Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome

I was on a mission. Leaving my office towards the treatment room, I forgot what it was I needed to do in the treatment room.  I am sure that never happens to you, where you forget in a few minutes why you were leaving one place to go to another.  I call it menopausal amnesia.  I will forget names, what I was going to get while I was at Walmart, etc.  I make notes to myself and forget them at home.  Did you know that your pets can suffer from this 'Cognitive Dysfunction'?

Have you noticed odd behavior in your older pet?  Walking around like they are lost?  Getting trapped behind the couch and cannot figure out how to get out?  Sudden excessive barking or meowing at nothing?  Changes in sleep habits?  Changes in moods, less interactive with you and your family?  These can be signs of Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS).

Research has shown that 73% of dogs older than 7 years have exhibited one or more symptoms of an age-related behavioral disorder known as CDS.  Studies have shown similar results for older cats.  CDS can cause disturbing changes in older pets, and its accompanying signs of brain aging and deterioration can happen slowly or seemingly overnight.  The most common signs include:  Disorientation or confusion, decreased social interactions, change in sleep habits, and house soiling.  My old dog, Cookie, would try to come back inside on the wrong side of the door.  He would go outside and wander around, seemingly lost in his own yard, forgetting that he was to go to the bathroom, to come back in and mess on the floor.

CDS in pets is similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans.  As nerve cells age, their membranes are less fluid and less sensitive.  They may also produce more free radicals, which can result in neuronal damage.  In pets, as in humans with Alzheimer's, it is possible to slow the progress of the disease and improve problems, but the illness is incurable.

As dogs and cats age, their levels of activity and awareness can decline, but there are things we can do to help manage your pet's CDS such as a combination of activities, modifications in your pet's environment, diet and medical therapy.  While not curable, these treatments are proven to help support cognitive function.  Seeing improvement in a pet's declining behavior can be dramatic.

Wonder if your pet has CDS?  You can download a Senior Dog Checklist and History Form from Pfizer Animal Health.  Take it with you to your next senior wellness exam with your veterinarian.  This list can help you and your veterinarian develop a CDS plan for your pet.