Canine Cognitive Dysfunction: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Curtis Wells Dewey; Emma S Davies; Huisheng Xie; Joseph J Wakshlag

doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2019.01.013

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2019 May;49(3):477-499. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2019.01.013. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Authors

Curtis Wells Dewey¹, Emma S Davies², Huisheng Xie³, Joseph J Wakshlag⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, C4 169 Clinical Programs Center, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. Electronic address: cwd27@cornell.edu.
² Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, C4 169 Clinical Programs Center, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
³ Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Comparative, Diagnostic and Population Medicine, 9700 Highway 318 West, Reddick, FL 32686, USA.
⁴ Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Comparative, Diagnostic and Population Medicine.

PMID: 30846383
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2019.01.013

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.

Keywords: Alzheimer disease; Canine; Cognitive; Dementia; Dysfunction; Vascular; β-Amyloid.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis
Alzheimer Disease / therapy
Alzheimer Disease / veterinary*
Animals
Dog Diseases / diagnosis*
Dog Diseases / diagnostic imaging
Dog Diseases / physiopathology
Dog Diseases / therapy
Dogs
Palliative Care*
Veterinary Medicine / trends