Cognitive dysfunction in dogs: Pathologic neurodegeneration or just growing older?

摘要

Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is a recognized neurodegenerative syndrome in older dogs that is primarily attributed to pathological deterioration of the brain. The condition manifests itself as changes in the affected dog’s behavior, memory, and learning ability (Salvin et al., 2010 and Neilson et al., 2001). Some of these changes are reported by dog owners as changes in greeting behavior, staring into space, getting stuck in corners, loss of housetraining ability in a previously housetrained dog, pacing or vocalizing at night, or newly developed behavior problems (Neilson et al., 2001).