss or a urinary tract infection, he may have cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS)—what most of us refer to as senility.
Our dogs and cats are living a lot longer than they used to, so it’s not surprising that we are starting to see them develop old-age problems such as CDS. It’s not too unusual these days for a dog to reach extreme old age—14 years or more—and still be in relatively good physical condition, but sometimes the mind can get a little cloudy. Many dogs 15 or older show at least one sign of CDS.
Photo by Shannon Thier
Diagnosing Canine Cognitive Dysfunction
DISH is the acronym used, and stands for behaviors often seen in dogs with CDS:
- Disorientation—walking aimlessly, staring at walls, getting stuck in corners, losing balance, falling
- Interactions with people and other animals change: an outgoing dog ignores humans, a confident dog becomes hesitant, a playful dog doesn’t play, an even-tempered dog is irritable,
- Sleep—A dog’s normal sleeping patterns alter: dogs who have slept through the night since they were puppies spend hours awake instead, often pacing restlessly.
- Housetraining—Dogs who have been housebroken since they were puppies seem to “forget” how to use the pet door or how to ask to go outside to eliminate, pottying instead in the house
“Signs for canine cognitive dysfunction include problems with learning, housetraining, awareness of surroundings, and problems with the wake/sleep cycle. Dogs may also appear confused, have increased episodes of restlessness, and may have less interest in playing or appear irritable. The syndrome is diagnosed based on the patient’s clinical signs and activity/behavioral changes at home. There is not a specific test to diagnose the problem, although changes on advanced imaging of the brain can give some indication. Treatment of cognitive dysfunction includes certain medications, environmental changes, and changes in diet. With this syndrome, there may be an association with the lack of dopamine and there are medications that can increase dopamine activity that can help with a patient’s clinical signs.”
—Dr. Joseph Mankin, Clinical Assistant Professor
Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
If you feel your dog has any of the symptoms of CCD, your veterinarian will most likely recommend the following:
- A complete physical and neurological exam
- Chemistry tests to evaluate kidney, liver, and pancreatic function, as well as sugar levels
- Blood tests to identify if your pet has been exposed to tick-related or other infectious diseases
- A complete blood count to rule out blood-related conditions
- Electrolyte tests to ensure your dog isn’t dehydrated or suffering from an electrolyte imbalance
- Urine tests to screen for urinary tract infection and other disease, and to evaluate the ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine
- Endocrine tests, including thyroid and adrenocortical testing, to evaluate certain levels of hormones in the blood
- An ECG to screen for an abnormal heart rhythm that may indicate underlying heart disease; or a blood test, Cardiopet proBNP, to assess cardiac health
- Blood pressure screening
- Radiographs (X-rays)
Because CCD often affects older dogs, these screening tests are extra-valuable because they can also help uncover other common conditions or diseases your older pet may have.
Treatment for your dog to improve signs or slow progression may include the following:
- Drug therapy
- Specific treatment of any concurrent illness
- Behavior modification
- Establishing a routine exercise schedule
Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to prevent your dog’s mental decline associated with aging or cognitive dysfunction. Regular visits to your veterinarian and routine preventive care screening can help address any concerns early and find other reasons for behavior change.
—Pet Health Network
Has your dog been diagnosed with canine cognitive dysfunction? Next week, I’ll discuss some excellent resources that can help you understand and cope with this difficult transition in your dog’s life as competently and kindly as possible.
