Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) or canine dementia represents a serious health problem for aged dogs, regardless of breed. CDS is characterised by deficits in learning, memory and spatial awareness, as well as changes to social interaction and sleeping patterns. Several studies, using owner-based observational questionnaires, have been performed to assess the severity of the disease or to identify first clinical symptoms before the onset of full-fledged dementia. Questionnaires include a broad range of items measuring appetite, drinking behaviour, barking, elimination behaviour, day/night rhythms, aimless behaviour, adaptive capabilities, social behaviour, perceptual ability, disorientation, memory, and personality changes. It is important to note that canine dementia probably does not represent a single disease entity; rather, it may have various phenotypic presentations. Generally, the cognitive impairment and other clinical features of CDS gradually worsen as the disease progresses. It is generally accepted that at least three main stages of the disease—mild, moderate, and severe—can be recognised. Despite this fact, there is no consensus regarding the thresholds for discrimination of various stages. This chapter will guide the reader through the current knowledge on the clinical variability and staging of canine dementia.
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Acknowledgement
The work was funded by APVV-15-0613 and APVV-14-0872 and VEGA grant 2/0164/16.
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Mad’ari, A., Novak, P., Žilka, N. (2017). Phenotypic Variability and Clinical Staging of Canine Dementia. In: Landsberg, G., Maďari, A., Žilka, N. (eds) Canine and Feline Dementia. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53219-6_3
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