Human and veterinary medicine have seen tremendous advances in medical care and nutrition resulting in humans and their pets living longer. In the United States alone, it is estimated that 20 to 30 million dogs are over 7 years of age and are considered seniors.1"3 Consequently, veterinary healthcare team members are seeing many age related changes and disease conditions such as cancer, renal disease, and cognitive decline, in their canine patients that have been associated with aging in human patients. Cognitive decline in dogs is typically manifested as behavioral changes in one or more of the following areas: disorientation (D), altered interactions with family members (I), disruptions in sleep patterns (S), loss of housetraining (H), and decreased levels of activity(A). Many pet owners attribute behavior changes in their dogs to simply be part of the aging process and believe nothing can be done to help their beloved pet. Unfortunately, some of these behavioral changes lead to owners placing their senior pet in a shelter or electing euthanasia. The combination of these behaviors, known by the acronym DISHA, is diagnosed as Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS)2and nutrition plays a key role in helping combat this syndrome.
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